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EXHIBIT 10.23
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CHELSEA MARKET SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
BETWEEN
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
AND
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
AS THE MEMBERS
DATED AS OF JANUARY 3, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................................1
ARTICLE I
FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY...................................................................4
SECTION 1.1 FORMATION.........................................................................4
SECTION 1.2 PARTNERSHIP FOR TAX PURPOSES ONLY.................................................4
ARTICLE II
NAME.....................................................................................................5
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE..................................................................................................5
SECTION 3.1 PURPOSE...........................................................................5
SECTION 3.2 POWERS OF THE COMPANY.............................................................5
ARTICLE IV
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS...........................................................................5
ARTICLE V
REGISTERED AGENT; REGISTERED OFFICE;
PRINCIPAL OFFICE; ADDITIONAL OFFICES.....................................................................6
ARTICLE VI
TERM.....................................................................................................6
ARTICLE VII
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS....................................................................................6
SECTION 7.1 CONTRIBUTIONS.....................................................................6
SECTION 7.2 NO LIABILITY FOR ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.........................................7
SECTION 7.3 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS..................................................................7
SECTION 7.4 ADJUSTMENT OF CAPITAL ACCOUNTS....................................................7
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ARTICLE VIII
DISTRIBUTIONS............................................................................................8
SECTION 8.1 AMOUNT; TIMING....................................................................8
SECTION 8.2 FAILURE TO WITHDRAW...............................................................9
SECTION 8.3 TRANSFEROR/TRANSFEREE ALLOCATIONS.................................................9
SECTION 8.4 MEMBER ADVANCES...................................................................9
ARTICLE IX
ALLOCATIONS OF INCOME, GAIN,
LOSS, DEDUCTION AND CREDIT...............................................................................9
SECTION 9.1 GENERAL...........................................................................9
SECTION 9.2 SPECIAL ALLOCATION...............................................................10
SECTION 9.3 ALLOCATIONS FOR TAX PURPOSES.....................................................10
SECTION 9.4 TRANSFER/TRANSFEREE ALLOCATIONS..................................................11
SECTION 9.5 RELIANCE ON ADVISORS.............................................................11
SECTION 9.6 TAX MATTERS PARTNER..............................................................11
ARTICLE X
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, RECORDS AND TAX INFORMATION...........................................................12
SECTION 10.1 MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS.................................................12
SECTION 10.2 REPORTS..........................................................................12
ARTICLE XI
FISCAL YEAR.............................................................................................13
ARTICLE XII
COMPANY FUNDS...........................................................................................13
ARTICLE XIII
STATUS OF MEMBERS.......................................................................................13
ARTICLE XIV
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS....................................................................13
SECTION 14.1 MEMBER MANAGEMENT................................................................13
SECTION 14.2 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.............................................................13
SECTION 14.3 INABILITY TO AGREE ON A BUSINESS PLAN............................................16
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SECTION 14.4 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT...................................................17
SECTION 14.5 OFFICERS.........................................................................17
SECTION 14.6 EXCULPATION......................................................................17
SECTION 14.7 INDEMNIFICATION..................................................................18
SECTION 14.8 CERTAIN AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS...................................................19
SECTION 14.9 OTHER ACTIVITIES.................................................................19
ARTICLE XV
TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS........................................................................19
SECTION 15.1 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.........................................................19
SECTION 15.2 PROCEDURES.......................................................................19
SECTION 15.3 CONSENT TO TRANSFER..............................................................20
SECTION 15.4 COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS..................................................20
SECTION 15.5 BUY-OUT. ......................................................................20
SECTION 15.6 BUY-OUT EVENT....................................................................21
ARTICLE XVI
DISSOLUTION OF THE COMPANY..............................................................................21
SECTION 16.1 EVENTS OF DISSOLUTION............................................................21
SECTION 16.2 OPTION TO PURCHASE INTEREST OF BANKRUPT MEMBER...................................22
ARTICLE XVII
WINDING UP AND TERMINATION OF THE COMPANY...............................................................23
SECTION 17.1 LIQUIDATOR.......................................................................24
SECTION 17.2 RESERVES.........................................................................24
SECTION 17.3 SALE OF ASSETS; DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS.........................................24
SECTION 17.4 FINAL ACCOUNTING.................................................................24
SECTION 17.5 RECOURSE LIMITED TO COMPANY ASSETS...............................................24
SECTION 17.6 TERMINATION......................................................................24
ARTICLE XVIII
NOTICES.................................................................................................25
ARTICLE XIX
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS.................................................................................25
SECTION 19.1 AMENDMENTS.......................................................................25
SECTION 19.2 MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS..........................................................25
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ARTICLE XX
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS...............................................................26
ARTICLE XXI
MISCELLANEOUS...........................................................................................26
SECTION 21.1 NO RIGHT OF PARTITION............................................................26
SECTION 21.2 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SUPERSEDURE....................................................26
SECTION 21.3 GOVERNING LAW....................................................................26
SECTION 21.4 BINDING EFFECT...................................................................26
SECTION 21.5 CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT........................................................26
SECTION 21.6 CAPTIONS.........................................................................27
SECTION 21.7 EFFECT OF INVALID PROVISION......................................................27
SECTION 21.8 COUNTERPARTS.....................................................................27
SECTION 21.9 WAIVER...........................................................................27
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LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CHELSEA MARKET SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the 3rd day of January, 2000, between and
among ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technologies, Inc., a Texas corporation, and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to form a limited liability company
under and pursuant to the Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
undertakings contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be applicable to the terms set forth
below as used in this Agreement:
"ACT" means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. Code
Sections 18-101 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and any
successor to said Act.
"AFFILIATE" means any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity
controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with a
Member or in which a Member directly or indirectly holds ten percent (10%) or
more of the outstanding voting or equity interests.
"AGREED VALUE" means, in the case of any contributions or distributions
of property, the fair market value of such property net of any indebtedness or
other liability either assumed or to which such property is subject, as such
fair market value is determined by the Members using such reasonable method of
valuation as they may adopt.
"AGREEMENT" means this Limited Liability Company Agreement of Chelsea
Market Systems, L.L.C. as the same may be amended or modified from time to time
in accordance with Article XIX hereof.
"ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVES" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
14.2(a).
"APPROVED BUSINESS PLAN" means a Business Plan and any amendments and
revisions thereto that have been approved by the Management Committee pursuant
to Section 14.2(b).
"BANKRUPTCY" means the occurrence of any of the events described in
Section 18-304 of the Act with respect to a specified person.
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"BUILT-IN GAIN" with respect to any Company property means (i) the
excess of the Agreed Value of any Contributed Property over its adjusted basis
for federal income tax purposes as of the time of contribution and (ii) in the
case of any adjustment to the Carrying Value of any Company property subject to
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization pursuant to Section 7.4 as a result
of a contribution of cash for a Membership Interest, the Unrealized Gain with
respect to such property.
"BUILT-IN LOSS" with respect to any Company property means (i) the
excess of its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes of any Contributed
Property over its Agreed Value as of the time of contribution and (ii) in the
case of any adjustment to the Carrying Value of any Company property subject to
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization pursuant to Section 7.4 as a result
of a contribution of cash for a Membership Interest, the Unrealized Loss with
respect to such property.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or bank
holiday in Houston, Texas.
