Exhibit 3.2
ACME TELEVISION, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
Dated September 24, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I - DEFINED TERMS 1
ARTICLE II - ORGANIZATION AND POWERS 5
2.1 Organization 5
2.2 Purposes and Powers 5
2.3 Principal Place of Business 6
2.4 Qualification in Other Jurisdictions 6
2.5 Fiscal Year 6
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS 6
3.1 Membership Units 6
3.2 Issuance of Membership Units; Admission of New Members 7
3.3 Certificated Common Units 8
3.4 Voting Rights 10
3.5 Restrictions 10
3.6 Limitation on Liability of Members 11
3.7 Authority 11
3.8 Withdrawals; Termination 12
3.9 No Appraisal Rights 12
3.10 Compliance with Securities Laws and Other Laws and Obligations 12
3.11 Member Insulation 12
ARTICLE IV - MANAGEMENT 13
4.1 Management 13
4.2 Reliance by Third Parties 14
4.3 Officers 15
ARTICLE V - CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS AND
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS 15
5.1 Capital Contributions 15
5.2 Capital Accounts and Allocations 16
5.3 Distributions 17
5.4 Distributions Upon Dissolution 17
5.5 Distribution Upon Withdrawal 18
5.6 Tax Matters Partner 18
ARTICLE VI - TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS 20
6.1 Restrictions on Transfers 20
6.2 Substitute Members 20
6.3 Allocation of Distributions Between Assignor and Assignee 20
6.4 Permitted Transfers 21
ARTICLE VII - INDEMNIFICATION 21
7.1 Right to Indemnification 21
7.2 Award of Indemnification 22
7.3 Successful Defense 22
7.4 Advance Payments 22
7.5 Insurance 23
7.6 Heirs and Personal Representatives 23
7.7 Non-Exclusivity 23
7.8 Amendment 23
ARTICLE VIII - CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 23
8.1 Transactions with Interested Persons; Conflicts 23
8.2 Business Opportunities 24
ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, AND TERMINATION 24
9.1 No Dissolution 24
9.2 Events Causing Dissolution 24
9.3 Notice of Dissolution 25
9.4 Liquidation 25
9.5 Certificate of Cancellation 25
ARTICLE XI - GENERAL PROVISIONS 25
10.1 Offset 25
10.2 Notices 25
10.3 Entire Agreement 26
10.4 Amendment or Modification; Terms 26
10.5 Binding Effect 26
10.6 Governing Law; Severability 26
10.7 Further Assurances 26
10.8 Waiver of Certain Rights 27
10.9 Third-Party Beneficiaries 27
10.10 Failure to Pursue Remedies 27
10.11 Cumulative Remedies 27
10.12 Notice of Members of Provisions of this Agreement 27
10.13 Interpretation 27
10.14 Counterparts 27
Schedule A - Membership Units
Exhibit A - Form of Common Units
Annex A - Private Placement Legend
ACME TELEVISION, LLC
Amended and Restated
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement is made as of
September 24, 1997 by and among ACME Television, LLC (the "Company") and each of
the Members listed on Schedule A hereto, and those Persons who become Members of
the Company in accordance with the provisions hereof and whose names are set
forth as such in the record books of the Company.
WHEREAS, the Company has been formed as a limited liability company under
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, Del. Code ▇▇▇. tit. 6, ss. 18.101 ET
SEQ. (as am time to time, the "Act"), by filing a Certificate of Formation of
the Company with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
on August 8, 1997; and
WHEREAS, certain of the Members are parties to the Limited Liability
Company Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the "Initial Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Members desire to amend and restate the Initial Agreement, and
set out fully their respective rights, obligations and duties regarding the
Company and its assets and liabilities as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Members hereby
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I - DEFINED TERMS
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Article I
shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, have the meanings herein specified
(each such meaning to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural
forms of the respective terms so defined). Defined terms which are not defined
in this Article I or elsewhere in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed
to them in the Investment Agreement.
"Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any Person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with, the specified Person. As used in this definition, the term "control" means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
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"Agreement" shall mean this Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
"Bankruptcy" means, with respect to a Person, that either (i) an
involuntary petition under any bankruptcy or insolvency or other debtor relief
law or under the reorganization provisions of any such law has been filed with
respect to such Person or a receiver of or for the property of such Person has
been appointed without the acquiescence of such Person, which petition or
appointment remains undischarged or unstayed for an aggregate period of sixty
(60) days (whether or not consecutive) or (ii) a voluntary petition under any
bankruptcy or insolvency or other debtor relief law or under the reorganization
provisions of any such law has been filed by such Person, a voluntary assignment
of such Person's property for the benefit of creditors has been made, a written
admission by such Person of its inability to pay its debts as they mature has
been made, a receiver of or for the property of such Person has been appointed
with the acquiescence of such Person or such Person has done any similar act of
like import.
"Capital Contribution" shall mean with respect to any Initial Member
the amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule A and with respect to any New
Member the amount set forth opposite its name on Schedule A, as amended.
"Certificate" shall mean the Certificate of Formation and any and
all amendments thereto and restatements thereof filed on behalf of the Company
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Act.
"Common Members" shall mean those persons listed on SCHEDULE A
hereto as Common Members.
"Common Units" shall mean those Membership Units designated as
Common Units, as described in Section 3.1 hereof.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time, or any corresponding federal tax statute enacted after the date of this
Agreement. A reference to a specific section of the Code refers not only to such
specific section but also to any corresponding provision of any federal tax
statute enacted after the date of this Agreement, as such specific section or
corresponding provision is in effect on the date of application of the
provisions of this Agreement containing such reference.
"Distribution Percentage" shall mean a percentage determined for
each holder of Common Units by dividing the aggregate Common Units of such
holder by the aggregate Common Units of all holders of Common Units entitled to
distributions at the time of such determination.
"FCC" means the Federal Communications Commission.
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"Indemnified Parties" shall mean the Members, any Affiliate of the
Members and each Person serving as an Officer, employee or other agent of the
Company (including Persons who serve at the Company's request as directors,
managers, officers, employees, agents or trustees of another organization in
which the Company has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) and
their respective successors and assigns.
"Initial Capital Contribution" shall mean with respect to any
Initial Member the amount set forth opposite its name on SCHEDULE A hereto.
"Initial Members" shall mean those Persons listed on SCHEDULE A
hereto as Initial Members as of the date hereof.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended from time to time, together with any successor statute, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Losses" shall mean all liabilities, judgments, obligations, losses,
damages, taxes and interest and penalties thereon (other than (i) income taxes
due on income allocated to Membership Units; and (ii) taxes based on fees,
compensation or commissions received by an Indemnified Party in connection with
the administration of the Company or the Company's property), claims, actions,
suits or other proceedings (whether civil or criminal, pending or threatened,
before any-court or administrative or legislative body, and as the same are
accrued, in which an Indemnified Party may be or may have been involved as a
party or otherwise or with which he or she may be or may have been threatened,
while in office or thereafter), costs, expenses and disbursements (including,
without limitation, legal and accounting fees and expenses) of any kind and
nature whatsoever.
