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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ MASTER EVENT-LINKED BOND FUND, LLC
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Limited Liability Company Agreement
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Dated as of May 21, 2008
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UNITS IN ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ MASTER EVENT-LINKED BOND FUND, LLC (THE "COMPANY") HAVE
NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. UNITS IN THE COMPANY ARE INTENDED TO BE
ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT, AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO DISTRIBUTION OR RESALE, AND
MAY NOT BE SOLD, MORTGAGED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR SUCH SECURITIES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
UNDER SUCH ACT IS AVAILABLE.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I Definitions; Rules of Interpretation..............................1
Section 1.1 Definitions................................................1
Section 1.2 Rules of Interpretation....................................4
ARTICLE II Organizational Matters...........................................5
Section 2.1 Organization...............................................5
Section 2.2 Company Name; Registered Office and Agent..................5
Section 2.3 Principal Office...........................................5
Section 2.4 Purpose....................................................5
Section 2.5 Powers.....................................................6
Section 2.6 Term.......................................................6
ARTICLE III Board of Directors..............................................6
Section 3.1. Number of Directors and Qualification................6
Section 3.2. Term and Election....................................6
Section 3.3. Resignation, Retirement and Removal..................7
Section 3.4. Vacancies............................................7
Section 3.5. Meetings.............................................7
Section 3.6. Officers; Chairman...................................8
Section 3.7. By-Laws..............................................8
ARTICLE IV Powers of Directors..............................................8
Section 4.1 General....................................................8
Section 4.2 Powers of Board of Directors...............................8
Section 4.3 Legal Title...............................................10
Section 4.4 Sale of Units; Reclassification...........................10
Section 4.5 Collection and Payment....................................10
Section 4.6 Expenses..................................................10
Section 4.7 Tax Matters...............................................10
Section 4.8 Borrowing Money; Pledging Company Assets; Lending
Property..................................................11
Section 4.9 Litigation................................................11
Section 4.10 Miscellaneous Powers................................11
Section 4.11 Delegation; Committees..............................11
Section 4.12 General Powers......................................12
Section 4.13 Manner of Acting....................................12
Section 4.14 Exempt Members......................................12
ARTICLE V Members; Limited Liability.......................................12
Section 5.1 Schedule of Members.......................................12
Section 5.2 Liability of Members......................................12
Section 5.3 Member Participation; Voting..............................13
Section 5.4 Representations and Warranties of Members.................13
ARTICLE VI Management and Service Arrangements.............................13
Section 6.1 Administrative and Other Services Arrangements............13
Section 6.2 Advisory Arrangements.....................................13
Section 6.3 Non-related Activities of the Adviser:....................15
Section 6.4 Parties to Contract.......................................15
Section 6.5 Custodian.................................................15
ARTICLE VII Advisory Fee; Other Expenses...................................16
Section 7.1 Advisory Fee..............................................16
Section 7.2 Other Fees and Expenses of the Company....................16
ARTICLE VIII Units and Unit Values.........................................16
Section 8.1 Units.....................................................16
Section 8.2 Valuation of Units........................................16
Section 8.3 Classes of Units..........................................16
Section 8.4 Subdivision and Combination of Units......................17
Section 8.5 Rights of Members.........................................17
ARTICLE IX Capital Accounts................................................17
Section 9.1 Capital Accounts..........................................17
Section 9.2 Capital Account Balances..................................17
Section 9.3 Allocations and Distributions to Members..................18
Section 9.4 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures......................18
Section 9.5 Consistent Tax Reporting. ................................18
ARTICLE X Capital of the Company; Benefit Plan Investors...................18
Section 10.1 Contributions Generally.............................18
Section 10.2 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Contribution..............................19
Section 10.3 Interest and Withdrawal.............................19
ARTICLE XI Increases in Company Subscriptions; Admission of Additional
Members......................................................19
Section 11.1 Additional Subscriptions............................19
Section 11.2 Documentation, Effectiveness and Admission..........19
ARTICLE XII Distributions..................................................19
Section 12.1 Distributions Generally.............................19
Section 12.2 Distributions in Cash or in Kind....................20
Section 12.3 Limitations on Distribution.........................20
ARTICLE XIII Withdrawal of Company Interests...............................20
Section 13.1 Decreases and Withdrawals...........................20
Section 13.2 Limitation on Right to Withdraw.....................20
Section 13.3 Manner of Withdrawal................................20
Section 13.4 Mandatory Withdrawal................................20
Section 13.5 Redemption in Cash or Securities....................20
Section 13.6 Redemption and Payment Dates........................21
ARTICLE XIV Prohibition on Assignability of Interests of Members...........21
Section 14.1 Transfers...........................................21
Section 14.2 Tax and Securities Laws.............................21
ARTICLE XV Valuation of Company Assets.....................................21
Section 15.1 Valuation...........................................21
Section 15.2 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Valuation and Valuation Rules.............21
Section 15.3 Net Asset Value.....................................22
Section 15.4 Unusual Market Conditions...........................22
Section 15.5 Company Name and Goodwill...........................22
ARTICLE XVI Tax Matters Member.............................................22
Section 16.1 Tax Matters Member..................................22
ARTICLE XVII Liability; Indemnification; Other Business Ventures...........22
Section 17.1 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers,
etc. 22
Section 17.2 Indemnification of Directors, Officers, etc.........23
Section 17.3 No Bond Required of Directors.......................24
Section 17.4 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Company
Instruments, etc..........................................24
Section 17.5 Insurance...........................................24
Section 17.6 Reliance on Experts, etc............................24
Section 17.7 Accounting..........................................24
Section 17.8 No Protection Against Certain Investment
Company Act Liabilities...................................24
ARTICLE XVIII Fiscal Year; Records and Reports; Accounting Method..........25
Section 18.1 Fiscal Year.........................................25
Section 18.2 Books and Records...................................25
Section 18.3 Delivery of Financial Statements, Tax Returns
and Reports...............................................25
Section 18.4 Delivery of Unit Valuation and Investment
Reports...................................................25
Section 18.5 Method of Accounting................................25
Section 18.6 Accounting Firm.....................................25
ARTICLE XIX Dissolution....................................................26
Section 19.1 Dissolution.........................................26
Section 19.2 Right to Continue...................................26
Section 19.3 Termination.........................................26
ARTICLE XX Liquidation of Company Interests................................26
Section 20.1 Liquidator..........................................26
Section 20.2 Liquidation and Distribution; Order of
Distribution..............................................26
Section 20.3 Return of Contribution Solely Out of Company
Assets....................................................26
Section 20.4 Authorization; Expenses.............................27
Section 20.5 Liability; Consultation.............................27
Section 20.6 Capital Contributions...............................27
ARTICLE XXI General Provisions.............................................27
Section 21.1 Company Name upon Withdrawal of
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.....................................27
Section 21.2 Notices.............................................27
Section 21.3 Power of Attorney...................................27
Section 21.4 Power of Attorney by Substituted Members............28
Section 21.5 Additional Documents................................28
Section 21.6 Binding Effect; Creditors...........................28
Section 21.7 Counterparts........................................29
Section 21.8 Action by the Members...............................29
Section 21.9 Voting..............................................29
Section 21.10 Governing Law; Venue................................29
Section 21.11 No Partition........................................29
Section 21.12 Securities Act Matters..............................30
Section 21.13 Further Information and Documents...................30
Section 21.14 Matters Not Provided For; Compliance with Law.......30
Section 21.15 Severability........................................30
Section 21.16 Indirect Action.....................................30
Section 21.17 Survival............................................30
ARTICLE XXII Amendment.....................................................31
Section 22.1 Amendment...........................................31
1
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ MASTER EVENT-LINKED BOND FUND, LLC
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
This Limited Liability Company Agreement (the "Agreement") of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Master Event-Linked Bond Fund, LLC (the "Company"), dated as of
May 21, 2008, is entered into by and among ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇. and ▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ as the Directors of the Company, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., as the
Organizational Member of the Company ("OFI"), and each person admitted from
time to time as a member pursuant to Article XI (each individually a "Member"
and collectively, the "Members").
WHEREAS, the Fund has heretofore been formed as a limited liability
company under the Delaware Act pursuant to an initial Certificate of
Formation (the "Certificate") dated and filed with the Secretary of State of
Delaware on April 25, 2008;
WHEREAS, the Certificate was executed by OFI acting in its capacity as
Adviser;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, it is hereby agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions; Rules of Interpretation
Section 1.1 Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
"Accounting Period" means the Company's Fiscal Year or any period of
shorter duration beginning on the first day following the last day of the
immediately preceding Accounting Period and ending on any other day as the
Board shall determine.
"Additional Units" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
"Additional Members" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
"Administrator" means any party furnishing services to the Company
pursuant to any administrative services contract described in Section 6.1.
"Adviser" means the Person engaged to provide investment advisory
services to the Company pursuant to Section 6.2.
"Advisory Fee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
"Affiliate" or "Affiliated Person" shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act.
"Agreement" shall mean this Limited Liability Company Agreement, as
amended from time to time.
"Board of Directors" or "Board" or "Directors" means the Board of
Directors as from time to time duly elected or appointed and qualified, as
set forth in Article III, and the Persons serving as Directors in accordance
with the provisions hereof, and reference herein to a Director or the
Directors shall refer to such individual or Persons in their capacity as
"managers" within the meaning of the Delaware Act hereunder.
"Business Day" shall mean any day identified as a regular business day
in the Company's Registration Statement.
"By-Laws" means the By-Laws referred to in Section 3.7, as amended and
in effect from time to time.
"Capital Account" shall have the same meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
"Capital Contribution" of a Member shall mean that amount of capital
actually contributed or deemed to have been contributed by the Member to the
Company.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time, and the regulations promulgated and the rulings issued
thereunder.
"Commission" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Company" means the limited liability company that is the subject of
this Agreement.
"Company Expenses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
"Company Property" means as of any particular time any and all
property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which at such time is
owned or held by or for the account of the Company.
"Custodian" means the party, other than the Company, to the agreement
described in Section 6.5.
"Delaware Act" means the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of
Delaware, 6 Del. ▇.▇▇.▇▇. 18-101 et seq., as amended from time to time.
"Federal Law" means the laws of the United States.
"Fiscal Year" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 18.1.
"Former Member" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 18.3.
"Fundamental Policies" means the investment policies and restrictions
of the Company that are set forth and designated as fundamental policies in
the Registration Statement.
"Impermissible Event" shall mean any event which would: (a) cause the
Company not to qualify for an exemption from regulation under the Commodity
Exchange Act (if the Company is then relying on such exemption); or (b) cause
a violation under any Law or any contractual provision to which the Company
or any of its property is subject.
"Increasing Member" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
"Initial Contribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
8.2.
"Interested Person" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2(a)(19)
of the Investment Company Act.
"Investment Advisory Agreement" shall mean the separate written
agreement entered into by the Fund pursuant to which the Adviser provides
investment advisory services to the Company.
"Investment Company Act" or "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.
"Law" shall mean any law, regulation (temporary or final),
administrative rule or procedure, self-regulatory organization rule or
interpretation, or exchange rule or procedure binding upon, or which the
Adviser reasonably determines may be binding upon (in each case, as
applicable in light of the context), any Member, the Company, any OFI Party
or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing or to which any of their property is
subject.
"Member" means as of any particular time each Person that is listed as
a holder of record of Units in the Company and as a Member in the Company's
books and records.
"Net Asset Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.3.
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange.
"OFI Party" means OFI and any Affiliated Person of OFI.
"Organizational Member" shall mean OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
"Person" shall mean an individual or a corporation (including a
business trust), partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint stock company,
government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of
any kind.
"Redeemed Unit" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.4.
"Redeeming Member" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.
"Registration Statement" means any Registration Statement filed by the
Company under the Investment Company Act, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time, and the regulations promulgated and the rulings issued
thereunder.
"Security" shall include without limitation, equities, debt
obligations, loans, options, and other "securities" (as that term is defined
in Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act) and any contracts for
forward or future delivery of any security, debt obligation or currency, or
commodity, all types of derivative instruments and financial instruments and
any contracts based on any index or group of securities, debt obligations or
currencies, or commodities, and any options thereon.
"Tax Item" means the Company's income, gain, loss, deduction or tax
credits for the Company's taxable year or other applicable Accounting Period
or any specific items thereof.
"Tax Matters Member" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16.1.
"Transfer" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.
"Units" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
"Unit Percentage" means the fraction, expressed as a percentage, equal
to the balance in a Member's Capital Account divided by the aggregate
balances of all Members' Capital Accounts.
"United States" means the United States of America, its states,
territories, and possessions, and any enclave of the United States
government, its agencies, or instrumentalities. The following persons are not
considered to be "United States persons": (1) a natural person who is not a
resident of the United States; (2) a partnership, corporation, or other
entity, other than an entity organized principally for passive investment,
organized under the laws of a non-U.S. jurisdiction and that has its
principal place of business in a non-U.S. jurisdiction; (3) an estate or
trust, the income of which is not subject to U.S. federal income tax
regardless of source, provided that no executor or administrator of such an
estate or trustee of such a trust, as the case may be, is a "United States
person;" (4) an entity, organized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction
and that has its principal place of business in a foreign jurisdiction,
provided that: such entity was not formed by a United States person
principally for the purpose of investing in securities not registered under
the Securities Act (unless it was organized or incorporated and is owned
exclusively by "accredited investors," as defined in Commission rules, who
are not natural persons, estates, or trusts); and (5) a pension plan for the
employees, officers, or principals of an entity organized and with its
principal place of business outside the United States, provided that such
plan is established and administered in accordance with the laws of a country
other than the United States and customary practices and documentation of
such country.
Section 1.2 Rules of Interpretation. The following shall apply to the
interpretation of this Agreement:
(a) References to sections shall be to sections of this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.
(b) "May" shall be construed as permissive.
(c) A "month" or a "quarter" means a calendar month or quarter (as the case
may be).
(d) A "notice" means written notice unless otherwise stated.
(e) "Shall" shall be construed as imperative.
(f) Writing includes typewriting, printing, lithography, photography and
other modes of representing or reproducing words in a legible and
non-transitory form.
(g) The term "and/or" is used herein to mean both "and" as well as "or."
The use of "and/or" in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies
the use of the terms "and" or "or" in others. "Or" shall not be interpreted
to be exclusive, and "and" shall not be interpreted to require the
conjunctive - in each case, unless the context otherwise requires.
(h) Article and section headings herein have been inserted for convenience
of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in
construing this Agreement.
(i) The terms "include" and "including" and words of similar import are to
be construed as non-exclusive (so that, by way of example and for the
avoidance of doubt, "including" shall mean "including without limitation").
(j) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words
using singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number,
respectively, (ii) the terms "hereof," "herein," "hereby" and derivative or
similar words refer to the entire Agreement, (iii) the masculine gender shall
include the feminine and neuter, (iv) any reference to a Law, agreement or a
document shall be deemed also to refer to any amendment, supplement or
replacement thereof, and (v) whenever this Agreement refers to a number of
days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless such reference
specifies Business Days.
(k) Terms defined in this Agreement by reference to any other agreement,
document or instrument shall have the meanings assigned to them in such
agreement, document or instrument whether or not such agreement, document or
instrument is then in effect.
(l) No provision of this Agreement shall be construed in favor of or
against any Person by reason of the extent to which any such Person, its
Affiliates or their respective employees or counsel participated in the
drafting thereof.
ARTICLE II
Organizational Matters
Section 2.1 Organization. The Company is a limited liability company formed
pursuant to the Delaware Act and the provisions of this Agreement. The
rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Members shall be
determined pursuant to the Delaware Act and this Agreement. To the extent
that the rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of any Member
are different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than they would be
in the absence of such provision, this Agreement shall, to the extent
permitted by the Delaware Act, control.
Section 2.2 Company Name; Registered Office and Agent. The name of the
Company is "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Master Event-Linked Bond Fund, LLC". The Board of
Directors may change the name of the Company from time to time, promptly
notifying the Members of any such change. The initial address of the
Company's registered office in Delaware is at Corporation Trust Center, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and its initial registered agent
at such address for service of process is The Corporation Trust Company.
Section 2.3 Principal Office. The principal office of the Company shall be
located at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The Board of
Directors may change the location of the principal office at any time, upon
notice to all Members indicating the new location of such principal office.
Section 2.4 Purpose.
(a) The Company may engage, directly and indirectly, in all aspects of
investing and trading, as well as otherwise participating as an active or
passive investor in other investment entities, operating businesses and/or
other business enterprises. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no
limitation imposed by this Agreement on the markets or instruments in which
the Company may trade, the market sectors of the issuers of Securities or
other investments in which the Company may invest or trade, or the investment
or trading strategies that the Company may apply. The Company may: trade,
borrow, and invest in all manner of investment assets; sponsor, manage, own
interests in and/or participate in domestic and foreign entities,
subsidiaries and/or Persons (as defined below); engage in the business of
acting as a market maker, broker or dealer in all manner of investment assets
and other property (and contract rights relating thereto); and transact all
other businesses and activities as may be desirable, necessary, advisable or
incidental to the Company's business of investing and trading, as the Board
of Directors may determine.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing set forth
herein shall be construed as authorizing the Company to possess any purpose
or power, or to do any act or thing, forbidden by Law to a limited liability
company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware or an investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act, and the regulations
promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.
Section 2.5 Powers. Subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof, the
Company shall have the powers and authority to take any and all actions
necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable or incidental to or for the
furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including, but not
limited to, the powers:
(a) Securities Investments: to purchase or otherwise acquire, sell, hold,
invest, re-invest, transfer and trade in Securities (as defined herein);
(b) Other Investments: to make such other investments from time to time as
may be appropriate and which are not prohibited investments under the laws of
the State of Delaware, the Investment Company Act or the Registration
Statement of the Company as currently in effect at such time.
(c) Other Undertakings: to enter into, deliver, perform and carry out all
contracts, instruments and other undertakings and engage in all activities
and transactions as may be necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes
of the Company, including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, transfer
and exercise of all rights, powers, privileges and incidents of ownership or
possession with respect to any Company asset or liability;
(d) Maintaining Reserves: to establish and maintain reserves for
withdrawals by Members, to pay expenses of the Company pursuant to Article
VII and for similar purposes, and to invest such reserves in Securities,
including, but not limited to, money market funds, money market instruments,
government obligations, custodial receipts, certificates of deposit, time
deposits and bankers' acceptances, commercial paper, master demand notes,
short-term corporate debt securities and repurchase agreements; and
(e) Other Powers: otherwise to have all the powers available to it as a
limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 2.6 Term. The Company shall commence at the time of the filing of the
Certificate of Formation in the office of the Delaware Secretary of State.
The Company shall have perpetual duration, subject to dissolution as provided
in Article XIX.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 3.1. Number of Directors and Qualification. The number of
Directors shall initially be ten (10) and shall thereafter be such number as
shall be fixed from time to time by the Directors as governed by the
provisions relating thereto in the By-Laws. Each Director shall be a natural
person. A Director need not be a citizen of the United States or a resident
of the State of Delaware. Each Director is hereby a "manager" within the
meaning of the Delaware Act.
Section 3.2. Term and Election. Each Director named herein, or
elected or appointed prior to the first meeting of the Members, shall (except
in the event of resignations or removals or vacancies pursuant to Section 3.3
or Section 3.4) hold office until his successor has been elected at such
meeting and has qualified to serve as Director, as required under the
Investment Company Act. Except as provided in Section 3.3 below, each
Director shall hold office until the next meeting of Shareholders called for
the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director or of
a successor to such Director, and until his successor, if any, is elected,
qualified and serving as a Director hereunder. Any Director vacancy may be
filled by the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Directors then
in office, except as prohibited by the 1940 Act, or, if for any reason there
are no Directors then in office, vacancies may be filled by the officers of
the Company, or may be filled in any other manner permitted by the 1940 Act.
Section 3.3. Resignation, Retirement and Removal. Any Director may
resign or retire as a Director by an instrument in writing signed by him and
delivered or mailed to the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary,
and such resignation or retirement shall be effective upon such delivery, or
at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. The Directors may
adopt policies from time to time relating to the terms of office and or
retirement of the Directors. Any Director who has become incapacitated by
illness or injury as determined by a majority of the other Directors or
declared incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, may be retired
by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Directors. Except as
aforesaid, any Director may be removed from office only (i) by action of at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the Members, or (ii) by the
action of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the remaining Directors, specifying
the date when such removal shall become effective. Except to the extent
expressly provided in a written agreement to which the Company is a party or
in a written policy adopted by the Directors, no resigning or removed
Director shall have any right to any compensation for any period following
his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such
resignation or removal.
Section 3.4. Vacancies. The death, resignation, retirement,
removal, or incapacity of one or more of the Directors, or all of them, shall
not operate to annul the Company or to revoke any existing agency created
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Whenever a vacancy in the number of
Directors shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, or
the number of Directors as fixed is reduced, the Directors in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the
Directors, and during the period during which any such vacancy shall occur,
only the Directors then in office shall be counted for the purposes of the
existence of a quorum or any action to be taken by such Directors.
Section 3.5. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
may be held on such notice at such place or places and times as may be fixed
by the By-Laws or by resolution of the Board. Special Meetings of the
Directors shall be held upon the call of the Chairman, if any, the President,
the Secretary, or any Director, by oral or electronic or written notice duly
served on or sent, mailed or sent by telecopy or e-mail to each Director not
less than one day before the meeting. No notice need be given to any Director
who attends in person or to any Director who, in writing signed and filed
with the records of the meeting either before or after the holding thereof,
waives notice. Notice or waiver of notice need not state the purpose or
purposes of the meeting. The Directors may act with or without a meeting,
subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act. A quorum for all
meetings of the Directors shall be as fixed by the By-Laws. Unless provided
otherwise in this Agreement, any action of the Directors may be taken at a
meeting by vote of a majority of the Directors present (a quorum being
present) or without a meeting by written consent of a majority of the
Directors.
Any committee of the Directors, including an executive committee, if any, may
act with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such
committee shall be as fixed by the By-Laws. Unless provided otherwise in this
Agreement, (i) any action of any such committee may be taken at a meeting by
vote of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or without
a meeting by written consent of a majority of the members of the committee
and (ii) a Director may vote in person or by proxy, and such proxy may be
granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission or as otherwise
permitted by applicable law. A consent transmitted by electronic transmission
by a Director or by a person or persons authorized to act for a Director
shall be deemed to be written and signed for purposes of this Section 3.5.
For purposes of this Section 3.5, the term "electronic transmission" means
any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission
of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed
by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by
such a recipient through an automated process.
With respect to actions of the Directors and any committee of the Directors,
Directors who are Interested Persons of the Company or otherwise interested
in any action to be taken may be counted for quorum purposes under this
Section 3.5 and shall be entitled to vote to the extent permitted by the
Investment Company Act.
All or any one or more Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of
Directors or any committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating
in the meeting can hear each other and participation in a meeting pursuant to
such communications system shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.
Section 3.6. Officers; Chairman. The Directors shall, from time to
time, elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Directors may elect
or appoint, from time to time, a Chairman who shall preside at all meetings
of the Board and carry out such other duties as the Board shall designate.
The Directors may elect or appoint or authorize the President to appoint such
other officers or agents with such powers as the Board may deem to be
advisable. The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer may, but need not,
be Directors.
Section 3.7. By-Laws. The Board of Directors may adopt By-Laws not
inconsistent with this Agreement for the conduct of activities of the Company
and may amend or repeal such By-Laws in the event of any inconsistency
between this Agreement and the By-Laws this Agreement controls.
ARTICLE IV
Powers of Directors
Section 4.1 General. Subject to the rights and powers of the Members set
forth in this Agreement and under the Delaware Act, the management, policies
and control of the Company shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors shall have exclusive and absolute authority and control
over the Company Property and over the activities of the Company to the
fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act and other applicable Law, but
with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Agreement. The
Board of Directors shall have power to conduct the activities of the Company
and to carry on their operations and maintain offices both within and without
the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America,
and in the District of Columbia, in any foreign country, and in any and all
commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or
instrumentalities of the United States of America and of foreign governments,
and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem
necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the
Company although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any
determination as to what is in the interests of the Company made by the Board
of Directors in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions
of this Agreement, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will not be required to obtain
any court order to deal with Company Property. The enumeration of any
specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid
powers. Such powers of the Directors may be exercised without order of or
resort to any court.
Section 4.2 Powers of Board of Directors. Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, the Board of Directors shall have the power on behalf and in the
name of the Company to carry out and implement any and all of the purposes
and powers of the Company set forth in Sections 2.4 and 2.5, including,
without limitation, the power to:
(a) Agreements with Third Parties. cause the Company to enter into
contracts with third parties for the making of investments by or the
provision of services to the Company, including contracts pursuant to which
the Company may be required to indemnify such third parties for certain
losses and expenses incurred by such third parties in connection with making
of investments by or the providing services to the Company;
(b) Participation in Reorganizations, Mergers, etc. participate in any plan
of reorganization, consolidation, merger, combination, liquidation or other
similar plan relating to Securities or other property and vote, give assent
to, or oppose, any such plan or any action thereunder, or any contract,
lease, mortgage, purchase, sale or other action by any person, corporation or
other business organization;
(c) Exercising Conversion and Other Rights. exercise all conversion,
subscription or other rights, whether or not discretionary, pertaining to any
Securities or other property held by the Company;
(d) Custody of Assets. register or cause to be registered any Securities or
other investments held by the Company in the name of a nominee, with or
without the addition of words indicating that such Securities are held in a
fiduciary capacity, or in the name of a nominee of any custodian bank acting
pursuant to Section 6.5 or of a depository or clearing corporation, or other
system for the central handling of Securities or other investments; and hold
any such investment in bearer form;
(e) Maintaining Offices. maintain one or more offices within or without the
State of Delaware and in connection therewith rent or acquire office space
and do such other acts as may be advisable in connection with the maintenance
of such offices; provided, however, that maintaining such offices, renting or
acquiring office space and doing any such other acts shall not affect the
limited liability of the Members as set forth in Article V;
(f) Authority to Buy and Sell Property. possess, receive, buy, sell,
exchange, trade, receipt for, dispose of and deal in all Securities or other
investments, checks, money and other assets or liabilities of the Company;
(g) Voting. vote, give assent and otherwise to exercise all rights, powers,
privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to the
Securities, other investments or other assets of the Company, and to execute
and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the
Directors shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power
and discretion with relation to Securities or other assets as the Directors
shall deem proper;
(h) Voting Trust and Other Rights. join with other security holders in
acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in
that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security or
other investment to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to
delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security or
other investment (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the
Directors shall deem proper;
(i) Filings. file with the appropriate public authorities and, if required,
record and/or publish the Certificate of Formation of the Company and any
amendments thereto and take all such other action as may be required to
preserve the limited liability of the Members in any jurisdiction in which
the Company shall transact business;
(j) Registration. file with the Commission the Registration Statement of
the Company and any amendments thereto as may be required to register and
maintain the Company as an open-end, management investment company under the
Investment Company Act and make any filings or take any other such actions as
may be necessary to qualify the Units of the Company for sale in any
jurisdiction in which such Unit are sold.
Section 4.3 Legal Title. Legal title to all the Company Property shall be
vested in the Company as a separate legal entity, except that the Directors
shall have power to cause legal title to any Company Property to be held by
or in the name of one or more of the Directors on behalf of the Company, or
in the name of any other Person as nominee on behalf of the Company, on such
terms as the Directors may determine; provided, that the interest of the
Company therein is appropriately protected.
Section 4.4 Sale of Units; Reclassification. The Directors shall have the
power to cause the Company to acquire, hold, resell, dispose of, transfer,
classify, reclassify and otherwise deal in Units of the Company. The
Directors may cause the Company to hold as treasury Units (without such Units
being deemed to be canceled), re-issue for such consideration and on such
terms as they determine, or cancel, in their discretion from time to time,
any Units in any class thereof reacquired by the Company.
Section 4.5 Collection and Payment. The Directors shall have power on behalf
of the Company to collect all property due to the Company; to pay all claims,
including taxes, against the Company Property; to prosecute, defend,
compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Company Property; to
foreclose any security interest securing any obligations by virtue of which
any property is owed to the Company; and to enter into releases, agreements
and other instruments.
Section 4.6 Expenses. The Directors shall have the power to incur and pay,
out of the capital or income of the Company, or partly out of capital and
partly out of income, as the Directors deem fair, any expenses which, in the
opinion of the Directors, are necessary or incidental to carrying out any of
the purposes of this Agreement, including expenses and charges for the
services of the Company's managers, consultants, auditors, counsel,
custodians, and other agents or independent contractors, and to pay
reasonable compensation from the funds of the Company to themselves as
Directors. The Directors shall not be obligated to account to the Members for
the retention of compensation, and each Member agrees that compliance with
the accounting requirements of the Investment Company Act and of this
Agreement shall constitute satisfactory accounting with respect to all acts
of the Directors. The Directors shall fix the compensation of all officers,
employees and Directors of the Company and may pay such compensation out of
the Company Property without reduction of the Directors' compensation. Except
as otherwise determined by the Directors, all expenses and other items of the
Company shall be borne by or allocated to each Member proportionately based
upon the relative net asset value of the Units held by each Member. Such
common items shall include, but not be limited to, Directors' fees; legal
fees; custodial fees; fees associated with any borrowings by the Company;
Investment Company Act registration expenses; organizational expenses of the
Company; and accounting expenses relating to the Company.
Section 4.7 Tax Matters. The Directors shall have the exclusive power,
authority and responsibility with respect to the Company regarding (i)
preparation and filing of tax returns; (ii) providing reports to the Members
regarding tax information necessary to the filing of their respective tax
returns; (iii) making any and all available elections and determinations with
respect to the tax treatment of the Company and its investments under the tax
laws of the United States, the several States or other relevant jurisdictions
as to any matter, including without limitation an election to adjust the
basis of the assets of the Company under Section 754 of the Code; (iv)
representing the Company before the Internal Revenue Service and/or any state
taxing authority and exercising the powers and authorities of a tax matters
partner under the Code with respect to the Company's tax returns; (v)
exercising such responsibility as may be imposed by law with respect to
withholding from a Member's share of income or distributions; (vi) providing
to the accountants of the Company such instructions regarding allocations of
realized income, gains and losses as may be necessary or appropriate to
assure compliance by the Company with applicable provisions of the Code and
Treasury Regulations; and (vii) any and all other tax matters.
Section 4.8 Borrowing Money; Pledging Company Assets; Lending Property.
Subject to any applicable Fundamental Policies of the Company or any
applicable provision of the By-Laws or the Investment Company Act, the
Directors shall have the power, on behalf of the Company, to borrow money or
otherwise obtain credit and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or
otherwise subjecting as security any of the Company Property, to endorse,
guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or
engagement of any other Person and to lend Company Property.
Section 4.9 Litigation. The Directors shall have the power to engage in and
to commence, prosecute, defend, settle, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by
arbitration or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, debts,
claims, and demands or damages relating to the Company or the Company
Property; and represent the Company in all suits or legal proceedings in any
court or before any other body or tribunal; and, out of the Company Property,
to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection
therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include
without limitation the power of the Directors or any appropriate committee
thereof, in the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment,
consenting to dismiss any action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim or demand,
brought by any Person, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
a Member in such Member's own name or in the name of the Company, whether or
not the Company, or any of the Directors may be named individually therein or
the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of the
Company.
Section 4.10......Miscellaneous Powers. The Directors shall have the power
to: (a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Directors may deem
desirable for the transaction of the activities of the Company and eliminate
such employees or contractual relationships as they consider appropriate; (b)
cause the Company to enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other
combinations or associations; (c) remove Directors or fill vacancies in or
add to their number, subject to and in accordance with Section 3.3 and
Section 3.4 hereof; appoint from their own number and terminate at will any
one or more committees that may exercise some or all of the power and
authority of the Directors as the Directors may determine; and elect and
remove at will such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or
employees as they consider appropriate; (d) purchase, and pay for out of
Company Property, insurance policies insuring the Company Property, and, to
the extent permitted by law and not inconsistent with any applicable
provision of this Agreement, insuring the Adviser, Administrator, placement
agent, Members, Directors, officers, employees, agents or independent
contractors of the Company against all claims arising by reason of holding
any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken by
any such Person in such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or
whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person
against such liability; (e) cause the Company to indemnify any person with
whom the Company has dealings, including the Members, Directors, officers,
employees, agents, the Adviser, Administrator, placement agent and
independent contractors of the Company, to such extent permitted by law and
not inconsistent with the applicable provisions of this Agreement; (f) cause
the Company to, subject to applicable Fundamental Policies, guarantee
indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; (g) determine and change
the fiscal year of the Company and the method by which its accounts shall be
kept; and (h) adopt a seal for the Company, but the absence of such seal
shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the
Company.
Section 4.11......Delegation; Committees. The Directors shall have power,
consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of
the Company and the Company Property, to delegate from time to time to such
committee or committees as they may from time to time appoint from among
their own number or to such officers, employees or agents of the Company,
including the Adviser, as they may from time to time designate the doing of
such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the
Company or the names of the Directors or otherwise as the Directors may deem
expedient.
Section 4.12......General ▇▇▇▇▇▇. The Directors shall have the power to
conduct, operate and carry on any other lawful activities which the
Directors, in their sole and absolute discretion, consider to be (i)
incidental to the activities of the Company as an investment company, (ii)
conducive to or expedient for the benefit or protection of the Company or the
Members, or (iii) calculated in any other manner to promote the interests of
the Company or the Members and generally do all acts, whether or not
expressly authorized, which the Directors may deem necessary, desirable,
advisable, incidental or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment
of the purposes of these powers, objects or purposes for the protection of
the Company.
Section 4.13......▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Acting. Except as otherwise provided herein, in
the Investment Company Act or in any other applicable provision of Law, any
action to be taken by the Directors may be taken in the manner set forth in
Section 3.5. Except as set forth specifically in this Agreement, any action
that may be taken by the Directors may be taken by them in their sole
discretion and without the vote or consent of Members.
Section 4.14......Exempt Members. The Board shall use its commercially
reasonable best efforts consistent with the terms of this Agreement to
conduct the affairs of the Company in a manner that does not cause any Member
exempt from income taxation pursuant to Section 401 or Section 501 of the
Code, to be allocated from the Company any "unrelated business taxable
income" (as that term is defined in Section 512 of the Code) ("UBTI");
provided, however, that this Section 4.14 shall not limit the ability of the
Company to incur indebtedness to the extent permitted under Section 4.8.
ARTICLE V
Members; Limited Liability
Section 5.1 Schedule of Members. The names and addresses of the Members and
their respective contributions to the capital of the Company (in cash and
other assets as permitted under this Section 6.1) shall be set forth in a
schedule maintained at the office of the Company. Such schedule shall be
amended from time to time to reflect (i) any additional capital contributions
by such Members, (ii) the admission of any additional Members and (iii) the
withdrawal by any Member of all or any portion of its contribution to the
capital of the Company. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors,
any Member may make its contribution to the capital of the Company in the
form of assets other than cash, which assets shall be valued by the Board at
the time of such contribution in accordance with Article XV.
Section 5.2 Liability of Members. Except as otherwise required by applicable
Law or as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Member, including the
Organizational Member, shall have any personal liability whatever, whether to
the Company, to any of the other Members, to the creditors of the Company or
to any other third party, for the debts, liabilities, commitments or any
other obligations of the Company (whether arising in contract, tort or
otherwise) or for any losses of the Company, in each case arising solely by
reason of being a Member of the Company. The creditors of the Company shall
have no recourse against any Member. Each Member shall be responsible only to
make a Capital Contribution to the Company and the other payments provided
expressly herein. In case any Member or former Member of the Company shall
be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been
a Member and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason,
the Member or former Member (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other
legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its
corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets of
the Company to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and
expense arising from such liability; provided, however, there shall be no
liability or obligation of the Company arising hereunder to reimburse any
Member for taxes paid by reason of such Member's ownership of any Units or
for losses suffered by reason of any changes in value of any Company assets.
The Company shall, upon request by the Member or former Member, assume the
defense of any claim made against the Member for any act or obligation of the
Company and satisfy any judgment thereon.
Section 5.3 Member Participation; Voting. No Member shall participate in the
control of the business of the Company, transact any business for the Company
or have any power to sign for or to bind the Company. Members shall not have
the power to vote on any matter under the Delaware Act or otherwise except
(i) for the election or removal of Directors, and (ii) with respect to such
additional matters relating to the Company as may be required by Federal Law
or as the Directors may consider and determine necessary or desirable. The
Directors may set in the By-Laws provisions relating to the meetings of the
Members and voting at such meetings.
Section 5.4 Representations and Warranties of Members. Each Member (including
each Additional Member) hereby represents and warrants to and acknowledges
with the Company and each other Member that: (i) such Member has such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and is capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company and making an
informed investment decision with respect thereto; (ii) such Member is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501 of, or is otherwise a
permissible purchaser under, Regulation D under the Securities Act, and is
able to bear the economic and financial risk of an investment in the Company
for an indefinite period of time; (iii) such Member is acquiring or has
acquired Units for investment only and not with a view to, or for resale in
connection with, any distribution to the public or public offering thereof;
(v) the interests of the Company have not been registered under the
Securities Act, or the securities laws of any jurisdiction and cannot be
disposed of unless they are subsequently registered and/or qualified under
applicable securities laws and the provisions of this Agreement have been
complied with; (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
have been duly authorized by such Member and do not require such Member to
obtain any consent or approval that has not been obtained and do not
contravene or result in a default under any provision of any Law applicable
to such Member, its charter, bylaws and other governing documents (if an
entity) or any agreement or instrument to which such Member is a party or by
which such Member is bound and (v) this Agreement is valid, binding and
enforceable against such Member in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE VI
Management and Service Arrangements
Section 6.1 Administrative and Other Services Arrangements. The Directors may
in their discretion, from time to time, cause the Company to enter into
administrative services contracts or placement agent agreements whereby the
other party to such contract or agreement shall undertake to furnish such
administrative, placement agent and/or other services as the Directors shall,
from time to time, consider desirable with respect to the Company and upon
such terms and conditions as the Directors may in their discretion determine.
Section 6.2 Advisory Arrangements. The Directors may in their discretion,
from time to time, cause the Company to enter into an Investment Advisory
Agreement with the Adviser to provide certain services including, but not
limited to, the following:
(a) Manage Investment Portfolio: manage the Company's investment portfolio
with full discretion to purchase, sell and exercise voting or consent rights
with respect to all instruments, investment vehicles, Securities and other
property in which the Company may invest, on such terms and conditions as the
Board may determine from time to time, all without obtaining the prior
consent of the Members or consulting with the Members prior to effecting any
of the foregoing except as required by applicable Law; the Adviser will use
its best efforts to select investments for the Company on the basis of their
possibilities for achieving the Company's investment objective, as set forth
in the Company's Registration Statement; and to conduct, operate and carry on
the activities of an investment company, and, in connection therewith:
(i) to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire and invest and
reinvest in, to hold for investment or otherwise, to sell,
transfer, assign, negotiate, exchange, lend or otherwise dispose
of, and to turn to account or realize upon and generally deal in
and with, domestic or foreign securities; and
(ii) to acquire and become the owner of or interested in any
securities by delivering or issuing in exchange or payment
therefor, in any lawful manner, any of the Company Property; and
(iii) to exercise while the owner of any securities or interests
therein any and all of the rights, powers and privileges of
ownership of such securities or interests, including without
limitation any and all voting rights and rights of assent, consent
or dissent pertaining thereto, and to do any and all acts and
things for the preservation, protection, improvement and
enhancement in value thereof; and
(iv) to purchase, sell and hold currencies and enter into contracts
for the future purchase or sale of currencies, including but not
limited to forward foreign currency exchange contracts; and
(v) to enter into futures and forward contracts, and to purchase and
write put and call options on futures contracts, securities,
currencies and securities indexes; and
(vi) to engage in such other activities as may be disclosed in the
Registration Statement from time to time; and
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained but consistent with
the applicable investment objectives, the Company shall be managed in
compliance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act, the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, the Code and other applicable
Law. The Company shall not be limited to investing in securities maturing
before the possible dissolution of the Company, nor shall the Company be
limited by any law limiting the investments that may be made by fiduciaries.
(b) Maintaining Accounts: open, maintain and close bank accounts and
custodial and sub-custodial accounts for the Company, draw checks or other
orders for the payment of money and transfer of any assets of the Company to
any custodian or sub-custodian employed by it;
(c) Employment of Agents: consistent with applicable Law, to elect,
appoint, hire, discharge, remove or terminate employees and engage such
suitable agents, including attorneys, accountants, auditors, custodians,
depositories and other agents as it may deem necessary or advisable for the
affairs of the Company, and pay their reasonable expenses and compensation
from Company assets to the extent not otherwise paid by the Adviser with
proceeds received from the Advisory Fee;
(d) Engagement of Brokers and Dealers: to engage or consult with brokers
and dealers, as the Adviser, in its discretion, shall deem advisable on
behalf of the Company, and to open, maintain and close accounts with such
persons or entities, give instructions or directions in connection therewith
and pay customary fees and charges applicable to transactions in all such
accounts;
(e) Affiliated Brokerage Arrangements. to enter into brokerage arrangements
with any Affiliate of the Adviser for purposes of such Affiliate executing
transactions in Securities on behalf of the Company; provided, that the
Adviser shall comply with the Investment Company Act and with any other
applicable Law.
(f) Services to Members. to provide certain services to the Members as may
be required; and
(g) Allocation of Investment Opportunities. consistent with its duties
under applicable Law, to allocate investment opportunities of the Company in
the Adviser's discretion, provided that:
(i) The Adviser shall use reasonable efforts to allocate or rotate
investment opportunities among its different clients in a manner
that the Adviser deems equitable (giving due consideration to the
differences which the Adviser perceives among its various clients).
(ii) The Adviser shall be permitted to aggregate orders for the
Company with orders for other clients, notwithstanding that the
effect of such aggregation may, in certain instances, operate to
the disadvantage of the Company.
(iii) The Members acknowledge and agree that by reason of the other
business activities of the Adviser and one or more of its
affiliates, the Adviser may not be able, or may determine not, to
initiate a transaction for the Company that the Adviser would
otherwise have initiated for the Company.
Section 6.3 Non-related Activities of the Adviser: During the existence of
the Company, the Adviser, its Affiliates, and their respective officers and
employees, shall devote such time, effort and skill to the affairs and
business of the Company as the Adviser shall determine to be reasonably
required to promote adequately the interests of the Company and the mutual
interests of the Members. It is specifically understood and agreed that
neither the Adviser nor any such Affiliate, officer or employee shall be
required to devote any specific portion of its or his or her business time to
the affairs and business of the Company. The Members acknowledge that the
Adviser, its Affiliates, and their respective officers and employees may be
involved in and devote a substantial amount of their business time to other
financial, investment and professional activities, including, but not limited
to, managing registered and unregistered investment companies; performing
investment advisory services; and serving as managing members, officers,
directors, advisers, agents, partners or trustees of other companies,
corporations, partnerships, trusts and other entities.
The Company acknowledges that the Adviser and its Affiliates may, consistent
with its duties under applicable Law and this Agreement, manage investment
advisory accounts involving investment advisory services for other clients
and may give advice and take action in the performance of their duties with
respect to any of their other clients or in connection with their own
interests or businesses which may differ from advice given or the timing or
nature of action taken with respect to the Company. It is further understood
that the Adviser and its Affiliates may engage independently or may act with
others in activities of every nature or description including, without
limitation, the ownership and trading of securities and rendering advice in
connection with the ownership and trading of securities, including activities
competing with those of the Company, and neither the Company nor any Member
shall have any rights in or to such independent ventures or the income or
distributions derived therefrom.
Section 6.4 Parties to Contract. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
any agreement for the purchase of Units may be entered into with any
corporation, firm, trust or association, although one or more of the
Directors or officers of the Company may be an officer, director,
shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract; and no such
contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence
of any such relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be
liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the
Company under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit
realized directly or indirectly therefrom; provided that the contract when
entered into was reasonable and fair and not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Article VI.
Section 6.5 Custodian. The Directors may appoint one or more banks or trust
companies as custodian of the securities and cash belonging to the Company.
The agreement providing for such appointment shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Directors in their discretion determine to be not
inconsistent with this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the
Investment Company Act. One or more sub-custodians may be appointed in a
manner not inconsistent with this Agreement and the applicable provisions of
the Investment Company Act.
ARTICLE VII
Advisory Fee; Other Expenses
Section 7.1 Advisory Fee. The Company will pay an investment advisory fee
(the "Advisory Fee") to the Adviser as provided in the Investment Advisory
Agreement, which shall be approved as required under the Investment Company
Act.
Section 7.2 Other Fees and Expenses of the Company. The Company shall bear
all fees and expenses not included in the Advisory Fee or otherwise payable
by the Company's distributor that relate to the business and affairs of the
Company, including all fees and expenses for custodial, accounting, auditing,
financial reporting, administrative services, and ongoing legal services
including those related to the review of Securities and other instruments;
fees and expenses incurred by, or on behalf of, the Company or the Adviser
with respect to tax matters, such as expenses relating to the annual
preparation of Schedule K-1 and the expenses of the Company's "tax matters
member"; any taxes which may be assessed against the Company; organizational
and offering fees and expenses; fees and expenses in connection with the
purchase and sale of Securities and other Company assets (including any
placement or other brokerage fees payable to third parties in connection with
mergers and acquisitions of a portfolio company) such as commissions,
brokerage fees, transfer taxes or similar charges; all expenses relating to
litigation and threatened litigation involving the Company; and such other
fees and expenses that the Adviser may deem to be appropriate fees or
expenses of the Company (collectively, "Company Expenses").
ARTICLE VIII......
Units and Unit Values
Section 8.1 Units. Each Member's interest in the Company shall be denominated
in units ("Units"). The number of Units owned by a Member need not be a whole
number. The number of Units of each Member shall be increased or reduced, as
the case may be, by the amount contributed or withdrawn by the Member divided
by the value of a Unit before taking into account any such contribution or
withdrawal. All Units issued by the Company under this Agreement shall be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Section 8.2 Valuation of Units. On the date of the initial contribution of
capital to the Company by the Members (the "Initial Contribution Date"), each
Unit shall have a value determined on the applicable Valuation Date. As of
each Valuation Date, the value of a Unit shall be determined by dividing the
Net Asset Value of the Company by the total number of Units outstanding. For
this purpose, the Net Asset Value shall be as defined in Section 15.3.
Section 8.3 Classes of Units. The Board of Directors may, without approval of
the Members, establish and designate classes of Units or divide Units into
two or more classes, Units of each class having such preferences and special
or relative rights and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as
the Directors may determine in their sole discretion. The establishment and
designation of any class of Units shall be effective upon the execution by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or any officer of the Company,
pursuant to authorization by a majority of the Directors, of an instrument
setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and
preferences of such class. The Directors may amend the By-Laws providing for
class votes and meetings and related matters.
The Units shall have the following relative rights and preferences: on each
matter submitted to a vote of the Members, each Member shall be entitled to a
vote proportionate to its Units as recorded on the books of the Company and
all Units shall be voted by class except as to voting for Directors and as
otherwise required by the Investment Company Act, in which case all Members
shall vote together as a single class. As to any matter that does not affect
the interest of a particular class, only the Units of the one or more
affected classes shall be entitled to vote.
Section 8.4 Subdivision and Combination of Units. The Board of Directors, at
any time and from time to time, may subdivide or combine all, but not less
than all, of the Units then outstanding. Both the number of Units held by
each Member immediately before any such subdivision or combination, and the
total number of Units then outstanding, shall be adjusted accordingly. In the
event of any such subdivision or combination, the value of a Unit immediately
after such subdivision or combination shall equal the product of (a) the
value of a Unit immediately prior to such subdivision or combination, (b)
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall equal the number of
Units outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision or combination and
(c) the denominator of which shall equal the number of Units outstanding
immediately after such subdivision or combination.
Section 8.5 Rights of Members. The ownership of the Company Property of every
description and the right to conduct any activities hereinbefore described
shall be vested exclusively in the Company, and the Members shall have no
interest therein. Members shall have no right to call for any partition or
division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Company. The
Units shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set
forth in this Agreement and the Delaware Act. The Members shall have no right
to demand payment for their Units or any other rights of dissenting
shareholders in the event the Company participates in any transaction that
would give rise to appraisal or dissenter's rights by a shareholder of a
corporation organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or otherwise. Members shall have no preemptive or other rights to
subscribe for additional Units or other securities issued by the Company. All
Persons, by virtue of acquiring Units in the Company and being registered as
a Member, shall be deemed to have assented to, and shall be bound by, this
Agreement to the same extent as if such Person was a party hereto.
ARTICLE IX
Capital Accounts
Section 9.1 Capital Accounts. The Board of Directors shall cause the Company
to establish and maintain a capital account ("Capital Account") on the books
and records of the Company for each Member.
Section 9.2 Capital Account Balances. The Capital Account balances of Members
of the Company shall be determined on such days and at such time or times as
the Directors may determine, consistent with the requirements of the
Investment Company Act, with income, gains and losses of each class thereof
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to be
allocated among the Members of such class thereof in accordance with their
Units. The power and duty to make calculations of the Capital Account
balances of the Members may be delegated by the Directors to the Adviser,
Administrator, Custodian, or such other person as the Directors may determine.
(a) The balance in a Member's Capital Account as of the beginning of each
Accounting Period shall be referred to herein as the "Opening Balance" of
such Account for such Accounting Period, and the balance in a Member's
Capital Account as of the end of each Accounting Period shall be referred to
herein as the "Closing Balance" of such Account for such Accounting Period.
(b) The Opening Balance of a Member's Capital Account as of the beginning
of the first Accounting Period in which a Capital Contribution is credited to
such Capital Account shall equal the amount of such contribution. The Opening
Balance of a Member's Capital Account as of the beginning of each subsequent
Accounting Period shall equal the Closing Balance of such Account as of the
end of the immediately preceding Accounting Period, increased by any
additional Capital Contribution credited to such Capital Account as of the
beginning of such Accounting Period and reduced by any capital withdrawals
distributed from such Account as of the beginning of such Accounting Period.
(c) The Closing Balance of a Member's Capital Account as of the end of an
Accounting Period shall be equal to the Opening Balance of such Account as of
the beginning of such Accounting Period, adjusted in the following manner:
any increase or decrease in Net Asset Value for such Accounting Period shall
be credited or debited (as the case may be) to such Opening Balance, pro rata
in accordance with the Unit Percentage associated with such Account as of the
beginning of such Accounting Period.
Section 9.3 Allocations and Distributions to Members. In compliance with the
Treasury Regulations promulgated under applicable provisions of the Code, the
Directors shall (i) allocate items of taxable income, gain, loss and
deduction with respect to each Member; provided that, except as may otherwise
be specifically provided in the Treasury Regulations, in all cases
allocations of specific types of income shall be proportionate to the Units
of the Members in a particular class thereof, and (ii) upon liquidation of
the Units of a Member, make final distribution of the net assets of such a
particular Member in accordance with such Member's respective Capital
Account. The Directors shall provide each Member that is a regulated
investment company, as defined in Section 851(a) of the Code, information
that will enable it to take into account its share of items of taxable
income, gain, loss and deduction as they are taken into account by the
Company in order to facilitate compliance with Code Section 4982. Any income
tax withholding or other withholding of taxes required by law with respect to
the allocable share of income of, or distributions to, a Member shall be
accounted for as a distribution to and charged to the Capital Account of such
Member at the time of payment of such taxes to the applicable taxing
authority.
Section 9.4 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing provisions of this Article IX, the Directors may prescribe, in
their absolute discretion, such other bases and times for determining the net
income and net assets of the Company and of each class as they may deem
necessary or desirable to enable the Company to comply with any provision of
the Code or the Investment Company Act, any rule or regulation thereunder, or
any order of exemption issued by said Commission, all as in effect now or
hereafter amended or modified.
Section 9.5 Consistent Tax Reporting. Except as otherwise agreed to in
writing by the Board, all Members, including Former Members, shall report all
Tax Items (including the character and timing of such Tax Items) related to
the Company in a manner consistent with the manner in which such Tax Items
are reported by the Company.
ARTICLE X
Capital of the Company
Section 10.1......Contributions Generally. The capital of the Company shall
initially consist of the initial contribution of the Organizational Member.
After the date hereof, the Company may offer and sell unlimited additional
Units (the "Additional Units") to its existing Members who desire to increase
their capital contribution to the Company (the "Increasing Members") and to
additional persons and entities who desire to become Members of the Company
and who agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement by signing a
subscription agreement or executing a counterpart of this Agreement, as
amended from time to time (the "Additional Members"). The Directors may
establish, from time to time, one or more minimum investment amounts. Such
offer and sale of Additional Units shall be subject to the provisions of this
Agreement.
Section 10.2......▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Contribution. All contributions to the capital of
the Company shall be made in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Board, in
those assets other than cash that the Board deems suitable for the Company,
which assets shall be valued in accordance with Article XV as of the date of
their contribution to the Company.
Section 10.3......Interest and Withdrawal. No interest shall accrue on any
capital contribution made by a Member, and no Member shall have the right to
withdraw or to be repaid any of its capital contributions so made, except as
specifically provided in this Agreement or as required by applicable Law.
ARTICLE XI
Increases in Company Subscriptions; Admission of Additional Members
Section 11.1......Additional Subscriptions; Admission of Members; Increase in
Units. The Directors, in their discretion, may, from time to time, without a
vote of the Members, permit the admission of one or more Additional Members
or an increase in the Units of an existing Member, for such type of
consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times (including,
without limitation, each business day), and on such terms as the Directors
may deem best, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the
acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of,
liabilities) and businesses. An Additional Member shall be an individual,
corporation, partnership, estate, trust, university, foundation or other
entity that shall represent to the Company and the Board that it is an
"accredited investor" as that term is defined in Regulation D under the
Securities Act. Subject to applicable Law and the provisions of this
Agreement, the Company shall have the right to reject any new or additional
subscription for any reason. Such offer and sale of Additional Units shall be
subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 11.2......Documentation, Effectiveness and Admission. Each person who
is to be admitted as an Additional Member shall become a Member effective as
of the first calculation of Net Asset Value after he has (i) paid a capital
contribution to the Company; (ii) agreed to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement by signing a subscription agreement, which includes a power of
attorney and the representations described above, in such manner as the Board
shall determine; and (iii) executed such other appropriate instrument or
instruments as may be required by the Board or on such other date that the
Board in its discretion deems appropriate; provided, however, that if the
Board has approved such admission and the instrument admitting the Additional
Member so provides, the admission of such Additional Member shall be
effective as of a specified date other than as set forth in this Article XI.
The purchase of any Additional Units by an Increasing Member shall be
effective as of the first calculation of Net Asset Value following the
payment therefor or on such other date or time that the Board in its
discretion deems appropriate.
ARTICLE XII
Distributions
Section 12.1......Distributions Generally. The Company may at any time and
from time to time make distributions of Company assets as it deems
appropriate; provided, however, that no distribution shall be made which
would render the Company insolvent, and that all distributions (except for
distributions in redemption of interests in the Company) shall be made to the
Members in proportion to their Units as of the date of distribution.
Section 12.2......Distributions in Cash or in Kind. While it is the intention
of the Board to make any and all distributions in cash, the Company may, with
the consent of the relevant Member, make in-kind distributions (except for
distributions made pursuant to Section 20.2, in which case such consent is
not required). To the extent feasible, a distribution in-kind of any asset
pursuant to this Article XII (except for distributions in redemption of
interests in the Company) shall be made to the Members in proportion to each
of their respective shares of the proposed distribution as provided in
Section 12.1. For purposes of the preceding sentence, each lot of Securities
having a separately identifiable basis shall be treated as a separate asset.
The valuation of distributions in-kind shall be in the manner provided in
Article XV.
Section 12.3......Limitations on Distribution. Notwithstanding anything in
this Article XII to the contrary, no distribution shall be made to any Member
if, and to the extent that, such distribution would not be permitted under
Sections 18-607(a) and 18-804 of the Delaware Act or other applicable Law.
ARTICLE XIII......
Withdrawal of Company Interests
Section 13.1......Decreases and Withdrawals. A Member shall have the right as
set forth in the Registration Statement and subject to applicable Law to
decrease its Units in the Company and to withdraw completely from, at the
next determined net asset value attributable to the Units (or portion
thereof) being withdrawn, and an appropriate adjustment therefor shall be
made to such Member's Capital Account. The rights of such "Redeeming Member"
upon withdrawal from the Company shall be limited to the assets belonging to
the class with respect to which the withdrawal is made. The Company may,
subject to compliance with the Investment Company Act, charge fees for
effecting such decrease or withdrawal, at such rates as the Directors may
establish. The procedures for effecting decreases or withdrawals shall be as
determined by the Directors from time to time, subject to the requirements of
the Investment Company Act.
Section 13.2......Limitation on Right to Withdraw. Except as expressly
provided in this Agreement, no Member shall have the right to withdraw its
capital or profits from the Company.
Section 13.3......▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Withdrawal. Subject to Section 13.6 herein, as
set forth in the Registration Statement, there shall be distributed to the
Redeeming Member, in full payment and satisfaction of its Redeemed Unit, an
amount equal to the next determined net asset value of the number of Units
which it has requested the Company to redeem. No approval of the Members
shall be required prior to the making of such distribution to a Redeeming
Member. If the Redeeming Member seeks to redeem all of its Units, effective
upon the Redemption Date therefor, the Redeeming Member shall cease to be a
Member of the Company for all purposes and, except for its right to receive
payment for its Redeemed Unit shall no longer be entitled to the rights of a
Member under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to
receive distributions during the term of the Company or upon liquidation of
the Company or the right to vote on Company matters as provided in this
Agreement.
Section 13.4......Mandatory Withdrawal. The Board may, in its sole
discretion, require and cause the withdrawal of all or any number of a
Member's Units (the "Redeemed Unit") at any time. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, a Member's Units may be redeemed involuntarily
and without notice to the extent necessary for the Company to comply with the
provisions of applicable Law or if the Board or the Adviser determines that
not redeeming a Member's Units would result in an Impermissible Event.
Section 13.5......Redemption in Cash or Securities. All distributions by
reason of withdrawals from the Company shall be made in cash, except to the
extent that the Board determines that particular withdrawals are to be made
in-kind (in whole or in part), in which case the Board shall obtain the
consent of the relevant Member for such in-kind withdrawal (except for
distributions made pursuant to Section 20.2, in which case such consent is
not required). The cash to be paid or Securities to be transferred to a
Member with respect to a withdrawal shall have an aggregate net asset value
determined for the Member's Redeemed Units. Securities distributed by the
Company in-kind will be selected in light of the Company's objectives and
will not generally represent a pro rata distribution of each Security held in
the Company's portfolio. No interest shall be paid to a Redeeming Member nor
shall any other adjustment be made on account of the delay in the transfer of
such cash and Securities.
Section 13.6......Redemption and Payment Dates. Notwithstanding any provision
herein to the contrary, and subject to applicable Law, the Board may (i)
suspend the right of redemption or (ii) postpone the payment of redemption
proceeds for up to seven days if the Board determines that: (A) making such
payment would result in an Impermissible Event, or (B) liquidating investment
assets in order to make such payment would adversely affect the continuing
Members. The Board shall have no liability for suspending the right of
redemption or postponing any redemption payment, provided that the Board did
not act in bad faith in doing so. The Board may further suspend the right of
redemption or postpone the payment of redemption proceeds as otherwise
permissible under the Investment Company Act.
ARTICLE XIV
Prohibition on Assignability of Interests of Members
Section 14.1......Transfers. Units may not be assigned, pledged, mortgaged,
encumbered, sold, or otherwise transferred (in each case, a "Transfer") by
any Member except with the written consent of the Board, which consent may be
withheld by the Board in its sole discretion. Any purported Transfer without
the written consent of the Board shall be null and void ab initio and the
Company shall give no effect to any purported Transfer.
Section 14.2......Tax and Securities Laws.
(i) Tax Laws. Any such sale, transfer, assignment or security interest
shall be null and void ab initio which, in the opinion of counsel for the
Company, would, when considered with all other transfers during the same
applicable twelve (12) month period, cause a constructive termination of the
Company under Code Section 708 or for state income tax purposes.
(ii) Securities Laws. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE COMMISSION
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR WITH ANY AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REGISTRATION
OF SUCH SECURITIES UNDER THE LAW OF ANY STATE. SUCH INTERESTS MAY NOT BE
OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, DELIVERED AFTER SALE, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR
HYPOTHECATED TO ANY PERSON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE BOARD.
ARTICLE XV
Valuation of Company Assets
Section 15.1......Valuation. Whenever valuation of Company assets or net
assets is required by this Agreement, the Board shall determine the value
thereof in good faith in accordance with Section 15.2.
Section 15.2......Timing of Valuation and Valuation Rules. The net value of
the assets of the Company shall be determined, and Securities and other
assets of the Company shall be valued at such times (each of which is herein
referred to as a "Valuation Date") and in such manner as determined by the
Board as set forth in the Company's Registration Statement.
Section 15.3......Net Asset Value. The Board shall determine the net asset
value (the "Net Asset Value") of the Company by deducting from the total
value of the assets of the Company, determined in accordance with this
Article XV, all outstanding indebtedness of the Company (if any) and all
liabilities and expenses of the Company accrued in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles through the Valuation Date. Any determination
of Net Asset Value shall be final and binding on all Members.
Section 15.4......Unusual Market Conditions. In its sole discretion, the
Board may decline to determine the value of any particular asset or all of
the assets of the Company as permitted by the Investment Company Act.
Section 15.5......Company Name and Goodwill. For the purposes of this Article
XV, the Company's name and goodwill shall, as among the Members, be deemed to
have no value and shall belong to the Company or any successor thereof, and
no Member shall have any right or claim individually to the use thereof.
ARTICLE XVI
Tax Matters Member
Section 16.1......Tax Matters Member. The tax matters member (as defined in
Section 6231 of the Code) of the Company (the "Tax Matters Member") shall be
the Organizational Member. The Organizational Member shall not resign as the
Tax Matters Member of the Company unless, on the effective date of such
resignation, the Organizational Member has designated another Member of the
Company as the Tax Matters Member in accordance with Section 6231 of the Code
and the Treasury regulations thereunder. The Tax Matters Member shall make
all tax elections on behalf of the Company that it deems in its sole
discretion to be in the best interests of the Company, including (but not
limited to) an adjustment of the basis of Company property pursuant to
Section 754 of the Code. In the event that any election under the Code is
made, the Tax Matters Member and any Member will each furnish the Company
with all information necessary to give effect to such election.
ARTICLE XVII......
Liability; Indemnification; Other Business Ventures
Section 17.1......No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, etc.
(a) Directors. The Directors shall be entitled to the protection against
personal liability for the obligations of the Company under the Delaware Act.
No Director shall be liable to the Company, its Members, or to any Director,
officer, employee, or agent there of for any action or failure to act
(including, without limitation, the failure to compel in any way any former
or acting Director to redress any breach of trust) except for his own bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his
duties.
A Director shall not be responsible for or liable in any event for
any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, employee, investment adviser,
sub-adviser, principal underwriter, custodian or other agent of the Company,
nor shall any Director be responsible or liable for the act or omission of
any other Director (or for the failure to compel in any way any former or
acting Director to redress any breach of trust), except in the case of such
Director's own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
The appointment, designation or identification of a Director as
chair of the Directors, a member or chair of a committee of the Directors, an
expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial
expert), or the lead independent Director, or any other special appointment,
designation or identification of a Director, shall not impose on that person
any standard of care or liability that is greater than that imposed on that
person as a Director in the absence of the appointment, designation or
identification, and no Director who has special skills or expertise, or is
appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher
standard of care by virtue thereof. In addition, no appointment, designation
or identification of a Director as aforesaid shall affect in any way that
Director's rights or entitlements to indemnification or advancement of
expenses.
(b) Officers, Employees or Agents of the Company. The officers, employees
and agents of the Company shall not be subject to any personal liability
whatsoever in his or her official or individual capacity to any Person (other
than as provided in the following sentence). No officer, employee or agent of
the Company shall be liable to the Company, its Members, or to any Director,
officer, employee, or agent thereof for any action or failure to act
(including, without limitation, the failure to compel in any way any former
or acting Director to redress any breach of trust) except for his own bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his
duties.
Section 17.2......Indemnification of Directors, Officers, etc. The Company
shall indemnify each of its Directors, officers, employees, and agents
(including persons who serve at its request as directors, managers, officers
or trustees of another organization in which it has any interest, as a
shareholder, creditor or otherwise) against all liabilities and expenses
(including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines
and penalties, and as counsel fees and including indemnification for acts or
omissions constituting negligence) reasonably incurred by him in connection
with the defense or disposition of any claim, action, suit or other
proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in which he may be involved or with
which he may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of his
being or having been such a Director, officer, employee or agent, except with
respect to any matter as to which he shall have been adjudicated to have
acted in bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of his duties.
The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by
policies maintained by the Company, shall be severable, shall not affect any
other rights to which any covered person may now or hereafter be entitled,
shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a covered person and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such
a person.
Subject to applicable Federal Law, expenses of preparation and
presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to
a claim for indemnification under this Section 17.2 shall be advanced by the
Company prior to final disposition thereof.
To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to
whether a covered person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not
provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe
that a covered person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification,
the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the covered
person a rebuttable presumption that the covered person has not engaged in
such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the covered person
ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
As used in this Section 17.2, the words "claim," "action," "suit" or
"proceeding" shall apply to all claims, demands, actions, suits,
investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings or any other occurrence of
a similar nature, whether actual or threatened and whether civil, criminal,
administrative or other, including appeals, and the words "liability" and
"expenses" shall include without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs,
judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
Section 17.3......No Bond Required of Directors. No Director shall be
obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of
his duties hereunder.
Section 17.4......No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Company Instruments,
etc. No purchaser, lender, seller or other Person dealing with the Company
through the Directors or any officer, employee or agent of the Company shall
be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction
purporting to be made by the Directors or by said officer, employee or agent
or be liable for the application of money or property paid, lent or delivered
to or on the order of the Directors or of said officer, employee or agent.
Every contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, interest or obligation
or other security of the Company, and every other act or thing whatsoever
executed in connection with the Company, shall be conclusively presumed to
have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as
Directors under this Agreement or in their capacity as officers, employees or
agents of the Company. Every written obligation, contract, instrument,
certificate or other interest or undertaking of the Company made or sold by
the Directors or by any officer, employee or agent of the Company, in his
capacity as such, may contain an appropriate recital to the effect that the
Members, Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company shall not
personally be bound by or liable thereunder, nor shall resort be had to their
private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim thereunder,
and appropriate references shall be made therein to this Agreement, and may
contain any further recital that they may deem appropriate, but the omission
of such recital shall not operate to impose personal liability on any of the
Members, Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company.
Section 17.5......Insurance. The Directors may maintain insurance for the
protection of the Company Property, its Members, Directors, officers,
employees and agents in such amount as the Directors shall deem adequate to
cover possible tort liability, and such other insurance as the Directors in
their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
Section 17.6......Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Director, officer or
employee of the Company shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and
completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to
act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other
records of the Company, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to
the Company by any of its officers or employees or by any Adviser,
administrator, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected
with reasonable care by the Directors, officers or employees of the Company,
regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Director; provided
that nothing in this Section shall be deemed to exonerate the Directors from
their duties of reasonable care, diligence and prudence or any other duties
imposed by the Investment Company Act.
Section 17.7......Accounting. The Directors shall not be required to file any
inventory or accounting with any court or officer of any court, unless
specifically ordered to do so on the application of the Directors or on the
application of the Members of the Company, or on the court's own motion.
Section 17.8......No Protection Against Certain Investment Company Act
Liabilities. Nothing contained in this Article XVII shall protect any
Director or officer of the Company from any liability to the Company or its
Members to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.
ARTICLE XVIII.....
Fiscal Year; Records and Reports; Accounting Method
Section 18.1......Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company (the "Fiscal
Year") shall be as set forth in the By-Laws.
Section 18.2......Books and Records.
(a) The Company shall keep its books and records at its principal place of
business (or at such other location as the Board may designate) using a
method of accounting selected by the Board.
(b) Members may inspect the books and records of the Company during normal
business hours at the office of the Company for any valid, non-commercial,
equitable purpose relating to such Member's status as a Member or as required
by Law. Members' inspection rights shall be limited to the financial ledgers
of the Company. Members inspection rights shall not include the right to copy
any books or records and shall specifically not include the right to inspect:
(i) trading records; (ii) the Company's portfolio at any point in time; (iii)
proprietary information relating to the strategies implemented on behalf of
the Company; or (iv) the names or other identifying features of other
Members. Any inspection of the books and records of the Company shall be at
the expense of the Member requesting such inspection.
(c) Any inspection of the Company's books and records shall be permitted
only upon reasonable prior notice (not fewer than 10 Business Days) to the
Board of Directors.
Section 18.3......Delivery of Financial Statements, Tax Returns and Reports.
The Company shall transmit after the close of each fiscal year to each Member
the audited financial statements of the Company for such fiscal year as
required by applicable Law. Such audited financial statements shall be
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied. The Company shall also use its best efforts to timely
transmit, after the close of each fiscal year, to each Member and to each
person or entity which was a Member during such fiscal year (a "Former
Member"), a report indicating such Member's share of all items of income or
gain, expense, loss or other deduction and tax credit of the Company for such
year for federal income tax purposes, as well as information about the number
and value of its Units as of the end of such year, and such additional
information as it may reasonably request to enable it to complete its tax
return or to fulfill any other reporting requirements.
Section 18.4......Delivery of Unit Valuation and Investment Reports. The
Company shall furnish to each Member such valuations and reports as the Board
may determine from time to time.
Section 18.5......Method of Accounting. Unless a specific method of
accounting is required by Law, the Company may use the cash or the accrual
method of accounting for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as determined by
the Board.
Section 18.6......Accounting Firm. The Company's independent certified public
accountants initially shall be the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may change the Company's accounting firm
to another nationally recognized independent certified public accounting firm
in the United States.
ARTICLE XIX
Dissolution
Section 19.1......Dissolution. The Company shall be dissolved, and its
affairs wound up, upon the happening of any of the following events:
(a) the determination by the Board of Directors that the Company should be
dissolved and its affairs wound up and delivery of written notice of such
dissolution to the Members not less than thirty (30) days prior to such
dissolution;
(b) the determination by unanimous consent of the Members, exclusive of the
Organizational Member, that the Company should be dissolved and delivery of
written notice of such dissolution to the Organizational Member;
(c) as required by operation of law.
Section 19.2......Right to Continue. The Company shall not be dissolved upon
the death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of
any Member, or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the
continued membership of any Member in the Company.
Section 19.3......Termination. The Company shall terminate when (i) all of
the assets of the Company, after payment of or due provision for all debts,
liabilities and obligations of the Company, shall have been distributed to
the Members in the manner provided for in this Agreement and (ii) the
Certificate of Formation of the Company shall have been canceled in the
manner required by the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE XX
Liquidation of Company Interests
Section 20.1......Liquidator. At dissolution, the Company's business shall be
liquidated in an orderly manner. The Adviser shall be the liquidator to wind
up the affairs of the Company pursuant to this Agreement, provided that if
there shall be no Adviser, the Members, by agreement of Members whose Units
represent 66-2/3% of the number of Units of all the Members, may appoint one
or more liquidators to act as the liquidator(s) in carrying out such
liquidation. Any such liquidator, other than the Adviser, shall be a
"liquidating trustee" within the meaning of Section 18-101(9) of the Delaware
Act.
Section 20.2......Liquidation and Distribution; Order of Distribution. The
liquidator(s) shall take full account of the Company's assets and
liabilities, and shall determine which assets shall be distributed in-kind
and which assets shall be liquidated, which liquidation shall be carried out
as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof.
Thereupon, such assets of the Company, or the proceeds therefrom if the
liquidator(s) elect to liquidate the same, to the extent sufficient therefor,
shall be applied and distributed in the following order:
(a) to the payment and discharge of all of the Company's debts and
liabilities; and
(b) to and among the Members in proportion to their Units.
Section 20.3......Return of Contribution Solely Out of Company Assets. A
Member shall look solely to the properties and assets of the Company for
return of his contribution, and if the properties and assets of the Company
remaining after the payment or discharge of the debts and liabilities of the
Company are insufficient to return his contribution, he shall have no
recourse against any other Person, including the Adviser, the Board, any
other Member or any Affiliate of any such Member for that purpose.
Section 20.4......Authorization; Expenses. In performing their duties, the
liquidator(s) are authorized to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of the
assets of the Company in such reasonable manner as the liquidator(s) shall
determine to be in the best interest of the Members. The expenses incurred by
the liquidator(s) in connection with winding up the Company, all other losses
or liabilities of the Company incurred in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, and reasonable compensation for the services of the liquidator(s),
if such liquidator(s) are not employees of the Adviser, shall be borne by the
Company. The liquidator(s) will use best efforts to dispose of or distribute
all Company assets within one year of dissolution but will not be bound to do
so or liable in any way to any Member for failure to do so.
Section 20.5......Liability; Consultation. The liquidator(s) shall not be
liable to any Member for any loss attributable to any act or omission of the
liquidators(s) taken in good faith in connection with the liquidation of the
Company and distribution of its assets. The liquidator(s) may consult with
counsel, accountants and investment advisers with respect to liquidating the
Company and distributing its assets and shall be justified in acting or
omitting to act in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel,
accountants or investment advisers.
Section 20.6......Capital Contributions. The liquidator(s) shall not be
liable for the return of capital contributions of any Members.
ARTICLE XXI
General Provisions
Section 21.1......Company Name upon Withdrawal of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. In
the event that an OFI Party ceases to be the Adviser of the Company,
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. or such entity may, upon written notice to all
Members, require the Company to change the name of the Company to delete the
name ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and any other portion of the name or trademark or service
mark used by OppenheimerFunds, Inc. or any of its Affiliates at that time.