"BUSINESS PLAN" shall mean the projected operating and capital spending
budgets of the Company for each fiscal year (or in the case of the initial
Business Plan the applicable portion thereof) after completion of the
Development Contract and shall set forth income and expense projections and
planned contributions and financing.
"CAPITAL ACCOUNT" means the account established for each Member
pursuant to Section 7.3.
"CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS" means the Agreed Value of any property and the
amount of cash contributed by a Member to the Company.
"CARRYING VALUE" with respect to any Capital Contribution means the
Agreed Value of such property reduced as of the time of determination by all
depreciation, cost recovery and amortization deductions charged to the Capital
Accounts with respect to such property and an appropriate amount to reflect any
sales, retirements or other dispositions of assets included in such property
and, with respect to any other Company property, the adjusted basis of such
property for federal income tax purposes as of the time of determination. The
Carrying Values shall be further adjusted as provided in Section 8.4.
"CERTIFICATE" means the Certificate of Formation of the Company to be
filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant
to the Act, and any and all amendments thereto and restatements thereof.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in
effect on the effective date hereof and, to the extent applicable, as
subsequently amended.
"COMPANY" means Chelsea Market Systems, L.L.C., the limited liability
company formed hereunder.
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"CONTRIBUTED PROPERTY" means any Capital Contribution of property other
than cash.
"DEFAULT INTEREST RATE" means a floating rate per annum equal to the
lesser of (a) 2% per annum over the borrowing rate of The Men's Wearhouse, Inc.
under its $125,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement dated February 15, 1999, or
such other credit facility as may be substituted therefor, as the case may be
with adjustments in such varying rate hereunder to be made on the same date as
any change in the aforesaid rate or (b) the maximum rate permitted by Law.
"DELINQUENT CONTRIBUTION" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
7.1(c).
"DELINQUENT MEMBER" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1(c).
"DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT" means that certain Software Development
Agreement between the Company and The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. dated effective
January 3, 2000, concerning the development, testing and completion of a POS
software system by the Company for The Men's Wearhouse.
"DISTRIBUTABLE CASH" means, at the time of determination, all Company
cash derived from the conduct of the Company's business, other than (i) Capital
Contributions, together with interest earned thereon pending utilization
thereof, (ii) financing proceeds, (iii) reserves for working capital and (iv)
other amounts that the Members reasonably determine to be necessary for the
proper operation of the Company's business and its winding up and liquidation.
"▇▇▇▇▇" means ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, an individual residing in Houston, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
County, Texas.
"INDEMNITEE" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 14.7(a).
"LENDING MEMBER" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1(c).
"LIQUIDATOR" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 17.1.
"MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
14.2.
"MEMBERS" means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ or their respective successors or
permitted assigns and "MEMBER" means any one of them.
"MEMBER'S OPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION" has the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 7.1(c).
"MEMBERSHIP INTEREST" as to any Member means the entire ownership
interest and rights of that Member in the Company, including, without
limitation, its right to a distributive share of the profits and losses of the
Company, its right to a distributive share of the assets of the Company in
accordance with the provisions hereof, and its right to participate in the
management of the affairs of the Company.
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"▇▇▇▇▇▇▇" means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technologies, Inc., a Texas corporation.
"REPRESENTATIVE" has the meaning given such term in Section 14.2(a).
"SHARING RATIO" means the percentages set forth below:
MEMBER SHARING RATIO
------ -------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 50%
▇▇▇▇▇ 50%
"SYSTEMS COMPLETION" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the
Development Contract.
"TMP" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 9.6(a).
"UNREALIZED GAIN" attributable to a Company property means, as of the
date of determination, the excess of the fair market value of such property as
of such date of determination over the Carrying Value of such property as of
such date of determination.
"UNREALIZED LOSS" attributable to a Company property means, as of the
date of such determination, the excess of the Carrying Value of such property as
of such date of determination over the fair market value of such property as of
such date of determination.
ARTICLE I
FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
SECTION 1.1 FORMATION. The Members hereby form the limited liability
company pursuant to the Act. The rights and liabilities of the Members shall be
as provided in the Act, except as herein otherwise expressly provided. The
Membership Interests of any Member shall be personal property for all purposes.
Each Member shall execute, acknowledge, swear to, and deliver all certificates
and other instruments conforming with this Agreement that are necessary to
qualify, continue, or terminate the Company as a limited liability company under
the laws of the State of Delaware and to qualify the Company to do business in
such other states or other jurisdictions where such qualification is necessary
or desirable.
SECTION 1.2 PARTNERSHIP FOR TAX PURPOSES ONLY. The Members intend that
the Company not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint
venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member,
for any purposes other than U.S. federal and state tax purposes, and this
Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise.
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ARTICLE II
NAME
The name of the Company shall be, and the business of the Company shall
be conducted under the name of, Chelsea Market Systems, L.L.C. or such other
name or names that comply with applicable law as the Members may designate from
time to time. The Management Committee shall take any action that they determine
is required to comply with the Act, assumed name act, fictitious name act, or
similar statute in effect in each jurisdiction or political subdivision in which
the Company proposes to do business.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE AND POWERS
SECTION 3.1 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Company is to design, create
and market computer software for use in retail operations, and to market
products and services related to the software and to engage in any and all
activities necessary, convenient, desirable or incidental to the foregoing.
SECTION 3.2 POWERS OF THE COMPANY. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company shall have the power and authority to take any and all
actions necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, convenient or incidental to
or for the furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 3.1, including the
power to conduct the Company's business and to carry on the Company's
operations. The Company shall have and exercise the powers granted to a limited
liability company by the Act in any state, territory, district or possession of
the United States, or in any foreign country that may be necessary, convenient
or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company.
ARTICLE IV
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS
The names and mailing addresses of the Members are as set forth on the
signature pages hereof.
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ARTICLE V
REGISTERED AGENT; REGISTERED OFFICE;
PRINCIPAL OFFICE; ADDITIONAL OFFICES
The name and address of the registered office of the Company in the
State of Delaware is c/o The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust
Center, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The
principal office of the Company shall be ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The name and address of the registered agent for service
of process on the Company in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust
Company, Corporation Trust Center, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The Members may change the registered agent or the
registered office of the Company and may establish such additional offices of
the Company as they may, from time to time determine.
ARTICLE VI
TERM
The term of the Company shall be perpetual from the date of the filing
of the Certificate in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware unless sooner liquidated or dissolved in accordance with this
Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 7.1 CONTRIBUTIONS.
(a) Upon execution of this Agreement, the Members shall
contribute the amounts set forth below.
Capital
Member Contribution
------ ------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ $5,000
▇▇▇▇▇ $5,000
Total $10,000
(b) Each Member shall be required during each fiscal year to
make the additional Capital Contributions (i) included in the Business
Plan for such fiscal year or any amendment thereto, in either case as
approved by the Management Committee pursuant to this Agreement or (ii)
otherwise required by the Management Committee. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall
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contribute the Surplus Amount as defined in the Development Contract to
fund the first Approved Business Plan and, unless otherwise agreed by
the Management Committee, all other capital contribution shall be made
pro rata in accordance with the Members' Sharing Ratios. Unless
otherwise provided in the Business Plan, each such contribution shall
be made in cash.
