Exhibit 3.1
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
VOLKSWAGEN DEALER FINANCE, LLC
This Limited Liability Company Agreement (together with the schedules
attached hereto, this "Agreement") of Volkswagen Dealer Finance LLC (the
"Company"), is entered into by VW Credit, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as the
sole equity member (the "Member"), and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, as the Special Member (as
defined on Schedule A hereto). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined
herein have the meanings set forth on Schedule A hereto.
The Member, by execution of this Agreement, hereby forms the Company as a
limited liability company pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware
Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del. C. (S) 18-101 et seq.), as amended from
time to time (the "Act"), and this Agreement, and the Member and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Name.
The name of the limited liability company formed hereby is Volkswagen
Dealer Finance LLC.
Section 2. Principal Business Office.
The principal business office of the Company shall be located at c/o VW
Credit, Inc., ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or such other
location as may hereafter be determined by the Member.
Section 3. Registered Office.
The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of
Delaware is c/o The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
Section 4. Registered Agent.
The name and address of the registered agent of the Company for service of
process on the Company in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust
Company, Corporation Trust Center, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
Section 5. Members.
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(a) The mailing address of the Member is set forth on Schedule B attached
hereto. The Member was admitted to the Company as a member of the Company upon
its execution of a counterpart signature page to this Agreement.
(b) Subject to Section 9(j), the Member may act by written consent.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the Member to cease to be
a member of the Company (other than (i) upon an assignment by the Member of all
of its limited liability company interest in the Company and the admission of
the transferee pursuant to Sections 21 and 23, or (ii) the resignation of the
Member and the admission of an additional member of the Company pursuant to
Sections 22 and 23), the person acting as an Independent Manager pursuant to
Section 10 shall, without any action of any Person and simultaneously with the
Member ceasing to be a member of the Company, automatically be admitted to the
Company as the Special Member and shall continue the Company without
dissolution. The Special Member may not resign from the Company or transfer its
rights as Special Member unless (i) a successor Special Member has been admitted
to the Company as the Special Member by executing a counterpart to this
Agreement, and (ii) such successor has also accepted its appointment as
Independent Manager pursuant to Section 10; provided, however, the Special
Member shall automatically cease to be members of the Company upon the admission
to the Company of a substitute Member. The Special Member shall be a member of
the Company that has no interest in the profits, losses and capital of the
Company and has no right to receive any distributions of Company assets.
Pursuant to Section 18-301 of the Act, the Special Member shall not be required
to make any capital contributions to the Company and shall not receive a limited
liability company interest in the Company. The Special Member, in its capacity
as Special Member, may not bind the Company. Except as required by any mandatory
provision of the Act, the Special Member, in its capacity as Special Member,
shall have no right to vote on, approve or otherwise consent to any action by,
or matter relating to, the Company, including, without limitation, the merger,
consolidation or conversion of the Company. In order to implement the admission
to the Company of the Special Member, the person acting as an Independent
Manager pursuant to Section 10 shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement.
Prior to its admission to the Company as Special Member, the person acting as an
Independent Manager pursuant to Section 10 shall not be a member of the Company.
Section 6. Certificates.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ is hereby designated as an "authorized person" within
the meaning of the Act, and has executed, delivered and filed the Certificate of
Formation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
Upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, his powers as an "authorized person" ceased, and
the Member thereupon became the designated "authorized person" and shall
continue as the designated "authorized person" within the meaning of the Act.
The Member or an Officer shall execute, deliver and file any other certificates
(and any
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amendments and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to
do business in Michigan and in any other jurisdiction in which the Company may
wish to conduct business.
The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue
until cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Act.
Section 7. Purposes.
(a) The purpose to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in
the following business and financial activities:
(i) entering into and performing obligations under one or more agreements
(relating to any of the transactions contemplated by any agreements or
any prospectus relating to the Volkswagen Credit Auto Master Owner
Trust) pursuant to which the Company may purchase, receive
contributions of or otherwise acquire motor vehicle wholesale
floorplan loans and related rights and assets;
(ii) entering into and performing obligations under one or more loan
agreements to be entered into with a lender, a medium-term note
conduit or a commercial paper conduit, or to engage in public
offerings of securities registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to the Volkswagen Credit Auto Master Owner Trust
and backed by or otherwise secured by motor vehicle wholesale
floorplan loans and related rights and assets;
(iii) entering into and performing obligations under agreements reasonably
related to transactions described in (i) and (ii) above, including
without limitation, interest rate hedge agreements (all such
agreements, the "Transaction Documents"); and
(iv) engaging in any lawful act or activity and to exercise any powers
permitted to limited liability companies organized under the laws of
Delaware that are related or incidental to and necessary, convenient
or advisable for the accomplishment of the above-mentioned purposes.
