Operating AgreementOwn Our Own Fund I, LLC A Delaware Limited Liability CompanyFebruary 2, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Operating Agreement (Agreement) is made and entered into as of the date executed below by and among those Persons whose names and addresses are set forth in Appendix A hereto (the Members), being the Members of Own Our Own Fund I, LLC, a Delaware manager-managed limited liability company (the Company or Own Our Own), and Own Our Own Manager, LLC (the Manager), each of whom represent and agree as follows:

 

1.1 Delaware Limited Liability Company

 

Each of the signatories to this Agreement shall be referenced herein as a “Member” and collectively, as the “Members” as defined in Appendix D hereof.

 

The Manager has formed a manager-managed Delaware limited liability company by executing and delivering the Certificate of Formation to the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as codified in the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del.C. § 18-101, et seq., as may be amended from time to time. The rights and liabilities of the Members shall be as provided in the Act except as may be modified in this Agreement.

 

The Members acknowledge that under the applicable provisions of the Act, the Company may be either “member-managed” or “manager-managed,” and that they have specifically, by their signatures hereof, elected to form a manager-managed Company. Accordingly, management of the affairs of the Company shall be vested in the Manager of the Company, as set forth in Article 6 hereof, subject to any provisions of this Agreement (e.g., Articles 7 or 8), or in the Act restricting, enlarging or modifying the rights and duties of the Manager or management procedures.

 

The Members shall immediately, and from time to time hereafter, execute all documents and do all filing, recording, and other acts as may be required to comply with the operation of the Company under the Act.

 

1.2 Name

 

The name of the Company is Own Our Own Fund I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

1.3 Place of Business

 

The name of the Company is Own Our Own Fund I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The Company’s principal place of business is:

 

Own Our Own Manager, LLC

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Office: XXXXX

 

or such other place as the Manager shall determine.

 

 

1.4 Manager

 

The initial Manager of the Company is Own Our Own Manager, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

The address where all correspondence for the Manager should be sent is:

 

Own Our Own Manager, LLC

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Office: XXXX

 

1.5 Manager’s Compensation

 

The Manager or its members shall receive an allocation of Profits and Losses and a right to Distributions from the Company in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 hereof. Further, they shall be reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the organization and offering of the Company.

 

1.6 Members

 

Each of the signatories to this Agreement shall be referenced herein as a “Member” and collectively, as the “Members” as defined in Appendix D hereof. The Members shall immediately, and from time to time hereafter, execute all documents and do all filing, recording, and other acts as may be required to comply with the operation of the Company under the Act.

 

Every Member will be required to complete, execute and return an original Signature Page of this Agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Appendix A. The Manager will maintain an updated list of all Members as shown on Appendix B to this Agreement.

 

1.7 Nature of Members’ Interests

 

The Interests of the Members in the Company shall be personal property for all purposes. Legal title to all Company Assets shall be held in the name of the Company. Neither any Member or a successor, representative, or assignee of such Member, shall have any right, title or interest in the Company’s Assets or the right to partition any real property owned by the Company. Interests may, but are not required to, be evidenced by a certificate of Membership Interest or Receipt and Acknowledgment issued by the Company, in such form as the Manager may determine.

 

1.8 Intent to Be Treated as a Partnership

 

It is the intent of the Manager and the Members that the Company shall always be operated in a manner consistent with its treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. It is also the intent of the Members that the Company not be operated or treated as a partnership for purposes of section 303 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. No Manager or Member shall take any action inconsistent with the express intent of the Members.

 

 

1.9 Nature of Business

 

This Company’s planned operations involves the purchase of real estate throughout the United States. The Company intends to focus its investment efforts on those properties that are income producing; in other words, those properties that will produce positive cash flow immediately upon, or soon after, acquisition. It is expected that the Company will focus on Class A and B multifamily properties, but may also consider commercial real estate assets such as self-storage, warehouse and industrial, office, and retail properties. The Company intends on holding the investments in the properties for seven (7) to ten (10) years. During this period, the properties will be managed so that annual cash flow increases which will increase the exit value of the investment property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to unanimous approval of the Members, the Company may engage in any lawful business activity in which a Delaware limited liability company may engage, except that the Company shall not engage in the trust company business or the business of banking or insurance.

 

The Company intends on purchasing interests in Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) as defined in Article 6.13.2.

 

1.10 Objectives

 

The Manager intends to accomplish the following objectives for the Members:

 

	·	Provide Members with real estate investment opportunities.
	·	Provide Members with limited liability.
	·	Provide Distributable Cash for the Members.
	·	Provide for self-liquidation of the investment.
	·	Allow the Class A Members minimal involvement in real estate management.
	·	Keep Members apprised of Company affairs.

 

1.11 Term

 

The Company commenced operations upon the filing of its Certificate of Formation and shall operate until such time the Company disposes of all Properties (expected to be approximately 10 years) unless sooner terminated under the provisions of Article 14 hereof.

 

1.12 Registered Agent

 

The Company’s initial office and initial registered agent are provided in its Certificate of Formation. The Manager may change the registered agent (or such agent’s address) from time to time by causing the filing of the new address and/or name of the new registered agent in accordance with the Act. However, the Company shall, at all times maintain a registered agent in the State of Delaware who shall be authorized to accept service on behalf of the Company.

 

 

 

2.1 Member Classes

 

There are two (2) classes of Members, Class A and Class B. The Manager shall record the name and address of each of the Members in Appendix B to this Agreement. Member classes shall be allocated as provided below:

 

 

Investors who contribute capital to the Company through Contributions of cash in exchange for the purchase of Class A Interests issued by the Company shall become Class A Members of the Company, once admitted by the Manager.

 

The Class A Members shall share, pro rata, in accordance with their Capital Contributions, seventy (70%) percent of the total Interests in the Company.

 

The minimum investment amount required of a Class A Investor is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) or One (1) Interest.

 

 

The Manager (or its members and/or their Affiliates) will retain ownership of thirty percent (30%) of the Interests in the Company as a carried interest. The Class B Interests shall be subordinate to the Class A Interests. The issuance of Class B Interests is irrevocable even if Own Our Own Manager, LLC is removed or resigns as the Manager of the Company. Class B Interest will be issued as founders’ interests, at formation, without consideration.

 

The Manager reserves the right to allow the Class B Members (or their members or Affiliates) to sell, grant, transfer, or convey a minority of the Class B Interests to others without permission of the Class A Members as long as doing so does not: a) dilute the Interests or percentage returns to the Class A Members, or b) allow any other Class B Member to exert management control over the Manager.

 

Own Our Own Manager, LLC, its Affiliates or members (and/or their affiliates) may purchase Class A Interests at such value as may be established from time to time on transfer of a Class A Member’s Interest per Articles 11 or 12 of this Agreement), but they may be allowed to invest less than the minimum investment amount required of other Class A Members, at the Manager’s sole discretion.

 

2.2 Percentage Interests

 

The Manager shall list the number of Interests purchased and/or the dollar amount of each Member’s Capital Contribution and Percentage Interests in Appendix B. Percentage Interests of the Members will be calculated in relation to the total Interests. The Class A Members shall share in 70% of the total Interests.

 

 

2.3 Capital Calls; Default of Member

 

Although the Manager intends to raise sufficient money from Investors in order to purchase investments in SPE’s that hold real estate and manage those Properties, it is possible that the Manager may make a capital call in order to raise Additional Capital Contributions with which to achieve the Company’s objectives and policies as outlined in the Memorandum.

 

 

Capital Contributions, (“Additional Capital Contributions”) as the Manager may determine, but in no event shall the aggregate amount of such Additional Capital Contributions exceed ten percent (10%) of the amount of such Member’s initial Capital Contribution set forth on the Member’s Schedule. Any such Additional Capital Contributions shall be made by the Members pro rata in proportion to their Units. If any Additional Capital Contributions shall be required, the Company shall deliver to the Members a written notice (a “Capital Contribution Notice”) of the need for Additional Capital Contributions, which Capital Contribution Notice shall specify in reasonable detail (i) the aggregate amount of such Additional Capital Contributions, (ii) such Member’s share of such aggregate amount of Additional Capital Contributions, and (iii) the date (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days following the date that such Capital Contribution Notice is given) on which such Additional Capital Contributions shall be required to be contributed to the Company. Upon each Member making its Additional Capital Contribution required pursuant to this Article, each Member’s Capital Account shall be increased by an amount equal to such Member’s Additional Capital Contribution and no additional Units shall be issued by the Company.

 

 

If any Member shall fail to timely make, or notifies the Company in writing that it shall not make, all or any portion of any Additional Capital Contribution which such Member is obligated to make under this Article, then such Member shall be deemed to be a “Defaulting Member” and any such amount that a Defaulting Member fails to contribute, an “Unfunded Amount”. The contributing Members (each a “Non-Defaulting Member”) shall be entitled, but not obligated, to loan to the Defaulting Member (each such loan, a “Contribution Default Loan”) without any further action of the Defaulting Member, by contributing to the Company on the Defaulting Member’s behalf, all or any part of the Unfunded Amount, provided, that such Non-Defaulting Member shall have contributed to the Company its pro rata share of the applicable Additional Capital Contribution, and provided, further, that if more than one Non-Defaulting Member elects to make a Contribution Default Loan, the amount of the Contribution Default Loan contributed by each Non-Defaulting Member shall be pro rata based on the number of Units of such Non-Defaulting Members, unless otherwise agreed upon among themselves in which case all relevant terms of this Article 2.3.2 shall be modified mutatis mutandis. Each Contribution Default Loan shall bear interest (compounded quarterly on the first day of each calendar quarter) on the unpaid principal amount thereof from time to time remaining from the date advanced until repaid, at the lesser of (i) fifteen percent (15.0%) per annum or (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.

 

 

Each Contribution Default Loan shall be recourse solely to the Defaulting Member’s Units. Contribution Default Loans (i) shall be repaid out of the Distributions that would otherwise be made to the Defaulting Member pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) shall be deemed paid and applied on behalf of such Defaulting Member (A) first, to accrued and unpaid interest on all Contribution Default Loans (in the order of their original maturity date), (B) second, to the principal amount of such Contribution Default Loans (in the order of their original maturity date) and (C) third, to any Additional Capital Contribution of such Defaulting Member that has not been paid and is not deemed to have been paid. So long as a Contribution Default Loan is outstanding, the Defaulting Member shall have the right, at any time, to repay the Contribution Default Loan (and all accrued interest thereon) in whole or in part and without penalty. Upon the repayment in full of all Contribution Default Loans (but not upon their conversion as provided in this Article made in respect of a Defaulting Member (and so long as the Defaulting Member is not otherwise a Defaulting Member), such Defaulting Member shall cease to be a Defaulting Member.

 

 

 

At any time after the date that is ninety (90) days after the date a Contribution Default Loan is made, at the option of the applicable Non-Defaulting Member, (i) such Contribution Default Loan shall be converted into an Additional Capital Contribution of such Non-Defaulting Member in an amount equal to the principal and unpaid interest on such Contribution Default Loan, and (ii) such amount shall be deemed contributed by the Non-Defaulting Member as an Additional Capital Contribution (a “Cram-Down Contribution”) and such Non-Defaulting Member’s Capital Account shall be increased by such amount. A Cram-Down Contribution shall be deemed an Additional Capital Contribution by the Non-Defaulting Member making (or deemed making) such Cram-Down Contribution as of the date such Cram-Down Contribution is made or the date on which such Contribution Default Loan is converted to a Cram-Down Contribution.

 

 

At the time of a Cram-Down Contribution, (i) the number of Class A Units held by the Defaulting Member shall be automatically reduced by such number of Units that bears the same ratio to the number of Class A Units held by the Defaulting Member as the Cram-Down Contribution bears to the aggregate amount of Capital Contributions made by the Defaulting Member throughout the term of the Company determined as of the date the Cram-Down Contribution is made but prior to the Cram-Down Contribution (such number of Class A Units, the “Cram-Down Units”), and (ii) the number of Class A Units held by a Non-Defaulting Member who made a Cram-Down Contribution shall be correspondingly increased by an amount equal to the Cram-Down Units and the additional Units resulting from such increase shall be Class A Units.

 

 

The rights and remedies of the Company and the Members pursuant to this Article are the exclusive rights and remedies, whether at law or in equity, against any Defaulting Member for the failure to make any Additional Capital Contributions.

 

2.4 Time of Capital Contributions; Withdrawal Not Permitted

 

Member Capital Contributions shall be made in full on admission to the Company. No portion of the capital of the Company may be withdrawn until dissolution of the Company, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

2.5 Capital Accounts

 

An individual Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member in accordance with Treasury Regulation section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and as further described in the attached Appendix C. Calculation of Member Percentage Interests will be determined on close of the offering to new Investors, and shall be calculated as described in Article 2.2 hereof.

 

 

If required to protect or preserve the Company’s assets, the Manager has the sole discretion to apply other available Company funds to pay any Company obligations. However, if sufficient Company funds are not available, the Manager or one or more Members may loan funds to the Company subject to the following provisions:

 

 

3.1 Manager Advances

 

The Manager may, but is not required, to loan its own funds or defer reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses as an Advance. The Company shall reimburse the Manager for any such Advance from the date of the loan or deferral as soon as is practical together with the simple annualized interest at six percent (6%). Interest on Manager Advances shall be an expense of the Company when paid and shall accrue from the date of inception for a Manager loan, or from the date reimbursement was due for any Advance related to a deferred reimbursement. Such interest is charged at the Manager’s discretion. Loans for property acquisitions shall not be defined as a Manager Advance under this section and shall be under a separate agreement.

 

3.2 Member Loans

 

Alternatively, the Manager may obtain a loan from one or more Members as and when necessary to continue the business of the Company, which shall earn six percent (6%) per annum Interest from the date of inception.

 

3.3 Right and Priority of Repayment

 

Principal and interest payments for a Manager Advance or Member Loan will be paid as an expense of the Company as soon as sufficient Company funds are available, or held for longer in order to build up Company reserves, at the Manager’s sole discretion. A Manager or Member that makes a loan to the Company shall be deemed an unsecured creditor of the Company for the purpose of determining its right and priority of repayment of interest and principal of such Advance or Loan, and repayment of the Principal will be paid in the order the Advance or Loan was made.

 

3.4 Third-party Loans

 

In the event of a failed capital call, or the unavailability of a Manager Advance or Member Loan, the Manager may obtain a loan and/or credit from one or more third parties as it deems appropriate to further the business objectives of the Company. Such loan shall be made to the Company on such terms as the Manager deems reasonable and appropriate after taking into account the urgency and need for the funds.

 

 

The Members may receive Distributable Cash from the Company as authorized in the Agreement. In general, the Manager intends to operate the Company in such a manner as to generate Distributable Cash it can share with the Members.

 

Distributable Cash shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Manager after withholding sufficient Working Capital and Reserves. Distributions to Class A Members, when made, will be allocated among them in proportion to their Percentage Interests in the Class A Interests.

 

Distributable Cash, if any, will be distributed until expended, in the order described in Articles 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 below, depending on the phase of operation of the Company. Distributions will be evaluated on a monthly basis, although the Manager anticipates that there may not be any Distributions until approximately three (3) to six (6) months after investing activities have commenced at the discretion of the Manager.

 

Distributions described below shall be prorated for each Member in accordance with the time they have been a Member of the Company. Membership begins on the day which the Member’s Subscription Agreement has been accepted by the Company. “Subscription Agreement” is the agreement between the Company and the Member whereby the Member agrees to the terms of the Subscription Agreement and has tendered his/her/its Capital Contribution in order to purchase Class A Interests in the Company.

 

 

4.1 Cash Distributions during Operations

 

Distributable Cash, if any, derived from operation of the Company will be evaluated on a monthly basis, and disbursed as provided below until expended.

 

  

4.2 Cash Distributions from Capital Transactions

 

Distributable Cash, if any, from a “Capital Transaction” such as a refinance or disposition of a Property, will be distributed as provided below until expended:

 

:

 

 

:

 

 

For the purposes of Cash Distribution calculations only, all Distributions from Capital Transactions such as a refinance, will be treated as a return of capital until the Class A Members have received one hundred percent (100%) of their initial Capital Contributions, after which any further returns will be a return on investment.

 

 

4.3 Cash Distributions on Dissolution and Termination

 

The Company shall be dissolved on the disposition of the Properties. Upon dissolution of the Company, all property (Assets) of the Company (including any Distributable Cash) will be distributed as described below:

 

Upon dissolution of the Company, the Assets of the Company will be distributed as described below:

 

 

4.4 No Return of Capital.

 

The payments made pursuant to Article 4.1, shall not be deemed a return of any portion of a Member’s Capital Contributions for the purpose of calculation distributions under Article 4.2.

 

4.5 Reserves

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Agreement to the contrary, the Manager, in the Manager’s sole and absolute discretion, may use all or a portion of the Company’s Distributable Cash to establish and fund a discretionary reserve(s) from time to time and in such amounts to be determined in the Manager’s sole and reasonable discretion taking into account such factors as anticipated current and future cash requirements of the Company. Said reserve(s) may be used to pay some or all of the distributions, whether accrued or current, specified in this Article.

 

 

5.1 Expense Reimbursement

 

In addition to the Cash Distributions described in Article 4, the Manager, its members or their Affiliates may earn additional compensation in the form of Fees, commissions, reimbursements, interest or other compensation as further described in the Table in 5.2 below. Such compensation will be paid as an expense of the Company prior to determining Distributable Cash. Manager’s Fees are authorized in Article 5.2 of this Agreement.

 

The Manager reserves the right to defer collection of any compensation from the time it is earned until sufficient cash is available, without forfeiting any right to collect, although the Manager may earn interest on any deferred compensation at the discretion of the Manager. The maximum amount of compensation the Manager may receive cannot be determined at this time. 

  

 

5.2 Fees Paid to Manager and/or Third Parties

 

The Manager and/or third parties may earn Fees for services they provide on behalf of the Company as further described below. All Fees will be paid as an expense of the Company prior to determining Distributable Cash (as described in Article 4 above).

 

 

 

6.1 Management

 

The Manager shall manage all business and affairs of the Company. The Manager shall direct, manage, and control the Company to the best of its ability and shall have full and complete authority, power, and discretion to make any and all decisions and to do any and all things that the Manager shall deem to be reasonably required to accomplish the business and objectives of the Company.

 

6.2 Number of Managers, Tenure, and Qualifications

 

Own Our Own Manager, LLC shall be the initial Manager of the Company. The Manager shall hold office until a successor shall have been elected and qualified. Successor Manager(s) need not be a Member of the Company or residents of the State of Delaware.

 

 

6.3 Authority of the Manager

 

Except to the extent that such authority and rights have been reserved for the Members elsewhere in this Agreement, the Manager shall have the obligation and the exclusive right to manage the day-to-day activities of the Company including, but not limited to performance of the following activities. The Manager may: 

 

 

 

6.4 Employment of Affiliated or Unaffiliated Service Providers

 

The Company may employ Affiliated or unaffiliated service providers, including, but not limited to real estate brokers, Property Managers, engineers, contractors, architects, title or escrow companies, attorneys, accountants, bookkeepers, property inspectors, etc., as necessary to facilitate the acquisition, management, and sale of a Property.

 

6.5 Delegation of Duties

 

The Manager shall have the right to perform or exercise any of its rights or duties under this Agreement through delegation to or contract with Affiliated or unaffiliated service providers, agents, or employees of the Manager, provided that all contracts with Affiliated Persons are on terms at least as favorable to the Company as could be obtained through arms-length negotiations with unrelated third parties; and further provided that the Manager shall remain primarily responsible for the active supervision of such delegated work.

 

6.6 Consultation; Periodic Reports

 

 

Within 90 days, the Manager shall provide the following to the Members:

 

 

As soon as practicable after the end of each semi-annual period, but in no event later than 90 days following the end of each such period, the Manager shall prepare and e-mail, mail or make available on its secure website, to each Member

 

 

 

6.7 Manager’s Reliance on Information Provided by Others

 

Unless the Manager has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance by the Manager unwarranted, the Manager is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including but not limited to financial statements or other financial data, if prepared or presented by:

 

 

6.8 Fiduciary Duties of Manager

 

The fiduciary duties the Manager owes to the Company and the other Members include only the duty of care, the duty of disclosure and the duty of loyalty, as set forth below. A Member has a right to expect that the Manager will do the following:

 

 

In addition, the Manager is required to make truthful and complete disclosures so that the Members can make informed decisions. The Manager is forbidden to obtain an advantage at the expense of any of the Members, without prior disclosure to the Company and the Members.

 

 

Just as officers and directors of corporations owe a duty to their shareholders, the Manager is required to perform its duties with the care, skill, diligence, and prudence of like Persons in like positions. The Manager will be required to make decisions employing the diligence, care, and skill an ordinary prudent Person would exercise in the management of their own affairs. The ‘business judgment rule’ should be the standard applied when determining what constitutes care, skill, diligence, and prudence of like Persons in like positions.

 

 

 

The Manager has an affirmative duty to disclose material facts to the Members. Information is considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable Investor would consider it important in making an investment decision. The Manager must not make any untrue statements to the Members and must not omit disclosing any material facts to the Members.

 

The Manager has a further duty to disclose conflicts of interest that may exist between the interests of the Manager and its Affiliates and the interests of the Company or any of the individual Members.

 

 

The Manager has a duty to refrain from competing with the Company in the conduct of the Company’s business prior to the dissolution of the Company, except that the Members understand and acknowledge that the Manager has other interests in similar properties and companies that may compete for its time and resources, which shall not be considered a violation of this duty.

 

6.9 Limited Liability of the Members and the Manager

 

No Person who is a Member, Manager, or officer of the Company shall be personally liable under any judgment of a court, or in any other manner, for any debt, obligation, or liability of the Company, whether that liability or obligation arises in contract, tort, or otherwise, solely by reason of being a Member, Manager, or officer of the Company, unless such Member, Manager or officer expressly agrees to be obligated personally for any or all of the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company (e.g., such as a loan guarantor, etc.).

 

6.10 Indemnification of the Manager and the Members

 

The Manager or a Member shall not be subject to any liability to the Company for the doing of any act or the failure to do any act authorized herein, provided it was performed in good faith to promote the best interests of the Company, including any liability, without limitation, of any Manager, Member, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, against judgments, settlements, penalties, fines, or expenses of any kind (including attorneys’ fees and costs) incurred as a result of acting in that capacity.

 

Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the liability of a Member of the Company (1) to third parties for the Member's participation in tortious conduct, or (2) pursuant to the terms of a written guarantee or other contractual obligation entered into by the Member (such as a loan guarantee, etc.).

 

 

The Manager (including its members, officers, employees, and agents) is specifically excluded from personal liability for any acts related to the Company, whether they relate to internal disputes with Members, external disputes with third parties or regulatory agencies, etc., except for cases where a finding is made by a court of law or arbitrator that the Manager engaged in:

 

 

Except for these exclusions, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Manager from and against any and all loss, cost, liability, expense, damage or judgment of whatsoever nature to or from any Person or entity, including payment for the Manager’s defense (including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs) arising from or in any way connected with the conduct of the business of the Company. See also Article 13.3.4 regarding attorneys’ fees and costs related to internal disputes.

 

 

Further, each Member shall indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its officers, shareholders, directors, employees and agents from and against any and all loss, cost, liability, expense, damage or judgment of whatsoever nature to or from any Person or entity, including reasonable Attorney’s fees, arising from or in any way connected with any liability arising from that Member’s misrepresentation(s) that it met the Suitability Standards established by the Manager for Membership in the Company prior to its admission as a Member.

 

6.11 Liability Insurance

 

The Company may, at the Manager’s discretion, and as a Company expense, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Company, the Manager, a Member, or employee(s) of the Company against any liability asserted against and incurred by the Company, the Manager, a Member, or employee in any capacity relating to or arising out of the Company’s, Member's, Manager's, or employee's status as such. Such insurance may be in the form of Directors and Officers Insurance, Key Man Insurance, Employer’s Liability Insurance, General Business Liability Insurance, and/or any other applicable insurance policy.

 

6.12 Manager Has No Exclusive Duty to Company

 

The Manager shall not be required to manage the Company as its sole and exclusive function and may have other business interests and may engage in other activities in addition to those relating to the Company. Neither the Company nor any Member shall have any right, by virtue of this Agreement, to share or participate in such investments or activities of the Manager or to the income or proceeds derived therefrom.

 

6.13 Parallel Funds, Special Purpose Entities and Co-Investment Opportunities.

 

 

The Manager may, in its discretion and to the extent permitted by applicable law, create or sponsor partnerships or other vehicles that will be formed for participating and in the portfolio companies of the Company. ("Parallel Fund"). The Parallel Fund may consist of certain investors who for a variety of reasons may not wish to participate in the investments through the Company. Any costs associated with the formation and administration of a Parallel Fund will be paid by the investors in the Parallel Fund. It is the intention of the Manager that the Manager of the Company will also act as the Manager of the Parallel Fund; provided, however, if such an arrangement were to become prohibited or result in a conflict of interest, a separate Manager will be established. The Parallel Fund will contain the similar economic terms, rights, restrictions and obligations for its investors as are applicable to Investors in the Company. Like the restrictions on transfer of Interests in the Company, investors in the Parallel Fund will not have the right to transfer their interest in the Parallel Fund without the consent of the Manager, except in certain limited circumstances to permitted transferees. No Parallel Fund shall at any time sell, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of an interest in a portfolio company that was acquired as a co-investment with the Company unless (i) the Company and the Parallel Fund sell, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at substantially the same time, their interest in such portfolio company, and the aggregate amount of such interest sold, exchanged, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Company and the Parallel Fund is allocated among the Company and the Parallel Fund pro rata in proportion to the aggregate amounts respectively invested by the Company and the Parallel Fund on such portfolio company; and (ii) the terms of such rate, exchange, transfer or other disposition, except to the extent necessary to address regulatory or other legal considerations, are substantially the same as those applicable to such rate, exchange, transfer or other disposition by the Company at such time.

 

 

 

Where the Manager deems it appropriate, the Company may use special purpose entities as subsidiaries, including corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships to make and hold investments. The Manager may also cause the Company to invest through corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, joint ventures (both with third parties and affiliates of the Manager), or other arrangements in which the Company has an economic interest and where such arrangements are reasonably expected to preserve in all material respects the overall economic relationship of the Members.

 

 

To the extent that the Manager determines that any Company investment requires co-investment by third parties, the Manager may offer, but is not required to offer, to the Manager and all Members the opportunity to co-invest on a side-by side basis with the Company and the Parallel Fund in such investment. The Manager shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to accept all, none or any portion of such Member's’ capital for such co-investment opportunity and may offer all or any portion of such co-investment opportunity to any third parties, and the terms offered to such third parties may be different than the co-investment terms offered to electing Members.

 

With regard to any co-investment comprised of electing Members, the Manager, in its discretion, shall be entitled to receive from the participating Members: (i) an asset management fee computed in the same manner as the Asset Management Fee and (ii) a carried interest computed in the same manner as that of the Company. The Company and the co-investing Members will participate in the distributions from each co-investment in proportion to the relative capital invested by the Company and each of them in the co-investment.

 

 

7.1 Limitation of Liability

 

Each Member’s liability shall be limited to the extent allowable by the Act and other applicable law. The debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising from contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts obligations and liabilities of the Company. No Member or Manager shall be obligated personally for such debt, obligation, or liability of the Company, solely by reason of being a Member of the Company.

 

7.2 Company Debt Liability

 

A Member will not be personally liable for any debts or Losses of the Company beyond the Member’s respective Capital Contributions, except as otherwise required by law or any personal guarantees or financing requirements. Depending on lender requirements, some or all of the Members may be required to sign personal guarantees for financing of a Property and may be requested to provide financial documentation of their individual financial condition to the institutional lender. For instance, many institutional lenders require Investors owning more than twenty percent (20%) of the Interests to be underwritten during the loan approval process and to execute loan documents. Members’ Obligation of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

 

Each Member (and the Manager) shall discharge their duties to the Company and exercise any rights consistently with the contractual obligation of good faith and fair dealing.

 

7.3 Authority of the Members; Summary of Voting Rights

 

Pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager has absolute powers to operate the business of the Company. The Members have authority to vote only on the specific decisions authorized in various provisions of this Agreement, and summarized below.

 

 

 

Unanimous consent of all Members is required for any of the following matters:

 

 

 

Consent of the Members holding the seventy five percent (75%) of the Class A and Class B Interests (other than the Manager) must affirmatively vote to approve any of the following actions:

 

 

 

A vote of a Majority of Interests of all Members is required to:

 

 

7.4 Participation

 

Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Members shall not participate in the day-to-day management of the business of the Company.

 

7.5 Deadlock

 

Unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, in the event the Members are unable to reach agreement on or make a decision with respect to any matter on which the Members are entitled to vote, the matter shall be subject to the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure described in Article 13 hereof.

 

 

 

8.1 Resignation

 

The Manager of the Company may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members. However, this may require approval of a lender if any loan was conditioned on the qualifications of the Manager. The resignation of the Manager shall take effect sixty (60) days after receipt of notice thereof or at such other time as shall be specified in such notice, or otherwise agreed between the Manager and Members. The acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

8.2 Removal Process; Notice to Perform

 

Prior to initiating a removal action per this Article for Good Cause, all Class A and Class B Members (other than the Manager who collectively own seventy five percent (75%) or more of the Interests (the requisite Interests)) shall issue a Notice to Perform to the Manager in accordance with the notice provision in Article 15.1 hereof. The Notice to Perform shall describe the matters of concern to the Members and shall give the Manager up to sixty (60) days to correct the matter of concern to the satisfaction of the voting Members. If the Manager fails to respond to the concerns or demands contained in such Notice to Perform then;

 

The Manager may be immediately removed, temporarily or permanently, for “Good Cause” determined by: (a) a vote of the requisite Members described above, or (b) by an arbitrator or judge per Article 13.5.4.

 

8.3 Reasons for Removal; Good Cause Defined

 

The previous Manager must serve until a new Manager is hired or elected. The Class A Members hereby agree that any right of removal shall be exercised only in good faith. “Good Cause” shall include only the following, as determined by a vote of the requisite Interests described in Article 8.2 above:

 

 

 

8.4 Removal Notice Requirements

 

Notice of the Manager’s removal shall be provided in a Removal Notice, duly executed by the requisite Interests (per Article 8.2). The Removal Notice shall be sent via express or overnight delivery to the removed Manager’s record place of business. The Removal Notice shall designate the newly appointed manager who shall succeed the removed Manager, and/or a Member to whom the removed Manager must convey all documents and things necessary to continue management of the Company.

 

Within fifteen (15) business days of such Removal Notice, or such reasonable extension as the removed Manager shall request (which shall in no case exceed thirty (30) calendar days), the removed Manager shall voluntarily surrender all documents, books, records, bank accounts, and other items (Documents and Other Items) related to management of the Company to the newly appointed Manager or designated Member. If the removed Manager fails to voluntarily comply with this Article, the Company may seek reimbursement for any costs associated with obtaining such Documents and Other Items from the removed Manager or re-creating them, by deducting the costs, including attorney’s fees and other necessary costs of collection (on production of receipts therefore) or forensic reconstruction, from any Distributable Cash or Fees the removed Manager may otherwise be entitled to collect as described in Article 4.

 

 

If the Manager is removed for Good Cause, any Affiliate of the Manager then-acting as the Property Manager (if one exists) may be concurrently removed, if the Property Manager is also specified in the Notice to Perform and Notice of Removal provided by the Class A Members. Removal of any Affiliated Property Manager, if included, shall take effect concurrent with the effective date of removal of the Manager. If the Affiliated Property Manager is not specified in the Notice to Perform and Notice of Removal, or if the Property Manager is not Affiliated with the Manager, its removal, if desired, must be performed pursuant to the terms of any contract between the Property Manager and the Company.

 

8.5 Effect of Resignation or Removal on Manager’s Cash Distributions and Fees

 

In the event of removal or resignation of the initial Manager, Distributions and Fees due the Manager will be re-allocated between the former and new Manager as described below:

 

 

A removed Manager shall be entitled to copies of all financial statements provided to the Members for so long as it has continued rights to Fees or Distributions. To the extent a member of the removed Manager or the Manager itself remains Member of the Company, it shall retain all rights of any other Member entitled to participate in Cash Distributions, telephone calls, voting, and/or correspondence between the replacement Manager and the Members.

 

 

8.6 Applicability of Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure

 

Nothing in Article 13 (i.e., the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure) shall prevent any Manager from being immediately removed pursuant to the procedures described in this Article. However, the removed Manager may request application of the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (as described in Article 13) to settle disputes related to possible reinstatement or a determination of the amount(s) of Distributable Cash or Fees to which the removed Manager may be entitled.

 

The removed Manager shall have only ninety (90) days from: (a) removal, or (b) from receipt of Fees/Distributable Cash from which deductions have been taken, to invoke the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure described in Article 13 for resolution of any dispute related to such matters. The removed Manager’s failure to provide a written objection (per the provisions of Article 13) within ninety (90) days of the occurrence (a) or (b) above shall be deemed acceptance.

 

8.7 Vacancies

 

In the event the Manager has resigned or has been removed or has otherwise ceased to be Manager, the vacancy shall be filled on the affirmative vote of a Majority of Interests of all Members. A Manager elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of its predecessor and shall hold office until the expiration of such term and until the replacement Manager’s successor shall be elected and shall qualify or until his earlier death, resignation, removal, liquidation, dissolution or termination.

 

 

9.1 Annual Meeting

 

No Annual Meeting of the Members is required.

 

9.2 Meetings

 

A meeting of the Members may be called at any time and for any purpose whatsoever by the Manager or by any of the Members representing a Majority of Interests, following the procedures specified below.

 

When Members representing a Majority of Interests wish to call a Meeting, they shall notify the Manager, who shall promptly give notice of the Meeting to the other Members. In the event the Manager fails to give the notice within three (3) days of the receipt of the request, any Member or group of Members representing a Majority of Interests may provide notice to the other Members. For purposes of determining the requisite Interests, such notice shall provide the names of Members calling such vote.

 

9.3 Place of Meetings

 

The Manager may designate any place, either within or outside of the State of Delaware, as the place of meetings of the Members.

 

 

9.4 Notice of Meetings

 

Except as provided in Article 9.5 below, written notice stating the place, day, and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be given at least three (3) days and not more than ninety days before the date of the meeting. A vote taken at a meeting with less than three (3) days’ notice will only be valid if all of the Members provide unanimous written consent.

 

9.5 Meeting of all Members

 

If all of the Members meet at any time and place, either within or outside of the State of Delaware, and consent to the holding of a meeting at such time and place in writing, such meeting shall be valid without call or notice, and at such meeting, a lawful vote may be taken.

 

9.6 Record Date

 

For the purpose of determining: 1) Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof; 2) Members entitled to receive payment of any Cash Distribution; or 3) to make a determination of Members for any other purpose; the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution declaring such Distribution is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members.

 

9.7 Quorum

 

Members representing a Majority of Interests, whether represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any duly noticed meeting of Members (per Article 9.4). In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the Members present may continue or adjourn (i.e., reschedule) the meeting for a new date to occur within thirty (30) days. A notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Member of record entitled to vote.

 

9.8 Manner of Acting

 

An affirmative vote of the requisite Interests (see summary in Article 7.4) shall be considered an act of the Members on such matters as they are entitled to vote. Consent transmitted by electronic transmission by a Member or Person authorized to act for a Member shall be deemed to have been written and signed by the Member, regardless of whether they appeared at a meeting.

 

9.9 Proxies

 

At all meetings of Members, a Member may vote in person, by proxy executed in writing by the Member, or by a duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Such proxy shall be filed with the Manager of the Company before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxies.

 

 

9.10 Action by Members without a Meeting

 

Action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of Members may only be taken without a meeting if the action is approved by written consent of the requisite Percentage Interests describing the action taken, signed by every Member entitled to vote, and delivered to the Manager of the Company for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the Company records.

 

Action taken under this Article shall become effective at such time as the requisite Percentage Interests of the Members entitled to vote have provided written consent (unless the consent specifies a different effective date), regardless of whether the Member participated in any meeting in which such matters were discussed. The record date for determining Members entitled to take action without a meeting shall be the date the first Member signs a written consent.

 

9.11 Electronic Meetings

 

Meetings of Members may be held by means of a conference telephone call so that all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting held by conference telephone call shall constitute presence of the Person at the meeting.

 

9.12 Waiver of Notice

 

When any notice is required to be given to any Member, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the Person entitled to such notice, whether before, at, or after the time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice.

 

 

10.1 Fiscal Year

 

The Company, for accounting and income tax purposes, shall operate on a Fiscal Year ending December 31 of each year, and shall make such income tax elections and use such methods of depreciation as shall be determined by the Manager. The books and records of the Company will be kept on a GAAP basis in accordance with sound accounting practices to reflect all income and expenses of the Company.

 

10.2 Company Books and Records

 

 

During the term of the Company and for seven (7) years thereafter, the Company shall keep at its principal place of business, the following:

 

 

A Member may:

 

 

As stated above, a Member shall have the right, during ordinary business hours, to inspect and copy the Company documents listed above at the Member’s expense. But, the Member must give seven (7) days’ notice to the Manager of such Member’s intent to inspect and/or copy the documents, and may only inspect and copy such Company documents for a purpose reasonably related to the Member’s Interest in the Company as approved by the Manager. The Company may impose a reasonable charge, limited to the costs of labor and material, for copies of records furnished. The Company may elect, at its option, to provide the requested document electronically.

 

 

To the extent allowed by law, the Manager shall honor requests of Members to keep their contact information confidential.

 

10.3 Bank Accounts

 

All funds of the Company shall be held in a separate bank account(s) in the name of the Company as determined by the Manager.

 

10.4 Reports and Statements

 

The Company shall provide at its expense by March 31 of each year a copy of the Members Form K-1 and any required state and local income tax returns. The Company will also provide to the Members a copy of the audited financial statements by April 30^th of each year.

 

10.5 Tax Matters

 

The Manager shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to make any election provided under the IRS Code or any provision of state or local tax law. Additional information on designation of a partnership representative is provided in Appendix C, attached hereto. Further, the Manager shall have the authority to direct and/or remit withholding amounts from a Non-U.S. Person’s Distributions, as necessary to comply with the Foreign Investor Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA) or other U.S. tax obligation of the Non-U.S. Person.

 

 

This Article 11 pertains only to the Interests of the Class A Interests in the Company. The Manager has the sole and exclusive authority to grant, convey, sell, transfer, hypothecate, disassociate or otherwise dispose of all or a portion of its Class B Interests without input or vote of the Class A Members.

 

11.1 Transfers

 

No Transfer of all or any portion of a Member’s Units may be made without (i) the prior written consent of the Manager, which consent may be withheld for any reason at the Manager’s sole discretion, (ii) the receipt by the Manager of such documents and instruments of transfer as the Manager may reasonably require, and (iii) if requested by the Manager, the receipt by the Manager, not less than 10 days prior to the date of any proposed Transfer of a written opinion of counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), satisfactory in form and substance to the Manager, to the effect that such Transfer would not result in any adverse legal or regulatory consequences to the Company or any Member under applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, that such Transfer would not:

 

 

 

11.2 No Transfer to Minors

 

In no event, shall all or any part of a Member’s Membership Units be transferred to a minor or a person who is incapacitated, except in trust or by will or intestate succession.

 

11.3 Costs

 

The transferring Member agrees that it will pay all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Company in connection with a Transfer of its Membership Units and executes a joinder to this Agreement agreeing to be bound by all of the terms hereof.

 

11.4 Assignees

 

The Company shall not recognize for any purpose any purported Transfer of all or any part of the Units of a Member, unless the provisions of Article 11 shall have been complied with and there shall have been filed with the Company a dated notice of such Transfer, in a form satisfactory to the Manager, executed and acknowledged by both the transferor or such transferor’s legal representative and the transferee, and such notice (i) contains the acceptance by the transferee of all the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such transferee’s agreement to be bound hereby, and (ii) represents that such Transfer was made in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Substitute Member, such Assignee shall have no rights with respect to such Units other than those rights with respect to allocations and distributions.

 

Any Member which shall Transfer all of its Units shall cease to be a Member upon, but only upon, the admission of a Substitute Member in such Member’s stead.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, both the Company and the Manager shall be entitled to treat a Member transferring all or any part of its Units as the absolute owner thereof in all respects, and shall incur no liability for distributions made in good faith to such Member, until such time as a Substitute Member is admitted in such Member’s stead in respect thereof.

 

11.5 Substitute Members.

 

No Member shall have the right to substitute a transferee of all or any part of such Member’s Units in its place, except as provided in this Article 11. Any such transferee of Unit(s) (whether pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary Transfer) shall be admitted to the Company as a Substitute Member only (i) with the consent of the Manager granted at its sole discretion, (ii) by satisfying the requirements of this Article 11, and (iii) upon the receipt of all necessary consents of governmental and regulatory authorities. Persons who become Substitute Members pursuant to Article 11.5 need not comply with clause (i) of the preceding sentence.

 

Each transferee of all or part of a Member's Membership Units, as a condition to its admission as a Substitute Member, shall execute and acknowledge such instruments, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, as the Manager reasonably deems necessary or desirable to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such person to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to the Membership Units acquired. All reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Company in this connection shall be borne by such person.

 

 

11.6 Bankruptcy or Incapacity of a Member.

 

In the event of the bankruptcy or incapacity of a Member, the Company shall not be dissolved, and the Member’s trustee in bankruptcy or other legal representative shall have only the rights of a transferee of the right to receive Company distributions applicable to the Units of such bankrupt or incapacitated Member as provided herein. Any Transfer to or from such trustee in bankruptcy or legal representative shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

11.7 Effective Date of Transfer

 

The Effective Transfer Date for any Transfer will be midnight of the last day of the fiscal quarter in which the Manager consents to such Transfer or the event giving rise to the Transfer occurs, in each case, subject to the terms of Article 11.1

 

 

 

Because the nature of the Company is to generate Profits on behalf of its Members, it is imperative that one Member’s dispute with the Manager and/or other Members is not allowed to diminish the Profits available to other Members or resources necessary to operate the Company. Litigation could require diversion of Company Profits to pay attorney’s fees or could tie up Company funds necessary for operation of the Company, impacting the profitability of the investment for all Members. The Procedure described below requires an aggrieved party to take a series of steps designed to amicably resolve a dispute on terms that will preserve the interests of the Company and the other non-disputing Members, before invoking a costly remedy, such as arbitration. This Procedure does not apply to claims under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

In the event of a dispute, claim, question, or disagreement between the Members or between the Manager and one or more Members arising from or relating to this Agreement, the breach thereof, or any associated transaction, or to interpret or enforce any rights or duties under the Act (hereinafter Dispute), the Manager and Members hereby agree to resolve such Dispute by strictly adhering to the Procedure provided below. The following Procedure has been adapted for purposes of this Agreement from guidelines and rules published by the American Arbitration Association (AAA):

 

13.1 Notice of Disputes

 

Written notice of a Dispute must be sent to the Manager or Member by the aggrieved party as described in the notice requirements of Article 15.1 below.

 

13.2 Negotiation of Disputes

 

The parties hereto shall use their best efforts to settle any Dispute through negotiation before resorting to any other means of resolution. To this effect, they shall consult and negotiate with each other in good faith and, recognizing their mutual interests, attempt to reach a just and equitable solution satisfactory to all parties. If, within a period of sixty (60) days after written notice of such Dispute has been served by either party on the other, the parties have not reached a negotiated solution, then upon further notice by either party, the Dispute shall be submitted to mediation administered by the AAA in accordance with the provisions of its Commercial Mediation Rules. The onus is on the complaining party to initiate each next step in this Procedure as provided below.

 

 

13.3 Mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution

 

On failure of negotiation provided above; mediation, and as a last resort, binding arbitration shall be used to ultimately settle the Dispute. The following provisions of this Article 13 shall apply to any subsequent mediation or arbitration.

 

On unanimous consent of all parties to a Dispute, the disputing party may initiate a small claims action or litigation in lieu of mandatory mediation and arbitration. The parties shall further unanimously determine jurisdiction and venue. In any small claims action or litigation, the local rules of court shall apply in lieu of the remaining provisions of this Article.

 

 

Any party to the Dispute may seek preliminary relief at any time after negotiation has failed, but prior to arbitration, in accordance with the Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection of the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures. The AAA case manager may appoint an arbitrator who will hear only the preliminary relief issues without going through the arbitrator selection process described in Article 13.5.1.

 

 

Identical or sufficiently similar Disputes presented by more than one Member may, at the option of the Manager, be consolidated into a single Procedure.

 

 

Any mediation or arbitration shall be conducted in State of Delaware and each party to such mediation or arbitration must attend in person.

 

 

Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses (including their own attorney’s fees) and an equal share of the mediator or arbitrators’ fees and any administrative fees, regardless of the outcome; however, if the Manager is a party, its legal fees shall be paid by the Company (per the indemnification provision described in Article 6.10).

 

The Company may reimburse a Member for attorney’s fees and costs in any legal action against the Manager or the Company in which the Member is awarded such fees and costs as part of a legal action.

 

 

The maximum amount a party may seek during mediation or be awarded by an arbitrator is the amount equal to the party’s Unreturned Capital Contributions and any Cash Distributions or interest to which the party may be entitled. An arbitrator will have no authority to award punitive or other damages.

 

 

Any Dispute submitted for mediation or arbitration shall be subject to the AAA’s Commercial Mediation or Arbitration Rules. If there is a conflict between the Rules and this Article, the Article shall be controlling.

 

 

13.4 Mediation

 

Any Dispute that cannot be settled through negotiation as described in Article 13.2, may proceed to mediation. The parties shall try in good faith to settle the Dispute by mediation, which each of the parties to the Dispute must attend in person, before resorting to arbitration. If, after no less than three (3) face-to-face mediation sessions, mediation proves unsuccessful at resolving the Dispute, the parties may then, and only then, resort to binding arbitration as described in Article 13.5.