"Member" shall mean the Initial Members and any Person admitted as a
Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and named as a Member in
the record books of the Company, and includes any Person admitted pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement when acting in his, her or its capacity as a
Member of the Company, and "Members" shall mean two (2) or more of such Persons
when acting in their capacities as Members of the Company.
"New Member" shall mean any Member who is not an Initial Member.
"Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, association,
partnership (general or limited), joint venture, trust, unincorporated
organization, limited liability company, any other entity or organization of any
kind or a government or any department, agency, authority, instrumentality or
political subdivision thereof.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time, together with any successor statute, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
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"Subscription Agreement" shall mean a subscription agreement for the
purchase of a Membership Unit in the Company, in a form acceptable to the
Members or the Majority Member, as applicable.
"Tax Rate" means, for any taxable year of a Member, the sum of the
Federal Rate and the State Rate, with (a) the "Federal Rate" defined to mean the
highest effective federal income tax rate applicable to any individual for such
year and (b) the "State Rate" defined as the product of (i) the highest
effective state income tax rate applicable to an individual Member for such year
multiplied by (ii) a percentage equal to the difference between one hundred
percent (100%) and the Federal Rate.
"Taxable Income" and "Taxable Loss" mean, for any taxable year, the
taxable income or loss attributable to such Member's distributive share of
taxable income or loss of the Company, as determined for federal income tax
purposes; provided that in making such determination all separately stated items
of income, gain, loss and deduction (other than tax-exempt income) shall be
included; and provided further, that in calculating Taxable Income and Taxable
Loss, items of income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to the sale or
exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall be
excluded from such calculation.
"Transfer" shall mean any sale, assignment, transfer, exchange,
charge, pledge, gift, hypothecation, conveyance or encumbrance (such meaning to
be equally applicable to verb forms of such term).
"Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including
temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be
amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding
regulations).
The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in the
indicated Sections hereof:
DEFINED TERM SECTION NUMBER
"Act" Preamble
"Capital Account" 5.02
"Company" Preamble
"Consolidated Group Securities" 3.04(a)
"Holdings" 5.03(a)
"Liquidating Trustee" 9.03
"Majority Member" 4.01(b)
"Membership Unit" 3.01
"Private Placement Legend" 3.03(c)
"Senior Executive Offices" 4.06
"Tax Distributions" 5.03
"Tax Matters Partner" 5.06
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ARTICLE II - ORGANIZATION AND POWERS
2.1 ORGANIZATION. The name of the Company is ACME Television, LLC.
The Company has been formed by the filing of its Certificate with the Delaware
Secretary of State pursuant to the Act. The Certificate may be restated or
amended by the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, from time to time
in accordance with the Act and subject to the terms of this Agreement. The
Company shall deliver a copy of the Certificate and any amendment thereto to any
Member who so requests.
2.2 PURPOSES AND POWERS. The principal business activity and
purposes of the Company shall initially be to acquire, develop, own and operate
television broadcast stations and to conduct any business related thereto or
useful in connection therewith. However, the business and purposes of the
Company shall not be limited to its initial principal business activity, and the
Company shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, have authority to engage
in any other lawful business, purpose or activity permitted by the Act. Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Company, and the Members or the
Majority Member, as applicable, acting on behalf of the Company in accordance
with this Agreement, shall possess and may exercise all of the powers and
privileges granted by the Act or which may be exercised by any Person, together
with any powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers or privileges are
necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental or convenient to the
conduct, promotion or attainment of the business purposes or activities of the
Company, including without limitation the following powers:
(a) to conduct its business and operations in any state,
territory or possession of the United States or in any foreign country or
jurisdiction;
(b) to purchase, receive, take, lease or otherwise acquire, own,
hold, improve, maintain, use or otherwise deal in and with, sell, convey, lease,
exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of, mortgage, pledge, encumber or create
a security interest in all or any of its real or personal property, or any
interest therein, wherever situated;
(c) to borrow or lend money or obtain or extend credit and other
financial accommodations, to invest and reinvest its funds in any type of
security or obligation of or interest in any public, private or governmental
entity, and to give and receive interests in real and personal property as
security for the payment of funds so borrowed, loaned or invested;
(d) to make and modify contracts, including contracts of
insurance, incur liabilities and give guaranties, whether or not such guaranties
are in furtherance of the business and purposes of the Company, including
without limitation, guaranties of
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obligations of other Persons who are interested in the Company or in whom the
Company has an interest;
(e) to employ and terminate Officers, employees, agents and other
Persons, to organize committees of the Company, to delegate to such Persons
and/or committees such power and authority, the performance of such duties and
the execution of such instruments in the name of the Company, to fix the
compensation and define the duties and obligations of such personnel, to
establish and carry out retirement, incentive and benefit plans for such
personnel, and to indemnify such personnel to the extent permitted by this
Agreement and the Act;
(f) to form and maintain subsidiaries and to merge with, or
consolidate into, another Delaware limited liability company or other business
entity (as defined in Section 18-209 of the Act); and
(g) to institute, prosecute, and defend any legal action or
arbitration proceeding involving the Company, and to pay, adjust, compromise,
settle, or refer to arbitration any claim by or against the Company or any of
its assets.
2.3 PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The principal office and place of
business of the Company shall initially be Suite 850, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The Members or the Majority Member, as applicable,
may change the principal office or place of business of the Company at any time
and may cause the Company to establish other offices or places of business in
various jurisdictions and appoint agents for service of process in such
jurisdictions.
2.4 QUALIFICATION IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. The Members or the
Majority Member, as applicable, shall cause the Company to be qualified or
registered under applicable laws of any jurisdiction in which the Company
transacts business and shall be authorized to execute, deliver and file any
certificates and documents necessary to effect such qualification or
registration.
2.5 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Company shall end on
December 31 of each year.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
3.1 MEMBERSHIP UNITS. The Members shall have no rights or powers in
respect of the Company (including, without limitation, any rights in respect of
allocations of profit and loss or distributions) other than the rights conferred
by this Agreement represented by issued and outstanding units of membership
interest (the "Membership Units"), which shall be deemed to be personal property
giving only the rights provided in
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this Agreement and which shall consist of one class ("Common Units"), which
shall have rights and privileges, including voting rights as expressly set forth
in this Agreement. Every Member by virtue of having become a Member shall be
held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have
become a party hereto. Ownership of a Membership Unit shall not entitle a Member
to any title in or to the whole or any part of the property of the Company or
right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting. The
Initial Members of the Company, their addresses, and the respective classes and
denominations of Membership Units held by them shall be as set forth on SCHEDULE
A hereto, and said schedule shall be amended from time to time by the Members or
the Majority Member, as applicable, in accordance with the terms hereof to
reflect the withdrawal of Members or the admission of additional Members
pursuant to this Agreement.
The Company hereby authorizes for issuance 200 Common Units. As of
the date hereof, the Company shall have issued 200 Common Units to the Initial
Members, as set forth on SCHEDULE A hereto. Except for the Common Units issued
on the date hereof, none of the Common Units may be issued by the Company
without the prior written consent of a majority in interest of the Members.
3.2 ISSUANCE OF MEMBERSHIP UNITS: ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS.
(a) The Company is not authorized to offer and sell, or cause to
be offered and sold, additional Membership Units or to admit additional Persons
as Members except with the approval of the Members holding more than fifty
percent (50%) in interest of the Common Units.
