EXHIBIT 10.7
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
ACAS BUSINESS LOAN LLC, 2000-1
This Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement (together with the
schedules attached hereto, this "AGREEMENT") of ACAS BUSINESS LOAN LLC, 2000-1
(the "Company"), is entered into by AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD., as the
sole equity member (the "MEMBER"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
as the Special Members (as defined on Schedule A hereto). Capitalized terms used
and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth on SCHEDULE A
hereto.
The Member, by execution of this Agreement, hereby forms the Company
as a limited liability company pursuant to and in accordance with the
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 DEL. C. Section 18-101 ET SEQ.), as
amended from time to time (the "ACT"), and this Agreement, and the Member and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. NAME.
The name of the limited liability company formed hereby is ACAS
BUSINESS LOAN LLC, 2000-1.
Section 2. PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE.
The principal business office of the Company shall be located at ▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or such other
location as may hereafter be determined by the Member.
Section 3. REGISTERED OFFICE.
The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of
Delaware is c/o Corporation Service Company, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
Section 4. REGISTERED AGENT.
The name and address of the registered agent of the Company for service
of process on the Company in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service
Company, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
Section 5. MEMBERS.
(a) The mailing address of the Member is set forth on SCHEDULE B
attached hereto. The Member was admitted to the Company as a member of the
Company upon its execution of a counterpart signature page to this Agreement.
(b) Subject to SECTION 9(j), the Member may act by written consent
including taking action permitted hereunder to be taken by the Board.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the Member to cease to
be a member of the Company (other than (i) upon an assignment by the Member of
all of its limited liability company interest in the Company and the admission
of the transferee pursuant to SECTIONS 21 AND 23, or (ii) the resignation of the
Member and the admission of an additional member of the Company pursuant to
SECTIONS 22 AND 23), each person acting as an Independent Manager pursuant to
SECTION 10 shall, without any action of any Person and simultaneously with the
Member ceasing to be a member of the Company, automatically be admitted to the
Company as a Special Member and shall continue the Company without dissolution.
No Special Member may resign from the Company or transfer its rights as Special
Member unless (i) a successor Special Member has been admitted to the Company as
Special Member by executing a counterpart to this Agreement, and (ii) such
successor has also accepted its appointment as Independent Manager pursuant to
SECTION 10; provided, however, the Special Members shall automatically cease to
be members of the Company upon the admission to the Company of a substitute
Member. Each Special Member shall be a member of the Company that has no
interest in the profits, losses and capital of the Company and has no right to
receive any distributions of Company assets. Pursuant to Section 18-301 of the
Act, a Special Member shall not be required to make any capital contributions to
the Company and shall not receive a limited liability company interest in the
Company. A Special Member, in its capacity as Special Member, may not bind the
Company. Except as required by any mandatory provision of the Act, each Special
Member, in its capacity as Special Member, shall have no right to vote on,
approve or otherwise consent to any action by, or matter relating to, the
Company, including, without limitation, the merger, consolidation or conversion
of the Company. In order to implement the admission to the Company of each
Special Member, each person acting as an Independent Manager pursuant to SECTION
10 shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement. Prior to its admission to the
Company as Special Member, each person acting as an Independent Manager pursuant
to SECTION 10 shall not be a member of the Company.
Section 6. CERTIFICATES.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, is hereby designated as an "authorized person" within
the meaning of the Act, and has executed, delivered and filed the Certificate of
Formation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
Upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, her powers as an "authorized person" ceased, and the
Member thereupon became the designated "authorized person" and shall continue as
the designated "authorized person" within the meaning of the Act. The Member or
an Officer shall execute, deliver and file any other certificates (and any
amendments and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to
do business in New York and in any other jurisdiction in which the Company may
wish to conduct business.
The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue
until cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Act.
Section 7. PURPOSES.
The purpose to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in
the following activities:
-2-
(a)
(i) to enter into and consummate the transactions
contemplated by an ACAS Transfer Agreement with
American Capital Strategies, Ltd., whereby the
Company will purchase certain loans and undertake
other related actions and a Transfer and Servicing
Agreement among the Company, American Capital
Strategies, Ltd, ACAS Business Loan Trust 2000-1,
▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as
Indenture Trustee, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank Minnesota,
National Association, as Backup Service whereby the
Company will sell, assign and convey such loans and
take related actions;
(ii) to purchase or otherwise acquire certain securities
issued by ACAS Business Loan Trust 2000-1 and to take
other actions with regard to the formation of such
entity;
(iii) to acquire, own, hold, sell, transfer, service,
convey, safekeep, dispose of, pledge, assign, borrow
money against, finance, refinance or otherwise deal
with, publicly or privately and whether with
unrelated third parties or with affiliated entities;
(iv) to own equity interests in other limited liability
companies or partnerships whose purposes are
restricted to those set forth in clauses (i) through
(iii) above; and
(v) to engage in any lawful act or activity and to
exercise any powers permitted to limited liability
companies organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware that are related or incidental to and
necessary, convenient or advisable for the
accomplishment of the above-mentioned purposes
(including the entering into of interest rate or
basis swap, cap, floor or collar agreements, currency
exchange agreements or similar hedging transactions
and referral, management, servicing and
administration agreements).