(c) If a Member does not contribute by the time required all
or any portion of a Capital Contribution (the "Delinquent
Contribution") that the Member is required to make as provided in this
Agreement, the Company may, with notice to that Member (the "DELINQUENT
MEMBER") and each of the other Members request that the Capital
Contribution be made by the other Members. The Company shall give a
written notice to the Delinquent Member and to the other Members
specifying the amount of the Capital Contribution which has not been
made. Each Member that elects to do so, shall, within five Business
Days, notify the Company of the portion of such Delinquent Contribution
the Member desires to make to the Company. If the Members, in the
aggregate, elect to make contributions which would exceed the
Delinquent Contribution, the amount to be contributed by each Member
shall be reduced on a pro rata basis based on the amount each Member
elected to contribute compared to the aggregate of the amounts all
Members elected to contribute. The contribution made by a Member
pursuant to this subparagraph (c) is referred to herein as a "Member's
Optional Contribution."
SECTION 7.2 NO LIABILITY FOR ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS. The liability of
each Member to the Company shall be limited to the amount of its Capital
Contribution made and to be made pursuant to Section 7.1, and no Member shall
have any further personal liability to contribute money to, or in respect of,
the liabilities or the obligations of the Company unless it agrees in writing to
make additional Capital Contributions to the Company, nor shall any Member be
personally liable for any obligations of the Company, except as may be provided
in the Act. No Member shall be entitled to the return of any part of its Capital
Contribution or to be paid interest in respect of either its Capital Account or
any Capital Contribution made by such Member. No unrepaid Capital Contribution
shall be deemed or considered to be a liability of the Company or any Member. No
Member shall be required to contribute or lend any cash or property to the
Company to enable the Company to return any Member's Capital Contribution to the
Member.
SECTION 7.3 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS. A capital account ("CAPITAL ACCOUNT")
shall be established for each Member and shall be maintained in such a manner as
to correspond with the requirements of Treasury Regulations promulgated from
time to time under section 704(b) of the Code. The respective Capital Accounts
of the Members shall not bear interest.
SECTION 7.4 ADJUSTMENT OF CAPITAL ACCOUNTS. If any Company property is
to be distributed in liquidation of the Company or a Membership Interest, the
Capital Accounts of the Members (and the amounts at which all Company properties
are carried on its books and records) shall, immediately prior to such issuance
or distribution, as the case may be, be adjusted (consistent with the provisions
of section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated
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thereunder) upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
attributable to all Company properties (as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
Loss had been recognized upon actual sale of such properties upon a liquidation
of the Company immediately prior to such issuance). If the Carrying Value of any
property of the Company is properly reflected on the books of the Company at a
value that differs from the adjusted tax basis of such property, this Section
7.4 shall be applied with reference to such value.
ARTICLE VIII
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 8.1 AMOUNT; TIMING.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or by the Act,
Distributable Cash shall be distributed among the Members pro rata in
accordance with their Sharing Ratios in such aggregate amounts and at
such times as shall be determined by the Management Committee.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Member is a
Delinquent Member and any other Member has made a Member's Optional
Contribution with respect to the Delinquent Contribution of such
Delinquent Member, all distributions to be made to such Delinquent
Member shall first be made to the Members who have made such Member's
Optional Contributions until such time as such Members have received an
amount equal to 400% of the amount of their Member's Optional
Contributions. In the event that more than one Member has made a
Member's Optional Contribution with respect to a Delinquent
Contribution, the distribution which would otherwise be made to the
Delinquent Member of such Delinquent Contribution shall be divided
among such Members pro rata based on the amount of each Member's
Optional Contribution made with respect to such Delinquent Contribution
compared to the aggregate amount of all Member's Optional Contributions
with respect to such Delinquent Contribution. In the event there are
outstanding Member's Optional Contributions with respect to more than
one Delinquent Contribution of a Delinquent Member, all distributions
which would otherwise be paid to that Delinquent Member shall first be
paid to the Member or Members who made Member's Optional Contributions
with respect to the oldest Delinquent Contribution of that Delinquent
Member until such Members shall have received 400% of such Member's
Optional Contributions and then with respect to the next oldest and in
such order until all Members making Member's Optional Contributions
with respect to Delinquent Contributions of such Delinquent Member have
received 400% of the aggregate of all Delinquent Contributions of such
Delinquent Member. When the amounts required to be paid pursuant hereto
with respect to Member's Optional Contributions have been made with
respect to all Delinquent Contributions of a Delinquent Member, such
Delinquent Member shall cease being a Delinquent Member.
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SECTION 8.2 FAILURE TO WITHDRAW. If any Member does not withdraw the
whole or any part of its share of any cash distribution made pursuant to Section
8.1, such Member shall not be entitled to receive any interest thereon without
the express written consent of the other Member.
SECTION 8.3 TRANSFEROR/TRANSFEREE ALLOCATIONS. Unless otherwise agreed
in writing by a transferor and transferee of a Membership Interest herein,
Distributable Cash distributable with respect to any Membership Interest which
may have been transferred during any year shall be distributed to the holder of
such Membership Interest who was recognized as the owner on the date of such
distribution, without regard to the results of Company operations during the
year.
SECTION 8.4 MEMBER ADVANCES. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any
Member advances any funds or makes any other payment to or on behalf of the
Company, not required pursuant to the provisions hereof, to cover operating or
capital expenses of the Company which cannot be paid out of the Company's
operating revenues, such advance or payment shall be deemed a loan to the
Company by such Member, bearing interest from the date such advance or payment
was made until such loan is repaid at the Default Interest Rate. Notwithstanding
Section 8.1 above, all distributions of Distributable Cash shall first be
distributed to the Members making such loans until all such loans have been
repaid to such Members, together with interest thereon as above provided, and,
thereafter, the balance of such distributions, if any, shall be made in
accordance with the terms of Section 8.1 above. If distributions are
insufficient to repay and return all such loans as provided above, the funds
available from time to time shall first be applied to repay and retire the
oldest loan first and, if any funds thereafter remain available, such funds
shall be applied in a similar manner to remaining loans in accordance with the
order of the dates on which they were made; however, as to loans made on the
same date, each such loan shall be repaid pro rata in the proportion that such
loan bears to the total loans made on said date.
ARTICLE IX
ALLOCATIONS OF INCOME, GAIN,
LOSS, DEDUCTION AND CREDIT
SECTION 9.1 GENERAL. Except as otherwise provided herein or unless
another allocation is required by Treasury Regulations issued under section
704(b) of the Code (including, but not limited to, provisions pertaining to
qualified income offsets and minimum gain chargebacks) for purposes of
maintaining the Capital Accounts, all items of Company income, gain, loss,
deduction and credit shall be allocated among the Members pro rata in accordance
with their Sharing Ratios. For purposes of computing the amount of each item of
income, gain, deduction or loss to be charged or credited to the Capital
Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of such item shall
be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal
income tax purposes, provided that:
(a) Any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery, or
amortization attributable to any Company property shall be determined
as if the adjusted basis of such property were
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equal to the Carrying Value of such property. Upon an adjustment to the
Carrying Value of any Company property subject to depreciation, cost
recovery, or amortization pursuant to Section 7.4, any further
deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery, or amortization
attributable to such property shall be determined as if the adjusted
basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such
property immediately following such adjustment.