(b) The Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, may
establish eligibility requirements for admission of a subscriber as a New Member
after the date hereof and may refuse to admit any subscriber that fails to
satisfy such eligibility requirements. The Members or the Majority Member, as
applicable, shall have the responsibility for determining whether a person or
entity is eligible for admission as a New Member. Each Person who first
subscribes for a Membership Unit in the Company after the date hereof shall be
admitted as a New Member of the Company at the time (i) such Person executes a
Subscription Agreement agreeing to be bound by the provisions hereof, (ii) the
Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, at their sole discretion, accepts
such Subscription Agreement on behalf of the Company and (iii) the subscriber
makes the Capital Contribution(s) required pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement and its Subscription Agreement. None of the existing Members shall
have any preemptive or similar right to subscribe to the issuance of new
Membership Units in the Company, and each of the Members acknowledges that its
membership interest is subject to adjustment (downward and upward) in the event
of the admission of New Members to the Company pursuant hereto or the withdrawal
of any Member from the Company.
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3.3 CERTIFICATED COMMON UNITS. All Common Units at any time and from
time to time outstanding shall be evidenced by certificates in the form attached
as EXHIBIT A hereto (a "Unit Certificate") and shall bear the following legend:
"These Common Units are subject to the restrictions which prohibit the transfer
of Common Units pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated September 24, 1997, by and among the
Company and its] Members." Each Member by accepting a Unit Certificate
representing Common Units or other indicia of ownership thereof shall be deemed
to have expressly assented and agreed to, and shall be bound by, this Agreement.
(a) REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OR EXCHANGES. When Unit
Certificates are presented to the Company with a request from the holder: (i) to
register the transfer of the certificates; or (ii) to exchange such certificates
for certificates of other denominations representing an aggregate equal number
of Common Units, the Company shall register the transfer or make the exchange as
requested if the requirements under this Agreement as set forth in this Section
3.3 and Section 6.1 for such transactions and transfers are met; provided,
however, that the certificates presented or surrendered by a holder for
registration of transfer or exchange: (i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied
by a written instruction of transfer or exchange in form satisfaction to the
Company duly executed by such holder or by his attorney, duly authorized in
writing; and (ii) shall be accompanied by such certifications and opinions as
may be required by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1, and the following
additional information and documents, as applicable:
(b) if such Common Units are being delivered to the Company by a
holder for registration in the name of such holder, without transfer, a
certification from such holder to that effect; or
(c) if such Common Units are being transferred in reliance on an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a
certification from the transferor to that effect and an opinion of counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer is in
compliance with the Securities Act.
(d) Upon the registration of transfer, exchange or replacement of
Unit Certificates not bearing the legend set forth in the first paragraph of
ANNEX A attached hereto (the "Private Placement Legend"), the Company shall
deliver Unit Certificates that do not bear the Private Placement Legend. Upon
the registration of transfer, exchange or replacement of Unit Certificates
bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Company shall deliver Unit
Certificates that bear the Private Placement Legend unless, and the Company is
hereby authorized to deliver Unit Certificates without the Private Placement
Legend (except for any part of the legend that relates to contractual
restrictions and the restrictions set forth in the second paragraph of Section
3.3(b) above) if (i) there is delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that neither such legend
nor the related restrictions on transfer set forth in such legend or
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Section 6.1 of this Agreement are required in order to maintain compliance with
the provisions of the Securities Act or (ii) the Common Units to be transferred
or exchanged represented by such Unit Certificates are being transferred or
exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act. Unit Certificates shall also bear appropriate legends with respect to the
restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement
restrict the transfer of Membership Units.
(e) All Unit Certificates issued upon any registration, transfer
or exchange of Unit Certificates shall be entitled to the same benefits under
this Agreement as the Unit Certificates surrendered upon the registration of
transfer or exchange. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of
any Common Units, the Company may deem and treat the person in whose name any
Common Units are registered as the absolute owner of such Common Units, and the
Company shall not be required to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such certificate, or be affected by notice to the contrary.
(f) Other than following the applicable terms and requirements of
this Agreement, the Company shall have no additional duty to monitor compliance
with federal, state or other securities laws.
(g) The Company will keep at its offices a register (the
"Certificate Register"). Each Unit Certificate issued by the Company shall be
numbered and shall be registered in the Certificate Register as it is issued and
transferred, together with the name and address of the holder thereof.
(h) Any Transfer made in violation of this Agreement by a Member
of any of its Affiliates shall be deemed null and void and shall not be recorded
as a transfer upon the transfer books of the Company. Each Unit Certificate held
by a holder and each of its Affiliates shall contain a conspicuous notation
indicating that the transfer of the Common Units evidenced thereby is subject to
the terms and restrictions of this Agreement, and each of the Members hereby
consents to the placement of such legend on the certificate or certificates
representing the Common Units beneficially owned by such party.
(i) Subject to compliance with Sections 3.3 and 6.1 and the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, any Unit Certificate and all rights hereunder
are transferable in whole or in part, without charge to the Members, upon
surrender of such Unit Certificate in accordance with this Section 3.3, at the
office of the Company. Upon any partial transfer, the Company shall, at the
Member's expense, issue and deliver to the Member a new Unit Certificate of like
tenor, in the name of the Member, with respect to the Common Units which were
not so transferred.
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(j) On receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory
to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Unit
Certificate and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of any Unit
Certificate, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in
form and amount to the Company or, in the case of any such mutilation, on
surrender of such Unit Certificate to the Company and cancellation thereof, the
Company, at the Member's expense, shall execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a
new Unit Certificate of like tenor.
3.4 VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member or
holder of a Membership Unit shall have the right to amend or terminate this
Agreement.
3.5 RESTRICTIONS. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the following matters shall require the prior written consent of
holders of more than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the Common Units:
(a) the redemption, purchase or other acquisition for value (or
payment into or set aside for a sinking fund for such purpose) of any Membership
Unit, or other type of equity interest of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
such Membership Units or equity interests (which are hereinafter reflected to as
"Consolidated Group Securities");
(b) the authorization or issuance (or the incurrence of any
obligation to authorize or issue) of any additional Membership Units or other
Consolidated Group Securities;
(c) the increase or decrease of the total number of authorized
Membership Units or other Consolidated Group Securities;
(d) the payment or declaration of any dividend or distribution
(other than Tax Distributions pursuant to Section 5.3) with respect to any
Membership Units or other Consolidated Group Securities;
(e) the authorization of any merger or consolidation of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries with or into any other entity (except for
mergers among wholly-owned Subsidiaries);
(f) the authorization of the reorganization or sale of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the sale of any material assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
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(g) the authorization of any reclassification or recapitalization
of the outstanding Membership Units of the Company or any other Consolidated
Group Securities;
(h) engagement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any
business other than the business now conducted or contemplated by the Company or
a business or businesses similar thereto or reasonably compatible therewith;
(i) the alteration , modification or amendment of this
Agreement; or
(j) the application by the Company for or consent by it to the
appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of it or any of its
property, (ii) the admission in writing by the Company of its inability to pay
its debts as they mature, (iii) the making by the Company of a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (iv) the filing by the Company of a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or a petition or an answer seeking
reorganization or an arrangement with creditors, or any other action by the
Company to take advantage of any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation laws or statutes, or an answer
from the Company admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against
it in any proceeding under any such law.