(b) The Company, by or through the Member, or any Manager or Officer on
behalf of the Company, may enter into and perform the Basic Documents and all
documents, agreements, certificates, or financing statements contemplated
thereby or related thereto, all without any further act, vote or approval of any
other Person notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Act or
applicable law, rule or regulation. The foregoing authorization shall not be
deemed a restriction on the powers of the Member or any Manager or Officer to
enter into other agreements on behalf of the Company.
Section 8. POWERS.
Subject to SECTION 9(j), the Company, and the Board of Managers and the
Officers of the Company on behalf of the Company, (i) shall have and exercise
all powers necessary, convenient
-3-
or incidental to accomplish its purposes as set forth in SECTION 7 and (ii)
shall have and exercise all of the powers and rights conferred upon limited
liability companies formed pursuant to the Act.
Section 9. MANAGEMENT.
(a) BOARD OF MANAGERS. Subject to SECTION 9(j), the business and
affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of
one or more Managers designated by the Member. Subject to SECTION 10, the Member
may determine at any time in its sole and absolute discretion the number of
Managers to constitute the Board. The authorized number of Managers may be
increased or decreased by the Member at any time in its sole and absolute
discretion, upon notice to all Managers, and subject in all cases to SECTION 10.
The initial number of Managers shall be three, two of which shall be Independent
Managers pursuant to SECTION 10. Each Manager elected, designated or appointed
by the Member shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified or
until such Manager's earlier death, resignation, expulsion or removal. Each
Manager shall execute and deliver the Management Agreement. Managers need not be
a Member. The initial Managers designated by the Member are listed on Schedule D
hereto.
(b) POWERS. Subject to SECTION 9(j), the Board of Managers shall have
the power to do any and all acts necessary, convenient or incidental to or for
the furtherance of the purposes described herein, including all powers,
statutory or otherwise. Subject to SECTION 7, the Board of Managers has the
authority to bind the Company.
(c) MEETING OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. The Board of Managers of the
Company may hold meetings, both regular and special, within or outside the State
of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such
time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President on not less than
one day's notice to each Manager by telephone, facsimile, mail, telegram or any
other means of communication, and special meetings shall be called by the
President or Secretary in like manner and with like notice upon the written
request of any one or more of the Managers.
(d) QUORUM: ACTS OF THE BOARD. At all meetings of the Board, a majority
of the Managers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and,
except as otherwise provided in any other provision of this Agreement, the act
of a majority of the Managers present at any meeting at which there is a quorum
shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting
of the Board, the Managers present at such meeting 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 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, as the case may be.
(e) ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. Members of the Board, or any committee
designated by the Board, may participate in meetings of the Board, or any
committee, by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment
that allows all Persons participating
-4-
in the meeting to hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall
constitute presence in Person at the meeting. If all the participants are
participating by telephone conference or similar communications equipment, the
meeting shall be deemed to be held at the principal place of business of the
Company.
(f) COMMITTEES OF MANAGERS.
(i) The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of
the whole Board, designate one or more committees,
each committee to consist of one or more of the
Managers of the Company. The Board may designate one
or more Managers as alternate members of any
committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee.
(ii) In the absence or disqualification of a member of a
committee, the member or members thereof present at
any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether
or not such members constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another member of the Board to
act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or
disqualified member.
(iii) Any such committee, to the extent provided in the
resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise
all the powers and authority of the Board in the
management of the business and affairs of the
Company. Such committee or committees shall have such
name or names as may be determined from time to time
by resolution adopted by the Board. Each committee
shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report
the same to the Board when required.
(g) COMPENSATION OF MANAGERS; EXPENSES. The Board shall have the
authority to fix the compensation of Managers. The Managers may be paid their
expenses, if any, of attendance at meetings of the Board, which may be a fixed
sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as Manager.