Section 21.2......Notices. Except where otherwise specifically provided in
this Agreement, all notices, requests, consents, approvals and statements
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been properly given by
personal delivery or if mailed from within the United States by first class
U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or if sent by prepaid telegram, addressed in each
case, if to the Company, to it at ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Master Event-Linked Bond Fund,
LLC, c/o OppenheimerFunds, Inc., Two World Financial Center, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-1008, and if to any Member, to
it at the address set forth in the instrument pursuant to which it became a
Member or, in each case, to it at such other address or addresses as the
addressee may have specified by written notice as aforesaid to the other
parties.
Section 21.3......Power of Attorney.
(a) Each of the Members hereby constitutes and appoints the Board of
Directors and the Adviser, respectively, as its attorney to make, execute,
sign, acknowledge and file (and, if required, record and/or publish) (A) a
Certificate of Formation under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other
jurisdiction, any amendment to any such Certificate of Formation or any other
instrument, certificate or document required from time to time; and (B) any
other instrument, certificate or document as may be required or appropriate
under the laws, regulations or procedures of the United States, any state or
any governmental entity in any jurisdiction in which the Company is doing or
intends to do business, provided all such instruments, certificates and other
documents referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above are not inconsistent with
the terms of this Agreement as then in effect. Copies of all such
instruments, certificates and other documents shall be sent or otherwise made
available to all Members.
(b) Each of the Members is aware that the terms of this Agreement permit
certain amendments to the Certificate of Formation and this Agreement to be
effected and certain other actions to be taken by or with respect to the
Company, in each case with the approval or by the vote of less than all the
Members or without the approval of any Member, as the case may be. If, as and
when (A) an amendment of the Certificate of Formation and this Agreement is
proposed or an action is proposed to be taken by or with respect to the
Company which does not require, under the terms of this Agreement, the
approval of any or all of the Members, as the case may be, (B) Members
holding the interest in the Company specified in this Agreement as being
required for such amendment or action have approved such amendment or action
in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, or the consent or approval of
Members is not required hereunder for such amendment or action, and (C) a
Member is not required or has failed or refused to approve such amendment or
action (hereinafter referred to as a non-consenting Member), each
non-consenting Member agrees that the special power of attorney specified
above, with full power of substitution, is hereby authorized and empowered to
execute, acknowledge, make, swear to, verify, deliver, record, file and/or
publish, for and on behalf of such non-consenting Member, and in its name,
place and stead, any and all instruments and documents which may be necessary
or appropriate to permit such amendment to be lawfully made or action
lawfully taken. Each Member is fully aware that it and each other Member has
executed this special power of attorney, and that each Member will rely on
the effectiveness of such powers with a view to the orderly administration of
the Company's affairs.
(c) The foregoing grant of authority (A) is a special power of attorney
coupled with an interest in favor of the Board of Directors and the Adviser,
respectively, and as such shall be irrevocable and shall survive the death or
incapacity of a Member that is an individual or the merger, dissolution or
other termination of the existence of a Member that is a corporation,
association, partnership, trust, university or other entity and (B) shall
survive the assignment by the Member of the whole or any portion of its
interest in the Company, except that where the assignee of the whole thereof
has furnished a power of attorney, this power or attorney shall survive such
assignment for the sole purpose of enabling the Board of Directors or the
Adviser to execute, acknowledge and file any instrument necessary to effect
such substitution and shall thereafter terminate.
Section 21.4......Power of Attorney by Substituted Members. The Board shall
require a similar power of attorney to be executed by a transferee of a
Member as a condition of its admission as a substituted Member.
Section 21.5......Additional Documents. Each Member hereby agrees to execute
all certificates, counterparts, amendments, instruments or documents that may
be required by laws of the various states or other jurisdictions in which the
Company does business, to conform with the laws of such states or other
jurisdictions governing limited liability companies.
Section 21.6......Binding Effect; Creditors.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Members, the parties indemnified hereunder and their respective successors,
permitted assigns, heirs and legal representatives.
(b) None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of,
or enforceable by, any creditor of any Member or of the Company. No creditor
who makes a loan to a Member or to the Company may have or acquire, solely as
a result of making such loan, any Unit or interest in the profits or property
of the Company, other than such Unit or interest in the profits or property
of the Company that may be expressly granted to such creditor, with the
written consent of the Board, pursuant to the terms of such loan.
Section 21.7......Counterparts. This Agreement or any amendment hereto may be
signed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when executed by the
Organizational Member, shall be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one agreement (or amendment, as the case may be).
Section 21.8......Action by the Members. Whenever action is required by this
Agreement to be taken by a specified percentage in interest of the Members,
such action shall be deemed to be valid if taken upon written vote or written
consent by those Members whose Units represent the specified percentage of
the number of Units of all the Members at the time.
Section 21.9......Voting. Any vote or other action required or permitted to
be taken by this Agreement may be taken by written consent signed by not less
than the requisite percentage in interest of the Members required or
permitted to take such vote or other action.
Section 21.10.....Governing Law; Venue.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT IS MADE PURSUANT TO AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED BY ANY MEMBER OR PROSPECTIVE MEMBER OR THE
LOCATION OF ANY OFFICE, VENTURE OR OPERATION OF THE COMPANY OR ANY MEMBER.
ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY ANY OFI PARTY AGAINST ONE OR MORE MEMBERS
OR THE COMPANY RELATING IN ANY RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OPERATION OF
THE COMPANY OR THE OFFERING OF THE UNITS MAY, AND ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
BROUGHT BY ANY OTHER PARTY AGAINST ANY OFI PARTY OR THE COMPANY RELATING IN
ANY RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OPERATION OF THE COMPANY OR THE OFFERING
OF THE UNITS SHALL, BE BROUGHT AND ENFORCED IN THE CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF
NEW YORK OR (TO THE EXTENT SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION EXISTS THEREFOR) IN
THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND
THE MEMBERS AND THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF BOTH
SUCH STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
THE MEMBERS AND THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW
OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO LAYING THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN THE
COURTS OF THE CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK OR IN THE COURTS OF THE
UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY
SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM.
(b) EACH MEMBER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH
RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM AGAINST ANY OFI PARTY OR THE COMPANY RELATING IN ANY WAY
TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OPERATION OF THE COMPANY OR THE OFFERING OF THE UNITS.
(c) EACH MEMBER ▇▇▇▇▇▇ AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE EFFECTED ON
SUCH MEMBER IN THE SAME MANNER AS NOTICES ARE GIVEN PURSUANT TO SECTION 21.2.
Section 21.11.....No Partition.
(a) Each Member irrevocably waives any right that such Member might
otherwise have had to maintain any claim for partition with respect to any
property of the Company or to compel any sale or appraisal of any Company
asset or any sale or appraisal of a deceased Member's Units.
(b) The Members shall not hold undivided interests in any asset of the
Company, but rather an interest in the Company itself, which shall for all
purposes be considered to constitute personal property.
Section 21.12.....Securities Act Matters. Each Member understands that, in
addition to the restrictions on transfer contained in this Agreement, the
Company interests have not been registered under the Securities Act, and,
therefore, may not be sold or otherwise transferred unless they are
registered under the Securities Act, or unless an exemption from registration
under such Act is available. Each Member agrees with all other Members that
it will not sell or otherwise transfer its interest in the Company unless
such interest has been so registered under the Securities Act, or if approved
in writing by the Board.
Section 21.13.....Further Information and Documents. Each Member hereby
undertakes to furnish to the Company any additional information that the
Board may deem necessary or advisable in order that (a) the Company or the
Adviser and any of their respective Affiliates may comply with applicable Law
or (b) the Company may open and maintain an account or accounts with
securities, futures or commodity brokerage firms, and to execute and deliver
such other agreements, documented statements of interest and holdings, powers
of attorney, and other instruments as the Board deems necessary or advisable
for such purpose, provided that the same are not inconsistent with the terms
and provisions of this Agreement and do not increase the liabilities or
obligations of such Member beyond that provided for in this Agreement.
Section 21.14.....Matters Not Provided For; Compliance with Law.
(a) The Board shall be empowered to decide any question arising with
respect to the Company or this Agreement, and to make such provisions as it
deems to be in, or not opposed to, the interests of the Company, but which
are not specifically set forth herein.
(b) In addition to the authority granted the Board herein, the Board may,
but shall have no obligation to, take any action that the Board deems
necessary or advisable to ensure that the Company is not in violation of Law
or in breach of any contractual provision, including amending this Agreement.
(c) To the extent permissible by ▇▇▇, in the case of any inconsistency
between this Agreement and the Delaware Act, the provisions of this Agreement
shall control.
Section 21.15.....Severability. In the event that any provision of this
Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such
provision shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary so that
such provision, as so modified, shall no longer be held to be invalid or
unenforceable. Any such modification, invalidity or unenforceability shall be
strictly limited both to such provision and to such jurisdiction, and in each
case to no other. Furthermore, in the event of any such modification,
invalidity or unenforceability, this Agreement shall be interpreted so as to
achieve the intent expressed herein to the greatest extent possible in the
jurisdiction in question and otherwise as set forth herein.
Section 21.16.....Indirect Action. Each Member agrees that it is of the
essence to this Agreement that no Member be permitted to do indirectly - by
the use of Affiliates, agents, agreements, contracts, reciprocal business
dealings or any other means - that which such Member has herein agreed not to
do directly. Furthermore, it is the express intent of all Members that all
Members shall comply in all respects with the substantive purposes of this
Agreement and that technical compliance shall constitute a breach hereof to
the extent that it contravenes or does not fully achieve such substantive
purposes.
Section 21.17.....Survival. Those agreements and undertakings set forth in
this Agreement which by their terms contemplate that they shall survive the
withdrawal of a Member or the termination of the Company shall do so.
ARTICLE XXII......
Amendment
Section 22.1......Amendment. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
the terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, modified or amended
with the written consent of two-thirds of the Board of Directors and without
the consent of any Member unless otherwise required by applicable Law, in
which case such amendment shall require the consent of any Member or Members
as provided by applicable Law. The Board shall promptly furnish copies of
any amendments to this Agreement to all Members.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first set forth above in one or more separate counterparts.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER: EACH MEMBER FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY
HERETO:
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
as Attorney-in-Fact for such persons
who have entered into the related
subscription agreements and such
subscriptions have been accepted by
the Board of Directors on behalf of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Master Event-Linked Bond
Fund, LLC
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By: By:
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President & Treasurer Title: Senior Vice President &
Treasurer
THE DIRECTORS:
as Attorney-in-Fact for the Directors
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Attorney-in-Fact for the
Directors