3.6 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF MEMBERS. Except as otherwise provided
in the Act, no Member of the Company shall be obligated personally for any debt,
obligation or liability of the Company or of any other Member or otherwise have
any personal recourse hereunder, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise,
solely by reason of being a Member. Except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement, no Member shall have any fiduciary or other duty to another Member
with respect to the business and affairs of the Company, and no Member shall be
liable to the Company or any other Member for acting in good faith reliance upon
the provisions of this Agreement. No Member shall have any responsibility to
restore any negative balance in its Capital Account or to contribute to or in
respect of the liabilities or obligations of the Company or return distributions
made by the Company except as required by this Agreement, the Act or other
applicable law; provided, however, that Members are responsible for their
failure to make required Capital Contributions in accordance with Section 5.1.
3.7 AUTHORITY. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, in all
matters relating to or arising out of the conduct or the operation of the
Company, the decision of the Members (acting by vote of holders of more than
fifty percent (50%) in interest of the Common Units) or the Majority Member, as
applicable, shall be the decision of the Company. The Company may employ one or
more Persons from time to time, and such Persons, in their capacity as Officers
or employees of the Company, may take part in the control and management of the
business of the Company to the extent such authority and
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power to act for or on behalf of the Company has been delegated to them by the
Members or the Majority Member, as applicable.
3.8 WITHDRAWALS; TERMINATION. No Member shall have any right to
resign or withdraw from the Company without the consent of the Members or the
Majority Member, as applicable, or to receive any distribution on its Membership
Units or the repayment of its Capital Contributions except as provided in
Article V hereof.
3.9 NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS. No Member shall have any right to have its
interest in the Company appraised and paid out under the circumstances provided
in Section 18-210 of the Act or any other circumstances.
3.10 COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS AND OTHER LAWS AND OBLIGATIONS.
Each Member hereby represents and warrants to the Company and acknowledges that
(a) it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that
it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company
and making an informed investment decision with respect thereto, (b) it is able
to bear the economic and financial risk of an investment in the Company for an
indefinite period of time and understands that it has no right to withdraw and
have its interest repurchased by the Company, (c) it is acquiring an interest in
the Company for investment only and not with a view to, or for resale in
connection with, any distribution to the public or public offering thereof, and
(d) it understands that the interests in the Company have not been registered
under the securities laws of any jurisdiction and cannot be disposed of unless
they are subsequently registered and/or qualified under applicable securities
laws or pursuant to valid exemptions from such registration/qualification
requirements and the provisions of this Agreement have been complied with.
3.11 MEMBER INSULATION.
(a) For so long as, and only during periods from time to time in
which the Company shall directly or indirectly hold (or otherwise be attributed
with) an ownership or other interest in a Media Enterprise that is "attributed"
to the Company under the FCC rules relating to the particular FCC service in
which the Media Enterprise operates, no provision of this Agreement shall be
construed to permit any Member (other than an Excluded Member), or any person or
entity that is a director, officer, partner, employee, or 5% or greater
shareholder or other owner of a Member (an "INSULATED MEMBER AFFILIATE"), to do
any of the following:
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(i) act as an employee of the Company if such Members or
Member Affiliate's functions, directly or indirectly, relate to such Media
Enterprise;
(ii) serve, in any material capacity, as an independent
contractor or agent of the Company with respect to such Media Enterprise;
(iii) communicate with the Media Enterprise on matters
pertaining to the day-to-day operations of such Media Enterprise;
(iv) vote to admit any additional Member to the Company;
(v) vote to amend or modify this section of the LLC
Agreement;
(vi) perform any services for the Company materially
relating to such Media Enterprise, with the exception of making loans to, or
acting as a surety for, such Media Enterprise or the Company; or
(vii) become actively involved in the management or
operation of such Media Enterprise.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this LLC Agreement to
the contrary, a Member that would otherwise be subject to the restrictions set
forth in Section 3.11(a) may elect to the treated as an Excluded Member for
purposes of this Section 3.11 by giving notice thereof in writing to the other
Members.
For purposes of this Section 3.11, (i) "Media Enterprise" shall mean
any Person that, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, or operates a broadcast
radio or television station, cable or wireless cable television system, daily
newspaper or any communications facility operated pursuant to a license granted
by the FCC, and (ii) "Excluded Member" shall mean any Member that is an
Affiliate of the Majority Member.
ARTICLE IV - MANAGEMENT
4.1 MANAGEMENT.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.1(b) hereof, the Company
shall be managed by the Members. No action may be taken by any Member to bind
the Company without the prior consent of Members holding more than fifty percent
(50%) in interest of the Common Units.
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(b) If any Member shall own more than fifty percent (50%) in
interest of the Common Units of the Company (the "Majority Member"), management
and control of the business of the Company shall be vested exclusively in the
Majority Member for so long as such Member holds more that fifty percent (50%)
in interest of the Common Units, and such Majority Member shall have exclusive
power and authority, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, to perform all
acts and do all things which, in its sole discretion, it deems necessary or
desirable to conduct the business of the Company.
The Majority Member shall, subject to all applicable provisions of
this Agreement, be authorized in the name and on behalf of the Company: (i) to
enter into, execute, amend, supplement, acknowledge and deliver any and all
contracts, agreements, leases or other instruments for the operation of the
Company's business; and (ii) in general to do all things and execute all
documents determined by it to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the
business of the Company as more fully set forth in Section 2.2 hereof or as
provided by law, or to protect and preserve the Company's assets. The Majority
Member may delegate any or all of the foregoing powers. The Majority Member is
an agent of the Company for the purpose of the Company's business. Any action
taken by the Majority Member, and the signature of the Majority Member on any
agreement, contract, instrument or other document on behalf of the Company,
shall be sufficient to bind the Company and shall conclusively evidence the
authority of the Majority Member and the Company with respect thereto.
(c) The Members acting pursuant to Section 4.1(a) or the Majority
Member, as applicable, shall be the "manager" (within the meaning of the Act) of
the Company, and each shall have the benefits and protections accorded
"managers" under the Act. The Members acting pursuant to Section 4.1(a) or the
Majority Member, as applicable, shall devote such time to the business and
affairs of the Company as is reasonably necessary for the performance of their
duties, but shall not be required to devote full time to the performance of such
duties and may delegate their responsibilities as provided in this Agreement.
The Majority Member shall not be personally liable to the Company or to its
Members for breach of any duty that does not involve: (i) a breach of the duty
of loyalty to the Company or its Members; (ii) an act or omission not in good
faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or
(iii) a transaction from which the Majority Member derived an improper personal
benefit.
4.2 RELIANCE BY THIRD PARTIES. Any person dealing with the Company
or any Member may rely upon a certificate signed by the Majority Member or any
Officer as to (i) the identity of any other Member; (ii) any factual matters
relevant to the affairs of the Company; (iii) the persons who are authorized to
execute and deliver any document on behalf of the Company; or (iv) any action
taken or omitted by the Company or any Member. The Majority Member shall not be
personally liable to the Company or to its Members for breach of any duty that
does not involve: (i) a breach of the duty of loyalty to the Company or its
other Members; (ii) an act or omission not in good faith or which
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involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or (iii) a
transaction from which the Majority Member derived an improper personal benefit.