(b) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable
disposition of any Company property shall be determined by the Company
as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of
disposition were equal in amount to the Carrying Value of such property
as of such date.
(c) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Company to
promote the sale of a Membership Interest that can neither be deducted
nor amortized under section 709 of the Code shall be treated as an item
of deduction.
(d) Computation of all items of income, gain, loss and
deduction shall be made without regard to any election under section
754 of the Code which may be made by the Company and, as to those items
described in section 705(a)(1)(B) or section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code,
without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross
income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalizable for
federal income tax purposes.
SECTION 9.2 SPECIAL ALLOCATION.
(a) All items of deduction or loss attributable to the non-pro
rata Capital Contribution to be made by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to Section
7.1(b) shall be allocated solely to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
(b) Once a Member that makes Member's Optional Contribution
has received distributions under Section 8.1(b) in any amount equal to
such Member's Optional Contribution, such Member shall be allocated
gross income equal to the amount of all additional distributions
received under Section 8.1(b) during any fiscal year of the Company as
a result of such Member's Optional Contribution.
SECTION 9.3 ALLOCATIONS FOR TAX PURPOSES.
(a) The Company shall, except to the extent such item is
subject to allocation pursuant to subsection (b) below, allocate each
item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit, as determined for
federal and other income tax purposes, in the same manner as such item
was allocated for book purposes.
(b) The Company, for federal and other income tax purposes
shall, in the case of Contributed Properties, allocate items of income,
gain, loss, depreciation and cost recovery
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deductions attributable to those properties with a Built-In Gain or a
Built-In Loss pursuant to section 704(c) of the Code. Similar
allocations shall be made in the event that the Carrying Value of
Company properties subject to depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization are adjusted pursuant to Section 7.4 upon the issuance of
Membership Interests for cash. If an existing Member acquires
additional Membership Interests, such allocations shall apply only to
the extent of his or its additional Membership Interests. No allocation
under section 704(c) of the Code shall be charged or credited to a
Member's Capital Account.
SECTION 9.4 TRANSFER/TRANSFEREE ALLOCATIONS. Income, gain, loss,
deduction or credit attributable to any Membership Interest which has been
transferred shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee
allocated equally among the days of the Company's fiscal year without regard to
Company operations during such days.
SECTION 9.5 RELIANCE ON ADVISORS. The Management Committee may rely
upon, and shall have no liability to the Members or the Company if it does rely
upon, the written opinion of tax counsel or accountants retained by the Company
from time to time with respect to all matters (including disputes with respect
thereto) relating to computations and determinations required to be made under
this Article IX or other provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.6 TAX MATTERS PARTNER.
(a) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is designated tax matters partner ("TMP") as
defined in section 6231(a)(7) of the Code. The TMP and the other Member
shall use their best efforts to comply with responsibilities outlined
in this Section 9.6 and in sections 6222 through 6232 of the Code
(including any Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) and in
doing so shall incur no liability to any other Member.
(b) If any Member intends to file a notice of inconsistent
treatment under section 6222(b) of the Code, such Member shall, prior
to the filing of such notice, notify the TMP of such intent and the
manner in which the Member's intended treatment of a Company item is
(or may be) inconsistent with the treatment of that item by the
Company.
(c) No Member other than the TMP shall file a request pursuant
to section 6227 of the Code for an administrative adjustment of
partnership items for any Company taxable year.
(d) No Member other than the TMP shall file a petition under
Code sections 6226, 6228 or other Code sections with respect to any
Company item, or other tax matters involving the Company. In the case
where the TMP files such petition, he shall determine the forum in
which such petition will be filed.
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ARTICLE X
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, RECORDS AND TAX INFORMATION
SECTION 10.1 MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Proper and complete
records and books of account (including those required by the Act) shall be kept
by the Company in which shall be entered all transactions and other matters
relative to the Company's business as are usually entered into records and books
of account maintained by persons engaged in businesses of like character. The
Company books and records shall be maintained in accordance with accounting
principles described herein, and shall be kept on the accrual basis. The books
and records shall at all times be made available and shall be open to the
reasonable inspection and examination of the Members or their duly authorized
representatives during the business hours of the Company for any purpose
reasonably related to the interest of such Member as a member of the Company.
SECTION 10.2 REPORTS.
(a) As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each
fiscal year, the Company shall send each person who was a holder of a
Membership Interest at any time during the fiscal year then ended:
(i) All Company tax information as shall be necessary
for the preparation by such holder of its federal and any
applicable state and local income tax returns; and
(ii) A balance sheet, profit and loss statement and
statement of cash flows for such year; and
(b) Once the Company has adopted its first Approved Business
Plan, a quarterly statement of income and cash flow compared to the
applicable Approved Business Plan with an explanation of each deviation
of more than 5% from any item in the Approved Business Plan.
ARTICLE XI
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Company shall end on December 31st of each year.
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ARTICLE XII
COMPANY FUNDS
The funds of the Company shall be deposited in such bank account or
accounts, or invested in such interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing accounts,
as shall be designated by the Management Committee. All withdrawals from any
such bank accounts shall be made by Company officers, employees or agents duly
authorized by the Management Committee.
ARTICLE XIII
STATUS OF MEMBERS
No Member shall have any personal liability whatever, whether to the
Company, to any of the Members or to the creditors of the Company, for the debts
of the Company or any of its losses beyond the amount agreed to be contributed
by it to the capital of the Company as set forth in Section 7.1 except to the
extent required by the Act. No Member shall be obligated to restore any deficit
in its Capital Account upon the liquidation of the Company or its Membership
Interest.
ARTICLE XIV
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
SECTION 14.1 MEMBER MANAGEMENT. Subject tp Section 14.2 below, the
management of the Company is vested in the Members, acting exclusively in their
membership capacities and all actions of the Members shall require approval of
Members holding at least a majority of the total of all Sharing Ratios.
SECTION 14.2 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The Company shall be managed by a
committee which is hereby named the "MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE." Decisions or actions
taken by the Management Committee in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement shall constitute decisions or actions by the Company and shall be
binding on each Member of the Company. The Management Committee shall conduct
its affairs in accordance with the following provisions and the other provisions
of this Agreement:
(a) Organization of Management Committee:
(i) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ shall
be the initial members of the MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE with
Messrs. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Edwab being "REPRESENTATIVES" of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
and ▇▇▇▇▇ as his own REPRESENTATIVE. Upon Systems Completion,
the Management Committee shall be increased to four persons
and ▇▇▇▇▇ shall appoint the fourth person as his
Representative. No individual may serve as the Representative
of more than one Member. Each of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇
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may also appoint one or more individuals ("ALTERNATE
REPRESENTATIVES") with the power of substitution and authority
to act in place of its Representatives in case of the
unavailability thereof. Each Representative and Alternate
Representative shall be duly authorized to act on behalf of
and to bind the appointing Member. Each of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇
reserves the right to remove any one or more of its
Representative or Alternate Representatives, as the case may
be, and to appoint successors and substitutes therefor, from
time to time, and any such change shall be effective upon such
Member's delivering a written notice of such change to the
other Member.