(b) The Company, by or through the Member, or any Manager or Officer on
behalf of the Company, may enter into and perform the Transaction Documents and
all documents, agreements, certificates, or financing statements contemplated
thereby or related thereto, all without any further act, vote or approval of any
other Person notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Act or
applicable law, rule or regulation. The foregoing authorization shall not be
deemed a restriction on the powers of the Member or any Manager or Officer to
enter into other agreements on behalf of the Company.
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Section 8. Powers.
Subject to Section 9(j), the Company, and the Board of Managers and the
Officers of the Company on behalf of the Company, (i) shall have and exercise
all powers necessary, convenient or incidental to accomplish its purposes as set
forth in Section 7 and (ii) shall have and exercise all of the powers and rights
conferred upon limited liability companies formed pursuant to the Act.
Section 9. Management.
(a) Board of Managers. Subject to Section 9(j), the business and affairs
of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of one or
more Managers designated by the Member. Subject to Section 10, the Member may
determine at any time in its sole and absolute discretion the number of Managers
to constitute the Board. The authorized number of Managers may be increased or
decreased by the Member at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, upon
notice to all Managers, and subject in all cases to Section 10. The initial
number of Managers shall be four, at least one of which shall be an Independent
Manager pursuant to Section 10. Each Manager elected, designated or appointed by
the Member shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified or until
such Manager's earlier death, resignation, expulsion or removal. Each Manager
shall execute and deliver the Managers' Agreement. Managers need not be a
Member. The initial Managers designated by the Member are listed on Schedule D
hereto.
(b) Powers. Subject to Section 9(j), the Board of Managers shall have the
power to do any and all acts necessary, convenient or incidental to or for the
furtherance of the purposes described herein, including all powers, statutory or
otherwise. Subject to Section 7, the Board of Managers has the authority to bind
the Company.
(c) Meeting of the Board of Managers. The Board of Managers of the Company
may hold meetings, both regular and special, within or outside the State of
Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time
and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board. Special
meetings of the Board may be called by the President on not less than three
day's notice to each Manager by telephone, facsimile, mail, telegram or any
other means of communication, and special meetings shall be called by the
President or Secretary in like manner and with like notice upon the written
request of any one or more of the Managers.
(d) Quorum: Acts of the Board. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of
the Managers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and,
except as otherwise provided in any other provision of this Agreement, the act
of a majority of the Managers present at any meeting at which there is a quorum
shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting
of the Board, the Managers present at such meeting may adjourn the meeting from
time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a
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quorum shall be present. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting
if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in
writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings
of the Board or committee, as the case may be.
(e) Electronic Communications. Members of the Board, or any committee
designated by the Board, may participate in meetings of the Board, or any
committee, by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment
that allows all Persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and
such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in Person at the
meeting. If all the participants are participating by telephone conference or
similar communications equipment, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the
principal place of business of the Company.
(f) Committees of Managers.
(i) The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole
Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to
consist of one or more of the Managers of the Company. The Board
may designate one or more Managers as alternate members of any
committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at
any meeting of the committee.
(ii) In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee,
the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not such members constitute
a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to
act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or
disqualified member.
(iii) Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of
the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and
authority of the Board in the management of the business and
affairs of the Company. Such committee or committees shall have
such name or names as may be determined from time to time by
resolution adopted by the Board. Each committee shall keep
regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board
when required.
(g) Compensation of Managers; Expenses. The Board shall have the authority
to fix the compensation of Managers. The Managers may be paid their expenses, if
any, of attendance at meetings of the Board, which may be a fixed sum for
attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as Manager. No such
payment shall preclude any Manager from serving the Company in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing
committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.
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(h) Removal of Managers. Unless otherwise restricted by law, any Manager
or the entire Board of Managers may be removed or expelled, with or without
cause, at any time by the Member, and, subject to Section 10, any vacancy caused
by any such removal or expulsion may be filled by action of the Member.
(i) Managers as Agents. To the extent of their powers set forth in this
Agreement and subject to Section 9(j), the Managers are agents of the Company
for the purpose of the Company's business, and the actions of the Managers taken
in accordance with such powers set forth in this Agreement shall bind the
Company. Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 18-402 of the Act, except
as provided in this Agreement or in a resolution of the Managers, a Manager may
not bind the Company.