No such payment shall preclude any Manager from serving the Company in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing
committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.
(h) REMOVAL OF MANAGERS. Unless otherwise restricted by law, any
Manager or the entire Board of Managers may be removed or expelled, with or
without cause, at any time by the Member, and, subject to SECTION 10, any
vacancy caused by any such removal or expulsion may be filled by action of the
Member.
(i) MANAGERS AS AGENTS. To the extent of their powers set forth in this
Agreement and subject to SECTION 9(j), the Managers are agents of the Company
for the purpose of the Company's business, and the actions of the Managers taken
in accordance with such powers set forth in this Agreement shall bind the
Company. Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 18-402 of the Act, except
as provided in this Agreement or in a resolution of the Managers, a Manager may
not bind the Company.
-5-
(j) LIMITATIONS ON THE COMPANY'S ACTIVITIES.
(i) This SECTION 9(j) is being adopted in order to comply
with certain provisions required in order to qualify
the Company as a "special purpose" entity.
(ii) The Member shall not, so long as any Obligation is
outstanding, amend, alter, change or repeal the
definition of "Independent Manager" or SECTIONS 5(c),
7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 or 31 or
SCHEDULE A of this Agreement without the unanimous
written consent of the Board (including all
Independent Managers). Subject to this SECTION 9(j),
the Member reserves the right to amend, alter, change
or repeal any provisions contained in this Agreement
in accordance with SECTION 31.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement
and any provision of law that otherwise so empowers
the Company, the Member, the Board, any Officer or
any other Person, neither the Member nor the Board
nor any Officer nor any other Person shall be
authorized or empowered, nor shall they permit the
Company, without the prior unanimous written consent
of the Member and the Board (including all
Independent Managers), to take any Material Action.
(iv) The Board and the Member shall cause the Company to
do or cause to be done all things necessary to
preserve and keep in full force and effect its
existence, rights (charter and statutory) and
franchises; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall
not be required to preserve any such right or
franchise if: (1) the Board shall determine that the
preservation thereof is no longer desirable for the
conduct of its business and that the loss thereof is
not disadvantageous in any material respect to the
Company and (2) the Rating Agency Condition is
satisfied. The Board also shall cause the Company to:
(A) maintain its own separate books and records
and bank accounts;
(B) at all times hold itself out to the public
and all other Persons as a legal entity
separate from the Member and any other
Person;
(C) have a Board of Managers separate from that
of the Member and any other Person;
(D) file its own tax returns, if any, as may be
required under applicable law, to the extent
(1) not part of a consolidated group filing
a consolidated return or returns or (2) not
treated as a division for tax purposes of
another taxpayer, and pay any taxes so
required to be paid under applicable law;
-6-
(E) except as contemplated by the Basic
Documents, not commingle its assets with
assets of any other Person;
(F) conduct its business in its own name and
strictly comply with all organizational
formalities to maintain its separate
existence;
(G) maintain separate financial statements;
(H) pay its own liabilities only out of its own
funds;
(I) maintain an arm's length relationship with
its Affiliates and the Member;
(J) pay the salaries of its own employees, if
any;
(K) not hold out its credit or assets as being
available to satisfy the obligations of
others;
(L) allocate fairly and reasonably any overhead
for shared office space;
(M) use separate stationery, invoices and
checks;
(N) except as contemplated by the Basic
Documents, not pledge its assets for the
benefit of any other Person;
(O) correct any known misunderstanding regarding
its separate identity;
(P) maintain adequate capital in light of its
contemplated business purpose, transactions
and liabilities;
(Q) cause its Board of Managers to meet at least
annually or act pursuant to written consent
and keep minutes of such meetings and
actions and observe all other Delaware
limited liability company formalities;
(R) not acquire any securities of the Member;
and
(S) cause the Managers, Officers, agents and
other representatives of the Company to act
at all times with respect to the Company
consistently and in furtherance of the
foregoing and in the best interests of the
Company.
Failure of the Company, or the Member or Board on
behalf of the Company, to comply with any of the
foregoing covenants or any other covenants contained
in this Agreement shall not affect the status of the
-7-
Company as a separate legal entity or the limited
liability of the Member or the Managers.