(ii) In the event the individual serving as the
president/chief executive officer of the Company is not a
Representative, he or she shall be an additional member of the
Management Committee; however, that individual shall be a
nonvoting member.
(iii) Each Representative shall have one vote on all
matters to be decided by the Management Committee. Voting may
occur by voice vote at a meeting of the committee or by
written consent.
(iv) Any action of the Management Committee shall
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the persons on
the Management Committee. In addition, if, at any time, any
Member is a Delinquent Member, its Representative and
Alternate Representative(s) may not participate in the
Management Committee and all decisions shall be made by the
Representative or Alternate Representative(s) of the other
Member.
(v) To expedite the handling of Company business, it
is understood and agreed that any document executed by a
Representative or any Alternate Representative of each Member
shall, as to any third parties, be deemed to be the action of
the Member appointing such Representative or Alternate
Representative. Further, any Person dealing with the Company
may rely upon a certificate signed by a Representative or any
Alternate Representative of both Members as to:
(A) the identity of the Members, their
Representatives and Alternate Representatives;
(B) the existence or nonexistence of any
fact or facts that constitute conditions precedent to
acts by the Company or are in any other manner
related to the affairs of the Company;
(C) the Persons who are authorized to
execute and deliver any instrument or document of the
Company;
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(D) any act or failure to act by the Company
or the Management Committee; or
(E) any other matter whatsoever involving
the Company or the Management Committee.
(b) Matters Requiring Management Committee Consent:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the following
actions require the consent of the Management Committee:
(i) the annual Business Plan and any amendments to
the Approved Business Plan;
(ii) the incurrence of, or commitment to incur, any
capital cost for any project that exceeds $25,000 (to the
extent not covered by the Approved Business Plan) or that
would cause the Company to exceed its annual capital budget as
reflected on the Approved Business Plan;
(iii) the sale or divestiture of any asset of the
Company having a fair market value in excess of $25,000, to
the extent not covered in the Approved Business Plan;
(iv) material contracts and agreements covering
amounts in excess of $100,000 or for a term in excess of 36
months, and amendments thereof, to the extent these matters
are not covered by the Approved Business Plan;
(v) borrowings or issuances of debt securities
(excluding trade credits and advances under working capital
funding facilities) of the Company, to the extent these
matters are not covered in the Approved Business Plan;
(vi) issuances by the Company of any new Membership
Interests;
(vii) entering into or amending contracts between the
Company and any Member or its Affiliates; and
(viii) the filing or settlement of any lawsuit
involving a claim or settlement payment of more than $1,000.
(c) Meetings of the Management Committee:
(i) Regular meetings of the Management Committee
shall be held periodically, but no less frequently than
quarterly, on such dates, at such times and at such locations
as the members of such committee shall from time to time
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determine, taking into account the convenience of all parties.
The individual then serving as the president/chief executive
officer of the Company or any Representative or Alternate
Representative may call a special meeting of the Management
Committee. Notice of any special meeting shall include a
statement of the matters proposed to be considered at such
meeting and shall be given to all participants by the Person
calling the meeting, under normal circumstances at least ten
(10) Business Days prior to the meeting, although shorter
notice of a meeting (but not less than eight (8) hours) may be
given if the circumstances of urgency so require. All notices
of Management Committee meetings shall be given either in
writing, or by telephone if immediately followed by written
confirmation, and no Management Committee meeting shall be
held unless the president/chief executive officer of the
Company and a Representative or Alternate Representative of
each Member participates in such meeting. Each Member agrees
to use reasonable efforts to cause at least one of its
Representatives or an Alternate Representative to participate,
in the manner provided for herein, in all Management Committee
meetings.
(ii) Representatives and Alternate Representatives
may participate in any Management Committee meeting by means
of telephone conference call or similar communications
equipment so long as all Persons participating in the meeting
can hear each other simultaneously. If required, the
Management Committee may act without a meeting by written
consent.
(iii) The individual serving as the president/chief
executive officer of the Company shall preside at all
Management Committee meetings.
(d) A Member may exercise all rights or powers provided to
members of a limited liability company by the Act, except to the extent
that any such exercise is inconsistent with, or contrary to, an express
provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 14.3 INABILITY TO AGREE ON A BUSINESS PLAN. In the event the
Management Committee does not approve the Business Plan within 30 day of the
submission of a Business Plan by any of the Representatives to the Management
Committee, except where a majority of the Management Committee expressly agree
to defer approval of a Business Plan, the Management Committee shall meet to
agree upon a person to either arbitrate or mediate the disagreement among the
Representatives. If the Management Committee agrees upon a person to arbitrate
the disagreement between the Representatives, the Management Committee shall
submit the matter to such arbiter within 14 days. Each Representative shall have
the right to make written and oral submissions to the arbiter. Within 14 days of
the last of such submissions, the arbiter shall issue his or her ruling which
shall be binding on all Members. If the Management Committee selects a mediator,
all Representatives shall have the opportunity to meet together with the
mediator on a date specified by the mediator upon 21 days' advance notice to the
Representatives, which notice can be waived. The Representatives, with the
assistance of the mediator, shall attempt in good faith to reach agreement on a
Business Plan. If the Management Committee can not agree on either an arbiter or
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a mediator, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall select a mediator and the Representatives
shall meet with such mediator in the same manner as set forth in the previous
sentence. If, notwithstanding completion of the foregoing, the Management
Committee has not agreed on a Business Plan and a Business Plan has not been
ordered by an arbiter, the Company shall be liquidated and terminated in
accordance with Article XVII.
SECTION 14.4 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. The Management Committee
is not entitled to compensation for its services. Each Representative and
Alternate Representative shall be reimbursed by their respective Member for
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in serving on the Management
Committee.
SECTION 14.5 OFFICERS.
(a) Subject to the provisions hereof, the Management Committee
shall from time to time designate officers of the Company to carry out
the day-to-day business of the Company.
(b) The officers of the Company shall be comprised of one or
more individuals designated from time to time by the Management
Committee. No officer need be a resident of the State of Delaware. Each
officer shall hold his or her office for such terms and shall have such
authority and exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be
determined from time to time by the Management Committee. Any number of
offices may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other
compensation, if any, of the officers and agents of the Company shall
be fixed from time to time by the Management Committee.
(c) The officers of the Company may consist of a
president/chief executive officer, a secretary and a treasurer. The
Management Committee may also designate one or more vice presidents,
assistant secretaries, and assistant treasurers. The Management
Committee may designate such other officers and assistant officers and
agents as the Management Committee shall deem necessary.
(d) Any officer may be removed as such at any time by the
Management Committee, either with or without cause, in the discretion
of the Management Committee; provided, that such removal shall be
without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so
removed. Designation of an officer shall not of itself create contract
rights.