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(j) Limitations on the Company's Activities.
(i) This Section 9(j) is being adopted in order to comply with
certain provisions required in order to qualify the Company as
a "special purpose" entity.
(ii) The Member shall not, so long as any Obligation is outstanding,
amend, alter, change or repeal the definition of "Independent
Manager" or Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
26 or 31 or Schedule A of this Agreement without the unanimous
written consent of the Board (including the Independent
Manager). Subject to this Section 9(j), the Member reserves the
right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provisions
contained in this Agreement in accordance with Section 31.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and any
provision of law that otherwise so empowers the Company, the
Member, the Board, any Officer or any other Person, neither the
Member nor the Board nor any Officer nor any other Person shall
be authorized or empowered, nor shall they permit the Company,
without the prior unanimous written consent of the Member and
the Board (including the Independent Manager), to take any
Material Action, provided, however, that the Board may not vote
on, or authorize the taking of, any Material Action, unless
there is at least one Independent Manager then serving in such
capacity.
(iv) The Board and the Member shall cause the Company to do or cause
to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full
force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory)
and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be required to preserve any such right or franchise if: (1) the
Board shall determine that the preservation thereof is no
longer desirable for the conduct of its business and that the
loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to
the Company and (2) the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied.
The Board also shall cause the Company to:
(A) have its own business office (which, however, may be
within the premises of and leased from the Member) at
which will be maintained its own separate corporate books
and records;
(B) observe all requirements of the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act, Company's certificate of formation and this
Limited Liability Company Agreement;
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(C) compensate all consultants and agents directly, from its own
bank account, for services provided to it by such
consultants and agents;
(D) readily identify and allocate any sharing of overhead
expenses between the Company and the Member;
(E) preserve its limited liability company form and hold itself
out to the public and all other Persons as a separate legal
entity from the Member and other Person;
(F) strictly observe and maintain separate financial records
which are and will continue to be maintained to reflect its
assets and liabilities which will be subject to audit by
independent public accountants;
(G) declare and pay all dividends in accordance with law, the
provisions of its organic documents, and the provisions of
the Transaction Documents;
(H) maintain its assets and liabilities in such a manner that is
individual assets and liabilities can be readily and
inexpensively identified from those of the Member or any
other Person, including any other subsidiary or Affiliate of
the Member;
(I) maintain its own books of account and corporate records
separate from the Member or any other subsidiary or
Affiliate of the Member;
(J) avoid commingling or pooling of its funds or other assets or
liabilities with those of the Member or any other subsidiary
or Affiliate of the Member, except with respect to the
temporary commingling of collections and except with respect
to the Member's retention of certain books and records of
the Company and except to the extent that the provisions of
the Transaction Documents can be said to constitute such
commingling;
(K) properly reflect in its financial records all monetary
transactions between it and the Member or any other
subsidiary or Affiliate of the Member;
(L) maintain an arm's length relationship with its Affiliates
and the Member;
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(M) not hold out its credit or assets as being available to
satisfy the obligations of others;
(N) use separate stationery, invoices and checks;
(O) except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, not
pledge its assets for the benefit of any other Person;
(P) maintain adequate capital in light of its contemplated
business purpose, transactions and liabilities;
(Q) cause the Managers, Officers, agents and other
representatives of the Company to act at all times with
respect to the Company consistently and in furtherance of
the foregoing and in the best interests of the Company.
Failure of the Company, or the Member or Board on behalf of the
Company, to comply with any of the foregoing covenants or any
other covenants contained in this Agreement shall not affect the
status of the Company as a separate legal entity or the limited
liability of the Member or the Managers.
(v) So long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Board shall not
cause or permit the Company to:
(A) except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
guarantee any obligation of any Person, including any
Affiliate;
(B) engage, directly or indirectly, in any business other than
the actions required or permitted to be performed under
Section 7, the Transaction Documents or this Section 9(j);
(C) incur, create or assume any indebtedness other than as
expressly permitted under the Transaction Documents;
(D) make or permit to remain outstanding any loan or advance to,
or own or acquire any stock or securities of, any Person,
except that the Company may invest in those investments
permitted under the Transaction Documents and may make any
advance required or expressly permitted to be made pursuant
to any provisions of the Transaction Documents and permit
the same to remain outstanding in accordance with such
provisions;
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(E) to the fullest extent permitted by law, engage in any
dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, merger, asset sale
or transfer of ownership interests other than such
activities as are expressly permitted pursuant to any
provision of the Transaction Documents; or
(F) form, acquire or hold any subsidiary (whether corporate,
partnership, limited liability company or other).