(v) So long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Board
shall not cause or permit the Company to:
(A) except as contemplated by the Basic
Documents, guarantee any obligation of any
Person, including any Affiliate;
(B) engage, directly or indirectly, in any
business other than the actions required or
permitted to be performed under SECTION 7,
the Basic Documents or this SECTION 9(j);
(C) incur, create or assume any indebtedness
other than as expressly permitted under the
Basic Documents;
(D) make or permit to remain outstanding any
loan or advance to, or own or acquire any
stock or securities of, any Person, except
that the Company may invest in those
investments permitted under the Basic
Documents and may make any advance required
or expressly permitted to be made pursuant
to any provisions of the Basic Documents and
permit the same to remain outstanding in
accordance with such provisions;
(E) to the fullest extent permitted by law,
engage in any dissolution, liquidation,
consolidation, merger, asset sale or
transfer of ownership interests other than
such activities as are expressly permitted
pursuant to any provision of the Basic
Documents; or
(F) form, acquire or hold any subsidiary
(whether corporate, partnership, limited
liability company or other).
Section 10. INDEPENDENT MANAGERS.
As long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Member shall cause the
Company at all times to have at least two Independent Managers who will be
appointed by the Member. To the fullest extent permitted by law, including
Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, the Independent Managers shall consider only the
interests of the Company, including its respective creditors, in acting or
otherwise voting on the matters referred to in SECTION 9(j)(iii). No resignation
or removal of an Independent Manager, and no appointment of a successor
Independent Manager, shall be effective until such successor (i) shall have
accepted his or her appointment as an Independent Manager by a written
instrument, which may be a counterpart signature page to the Management
Agreement, and (ii) shall have executed a counterpart to this Agreement as
required by SECTION 5(c). In the event of a vacancy in the position of
Independent Manager, the Member shall, as soon as practicable, appoint a
successor Independent Manager. All right, power and authority of the Independent
Managers shall be limited to the extent necessary to exercise those rights and
perform those duties specifically set forth in this Agreement. Except as
provided in
-8-
the second sentence of this SECTION 10, in exercising their rights and
performing their duties under this Agreement, any Independent Manager shall have
a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care similar to that of a Manager of a business
corporation organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. No Independent Manager shall at any time serve as trustee in
bankruptcy for any Affiliate of the Company.
Section 11. OFFICERS.
(a) OFFICERS. The initial Officers of the Company shall be designated
by the Member. The additional or successor Officers of the Company shall be
chosen by the Board and shall consist of at least a President, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Board of Managers may also choose one or more Vice Presidents,
Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person. The Board shall choose a President, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Board may appoint such other Officers and agents as it shall deem
necessary or advisable who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall
exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board. The salaries of all Officers and agents of the Company shall
be fixed by or in the manner prescribed by the Board. The Officers of the
Company shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified. Any
Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the
Company shall be filled by the Board. The initial Officers of the Company
designated by the Member are listed on Schedule E hereto.
(b) PRESIDENT. The President shall be the chief executive officer of
the Company, shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall be responsible
for the general and active management of the business of the Company and shall
see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The
President or any other Officer authorized by the President or the Board shall
execute all bonds, mortgages and other contracts, except: (i) where required or
permitted by law or this Agreement to be otherwise signed and executed,
including SECTION 7(b); (ii) where signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the Company,
and (iii) as otherwise permitted in SECTION 11(c).
(c) VICE PRESIDENT. In the absence of the President or in the event of
the President's inability to act, the Vice President, if any (or in the event
there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order
designated by the Managers, or in the absence of any designation, then in the
order of their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and when so
acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon
the President. The Vice Presidents, if any, shall perform such other duties and
have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
(d) SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY. The Secretary shall be
responsible for filing legal documents and maintaining records for the Company.
The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and record all the
proceedings of the meetings of the Company and of the Board in a book to be kept
for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when
required. The Secretary shall give, or shall cause to be given, notice of all
meetings of the Member, if any, and special meetings of the Board, and shall
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or the President,
under whose supervision the Secretary
-9-
shall serve. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the
Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board (or if there be no
such determination, then in order of their election), shall, in the absence of
the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary's inability to act, perform the
duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
(e) TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have the
custody of the Company funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and
shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the
credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board.
The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the
Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the
President and to the Board, at its regular meetings or when the Board so
requires, an account of all of the Treasurer's transactions and of the financial
condition of the Company. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more
than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board (or if
there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in
the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer's inability to
act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time
to time prescribe.
(f) OFFICERS AS AGENTS. The Officers, to the extent of their powers set
forth in this Agreement or otherwise vested in them by action of the Board not
inconsistent with this Agreement, are agents of the Company for the purpose of
the Company's business and, subject to SECTION 9(j), the actions of the Officers
taken in accordance with such powers shall bind the Company.