 

 

The complaining party shall submit a Request for Mediation to the AAA. The AAA will appoint a qualified mediator to serve on the case. The preferred mediator shall have specialized knowledge of securities law, unless the Dispute pertains to financial accounting issues, in which case the arbitrator shall be a CPA, or if no such person is available, shall be generally familiar with the subject matter involved in the Dispute. If the parties are unable to agree on the mediator within thirty (30) days of the Request for Mediation, the AAA case manager will make an appointment.

 

If the initial mediation(s) does not completely resolve the Dispute, any party may request a different mediator for subsequent mediation(s) by serving notice of the request to the other party(ies) for approval, and subject to qualification per the requirements stated above.

 

13.5 Arbitration

 

Any Dispute that remains unresolved after good faith negotiation and three (3) failed mediation sessions shall be settled by binding arbitration. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) shall be final and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

 

Prior to arbitration, the complaining party shall cause the appointment of an AAA case manager by filing of a claim with the AAA along with the appropriate filing fee, and serving it on the defending party. The AAA case manager shall provide each party with a list of proposed arbitrators who meet the qualifications described below, or if no such person is available, who are generally familiar with the subject matter involved in the Dispute. Each side will have 14 days to strike any unacceptable names, number the remaining names in order of preference, and return the list to the AAA. The case manager shall then invite persons to serve from the names remaining on the list, in the designated order of mutual preference. Should this selection procedure fail for any reason, the AAA case manager shall appoint an arbitrator as provided in the applicable AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules.

 

 

The selected or appointed arbitrator shall be selected from available candidates in Delaware and shall have specialized knowledge of securities law, unless the Dispute pertains to financial accounting issues, in which case the arbitrator shall be a CPA. Further, the selected arbitrator must agree to sign a certification stating that they have read all of the documents relevant to this Agreement in their entirety, including and any relevant Appendices or Exhibits, this entire Agreement, and the Subscription Booklet.

 

 

 

Discovery shall be limited to only those documents pertaining to this Agreement including this entire Agreement (and any relevant Appendices or Exhibits), the Subscription Booklet (and any relevant Appendices or Exhibits), any written correspondence between the parties, and any other documents specifically requested by the Arbitrator as necessary to facilitate his/her understanding of the Dispute. The parties may produce witnesses for live testimony at the arbitration hearing at their own expense. A list of all such witnesses and complete copies of any documents to be submitted to the arbitrator shall be served on the arbitrator and all other parties within forty-five (45) days of the arbitration hearing, at the submitting party’s expense.

 

 

If, in any action against the Manager, the selected or appointed arbitrator, or judge (if applicable) makes a specific finding that the Manager has violated Securities laws, or has otherwise engaged in any of the actions described in Article 6.10 for which the Manager will not be indemnified, the Manager must bear the cost of its own legal defense. The Manager must reimburse the Company for any such costs previously paid by the Company. Until the Company has been fully reimbursed, the Manager will not be entitled to receive any Fees or Distributions it may otherwise be due.

 

 

14.1 Dissolution

 

The Company shall be dissolved upon the disposition of all Company Properties (which may be determined solely by action of the Manager). The Company will observe any mandatory provisions of the Act upon dissolution. On dissolution, Assets of the Company will be distributed as described in Article 4.3 hereof.

 

14.2 Termination of a Member Does Not Require Dissolution

 

The disassociation, withdrawal, death, insanity, incompetency, Bankruptcy, dissolution, or liquidation of any Member or the Manager will not require dissolution of the Company.

 

14.3 Procedure for Winding-Up

 

Upon the dissolution and termination of the Company caused by other than the termination of the Company under section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code, the Manager shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Company. During such winding-up process, the Profits, Losses, and Distributions of the Distributable Cash shall continue to be shared by the Members in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Upon the dissolution and commencement of the winding up of the Company, the Manager shall cause Articles of Dissolution to be executed on behalf of the Company and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and the Manager shall execute, acknowledge and file any and all other instruments necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution of the Company.

 

 

15.1 Notices

 

All notices and demands which any Member is required or desires to give to another Member the Manager shall be given in writing by email with confirmation, facsimile, certified mail (return receipt requested with appropriate postage prepaid), or by personal delivery (with confirmation of service) to the address or facsimile transmission to the address set forth in Appendix A hereof for the respective Member, provided that if any Member gives notice of a change of name or address or facsimile number, notices to that Member shall thereafter be given pursuant to such notice.

 

 

All notices and demands so given shall be effective upon receipt by the Member to whom notice or a demand is being given except that any notice given by certified mail shall be deemed delivered three (3) days after mailing provided proof of delivery can be shown to:

 

Own Our Own Manager, LLC

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Office: XXXXXX

 

15.2 Amendments

 

The Certificate of Formation and this Agreement may only be substantively amended by the affirmative vote of all Members of the Company. However, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Manager may amend this Agreement in a manner not materially inconsistent with the principles of this Agreement, without the approval or vote of the Members, including without limitation:

 

 

15.3 Binding Effect

 

Except as may be otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, every covenant, term and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors, transferees, and assigns.

 

15.4 Construction

 

Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any Member or the Manager.

 

 

15.5 Time

 

Time is of the essence with respect to this Agreement.

 

15.6 Headings

 

Article and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define, or limit the scope, extent, or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

15.7 Agreement Is Controlling

 

In the event of a direct conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Act, the Agreement shall control unless the conflicting provision of the Act is non-waivable, in which case the conflicting provision in the Agreement shall become subject to the severability provisions of Article 15.8 below.

 

15.8 Severability

 

Every provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any phrase, sentence, paragraph, or provision of this Agreement or its application thereof to any Person or circumstance is unenforceable, invalid, the affected phrase, sentence, paragraph, or provision shall be limited, construed, and applied in a manner that is valid and enforceable. If the conflict was with a non-waivable provision of the Act, phrase, sentence, paragraph, or provision shall be modified to conform to the Act. In any event, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall be given their full effect without the invalid provision or application. If any term or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such legality or invalidity shall not affect the validity or legality of the remainder of this Agreement.

 

15.9 Incorporation by Reference

 

Every Appendix, schedule, and other Exhibit, that is attached to this Agreement or referred to herein, is hereby incorporated in this Agreement by reference.

 

15.10 Additional Acts and Documents

 

The Manager agrees to perform all further acts and execute, acknowledge, and deliver any documents that may be reasonably necessary, appropriate, or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

 

15.11 Delaware Law

 

The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the validity of this Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the Members.

 

15.12 Counterpart Execution

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all of the Members and the Manager had signed the same document. All the counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one agreement.

 

15.13 Merger

 

It is agreed that all prior understandings and agreements between the parties, written and oral, respecting this transaction are merged in this Agreement, which alone, fully and completely expresses such agreement, and that there are no other agreements except as specifically set forth in this Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, whose names and contact information follows, have executed this Operating Agreement of Own Our Own Fund I, LLC as of the dates provided below.