Section 10. Independent Manager.
(a) Independent Manager. Subject to Section 10(b), as long as any
Obligation is outstanding, the Member shall cause the Company at all times to
have at least one Independent Manager who will be appointed by the Member. To
the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 18-1101(c) of the Act,
the Independent Manager shall consider only the interests of the Company,
including its respective creditors, in acting or otherwise voting on the matters
referred to in Section 9(j)(iii). No resignation or removal of the Independent
Manager, and no appointment of a successor Independent Manager, shall be
effective until such successor (i) shall have accepted his or her appointment as
the Independent Manager by a written instrument, which may be a counterpart
signature page to the Managers' Agreement, and (ii) shall have executed a
counterpart to this Agreement as required by Section 5(c). In the event of a
vacancy in the position of Independent Manager, the Member shall, as soon as
practicable, appoint a successor Independent Manager. All right, power and
authority of the Independent Manager shall be limited to the extent necessary to
exercise those rights and perform those duties specifically set forth in this
Agreement. Except as provided in the second sentence of this Section 10, in
exercising their rights and performing their duties under this Agreement, the
Independent Manager shall have a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care similar to
that of a Manager of a business corporation organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Independent Manager shall not at
any time serve as trustee in bankruptcy for any Affiliate of the Company.
(b) Additional Independent Manager. Within sixty (60) days of the
occurrence of a Rating Event, the Member shall cause the Company to appoint a
sufficient number of Independent Managers such that the Company shall have at
least two Independent Managers. Thereafter, at all times during the continuance
of such Rating Event, the Company shall have two Independent Managers. A "Rating
Event" shall be deemed to have occurred upon the downgrading of Volkswagen AG's
senior long-term debt below A- by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investor Service or A3 by Standard &
Poor's Rating Services, a division of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Companies, Inc.
Section 11. Officers.
(a) Officers. The initial Officers of the Company shall be designated by
the Member. The additional or successor Officers of the Company shall be chosen
by the Board and shall
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consist of at least a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of
Managers may also choose one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and
Assistant Treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. The
Board may appoint such other Officers and agents as it shall deem necessary or
advisable who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such
powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the
Board. The salaries of all Officers and agents of the Company shall be fixed by
or in the manner prescribed by the Board. The Officers of the Company shall hold
office until their successors are chosen and qualified. Any Officer may be
removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall
be filled by the Board. The initial Officers of the Company designated by the
Member are listed on Schedule E hereto.
(b) President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the
Company, shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall be responsible for
the general and active management of the business of the Company and shall see
that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The
President or any other Officer authorized by the President or the Board shall
execute all bonds, mortgages and other contracts, except: (i) where required or
permitted by law or this Agreement to be otherwise signed and executed,
including Section 7(b); (ii) where signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the Company,
and (iii) as otherwise permitted in Section 11(c).
(c) Vice President. In the absence of the President or in the event of the
President's inability to act, the Vice President, if any (or in the event there
be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by
the Managers, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their
election), shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the
President. The Vice Presidents, if any, shall perform such other duties and have
such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
(d) Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall be responsible
for filing legal documents and maintaining records for the Company. The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and record all the proceedings
of the meetings of the Company and of the Board in a book to be kept for that
purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required.
The Secretary shall give, or shall cause to be given, notice of all meetings of
the Member, if any, and special meetings of the Board, and shall perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or the President, under whose
supervision the Secretary shall serve. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be
more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board
(or if there be no such determination, then in order of their election), shall,
in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary's inability to
act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time
to time prescribe
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(e) Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the
custody of the Company funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and
shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the
credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board.
The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the
Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the
President and to the Board, at its regular meetings or when the Board so
requires, an account of all of the Treasurer's transactions and of the financial
condition of the Company. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more
than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board (or if
there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in
the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer's inability to
act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time
to time prescribe.
(f) Officers as Agents. The Officers, to the extent of their powers set
forth in this Agreement or otherwise vested in them by action of the Board not
inconsistent with this Agreement, are agents of the Company for the purpose of
the Company's business and, subject to Section 9(j), the actions of the Officers
taken in accordance with such powers shall bind the Company.
(g) Duties of Board and Officers. Except to the extent otherwise provided
herein, each Manager and Officer shall have a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care
similar to that of directors and officers of business corporations organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section 12. Limited Liability.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Act, the debts, obligations
and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise,
shall be the debts, obligations and liabilities solely of the Company, and
neither the Member nor the Special Member nor any Manager shall be obligated
personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by
reason of being a Member, Special Member or Manager of the Company.