(g) DUTIES OF BOARD AND OFFICERS. Except to the extent otherwise
provided herein, each Manager and Officer shall have a fiduciary duty of loyalty
and care similar to that of Managers and officers of business corporations
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section 12. LIMITED LIABILITY.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Act, the debts,
obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or
otherwise, shall be the debts, obligations and liabilities solely of the
Company, and neither the Member nor the Special Members nor any Manager shall be
obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company
solely by reason of being a Member, Special Member or Manager of the Company.
Section 13. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
The Member has contributed to the Company property of an agreed value
as listed on SCHEDULE B attached hereto. In accordance with SECTION 5(c), the
Special Members shall not be required to make any capital contributions to the
Company.
Section 14. ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
-10-
The Member is not required to make any additional capital contribution
to the Company. However, the Member may make additional capital contributions to
the Company at any time upon the written consent of such Member. To the extent
that the Member makes an additional capital contribution to the Company, the
Member shall revise SCHEDULE B of this Agreement. The provisions of this
Agreement, including this SECTION 14, are intended to benefit the Member and the
Special Members and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be
construed as conferring any benefit upon any creditor of the Company (and no
such creditor of the Company shall be a third-party beneficiary of this
Agreement) and the Member and the Special Members shall not have any duty or
obligation to any creditor of the Company to make any contribution to the
Company or to issue any call for capital pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 15. ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND LOSSES.
The Company's profits and losses shall be allocated to the Member.
Section 16. DISTRIBUTIONS.
Distributions shall be made to the Member at the times and in the
aggregate amounts determined by the Board. Notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to make
a distribution to the Member on account of its interest in the Company if such
distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or any other applicable law
or any Basic Document.
Section 17. BOOKS AND RECORDS.
The Board shall keep or cause to be kept complete and accurate books of
account and records with respect to the Company's business. The books of the
Company shall at all times be maintained by the Board. The Member and its duly
authorized representatives shall have the right to examine the Company books,
records and documents during normal business hours. The Company, and the Board
on behalf of the Company, shall not have the right to keep confidential from the
Member any information that the Board would otherwise be permitted to keep
confidential from the Member pursuant to Section 18-305(c) of the Act. The
Company's books of account shall be kept using the method of accounting
determined by the Member. The Company's independent auditor, if any, shall be an
independent public accounting firm selected by the Member.
Section 18. RESERVED.
Section 19. OTHER BUSINESS.
The Member, the Special Members and any Affiliate of the Member or the
Special Members may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures
(unconnected with the Company) of every kind and description, independently or
with others. The Company shall not have any rights in or to such independent
ventures or the income or profits therefrom by virtue of this Agreement.
Section 20. EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION.
-11-
(a) Neither the Member nor the Special Members nor any Officer,
Manager, employee or agent of the Company nor any employee, representative,
agent or Affiliate of the Member or the Special Members (collectively, the
"COVERED PERSONS") shall be liable to the Company or any other Person who has an
interest in or claim against the Company for any loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in
good faith on behalf of the Company and in a manner reasonably believed to be
within the scope of the authority conferred on such Covered Person by this
Agreement, except that a Covered Person shall be liable for any such loss,
damage or claim incurred by reason of such Covered Person's gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, a Covered Person
shall be entitled to indemnification from the Company for any loss, damage or
claim incurred by such Covered Person by reason of any act or omission performed
or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in
a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred
on such Covered Person by this Agreement, except that no Covered Person shall be
entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by
such Covered Person by reason of such Covered Person's gross negligence or
willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that any indemnity under this SECTION 20 by the Company shall be provided out of
and to the extent of Company assets only, and the Member and the Special Members
shall not have personal liability on account thereof; and PROVIDED FURTHER, that
so long as any Obligation is outstanding, no indemnity payment from funds of the
Company (as distinct from funds from other sources, such as insurance) of any
indemnity under this SECTION 20 shall be payable from amounts allocable to any
other Person pursuant to the Basic Documents.
(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses
(including legal fees) incurred by a Covered Person defending any claim, demand,
action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company
prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding
upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered
Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Covered Person is
not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this SECTION 20.
(d) A Covered Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Company by any Person as to matters the Covered
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the
Company, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities, or any other facts pertinent to the
existence and amount of assets from which distributions to the Member might
properly be paid.
(e) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has
duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the
Company or to any other Covered Person, a Covered Person acting under this
Agreement shall not be liable to the Company or to any other Covered Person for
its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement or any approval or
authorization granted by the Company or any other Covered Person. The provisions
of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities
of a Covered Person otherwise
-12-
existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Member and the Special Members
to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person.