4.3 OFFICERS. The Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, may
designate employees of the Company as officers of the Company (the "Officers")
as they deem necessary or desirable to carry on the business of the Company and
the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, may delegate to such Officers
such power and authority as the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable,
deem advisable. Any Officer may hold two or more offices of the Company. The
initial Officers of the Company shall be ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (President and Chief Operating Officer) and
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer). New offices
may be created and filled by the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable.
Each Officer shall hold office until his or her successor is designated by the
Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, or until his or her earlier
death, resignation or removal. Any Officer may resign at any time upon written
notice to the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable. Any Officer may be
removed by the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, with or without
cause at any time. A vacancy in any office occurring because of death,
resignation, removal or otherwise, may, but need not, be filled by the Members
or the Majority Member, as applicable. The Officers are not "managers" (within
the meaning of the Act) of the Company.
ARTICLE V - CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL
ACCOUNTS AND ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
5.1 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. The Initial Member has made as of the
date hereof the Capital Contribution to the Company specified on SCHEDULE A
attached hereto. Each New Member shall make the Capital Contribution to the
Company specified in such Member's Subscription Agreement as of the date of
admission of such New Member as a Member of the Company. Except as approved by
the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, or as set forth on SCHEDULE A
or in a Member's Subscription Agreement, no Member shall be entitled or required
to make any Capital Contribution or loan or advance to the Company; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Company may, subject to the other terms of this Agreement,
borrow from its Members as well as from banks or other lending institutions to
finance its working capital or the acquisition of assets upon such terms and
conditions as shall be approved by the Members or the Majority Member, as
applicable, and any such loans by Members shall not be considered Capital
Contributions or reflected in their Capital Accounts. The agreed value of all
non-cash Capital Contributions made by Members shall be set forth on SCHEDULE A
or in such Member's Subscription Agreement. No Member shall be entitled to any
interest or compensation with respect to its Capital Contributions or any
services rendered on behalf of the Company except as specifically provided in
this Agreement. No Member shall have any liability for the repayment of the
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Capital Contributions of any other Member and shall look only to the assets to
the Company for return of its Capital Contributions.
5.2 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS AND ALLOCATIONS.
(a) CAPITAL ACCOUNTS. A separate capital account (a "Capital
Account") shall be established and maintained for each Member, which shall
initially be equal to the Capital Contribution of such Member as set forth on
SCHEDULE A hereto. Such Capital Accounts shall be maintained in accordance with
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Treasury Regulations, and this Section 5.2
shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with said Section of the
Treasury Regulations. The Capital Accounts shall be maintained for the sole
purpose of allocating items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the
Members and shall have no effect on the amount of any distributions to any
Members in liquidation or otherwise. The amount of all distributions to Members
shall be determined pursuant to Sections 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5.
(b) ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND LOSSES. All items of income, gain,
loss and deduction as determined for book purposes shall be allocated among the
Members and credited or debited to their respective Capital Accounts in
accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), so as to ensure
to the maximum extent possible (i) that such allocations satisfy the economic
effect equivalence test of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(i) (as
provided hereinafter) and (ii) that all allocations of items that cannot have
economic effect (including credits and nonrecourse deductions) are allocated to
the Members in proportion to their membership interests unless otherwise
required by Code Section 704(b) and the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder. To the extent possible, items that can have economic effect shall be
allocated in such a manner that the balance of each Member's Capital Account at
the end of any fiscal year (increased by such Member's "share of partnership
minimum gain" as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2) would be
positive to the extent of the amount of cash that such Member would receive (or
would be negative to the extent of the amount of cash that such Member should be
required to contribute to the Company) if the Company sold all of its property
for an amount of cash equal to the book value (as determined pursuant to
Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)) of such property (reduced, but
not below zero, by the amount of nonrecourse debt to which such property is
subject) and all of the cash of the Company remaining after payment of all
liabilities (other than nonrecourse liabilities) of the Company were distributed
in liquidation immediately following the end of such fiscal year in accordance
with Section 5.3. Except to the extent otherwise required by the Code, the
"traditional method" provided for in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b)
shall apply to all tax allocations governed by Code Section 704(c) and all
"reverse Section 704(c) allocations."
(c) OTHER ALLOCATIONS. The Members or the Majority Member, as
applicable, may adjust the Capital Accounts of the Members to reflect
reevaluations of the
17
Company property whenever the adjustment would be permitted under Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f). In the event that the Capital Accounts
of the Members are so adjusted, (i) the Capital Accounts of the Members shall be
adjusted in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704l(b)(2)(iv)(g) for
allocations of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain or loss, as
computed for book purposes, with respect to such property and (ii) the Members'
distributive shares of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain or loss,
as computed for tax purposes, with respect to such property shall be determined
so as to take account of the variation between the adjusted tax basis and book
value of such property in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the Code.
In the event that Code Section 704(c) applies to Company property, the Capital
Accounts of the Members shall be adjusted in accordance with Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) for allocations of depreciation,
depletion, amortization and gain and loss, as computed for book purposes, with
respect to such property. In applying clause (ii) of the second preceding
sentence and all of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Code Section
704(b) shall apply.
5.3 DISTRIBUTIONS. Subject to (i) the terms of the Act, (ii) any
agreements of the Company or any of its Affiliates with respect to indebtedness
for money borrowed to which the Company may from time to time be subject, and
(iii) except in the case of distributions pursuant to subsection (a) below, the
prior written consent of holders of a majority in interest of the Common Units,
all funds of the Company which are available for distribution (as determined by
the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, in their discretion) shall be
distributed as follows:
(a) FIRST, within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end
of each taxable year during which ACME Televisions Holdings, LLC ("Holdings")
shall have any direct or indirect ownership interest in the Company, there shall
be distributed to each Member an amount (taking into account the Company's
interest in ACME Television, LLC) sufficient to allow Holdings to make the
distributions required under Section 5.3(a) of the Limited Liability Company
Agreement of Holdings (the "Tax Distributions"); and
(b) SECOND, pro rata to all Members in accordance with their
respective Distribution Percentages.
5.4 DISTRIBUTIONS UPON DISSOLUTION. Proceeds from a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and amounts available upon
dissolution, after payment of, or adequate provision for, the debts and
obligations of the Company, including the expenses of its liquidation and
dissolution, shall be distributed and applied in the following priorities:
(a) FIRST, to fund reserves as deemed reasonably necessary by the
Members, the Majority Member, as applicable, or the Liquidating Trustee for any
18
contingent, conditional or unmatured liabilities or other obligations of the
Company, which such reserves (i) may be paid to a bank (or other third party),
to be held in escrow for the purpose of paying any such contingent, conditional
or unmatured liabilities or other obligations, and (ii) shall at the expiration
of such period(s) as the Members, the Majority Member, as applicable, or
Liquidating Trustee may reasonably deem advisable, shall be distributed to the
Members in accordance with Section 5.3; and
(b) SECOND, in accordance with Section 5.3.