Section 13. Capital Contributions.
The Member has contributed to the Company property of an agreed value as
listed on Schedule B attached hereto. In accordance with Section 5(c), the
Special Member shall not be required to make any capital contributions to the
Company.
Section 14. Additional Contributions.
The Member is not required to make any additional capital contribution to
the Company. However, the Member may make additional capital contributions to
the Company at any time.
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The provisions of this Agreement, including this Section 14, are intended to
benefit the Member and the Special Member and, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, shall not be construed as conferring any benefit upon any creditor of
the Company (and no such creditor of the Company shall be a third-party
beneficiary of this Agreement) and the Member and the Special Member shall not
have any duty or obligation to any creditor of the Company to make any
contribution to the Company or to issue any call for capital pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section 15. Allocation of Profits and Losses.
The Company's profits and losses shall be allocated to the Member.
Section 16. Distributions.
Distributions shall be made to the Member at the times and in the aggregate
amounts determined by the Board. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to make a
distribution to the Member on account of its interest in the Company if such
distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or any other applicable law
or any Transaction Document.
Section 17. Books and Records.
The Company, under the direction of the Board, shall keep or cause to be
kept complete and accurate books of account and records with respect to the
Company's business. The books of the Company shall at all times be under the
direction of the Board. The Member and its duly authorized representatives shall
have the right to examine the Company books, records and documents during normal
business hours. The Company, and the Board on behalf of the Company, shall not
have the right to keep confidential from the Member any information that the
Board would otherwise be permitted to keep confidential from the Member pursuant
to Section 18-305(c) of the Act. The Company's books of account shall be kept
using the method of accounting determined by the Member. The Company's
independent auditor, if any, shall be an independent public accounting firm
selected by the Member.
Section 18. Reports.
(a) Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Company shall
prepare an unaudited report setting forth as of the end of such fiscal quarter:
(i) unless such quarter is the last fiscal quarter, a balance sheet
of the Company; and
(ii) unless such quarter is the last fiscal quarter, an income
statement of the Company for such fiscal quarter.
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(b) The Company shall use diligent efforts to cause to prepare and mail to
the Member, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an audited or
unaudited report setting forth as of the end of such fiscal year:
(i) a balance sheet of the Company;
(ii) an income statement of the Company for such fiscal year; and
(iii) a statement of the Member's capital account.
(c) The Company shall, after the end of each fiscal year, use reasonable
efforts to cause the Company's independent accountants, if any, to prepare and
transmit to the Member as promptly as possible any such tax information as may
be reasonably necessary to enable the Member to prepare its federal, state and
local income tax returns relating to such fiscal year. Nothing in this Section
18 shall limit the Company from hiring a person or company to perform its
bookkeeping, accounting or other related services.
Section 19. Other Business.
The Member, the Special Member and any Affiliate of the Member or the
Special Member may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures
(unconnected with the Company) of every kind and description, independently or
with others. The Company shall not have any rights in or to such independent
ventures or the income or profits therefrom by virtue of this Agreement.
Section 20. Exculpation and Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Member nor the
Special Member nor any Officer, Manager, employee or agent of the Company nor
any employee, representative, agent or Affiliate of the Member or the Special
Member (collectively, the "Covered Persons") shall be liable to the Company or
any other Person who has an interest in or claim against the Company for any
loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or
omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in a
manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on
such Covered Person by this Agreement.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, a Covered Person
shall be entitled to indemnification from the Company for any loss, damage or
claim incurred by such Covered Person by reason of any act or omission performed
or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in
a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred
on such Covered Person by this Agreement, except that no Covered Person shall be
entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by
such Covered Person with respect to such acts or omissions; provided, however,
that
14
any indemnity under this Section 20 by the Company shall be provided out of and
to the extent of Company assets only, and the Member and the Special Member
shall not have personal liability on account thereof; and provided further, that
so long as any Obligation is outstanding, no indemnity payment from funds of the
Company (as distinct from funds from other sources, such as insurance) of any
indemnity under this Section 20 shall be payable from amounts allocable to any
other Person pursuant to the Transaction Documents.
(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses (including
legal fees) incurred by a Covered Person defending any claim, demand, action,
suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to
the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon
receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person
to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Covered Person is not
entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 20.
(d) A Covered Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Company by any Person as to matters the Covered
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the
Company, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities, or any other facts pertinent to the
existence and amount of assets from which distributions to the Member might
properly be paid.