(f) The foregoing provisions of this SECTION 20 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 21. ASSIGNMENTS.
Subject to SECTION 23, the Member may assign in whole or in part its
limited liability company interest in the Company. If the Member transfers all
of its limited liability company interest in the Company pursuant to this
SECTION 21, the transferee shall be admitted to the Company as a member of the
Company upon its execution of an instrument signifying its agreement to be bound
by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which instrument may be a
counterpart signature page to this Agreement. Such admission shall be deemed
effective immediately prior to the transfer and, immediately following such
admission, the transferor Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any successor to the
Member by merger or consolidation in compliance with the Basic Documents shall,
without further act, be the Member hereunder, and such merger or consolidation
shall not constitute an assignment for purposes of this Agreement and the
Company shall continue without dissolution.
Section 22. RESIGNATION.
So long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Member may not resign,
except as permitted under the Basic Documents and if the Rating Agency Condition
is satisfied. If the Member is permitted to resign pursuant to this SECTION 22,
an additional member of the Company shall be admitted to the Company, subject to
SECTION 23, upon its execution of an instrument signifying its agreement to be
bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which instrument may be a
counterpart signature page to this Agreement. Such admission shall be deemed
effective immediately prior to the resignation and, immediately following such
admission, the resigning Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.
Section 23. ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.
One or more additional members of the Company may be admitted to the
Company with the written consent of the Member; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any Obligation remains outstanding, no
additional Member may be admitted to the Company unless the Rating Agency
Condition is satisfied.
Section 24. DISSOLUTION.
(a) Subject to SECTION 9(j), the Company shall be dissolved, and its
affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of the following: (i) the
termination of the legal existence of the last remaining member of the Company
or the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership
of the last remaining member of the Company in the Company unless the business
of the Company is continued in a manner permitted by this
-13-
Agreement or the Act or (ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under
Section 18-802 of the Act. Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the last
remaining member of the Company to cease to be a member of the Company, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, the personal representative of such member is
hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the
event that terminated the continued membership of such member in the Company,
agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the
personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a
substitute member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event
that terminated the continued membership of the last remaining member of the
Company in the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Bankruptcy of the Member or a Special Member shall not cause the Member or
Special Member, respectively, to cease to be a member of the Company and upon
the occurrence of such an event, the business of the Company shall continue
without dissolution.
(c) In the event of dissolution, the Company shall conduct only such
activities as are necessary to wind up its affairs (including the sale of the
assets of the Company in an orderly manner), and the assets of the Company shall
be applied in the manner, and in the order of priority, set forth in Section
18-804 of the Act.
(e) The Company shall terminate when (i) all of the assets of the
Company, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and
obligations of the Company shall have been distributed to the Member in the
manner provided for in this Agreement and (ii) the Certificate of Formation
shall have been canceled in the manner required by the Act.
Section 25. WAIVER OF PARTITION; NATURE OF INTEREST.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Member and the Special Members
hereby irrevocably waives any right or power that such Person might have to
cause the Company or any of its assets to be partitioned, to cause the
appointment of a receiver for all or any portion of the assets of the Company,
to compel any sale of all or any portion of the assets of the Company pursuant
to any applicable law or to file a complaint or to institute any proceeding at
law or in equity to cause the dissolution, liquidation, winding up or
termination of the Company. The Member shall not have any interest in any
specific assets of the Company, and the Member shall not have the status of a
creditor with respect to any distribution pursuant to SECTION 16 hereof. The
interest of the Member in the Company is personal property.
Section 26. BENEFITS OF AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS.
None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or
enforceable by any creditor of the Company or by any creditor of the Member or a
Special Member. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any right in
any Person (other than Covered Persons) not a party hereto, and this Agreement
shall not be construed in any respect to be a contract in whole or in part for
the benefit of any third Person (except as provided in SECTION 29).
Section 27. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.
-14-
Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered severable and if
for any reason any provision or provisions herein are determined to be invalid,
unenforceable or illegal under any existing or future law, such invalidity,
unenforceability or illegality shall not impair the operation of or affect those
portions of this Agreement which are valid, enforceable and legal.
Section 28. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 29. BINDING AGREEMENT.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Member
agrees that this Agreement, including, without limitation, SECTIONS 7, 8, 9, 10,
20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29 and 31, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of the Member, and is enforceable against the Member by the
Independent Managers, in accordance with its terms. In addition, the Independent
Managers shall be intended beneficiaries of this Agreement.
Section 30. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the
State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws principles), all rights
and remedies being governed by said laws.