If any assets of the Company are to be distributed in kind in
connection with such liquidation, such assets shall be distributed on the basis
of their fair market value net of any liabilities encumbering such assets and,
to the greatest extent possible, shall be distributed pro-rata in accordance
with the total amounts to be distributed to each Member. Solely for purposes of
Section 5.2 and immediately prior to the effectiveness of any such
distribution-in-kind, each item of gain and loss that would have been recognized
by the Company had the property being distributed been sold at fair market value
shall be determined and allocated to those persons who were Members immediately
prior to the effectiveness of such distribution in accordance with Section 5.2.
5.5 DISTRIBUTION UPON WITHDRAWAL. No Member shall be entitled to
any distribution or payment with respect to its Membership Units upon the
resignation or withdrawal of such Member.
5.6 TAX MATTERS PARTNER. ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC is hereby
designated as the initial "Tax Matters Partner" of the Company for purposes of
Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code, and such Tax Matters Partner shall have the
power to manage and control, on behalf of the Company, any administrative
proceeding at the Company level with the Internal Revenue Service relating to
the determination of any item of Company income, gain, loss, deduction or credit
for federal income tax purposes. The Members or the Majority Member, as
applicable, may at any time hereafter designate a new Tax Matters Partner;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that only a Member may be designated as the Tax Matters
Partner of the Company.
(a) PARTNERSHIP STATUS. The Company will elect to be treated as a
pass-through entity for purposes of federal and state income tax, and each
Member covenants that it will make no election, declaration or statement on or
in any tax return, tax filing, or any book or record maintained by it which is
inconsistent with or detrimental to the Company's ongoing maintenance of
partnership tax status (or as a single-member entity, if applicable).
(b) INCOME TAX COMPLIANCE. The Tax Matters Partner shall prepare
or cause to be prepared and filed on behalf of the Company, when and as required
by
19
applicable law, all federal, state and local income tax information returns
or requests for extensions thereof. Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the
due date (including extensions) for any return (but not later than August 15 of
each year), the Tax Matters Partner shall submit to each Member a copy of the
return as proposed for review and a schedule showing the Member's allocable
share of the Company's tax attributes ("Tax Attributes") sufficient to allow
such Member to include such Tax Attributes in its federal income tax return.
Each Member shall provide to the Tax Matters Partner, when and as requested, all
information concerning the affairs of such Member as may be reasonably required
to permit the filing of such returns.
(c) TAX ELECTIONS. The Tax Matters Partner shall make the
following tax elections on behalf of the Company:
(i) Unless required to adopt a different taxable year
pursuant to Section 706(b) of the Code, adopt the calendar year as the annual
accounting period;
(ii) Adopt the accrual method of accounting;
(iii) Deduct interest expense and taxes attributable to the
construction or installation of real and personal property improvements to the
fullest extent permitted by the Code;
(iv) Compute the allowance for depreciation under the most
accelerated tax depreciation method and using the shortest life and lowest
salvage value authorized by applicable law, consistent with the election
provided for in the following clause, with respect to all depreciable assets;
(v) If allowed by the Code, and to the maximum extent
allowable, elect to take available investment tax credit on the full basis of
each asset; and
(vi) Make such other elections as the Tax Matters Partner
shall have been directed in writing by the Members or the Majority Member, as
applicable, to make. The requirement to make any of the elections set forth
above is predicated upon the assumption that current federal income tax law will
continue in force. If any legislative change is made in the Code or any other
tax statutes or by the IRS in regulations and other pronouncements or by the
courts in case law affecting any of such elections so as to materially alter the
economic result of the required election, the Tax Matters Partner shall make
such election in respect of the item so affected as directed by the Members or
the Majority Member, as applicable.
(d) CODE SECTION 754 ELECTION. In connection with any transfer or
assignment of any Membership Units, or any distribution with respect to which a
Member
20
recognizes gain under Code section 731(a), the Members or the Majority
Member, as applicable, shall, upon the written request of any Member, cause the
Company to file an election under Code section 754 and the Treasury Regulations
thereunder to adjust the basis of the Company assets under Code Section 734(b)
or 743(b) and a corresponding election under the applicable sections of state
and local law.
ARTICLE VI - TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS
6.1 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS. No Membership Units of the Company
may be Transferred, nor may any Member offer to Transfer, and no Transfer by a
Member shall be binding upon the Company or any Member unless such Transfer
complies with the provisions of this Article VI and the Company receives an
executed copy of the documents effecting such Transfer.
No Transfer shall be permitted if such Transfer would (i) violate
the registration provisions of the Securities Act or the securities laws of any
applicable jurisdiction, (ii) cause the Company to become subject to regulation
as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, (iii) result in the termination of any
material contract to which the Company is a party and which is material, or (iv)
result in the treatment of the Company as an association taxable as a
corporation or as a "publicly traded partnership" for federal income tax
purposes. The Company may require reasonable evidence as to the foregoing,
including, without limitation, a favorable opinion of counsel.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the pledge of the Membership Units to
a lender or lenders of the Company pursuant to a security and pledge agreement
or a substantial similar agreement and such lender(s)' exercise of its rights
thereunder shall be deemed to be a permitted transfer hereunder.
6.2 SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS. If a Transferee of Membership Units does not
become (and until any such Transferee becomes) a substitute Member in accordance
with the provisions of Section 6.1 hereof, such Person shall not be entitled to
exercise or receive any of the rights, powers or benefits of a Member other than
the right to receive distributions which the assigning Member has Transferred to
such Person. The Company shall admit as a substitute Member any Person that
acquires Membership Units by Transfer from any Member pursuant to Section 6.1
hereof, but only upon the receipt of an executed instrument satisfactory to the
Company whereby such assignee becomes a party to this Agreement as a Member.
6.3 ALLOCATION OF DISTRIBUTIONS BETWEEN ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE. Upon
the Transfer of Membership Units pursuant to this Article and unless the
assignor and assignee otherwise agree and so direct the Company in a written
statement signed by both the assignor and assignee (a) distributions pursuant to
Article V shall be made to the Person
21
owning such Membership Units at the date of distribution and (b) the assignee
shall succeed to a pro-rata (based on the percentage of such assignor's
Membership Units Transferred) portion of the assignor's Capital Account with
respect to such Membership Units.
Any Membership Units Transferred shall remain subject to the
provisions of this Agreement and the transferee shall have entered into an
enforceable written agreement providing that all Membership Units so Transferred
shall continue to be subject to all provisions of this Agreement as if such
Membership Units were still held by the transferring Member, and provided
further that such permitted transferee shall not be permitted to make any
further Transfer without complying with the provisions of this Agreement.
Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, transferees
permitted hereunder shall take any Membership Units so Transferred subject to
all obligations under this Agreement as if such Membership Units were still held
by the transferring Member whether or not they so expressly agree.
6.4 PERMITTED TRANSFERS. Subject to the provisions of Sections
6.1(a) and 6.2, holders of Common Units may Transfer such Common Units to any
other holder of Common Units or to a partner or Affiliate of such Member or to
any other investment fund or other entity for which such Member and/or one or
more partners or Affiliates thereof, directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, serve as general partner or manager or in a like capacity.
ARTICLE VII - INDEMNIFICATION
7.1 RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION. Except as limited by law and subject
to the provisions of this Article, the Company shall indemnify each Indemnified
Party from and against any and all Losses in any way related to or arising out
of this Agreement, the business of the Company or the action or inaction of such
Person hereunder (including, without limitation, the actions or inactions of the
Members and the other Indemnified Parties pursuant to Article IX hereof upon
dissolution of the Company), which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted at
any time against any such Indemnified Party, except that no indemnification
shall be provided for any Indemnified Party regarding any matter as to which it
shall be finally determined that such Indemnified Party did not act in good
faith and in the reasonable belief that its action was in the best interests of
the Company, or with respect to a criminal matter, that it had reasonable cause
to believe that its conduct was unlawful. Subject to the foregoing limitations,
such indemnification may be provided by the Company with respect to Losses in
connection with which it is claimed that such Indemnified Party received an
improper personal benefit by reason of its position, regardless of whether the
claim arises out of the Indemnified Party's service in such capacity, except for
matters as to which it is finally determined that an improper personal benefit
was received by such Indemnified Party. The indemnification contained in this
Article VII shall survive termination of this Agreement.
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7.2 AWARD OF INDEMNIFICATION. The determination of whether the
Company is authorized to indemnify any Indemnified Party hereunder and any award
of indemnification shall be made in each instance by the Members; provided,
however, that as to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment, pursuant to
a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification, either for said payment or
for any other Losses, shall be provided unless there has been obtained an
opinion in writing of legal counsel to the effect that the Person subject to
indemnification hereunder appears to have acted in good faith and that such
indemnification would not protect such Person against any liability to the
Company or the Members to which he, she or it would otherwise be subject by
reason of gross negligence, willful malfeasance or fraud in the conduct of his,
her or its office or actions not taken in good faith by such Person. The Company
shall be obliged to pay indemnification applied for by any Indemnified Party
unless there is an adverse determination (as provided above) within forty-five
(45) days after the application. If indemnification is denied, the applicant may
seek an independent determination of its right to indemnification by a court,
and in such event, the Company shall have the burden of proving that the
applicant was ineligible for indemnification under this Article. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the case of a proceeding by or in the right of the Company
which an Indemnified Party is adjudged liable to the Company, indemnification
hereunder shall be provided only upon a determination by a court having
jurisdiction that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnified
Party is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Losses as
the court shall deem proper.
7.3 SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of
this Article, if any Indemnified Party has been wholly successful on the merits
in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding in which it was involved by
reason of its position with the Company or as a result of serving in such
capacity (including termination of investigative or other proceedings without a
finding of fault on the part of such Indemnified Party), such Indemnified Party
shall be indemnified by the Company against all Losses incurred by such
Indemnified Party in connection therewith.
7.4 ADVANCE PAYMENTS. Except as limited by law, Losses incurred by
an Indemnified Party in defending any action, suit or proceeding, including a
proceeding by or in the right of the Company, shall be paid by the Company to
such Indemnified Party in advance of final disposition of the proceeding upon
receipt of its written undertaking to repay such amount if such Indemnified
Party is determined pursuant to this Article VII or adjudicated to be ineligible
for indemnification, which undertaking shall be an unlimited general obligation
but need not be secured and may be accepted without regard to the financial
ability of such Indemnified Party to make repayment; provided, however, that no
such advance payment of issues shall be made if it is determined pursuant to
Section 7.2 of this Article on the basis of the circumstances known at the time
(without further investigation) that such Indemnified Party is ineligible for
indemnification.
7.5 INSURANCE. The Company shall have power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any Indemnified Party against any liability or cost
incurred by such Person in any such capacity or arising out of its status as
such, whether or not the Company would have power to indemnify against such
liability or cost.
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7.6 HEIRS AND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES. The indemnification
provided by this Article shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal
representatives of the Indemnified Parties.
7.7 NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The provisions of this Article shall not be
construed to limit the power of the Company to indemnify the Members, Officers,
employees or agents to the fullest extent permitted by law or to enter into
specific agreements, commitments or arrangements for indemnification permitted
by law. The absence of any express provision for indemnification herein shall
not limit any right of indemnification existing independently of this Article.
7.8 AMENDMENT. The provisions of this Article may be amended or
repealed in accordance with Section 10.5; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no amendment
or repeal of such provisions that adversely affects the rights of the Members
under this Article with respect to acts or omissions occurring at any time prior
to such amendment or repeal, shall apply to any Member without such Member's
consent.
ARTICLE VIII - CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
8.1 TRANSACTIONS WITH INTERESTED PERSONS; CONFLICTS.
(a) Unless entered into in bad faith, no contract or transaction
between the Company and one or more of its Members or any other Indemnified
Party, or between the Company and any other Person in which one or more of its
Members or any other Indemnified Party has a financial interest or is a
director, manager or officer, shall be voidable solely for this reason if such
contract or transaction is fair and reasonable to the Company; and no Member or
other Indemnified Party interested in such contract or transaction, because of
such interest, shall be liable to the Company or to any other Person or
organization for any loss or expense incurred by reason of such contract or
transaction or shall be accountable for any gain or profit realized from such
contract or transaction.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) whenever a
conflict of interest exists or arises between the Company, its Members and/or
the other Indemnified Parties or (ii) whenever this Agreement provides that any
such Person shall act in a manner that is, or provide terms that are, fair and
reasonable to the Company or any Member, such Person shall resolve such conflict
of interest, taking such action or providing such terms, considering in each
case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to
24
such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens
relating to such interests, any customary or acceptable industry practices, and
any applicable generally acceptable accounting practices or principles. In the
absence of bad faith by the Member or other Indemnified Party, as the case may
be, the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by such Person
shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of such Person at law or in
equity or otherwise.
8.2 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
Members may engage in or possess an interest in other business
ventures of any nature, and neither the Company nor any other Member shall have
any rights by virtue of this Agreement in or to any such venture or the income
or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if
competitive with the activities of the Company, shall not be deemed improper or
wrongful. No Member shall be obligated to present any particular investment or
business opportunity to the Company even if such opportunity is of a nature
which could be taken by the Company.
ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, AND TERMINATION
9.1 NO DISSOLUTION. The Company shall not be dissolved by the
admission of additional Members, the withdrawal of a Member or the written
consent of all Members, but shall continue to exist in perpetuity, except in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the death, retirement,
resignation, expulsion, Bankruptcy or dissolution of any Member the Company
shall not dissolve and its affairs shall not be wound up except as set forth in
Section 9.2 below.
9.2 EVENTS CAUSING DISSOLUTION. The Company shall be dissolved and
its affairs wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) if a Majority Member shall be acting as a Manager under
Section 6.2 hereof, the Bankruptcy, dissolution, death, retirement, or
resignation of the Majority Member; unless the Company is continued upon the
written consent of a majority of the remaining Members, such consent to be given
within ninety (90) days following the occurrence of such event;
(b) if there shall be no Majority Member acting as a Manager
under Section 6.2 hereof, the Bankruptcy, dissolution, death, retirement, or
resignation of any Member; unless the Company is continued upon the written
consent of a majority of the remaining Members, such consent to be given within
ninety (90) days following the occurrence of such event;
25
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under Section
18-802 of the Act.