(e) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties
(including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company or
to any other Covered Person, a Covered Person acting under this Agreement shall
not be liable to the Company or to any other Covered Person for its good faith
reliance on the provisions of this Agreement or any approval or authorization
granted by the Company or any other Covered Person.
(f) The foregoing provisions of this Section 20 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 21. Assignments.
Subject to Section 23, the Member may assign in whole or in part its
limited liability company interest in the Company. If the Member transfers all
of its limited liability company interest in the Company pursuant to this
Section 21, the transferee shall be admitted to the Company as a member of the
Company upon its execution of an instrument signifying its agreement to be bound
by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which instrument may be a
counterpart signature page to this Agreement. Such admission shall be deemed
effective immediately prior to the transfer and, immediately following such
admission, the transferor Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any successor to the
Member by merger or consolidation in compliance with the Transaction Documents
shall, without further act, be the Member hereunder,
15
and such merger or consolidation shall not constitute an assignment for purposes
of this Agreement and the Company shall continue without dissolution.
Section 22. Resignation.
So long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Member may not resign, except
as permitted under the Transaction Documents and if the Rating Agency Condition
is satisfied. If the Member is permitted to resign pursuant to this Section 22,
an additional member of the Company shall be admitted to the Company, subject to
Section 23, upon its execution of an instrument signifying its agreement to be
bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which instrument may be a
counterpart signature page to this Agreement. Such admission shall be deemed
effective immediately prior to the resignation and, immediately following such
admission, the resigning Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.
Section 23. Admission of Additional Members.
One or more additional members of the Company may be admitted to the
Company with the written consent of the Member; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any Obligation remains outstanding, no
additional Member may be admitted to the Company unless the Rating Agency
Condition is satisfied.
Section 24. Dissolution.
(a) Subject to Section 9(j), the Company shall be dissolved, and its
affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of the following: (i) the
termination of the legal existence of the last remaining member of the Company
or the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership
of the last remaining member of the Company in the Company unless the business
of the Company is continued in a manner permitted by this Agreement or the Act
or (ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under Section 18-802 of
the Act. Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the last remaining member
of the Company to cease to be a member of the Company, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, the personal representative of such member is hereby
authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the event that
terminated the continued membership of such member in the Company, agree in
writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal
representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute
member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that
terminated the continued membership of the last remaining member of the Company
in the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy
of the Member or the Special Member shall not cause the Member or Special
Member, respectively, to cease to be a member of the Company and upon the
occurrence of such an event, the business of the Company shall continue without
dissolution.
16
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each of the
Member and the Special Member waives any right it might have under Section
18-801(b) of the Act to agree in writing to dissolve the Company upon the
Bankruptcy of the Member or the Special Member, or the occurrence of an event
that causes the Member or the Special Member to cease to be a member of the
Company.
(d) In the event of dissolution, the Company shall conduct only such
activities as are necessary to wind up its affairs (including the sale of the
assets of the Company in an orderly manner), and the assets of the Company shall
be applied in the manner, and in the order of priority, set forth in Section
18-804 of the Act; it being understood and agreed that the holders of notes
issued by Volkswagen Credit Auto Master Trust (and the indenture trustee for
such holders) shall have the right (x) to retain collateral for such notes and
use collections on such collateral to make payments on such notes and (y) to
sell or otherwise liquidate such collateral in order to make payments on such
notes.
(e) The Company shall terminate when (i) all of the assets of the Company,
after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of
the Company shall have been distributed to the Member in the manner provided for
in this Agreement and (ii) the Certificate of Formation shall have been canceled
in the manner required by the Act.
Section 25. Waiver of Partition; Nature of Interest.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, each of the Member and the Special Member hereby
irrevocably waives any right or power that such Person might have to cause the
Company or any of its assets to be partitioned, to cause the appointment of a
receiver for all or any portion of the assets of the Company, to compel any sale
of all or any portion of the assets of the Company pursuant to any applicable
law or to file a complaint or to institute any proceeding at law or in equity to
cause the dissolution, liquidation, winding up or termination of the Company.
The Member shall not have any interest in any specific assets of the Company,
and the Member shall not have the status of a creditor with respect to any
distribution pursuant to Section 16 hereof. The interest of the Member in the
Company is personal property.
Section 26. Benefits of Agreement; No Third-Party Rights.
None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or
enforceable by any creditor of the Company or by any creditor of the Member or
the Special Member. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any
right in any Person (other than Covered Persons) not a party hereto, and this
Agreement shall not be construed in any respect to be a contract in whole or in
part for the benefit of any third Person (except as provided in Section 29).
Section 27. Severability of Provisions.
17
Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered severable and if for
any reason any provision or provisions herein are determined to be invalid,
unenforceable or illegal under any existing or future law, such invalidity,
unenforceability or illegality shall not impair the operation of or affect those
portions of this Agreement which are valid, enforceable and legal.
Section 28. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof.
Section 29. Binding Agreement.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Member agrees
that this Agreement, including, without limitation, Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29 and 31, constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement
of the Member, and is enforceable against the Member by the Independent Manager,
in accordance with its terms. In addition, the Independent Manager shall be an
intended beneficiary of this Agreement.
Section 30. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the
State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws principles), all rights
and remedies being governed by said laws.
Section 31. Amendments.
Subject to Section 9(j), this Agreement may be modified, altered,
supplemented or amended pursuant to a written agreement executed and delivered
by the Member. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, so
long as any Obligation is outstanding, this Agreement may not be modified,
altered, supplemented or amended unless the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied
except: (i) to cure any ambiguity or (ii) to convert or supplement any provision
in a manner consistent with the intent of this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents.
Section 32. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original of this Agreement and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 33. Notices.
18
Any notices required to be delivered hereunder shall be in writing and
personally delivered, mailed or sent by telecopy, electronic mail or other
similar form of rapid transmission, and shall be deemed to have been duly given
upon receipt (a) in the case of the Company, to the Company at its address in
Section 2, (b) in the case of the Member, to the Member at its address as listed
on Schedule B attached hereto and (c) in the case of either of the foregoing, at
such other address as may be designated by written notice to the other party.
Section 34. Effectiveness.
Pursuant to Section 18-201 (d) of the Act, this Agreement shall be
effective as of the time of the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the
Office of the Delaware Secretary of State on March 30, 2000.
[signature page follows]
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby,
has duly executed this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the 30th day of
March, 2000.
MEMBER:
VW CREDIT, INC.
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
SPECIAL MEMBER:
________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
SCHEDULE A
Definitions
-----------
A. Definitions
When used in this Agreement, the following terms not otherwise defined
herein have the following meanings:
"Act" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such Person. The term "control" means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise, and the term "controlled" shall have a meaning
correlative to the foregoing.
"Agreement" means this Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company,
together with the schedules attached hereto, as amended, restated or
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Bankruptcy" means, with respect to any Person, if such Person (i) makes an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, (ii) files a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy, (iii) is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against it
an order for relief, in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, (iv) files a
petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization, arrangement,
composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any statute, law
or regulation, (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to
contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any
proceeding of this nature, (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the
appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Person or of all or any
substantial part of its properties, or (vii) if 120 days after the commencement
of any proceeding against the Person seeking reorganization, arrangement,
composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any statute, law
or regulation, if the proceeding has not been dismissed, or if within 90 days
after the appointment without such Person's consent or acquiescence of a
trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part
of its properties, the appointment is not vacated or stayed, or within 90 days
after the expiration of any such stay, the appointment is not vacated. The
foregoing definition of "Bankruptcy" is intended to replace and shall supersede
and replace the definition of"Bankruptcy" set forth in Sections 18-101(1) and
18-304 of the Act.
"Board" or "Board of Managers" means the Board of Managers of the Company.
"Certificate of Formation" means the Certificate of Formation of the
Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 30,
2000, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"Company" means Volkswagen Dealer Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.
"Covered Persons" has the meaning set forth in Section 20(a).
"Debt Securities" means any commercial paper notes or medium-term notes
issued by the conduit which provides loans to the Company under the Transaction
Documents.
"Independent Manager" means a natural person who, for the five-year period
prior to his or her appointment as Independent Manager has not been, and during
the continuation of his or her service as Independent Manager is not: (i) an
employee, Manager, stockholder, partner or officer of the Company or any of its
Affiliates (other than his or her service as an Independent Manager of the
Company or any of its Affiliates); (ii) a customer or supplier of the Company or
any of its Affiliates; or (iii) any member of the immediate family of a person
described in (i) or (ii).
"Managers" means the Persons elected to the Board of Managers from time to
time by the Member, including the Independent Managers, in their capacity as
managers of the Company. A Manager is hereby designated as a "manager" of the
Company within the meaning of Section 18-101(10) of the Act.
"Managers' Agreement" means the agreement of the Managers in the form
attached hereto as Schedule C. The Managers' Agreement shall be deemed
incorporated into, and a part of, this Agreement.
"Material Action" means to consolidate or merge the Company with or into
any Person, or sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or to
institute proceedings to have the Company be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent,
or consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against
the Company or file a petition seeking, or consent to, reorganization or relief
with respect to the Company under any applicable federal or state law relating
to bankruptcy, or consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or a
substantial part of its property, or make any assignment for the benefit of
creditors of the Company, or admit in writing the Company's inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due, or, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
take action in furtherance of any such action, or dissolve or liquidate the
Company.
"Member" means VW Credit, Inc., as the initial member of the Company, and
includes any Person admitted as an additional member of the Company or a
substitute member of the
Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, each in its capacity as a
member of the Company; provided, however, the term "Member" shall not include
the Special Member.
"Obligations" shall mean the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of
the Company under or in connection with this Agreement, the other Transaction
Documents or any related document in effect as of any date of determination.
"Officer" means an officer of the Company described in Section 11.
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by any Officer of the
Company who is authorized to act for the Company in matters relating to the
Company.
"Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
national banking association, trust, limited liability company, other entity,
association or unincorporated organization, and a government or agency or
political subdivision thereof.
"Rating Agencies" means, at any time, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services
and ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Services, or any successor to any such corporation's
business of rating securities which is then providing a rating for the Debt
Securities.
"Rating Agency Condition" means, with respect to any action, (a) with
respect to Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or any Rating Agency other than
▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Services, written confirmation by such Rating Agency that the
occurrence of such action will not cause it to downgrade its rating assigned to
the Debt Securities and (b) with respect to ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Services, that
such Rating Agency shall have been given notice of such action at least ten days
prior to such action and shall not have advised the Company that such action
will cause it to downgrade its rating assigned to the Debt Securities.
"Special Member" means, upon such person's admission to the Company as a
member of the Company pursuant to Section 5(c), a person acting as Independent
Manager, in such person's capacity as a member of the Company. A Special Member
shall only have the rights and duties expressly set forth in this Agreement.
"Transaction Documents" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7(a)(iii).
B. Rules of Construction
Definitions in this Agreement apply equally to both the singular and plural
forms of the defined terms. The words "include" and "including" shall be deemed
to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." The terms "herein," "hereof"
and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular Section, paragraph or subdivision. The Section
titles appear as a matter of convenience only and shall not affect the
interpretation of this Agreement. All Section, paragraph, clause, Exhibit or
Schedule references not attributed to a particular document shall be references
to such parts of this Agreement.
SCHEDULE B
Member
------
Agreed Value of Membership
Name Mailing Address Capital Contribution Interest
---- --------------- -------------------- --------
VW Credit, Inc. $100,000 100%
SCHEDULE C
Managers' Agreement
-------------------
March 30, 2000
VW Credit, Inc.
Re: Managers' Agreement--Volkswagen Dealer Finance LLC
--------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
For good and valuable consideration, each of the undersigned Persons, who
have been designated as Managers of Volkswagen Dealer Finance LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the "Company"), in accordance with the Limited
Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of March 30, 2000, as it
may be amended or restated from time to time (the "LLC Agreement"), hereby agree
as follows:
1. Each of the undersigned accepts such person's rights and authority as
a Manager (as defined in the LLC Agreement) under the LLC Agreement and agrees
to perform and discharge such person's duties and obligations as a Manager under
the LLC Agreement, and further agrees that such rights, authorities, duties and
obligations under the LLC Agreement shall continue until such person's successor
as a Manager is designated or until such person's resignation or removal as a
Manager in accordance with the LLC Agreement. Each of the undersigned agrees and
acknowledges that it has been designated as a "manager" of the Company within
the meaning of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
2. Until the date which is one year and one day after the date on which
no Obligation (as defined in the LLC Agreement) remains outstanding, each of the
undersigned agrees, solely in its capacity as a creditor of the Company on
account of any indemnification or other payment owing to the undersigned by the
Company, (A) not to acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Company
to invoke the process of any court or governmental authority for the purpose of
commencing or sustaining a case against the Company under any federal or state
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the
Company or any substantial part of the property of the Company, or ordering the
winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company, and (B) not to join
with or cooperate or encourage any other Person to do any of the foregoing.
3. THIS MANAGERS' AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF
LAWS.
Initially capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings set forth in the LLC Agreement.
This Managers' Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original of this Managers' Agreement and all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Managers' Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
--------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
SCHEDULE D
MANAGERS
--------
1. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
2. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
3. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
4. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
SCHEDULE D
OFFICERS TITLE
-------- -----
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ President and Secretary
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Vice President
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Treasurer
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ Assistant Treasurer
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Assistant Treasurer
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Assistant Treasurer