SECTION 14.6 EXCULPATION. NEITHER THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE
MEMBERS, THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, NOR ANY OWNER, OFFICER, DIRECTOR, PARTNER,
EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF THE MEMBERS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, SHALL BE
LIABLE, RESPONSIBLE OR ACCOUNTABLE IN DAMAGES OR OTHERWISE TO THE COMPANY OR ANY
MEMBER FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN OR FAILURE TO ACT (EVEN IF SUCH ACTION OR FAILURE TO
ACT CONSTITUTED THE NEGLIGENCE OF A PERSON) ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY WITHIN THE
SCOPE OF THE AUTHORITY CONFERRED ON THE PERSON DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR BY
LAW UNLESS SUCH ACT OR OMISSION WAS PERFORMED OR
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OMITTED FRAUDULENTLY OR CONSTITUTED GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT. TO
THE EXTENT THAT, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE MEMBERS,
THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ANY OWNER, OFFICER, DIRECTOR, PARTNER, EMPLOYEE
OR AGENT THEREOF HAVE DUTIES (INCLUDING FIDUCIARY DUTIES) AND LIABILITIES
RELATING TO THE COMPANY OR TO ANOTHER MEMBER, THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE
MEMBERS, THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ANY OWNER, OFFICER, DIRECTOR, PARTNER,
EMPLOYEE OR AGENT THEREOF ACTING UNDER THE AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO THE
COMPANY OR TO ANY OTHER MEMBER OR ITS AFFILIATES FOR THEIR RELIANCE ON THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, TO THE EXTENT
THAT THEY EXPAND OR RESTRICT THE DUTIES AND LIABILITIES OF THE MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE, THE MEMBERS, THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ANY OWNER, OFFICER,
DIRECTOR, PARTNER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT THEREOF OTHERWISE EXISTING AT LAW OR IN
EQUITY, ARE AGREED BY THE MEMBERS TO REPLACE SUCH OTHER DUTIES AND LIABILITIES
OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE MEMBERS, THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ANY
OWNER, OFFICER, DIRECTOR, PARTNER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT THEREOF.
SECTION 14.7 INDEMNIFICATION. (a) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE MEMBERS, THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES AND
THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, PARTNERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS OR ANY
PERSON PERFORMING A SIMILAR FUNCTION (INDIVIDUALLY, AN "INDEMNITEE") SHALL BE
INDEMNIFIED AND HELD HARMLESS BY THE COMPANY FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL
LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, JUDGMENTS, LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, PENALTIES,
SETTLEMENTS AND REASONABLE EXPENSES (INCLUDING LEGAL FEES) ARISING FROM ANY AND
ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS, CIVIL, CRIMINAL,
ADMINISTRATIVE OR INVESTIGATIVE, IN WHICH THE INDEMNITEE MAY BE INVOLVED, OR
THREATENED TO BE INVOLVED, AS A PARTY OR OTHERWISE, BY REASON OF ITS STATUS AS
(x) A MEMBER OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, A MEMBER OR AN AFFILIATE THEREOF, OR
(y) AN OFFICER, DIRECTOR, PARTNER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF A MEMBER OR AN AFFILIATE
THEREOF, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE INDEMNITEE CONTINUES TO BE A MEMBER OF THE
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, A MEMBER OR AN AFFILIATE THEREOF OR AN OFFICER, DIRECTOR,
EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF A MEMBER OR AN AFFILIATE THEREOF AT THE TIME ANY SUCH
LIABILITY OR EXPENSE IS PAID OR INCURRED, UNLESS THE ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT
GIVING RISE TO INDEMNITY HEREUNDER WAS PERFORMED OR OMITTED FRAUDULENTLY OR
CONSTITUTED GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.
(b) The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf
of the Management Committee and such other Persons as the Management
Committee shall determine against any liability that may be asserted
against or expense that may be incurred by such Person in connection
with the Company's activities, regardless of whether the Company would
have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under
the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) Expenses incurred by any Indemnitee in defending any claim
with respect to which such Indemnitee may be entitled to
indemnification by the Company hereunder (including without limitation
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements) shall, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, be advanced by the Company prior to the final
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disposition of such claim, upon receipt of a written undertaking by or
on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay the advanced amount of such
expenses unless it is determined ultimately that the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification by the Company under Section 14.7(a).
(d) The indemnification provided in this Section 14.7 is for
the benefit of the Indemnitees and shall not be deemed to create any
right to indemnification for any other Persons.
SECTION 14.8 CERTAIN AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. It is understood and
agreed that after Systems Completion each Member and its Affiliates shall be
entitled to acquire any computer software upgrades, improvements or additions
marketed by the Company or its Affiliates at cost to the Company or its
Affiliates. It is also understood that the Company will enter into system
maintenance agreements with its Members and their affiliates.
SECTION 14.9 OTHER ACTIVITIES. It is further understood and agreed that
the other business interests and activities of the Members and Affiliates of the
Members may be of any nature or description. Neither the Company nor any Member
or its Affiliates shall have any right, by virtue of this Agreement or the
relationship created hereby, in or to the business activities of the other
Members or of such Affiliates or to the income or proceeds derived therefrom,
and the pursuit of such business activities, even if competitive with the
business of the Company, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Any Member or
any Affiliate of a Member shall have the right to take for its own account or to
recommend to others any investment opportunity without being required to offer
the same to the other Members of the Company.
ARTICLE XV
TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
SECTION 15.1 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. No Member shall have the right
to directly or indirectly transfer, sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or
otherwise dispose of its interest in the Company, or any portion thereof,
without complying with the provisions of this Article XV. Any attempted transfer
or assignment of any interest in the Company in violation of the provisions of
this Article XV shall be void and of no force and effect.
SECTION 15.2 PROCEDURES. Any Member who desires to transfer all or any
portion of its Membership Interest shall arrange for any permitted transferee to
be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, as it may then be amended,
including, specifically, this Article XV, by having such transferee execute two
counterparts of an instrument of assignment satisfactory in form and substance
to the other Member and by delivering the same to the Company together with any
such other information that may be required by counsel to the Company to
determine whether the proposed transfer violates applicable federal or state
securities or other laws or regulations. If and when the other requirements of
this Article XV are satisfied, the transferee shall become a substituted Member
as to the Membership Interest thus transferred effective as of the first day of
the
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calendar month during which the Company actually receives the aforesaid
instrument of assignment executed by both the transferor and transferee and, in
the case of the transfer of a Member's entire Membership Interest, until such
time as the transferee is admitted to the Company as a Member of the Company,
the transferor Member shall not cease to be a Member of the Company. The
transferee shall be required to pay any and all reasonable filing and recording
fees, legal fees, accounting fees, and other charges and fees incurred by the
Company and its counsel as a result of such transfer.
SECTION 15.3 CONSENT TO TRANSFER. ▇▇▇▇▇ shall not directly or
indirectly transfer, sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of
all or any portion of his interest in the Company if, as a result thereof, he
would own less than a 1% interest in the Company.
SECTION 15.4 COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. All Members acknowledge
that the Membership Interests have not been registered under (i) the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 ACT"), in reliance on the exemptions afforded
by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act, or (ii) applicable state securities laws in
reliance on exemptions under such laws. Therefore, to preserve said exemptions
and notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Members
hereby agree that Membership Interests shall be nontransferable and
nonassignable, except in compliance with the registration provisions of the 1933
Act and the Act, or an exemption or exemptions therefrom, and any attempted or
purported transfer or assignment in violation of the foregoing shall be void and
of no effect. Accordingly, as an additional condition precedent to any
assignment or other transfer of any interest in the Company, the Management
Committee may require an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Management
Committee that such assignment or transfer will be made in compliance with the
registration provisions of the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or
exemption(s) therefrom, and such transferor or assignor shall be responsible for
paying said counsel's fee for the opinion.
SECTION 15.5 BUY-OUT. Upon the happening of a Buy-Out Event, as defined
below, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall, within 30 days of receipt of notice of the Buy-Out Event,
make an offer to purchase all of the interests in the Company not held by
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Subject Interests"). The offer, which shall be in writing and
shall be delivered to ▇▇▇▇▇, unless ▇▇▇▇▇ shall be deceased or mentally
incapacitated, in which case it shall be delivered to the executor of his estate
or his legal guardian, shall specify a dollar amount in cash for the Subject
Interests. ▇▇▇▇▇, or his executor or legal guardian as the case may be, shall
have thirty days in which to advise ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in writing whether the holders of
the Subject Interests elect to sell the Subject Interests for the amount offered
by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or elect to buy ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ interest in the Company for cash in an
amount equal to the price offered by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ divided by the Subject Interests
times ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ interest in the Company. Within ten business days of the notice
to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ indicating whether the holders of the Subject Interests elect to sell
the Subject Interests to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or elect to buy from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ its interest in
the Company, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the holders of the Subject Interests shall complete the
sale and purchase by the purchaser delivering the purchase price in cash by wire
transfer to the account specified by the seller and the seller delivering such
documents of transfer evidencing the sale and transfer of the applicable
interests in the Company as the purchaser may reasonably request.
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SECTION 15.6 BUY-OUT EVENT. For purpose of this Agreement, a Buy-Out
Event shall mean any of the following:
(a) The death or mental or physical incapacity of ▇▇▇▇▇ such
that he is unable to perform his normal working duties for a period of
more than six months.
(b) The election by ▇▇▇▇▇ to sell so much of his interest in
the Company so that he will own less than a 1% interest in the Company.
If ▇▇▇▇▇ decides to make any such sell, prior to his doing so, he must
give written notice of a Buy-Out Event to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and in such notice
must specify the terms of all offers or reasonably anticipated offers
to purchase all of the Company, including all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company, or to purchase any interests in the Company.
(c) ▇▇▇▇▇ shall desire to have all of the interest in the
Company or, all or substantially all of its assets sold to a person or
group of persons. In this case, ▇▇▇▇▇ shall give written notice to
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of a Buy-Out Event and in such notice shall specify the terms
on which any person or group of persons, specifying such person or
group of persons, proposal to purchase all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or the entire interest in the Company. If, within
10 business days of receipt of such notice, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ advises ▇▇▇▇▇ that
it concurs with the proposed sale, the notice from ▇▇▇▇▇ shall cease to
be considered a notice of a Buy-Out Event, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ shall
proceed in good faith to close the sale of the entire interest in the
Company or of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
(d) In the event that the Management Committee does not
approve the Business Plan, the terms of Section 14.3 have been
satisfied, and the Company is required to be liquidated pursuant to
Section 14.3, either ▇▇▇▇▇ or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may declare and give notice of a
Buy-Out Event provided such notice is given within 30 days of the final
meeting with the mediator as contemplated by Section 14.3.
ARTICLE XVI
DISSOLUTION OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 16.1 EVENTS OF DISSOLUTION. The happening of any one of the
following events shall work an immediate dissolution of the Company:
(a) The death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy
or dissolution of a Member unless the business of the Company is
continued by the written consent of the remaining Member within 90 days
following the occurrence of any such event;
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(b) The receipt by the Company of the final payment due on the
sales price of all or substantially all the assets of the Company or
the Company's business following the Company's sale thereof;
(c) The agreement by all of the Members to dissolve;
(d) Inability to agree on a Business Plan;
(e) The expiration of the term of the Company as provided in
Article VI of this Agreement, unless all Members agree to extend the
term of the Company past the date set forth in Article VI; and
(f) The entry of a decree of judicial dissolution underss.
18-802 of the Act.
Each Member covenants and agrees that it will not retire, resign or voluntarily
dissolve, without the prior written consent of the other Member, which consent
may be granted or withheld in the sole discretion of the other Member.
SECTION 16.2 OPTION TO PURCHASE INTEREST OF BANKRUPT MEMBER.
(a) If within 90 days of the Bankruptcy of any Member, the
other Member elects to continue the business of the Company, the
Bankruptcy shall be deemed to be an offer by the bankrupt Member of its
Membership Interest to the other Member at a price equal to the fair
market value of such bankrupt Member's Membership Interest determined
by agreement between the bankrupt Member (or its legal representative)
and the other Member; provided, however, if those Persons do not agree
on the fair market value on or before the 30th day following the
election of the other Member to continue the business of the Company,
such value shall be determined pursuant to the appraisal procedures set
forth in Section 16.2(b).
(b) If the Members cannot agree on the fair market value of a
Membership Interest or one or more of the assets or businesses of the
Company within 15 days after such value is to be determined under any
provisions of this Agreement, either Member, by notice to the other,
may require the determination of such fair market value to be made by
an independent appraiser specified in a written notice to the other
Member. If the Member receiving that notice objects to the independent
appraiser designated in that notice on or before the 15th day following
receipt, and the Members otherwise fail to agree on an independent
appraiser, either Member may petition the United States District Judge
for the Southern District of Texas then senior in service to designate
an independent appraiser. The determination of the fair market value by
the independent appraiser, however designated, shall be final and
binding on all parties. Each Member shall be responsible for 50% of the
cost of such appraisal.
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ARTICLE XVII
WINDING UP AND TERMINATION OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 17.1 LIQUIDATOR. If the Company is dissolved for any reason, a
liquidator (the "LIQUIDATOR") shall commence to wind up the affairs of the
Company and to liquidate and sell its assets. The members of the Management
Committee shall serve as the Liquidator unless they appoint another person to
serve as the Liquidator. The Liquidator shall have full right and discretion to
determine the time, manner and terms of sale or sales of Company property
pursuant to such liquidation having due regard to the activity and condition of
the relevant market and general financial and economic conditions. The
Liquidator appointed in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise,
without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto or their
legal representatives or successors in interest, all of the powers conferred
upon the Members under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the
applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such
powers) to the extent necessary or desirable in the good faith judgment of the
Liquidator to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for
and during such period of time, not to exceed two (2) years after the date of
dissolution of the Company, as shall be reasonably required in the good faith
judgment of the Liquidator to complete the liquidation and dissolution of the
Company as provided for herein, including, without limitation, the following
specific powers:
(a) The power to continue to manage and operate any business
of the Company during the period of such liquidation or dissolution
proceedings, excluding, however, the power to make and enter into
contracts which may extend beyond the period of liquidation.
(b) The power to make sales and incident thereto to execute
deeds, bills of sale, assignments and transfers of assets and
properties of the Company; provided, that the Liquidator may not impose
personal liability upon any of the Members under any such instrument.
(c) The power to borrow funds as may, in the good faith
judgment of the Liquidator, be reasonably required to pay debts and
obligations of the Company or operating expenses, and to execute and/or
grant deeds of trust, mortgages, security agreements, pledges and
collateral assignments upon and encumbering any of the Company
properties as security for repayment of such loans or as security for
payment of any other indebtedness of the Company; provided, that the
Liquidator shall not have the power to create any personal obligation
on any of the Members to repay such loans or indebtedness other than
out of available proceeds of foreclosure or sale of the properties or
assets as to which a lien or liens are granted as security for payment
thereof.
(d) The power to settle, release, compromise or adjust any
claims asserted to be owing by or to the Company, and the right to
file, prosecute or defend lawsuits and legal proceedings in connection
with any such matters.
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SECTION 17.2 RESERVES. In making payment or provision for payment of
all debts and liabilities of the Company and all expenses of liquidation, the
Liquidator may set up such cash reserves as the Liquidator may deem reasonably
necessary for any contingent liabilities or obligations of the Company. Upon the
satisfaction or other discharge of such contingency, the amount of the reserves
not retired, if any, will be distributed in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 17.3 SALE OF ASSETS; DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS. Upon the winding
up and termination of the business and affairs of the Company, its assets (other
than cash) shall be sold, its liabilities and obligations to creditors and all
expenses incurred in its liquidation shall be paid (either by payment or the
making of reasonable provision for payment). All items of Company income, gain,
loss or deduction shall be credited or charged to the Capital Accounts of the
Members in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article IX. Thereafter,
the net proceeds from such sales (after deducting all selling costs and expenses
in connection therewith), together with the reserve account referred to in
Section 17.2 above, shall be distributed among the Members in accordance with
their respective positive balances in their Capital Accounts.
SECTION 17.4 FINAL ACCOUNTING. Within a reasonable time following the
completion of the liquidation of the Company's properties, the Liquidator shall
supply to each of the Members a statement prepared by the Company's accountants
which shall set forth the assets and the liabilities of the Company as of the
date of complete liquidation, each Member's pro rata portion of distributions
pursuant to Section 17.3, and the amount retained as reserves by the Liquidator
pursuant to Section 17.2.
SECTION 17.5 RECOURSE LIMITED TO COMPANY ASSETS. Each holder of an
interest in the Company shall look solely to the assets of the Company for all
distributions with respect to the Company and his Capital Contribution thereto
(including the return thereof) and share of profits or losses thereof, and shall
have no recourse therefor (upon dissolution or otherwise) against the Company,
the Members or the Liquidator. No holder of an interest in the Company shall
have any right to demand or receive property other than cash upon dissolution
and termination of the Company.
SECTION 17.6 TERMINATION. Upon the completion of the liquidation of the
Company and the distribution of all Company funds, the existence of the Company
shall terminate and the Liquidator shall (and is hereby given the power and
authority to) execute, acknowledge, swear to and record all documents required
to effectuate the dissolution and termination of the Company. No Member shall be
required to restore any deficit balance existing in its Capital Account upon the
liquidation and termination of the Company.
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ARTICLE XVIII
NOTICES
To be effective, all notices and demands under this Agreement must be
in writing and must be given (i) by depositing same in the United States mail,
postage prepaid, certified or registered, return receipt requested, (ii) by
telecopier with receipt confirmed by return telecopy, or (iii) by delivering
same in person or by overnight courier and receiving a signed receipt therefor.
For purposes of notice, the address of the Company shall be the address of its
then principal office and the addresses of the Members or their respective
assigns shall be as set forth on the signature pages hereof. Notices made in
accordance with the foregoing shall be deemed to have been given and made upon
receipt. Any Member or his assignee may designate a different address or
telecopier number to which notices or demands shall thereafter be directed by
written notice given in the manner hereinabove required and directed to the
Company.
ARTICLE XIX
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
SECTION 19.1 AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be modified or amended from
time to time by the written agreement of the Members.
SECTION 19.2 MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS.
(a) Meetings of the Members may be called at any time by a
Member. Notice of any meeting shall be given to all Members not less
than two (2) days nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of
such meeting. Each Member may authorize any person to act for it by
proxy on all matters in which a Member is entitled to participate,
including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at
any such meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Member or its
attorney-in-fact.
(b) Each meeting of Members shall be conducted by the person
that the Member calling the meeting shall designate. The Members shall
establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Members,
including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which
any matter is to be voted on by any Members, waiver of any such notice,
action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record
date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other
matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote.
(c) No business may be conducted at a meeting of Members
unless Members holding at least a majority of the total of all Sharing
Ratios are present and to be a valid act of the Members at a meeting,
the action must be approved by Members holding at least a majority of
the total of all Sharing Ratios.
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ARTICLE XX
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
The Members each hereby respectively represent and warrant to the
others that (i) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power and authority to
enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; (ii) it has validly
executed this Agreement, and upon delivery, this Agreement shall be a binding
obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its
terms; and (iii) its entry into this Agreement and the performance of its
obligations hereunder will not require the approval of any governmental body or
regulatory authority and will not violate, conflict with or cause a default
under, any of its organizational documents, any contractual covenant or
restriction by which such party is bound, or any applicable law, regulation,
rule, ordinance, order, judgment or decree.
ARTICLE XXI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 21.1 NO RIGHT OF PARTITION. The Members agree that the Company
properties are not and will not be suitable for partition. Accordingly, each of
the Members hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to
maintain any action for partition of any of the Company property.
SECTION 21.2 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SUPERSEDURE. This Agreement and the
additional documents and agreements referred to herein constitute the entire
agreement among the parties. It supersedes any prior agreement or understandings
among them with regard to the subject matter hereof, and it may not be modified
or amended in any manner other than as set forth herein.
SECTION 21.3 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the rights of the
parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware.
SECTION 21.4 BINDING EFFECT. Except as herein otherwise specifically
provided, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties and their legal representatives, heirs, administrators, executors,
successors and assigns.
SECTION 21.5 CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT. Wherever from the context it
appears appropriate, each term stated in either the singular or the plural shall
include the singular and the plural, and pronouns stated in the masculine, the
feminine or the neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter.
The term "person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust or other
entity.
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SECTION 21.6 CAPTIONS. Captions contained in this Agreement are
inserted only as a matter of convenience and in no way define, limit or extend
the scope or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 21.7 EFFECT OF INVALID PROVISION. If any provision of this
Agreement, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance,
shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of
such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held
invalid, shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 21.8 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary for all
Members to execute the same counterpart hereof.
SECTION 21.9 WAIVER. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict
performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or
to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall
constitute waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or
condition.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and in the year first above written.
Address: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
5803 Glenmont By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ -----------------------------------------
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
and ------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Title: President
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ -----------------------------------
Telecopy: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Address:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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