9.3 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION. Upon the dissolution of the Company, the
Member or the other Person or Persons (the "Liquidating Trustee") appointed by
the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, to carry out the winding up
of the Company, shall promptly notify the Members of such dissolution.
9.4 LIQUIDATION. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Liquidating
Trustee shall proceed diligently to liquidate the Company and wind up its
affairs and to make final distributions as provided in Section 5.4 hereof and in
the Act. The costs of dissolution and liquidation shall be borne as an expense
of the Company. Until final distribution, the Liquidating Trustee shall continue
to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the
Members or the Majority Member, as applicable. As promptly as possible after
dissolution and again after final liquidation, the Liquidating Trustee shall
cause an accounting to be made by a firm of independent public accountants of
the Company's assets, liabilities and operations.
9.5 CERTIFICATE OF CANCELLATION. On completion of the distribution
of Company assets as provided herein, the Company shall be terminated, and the
Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, (or such other Person or Persons
as the Act may require or permit) shall file a Certificate of Cancellation with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware under the Act, cancel any other
filings made pursuant to Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.4, and take such other actions
as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company.
ARTICLE X - GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1 OFFSET. Whenever the Company is to pay any sum to any Member,
any amounts that Member owes the Company may be deducted from that sum before
payment. All amounts so deducted shall nevertheless be treated as distributions
for purposes of Sections 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 hereof.
10.2 NOTICES. Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this
Agreement, all notices, requests, or consents provided for or permitted to be
given under this Agreement must be in writing and shall be given either by
registered or certified mail, addressed to the recipient, with return receipt
requested, or by delivering the writing to the recipient in Person, by courier,
or by facsimile transmission; and a notice, request, or consent given under this
Agreement is effective upon receipt or three days after the date mailed,
whichever is sooner. All notices, requests, and consents to be given to a Member
must be sent to or delivered at the addresses given for that Member on SCHEDULE
A, or such other address as that Member may specify by written notice to the
other Members and the
26
Company. Any notice, request, or consent to be given to the Company must be
given to the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, at the address of
the principal office of Company specified in Section 2.3. Whenever any notice is
required to be given by law, the Certificate or this Agreement, a written waiver
thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the
time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
10.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with each Member's
Subscription Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement of the Members relating
to the Company and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to
the Company, whether oral or written.
10.4 AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION; TERMS. This Agreement, including any
Schedule hereto, may be amended from time to time, in whole or in part, by an
instrument in writing signed in accordance with Section 3.4 hereof. Copies of
each such amendment shall be delivered to each Member at least thirty (30) days
prior to the effective date of such amendment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, in the case of
any amendment that the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable, determine
is necessary or appropriate to prevent the Company from being treated as a
publicly traded partnership taxed as a corporation under section 7704 of the
Code, the amendment shall be effective on the date provided in the instrument
containing the terms of such amendment. Nothing contained in this Agreement
shall permit the amendment of this Agreement to impair the exemption from
personal liability of the officers, employees and agents of the Company or
Members or to permit assessments upon the Members.
10.5 BINDING EFFECT. Subject to the restrictions on Transfers set
forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and inures to the benefit
of the parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and
assigns.
10.6 GOVERNING LAW; SEVERABILITY. This Agreement is governed by and
shall be construed in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware,
exclusive of its conflict-of-laws principles. In the event of a direct conflict
between the provisions of this Agreement and any provision of the Certificate,
or any mandatory provision of the Act, the applicable provision of the
Certificate or the Act shall control. If any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or
unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application
of that provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
10.7 FURTHER ASSURANCES. In connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any
additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be
necessary or
27
appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those
transactions, as requested by the Members or the Majority Member, as applicable.
10.8 WAIVER OF CERTAIN RIGHTS. Each Member irrevocably waives any
right it may have to maintain any action for dissolution of the Company or for
partition of the property of the Company.
10.9 THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Except with respect to the Lenders,
who are expressly intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement,
there shall be no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement.
10.10 FAILURE TO PURSUE REMEDIES. The failure of any party to seek
redress for violation of, or to insist upon the strict performance of, any
provision of this Agreement shall not prevent a subsequent act, which would have
originally constituted a violation, from having the effect of any original
violation.
10.11 CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The rights and remedies provided by this
Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party
shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said
rights and remedies are given in addition to any other right the parties may
have by law, statute, ordinance or otherwise.
10.12 NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. By
executing this Agreement, each Member acknowledges that such Member has actual
notice of (a) all of the provisions of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the restrictions on the Transfer of Membership Units set forth in
Article VI and the limitations on participation of Members in the management of
the Company set forth in Article III, and (b) all of the provisions of the
Certificate. Each Member hereby agrees that this Agreement constitutes adequate
notice of all such provisions, and each Member hereby waives any requirement
that any further notice thereunder be given.
10.13 INTERPRETATION. For the purposes of this Agreement, terms not
defined in this Agreement shall be defined as provided in the Act; and all
nouns, pronouns and verbs used in this Agreement shall be construed as
masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, or plural, whichever shall be applicable.
Titles or captions of Articles and Sections contained in this Agreement are
inserted as a matter of convenience and for reference, and in no way define,
limit, extend or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent of any
provision hereof.
10.14 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same
document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute
the same instrument.
28
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
under seal as of the date set forth above.
ACME TELEVISION, LLC
By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President
ACME INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC
By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President
ACME SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS II, LLC
By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President
29
ACME TELEVISION, LLC
Schedule A
Member NO. OF UNITS CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION
ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC 199 $995.00
ACME Subsidiary Holdings II, LLC 1 $ 5.00
30
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF COMMON UNIT]
[APPLICABLE LEGENDS]
Certificate No. ____ Number of Common Units: _________
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
of
ACME Television, LLC
ACME Television, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), hereby certifies that [HOLDER]
(the "Holder") is the registered owner of [ __________________] Common Units.
The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and preferences and other
terms and provisions of the Common Units represented hereby are set forth in all
respects in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the
Company, dated as of September__, 1997 (as the same may be amended, supplemented
or modified in accordance with its terms, the "LLC Agreement"). Capitalized
terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the LLC
Agreement. The Company will provide a copy of the LLC Agreement to the Holder
without charge upon written request to the Company at its principal place of
business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder shall be admitted to
the Company as a Member and shall be bound by the LLC Agreement and shall be
entitled to the benefits thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this certificate this
___ day of ______________.
ACME Television, LLC
By: _______________________________
Name:
Title: Manager
31
ANNEX A
FORM OF PRIVATE PLACEMENT LEGEND
THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY
STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY
INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERRED, SOLD, ASSIGNED,
TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE
ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT
FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF
(1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS AN
INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1),
(2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN "INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR") OR (C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING
THIS SECURITY IN AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO REGULATION S,
(2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT PRIOR OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER
THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES,
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED
EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS
BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALE
TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE
MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PURSUANT TO RULE
904 OF REGULATION S, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT
IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITIES FOR ITS
32
OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED
INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR
OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF
THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) AGREES
THAT IT SHALL BE BOUND, TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE, BY THE TERMS OF
THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT DATED
AS OF AUGUST 15, 1997, AND (4) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH
PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY
TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION," "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE RESPECTIVE
MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
33