Section 31. AMENDMENTS.
Subject to Section 9(j), this Agreement may be modified, altered,
supplemented or amended pursuant to a written agreement executed and delivered
by the Member. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, so
long as any Obligation is outstanding, this Agreement may not be modified,
altered, supplemented or amended unless the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied
except: (i) to cure any ambiguity or (ii) to convert or supplement any provision
in a manner consistent with the intent of this Agreement and the other Basic
Documents.
Section 32. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original of this Agreement and all of which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 33. NOTICES.
Any notices required to be delivered hereunder shall be in writing and
personally delivered, mailed or sent by telecopy, electronic mail or other
similar form of rapid transmission, and shall be deemed to have been duly given
upon receipt (a) in the case of the Company, to the Company at its address in
SECTION 2, (b) in the case of the Member, to the Member at its address
-15-
as listed on SCHEDULE B attached hereto and (c) in the case of either of the
foregoing, at such other address as may be designated by written notice to the
other party.
Section 34. EFFECTIVENESS.
Pursuant to Section 18-201(d) of the Act, this Agreement shall be
effective as of the time of the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the
Office of the Delaware Secretary of State on November 3, 2000.
Section 35. TAX MATTERS.
The Member intends to form a limited liability company and does not
intend to form a partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware or any
other laws. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Company be
disregarded as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes pursuant to
Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) as in effect for periods after
January 1, 1997. The parties agree not to take any action inconsistent with such
intended federal income tax treatment.
-16-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound
hereby, has duly executed this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the 3rd
day of November, 2000.
MEMBER:
AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD.
By: /s/
------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
SPECIAL MEMBERS:
/s/
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
/s/
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-17-
SCHEDULE A
DEFINITIONS
A. DEFINITIONS
When used in this Agreement, the following terms not otherwise defined
herein have the following meanings:
"ACT" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly Controlling or Controlled by or under direct or indirect
common Control with such Person.
"AGREEMENT" means this Limited Liability Company Agreement of the
Company, together with the schedules attached hereto, as amended, restated or
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"BANKRUPTCY" means, with respect to any Person, if such Person (i)
makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (ii) files a voluntary
petition in bankruptcy, (iii) is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has
entered against it an order for relief, in any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings, (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for itself any
reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar
relief under any statute, law or regulation, (v) files an answer or other
pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition
filed against it in any proceeding of this nature, (vi) seeks, consents to or
acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Person
or of all or any substantial part of its properties, or (vii) if 120 days after
the commencement of any proceeding against the Person seeking reorganization,
arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any
statute, law or regulation, if the proceeding has not been dismissed, or if
within 90 days after the appointment without such Person's consent or
acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or
any substantial part of its properties, the appointment is not vacated or
stayed, or within 90 days after the expiration of any such stay, the appointment
is not vacated. The foregoing definition of "Bankruptcy" is intended to replace
and shall supersede and replace the definition of"Bankruptcy" set forth in
Sections 18-101(1) and 18-304 of the Act.
"BASIC DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement, the Management Agreement, the
ACAS Transfer Agreement with American Capital Strategies, Ltd., the Transfer and
Servicing Agreement among the Company, American Capital Strategies, Ltd, ACAS
Business Loan Trust 2000-1, ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as
Indenture Trustee, and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as
Backup Service, and the Placement Agency Agreement with First Union Securities,
Inc., and all documents and certificates contemplated thereby or delivered in
connection therewith.
"BOARD" or "BOARD OF MANAGERS" means the Board of Managers of the
Company.
A-18
"CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION" means the Certificate of Formation of the
Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November
3, 2000, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"COMPANY" means ACAS Business Loan LLC, 2000-1, a Delaware limited
liability company.
"CONTROL" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities or general partnership or managing
member interests, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" shall
have correlative meanings. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a
Person shall be deemed to Control any other Person in which it owns, directly or
indirectly, a majority of the ownership interests.
"COVERED PERSONS" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 20(a).
"MANAGERS" means the Persons elected to the Board of Managers from time
to time by the Member, including the Independent Managers, in their capacity as
managers of the Company. A Manager is hereby designated as a "manager" of the
Company within the meaning of Section 18-101(10) of the Act.
"INDEPENDENT MANAGER" means a natural person who, for the five-year
period prior to his or her appointment as Independent Manager has not been, and
during the continuation of his or her service as Independent Manager is not: (i)
an employee, Manager, stockholder, partner or officer of the Company or any of
its Affiliates (other than his or her service as an Independent Manager of the
Company); (ii) a customer or supplier of the Company or any of its Affiliates;
or (iii) any member of the immediate family of a person described in (i) or
(ii).
"MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT" means the agreement of the Managers in the form
attached hereto as Schedule C. The Management Agreement shall be deemed
incorporated into, and a part of, this Agreement.
"MATERIAL ACTION" means to consolidate or merge the Company with or
into any Person, or sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
or to institute proceedings to have the Company be adjudicated bankrupt or
insolvent, or consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings
against the Company or file a petition seeking, or consent to, reorganization or
relief with respect to the Company under any applicable federal or state law
relating to bankruptcy, or consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or a
substantial part of its property, or make any assignment for the benefit of
creditors of the Company, or admit in writing the Company's inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due, or, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
take action in furtherance of any such action, or dissolve or liquidate the
Company.
"MEMBER" means American Capital Strategies, Ltd., as the initial member
of the Company, and includes any Person admitted as an additional member of the
Company or a substitute member of the Company pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, each in its
A-19
capacity as a member of the Company; provided, however, the term "Member" shall
not include the Special Members.
"OBLIGATIONS" shall mean the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations
of the Company under or in connection with this Agreement, the other Basic
Documents or any related document in effect as of any date of determination.
"OFFICER" means an officer of the Company described in SECTION 11.
"OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed by any Officer of
the Company who is authorized to act for the Company in matters relating to the
Company.
"PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, joint
stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or other organization,
whether or not a legal entity, and any governmental authority.
"RATING AGENCY" has the meaning assigned to that term in the Basic
Documents.
"RATING AGENCY CONDITION" means, with respect to any action, that each
Rating Agency shall have been given ten days prior notice thereof and that each
of the Rating Agencies shall have notified the Company in writing that such
action will not result in a reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating
by such Rating Agency of any of the Commercial Paper Notes (as defined in the
Basic Documents).
"SPECIAL MEMBER" means, upon such person's admission to the Company as
a member of the Company pursuant to SECTION 5(c), a person acting as Independent
Manager, in such person's capacity as a member of the Company. A Special Member
shall only have the rights and duties expressly set forth in this Agreement.
B. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Definitions in this Agreement apply equally to both the singular and
plural forms of the defined terms. The words "include" and "including" shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." The terms "herein,"
"hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section, paragraph or
subdivision. The Section titles appear as a matter of convenience only and shall
not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. All Section, paragraph, clause,
Exhibit or Schedule references not attributed to a particular document shall be
references to such parts of this Agreement.
A-20
SCHEDULE B
MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGREED VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP
NAME MAILING ADDRESS CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION INTEREST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Capital 2 Bethesda Metro Ctr.,
Strategies, Ltd/ 14th Floor $100 100%
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-1
SCHEDULE C
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
November __, 2000
ACAS BUSINESS LOAN LLC, 2000-1
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Re: MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT - ACAS BUSINESS LOAN LLC, 2000-1
----------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
For good and valuable consideration, each of the undersigned Persons,
who have been designated as Managers of ACAS Business Loan LLC, 2000-1, a
Delaware limited liability company (the "Company"), in accordance with the
Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of November 3,
2000, as it may be amended or restated from time to time (the "LLC AGREEMENT"),
hereby agree as follows:
1. Each of the undersigned accepts such Person's rights and authority
as a Manager under the LLC Agreement and agrees to perform and discharge such
Person's duties and obligations as a Manager under the LLC Agreement, and
further agrees that such rights, authorities, duties and obligations under the
LLC Agreement shall continue until such Person's successor as a Manager is
designated or until such Person's resignation or removal as a Manager in
accordance with the LLC Agreement. Each of the undersigned agrees and
acknowledges that it has been designated as a "manager" of the Company within
the meaning of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
2. So long as any Obligation is outstanding, each of the undersigned
agrees, solely in its capacity as a creditor of the Company on account of any
indemnification or other payment owing to the undersigned by the Company, not to
acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Company to invoke the
process of any court or governmental authority for the purpose of commencing or
sustaining a case against the Company under any federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any
substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or
liquidation of the affairs of the Company.
3. THIS MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF
LAWS.
C-1
Initially capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have
the meanings set forth in the LLC Agreement.
This Management Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original of this Management
Agreement and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Management
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
C-2
SCHEDULE D
MANAGERS
1. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (Independent Manager)
2. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (Independent Manager)
3. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
C-3
SCHEDULE E
OFFICERS TITLE
-------- -----
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary