EXHIBIT 3.2
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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
MEDIACOM LLC
DATED AS OF JANUARY 20, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 2
1.1 Definitions. 2
ARTICLE II RELATIONSHIP OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE
DEFAULT RULES PROVIDED BY THE NEW YORK ACT
AND TO THE ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION 11
2.1 Relationship of this Agreement to the
Default Rules Provided by the New York
Act. 11
2.2 Relationship Between this Agreement and
the Articles of Organization. 11
ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION 11
3.1 Formation 11
3.2 Name. 11
3.3 Principal Place of Business 11
3.4 Term. 11
3.5 Purposes. 11
ARTICLE IV MEMBERS 12
4.1 Names and Addresses 12
4.2 Additional Members. 12
4.3 Books and Records 12
4.4 Information. 12
4.5 Limitation of Liability. 12
4.6 Priority and Return of Capital. 12
4.7 Liability of a Member to the Company. 12
4.8 Financial Adjustments. 13
ARTICLE V MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE COMPANY 13
5.1 Management 13
5.2 Number, Tenure and Qualifications of
Manager. 13
5.3 Powers of Manager. 13
5.4 Binding Authority. 14
5.5 Manager and Executive Committee 14
5.6 Matters Requiring Executive Committee
Report 16
5.7 Actions Requiring Executive Committee
Approval 17
5.8 Expansion of Executive Committee. 18
5.9 Liability for Certain Acts. 19
5.10 No Exclusive Duty to Company. 19
5.11 Resignation 20
5.12 Removal. 20
5.13 Compensation. 20
5.14 Officers. 22
5.15 Certain Covenants of the Manager and the
Members. 22
(i)
5.16 Manager's Right of First Offer 22
5.17 Actions of the Manager. 23
5.18 Organizational and Other Changes in
Connection with Initial Public Offering.24
ARTICLE VI MEETINGS OF MEMBERS 25
6.1 Meetings. 25
6.2 Special Meetings. 26
6.3 Place of Meetings. 25
6.4 Notice of Meetings. 25
6.5 Record Date. 26
6.6 Quorum. 26
6.7 Manner of Acting. 26
6.8 Actions Requiring Approval of the
Members 26
6.9 Proxies. 27
6.10 Action by Members Without a Meeting. 28
6.11 Waiver of Notice. 28
6.12 Voting Agreements. 29
ARTICLE VII CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS 29
7.1 Capital Contributions. 29
7.2 Capital Contributions and Capital Calls;
Allocations 29
7.3 Capital Accounts. 30
7.4 Transfers. 30
7.5 Modifications. 30
7.6 Deficit Capital Account. 30
7.7 Withdrawal or Reduction of Capital
Contributions 30
7.8 No Rights of Redemption or Return of
Contribution 31
ARTICLE VIII PROFITS, LOSSES AND DISTRIBUTIONS;
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF
MEMBERSHIP UNITS 31
8.1 Allocation of Profits and Losses. 31
8.2 Distributions. 32
8.3 No Right to Distributions Except Upon
Dissolution of the Company. 33
8.4 Distributions Upon Dissolution of the
Company. 33
8.5 Valuation of the Company 34
ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS 36
9.1 Tax Characterization and Returns. 36
9.2 Capital Accounts. 36
9.3 Special Tax Rules 38
9.4 Accounting Decisions 40
9.5 Tax Matters Partner. 41
9.6 Tax Returns 41
9.7 Tax Withholdings 41
(ii)
ARTICLE X FINANCIAL REPORTS; INSPECTION RIGHTS 41
10.1 Reports to Members 41
10.2 Inspection Rights. 42
10.3 Certain Additional Information. 42
10.4 Use of Proceeds. 42
ARTICLE XI PUT RIGHTS 42
11.1 Put Right at the Option of the
Members. 42
ARTICLE XII TRANSFERABILITY 44
12.1 Transferee Not a Member. 44
12.2 Effective Date 45
12.3 Requirements for All Transfers of
Membership Units 45
12.4 Transfers in a Registered Public
Offering 46
ARTICLE XIII PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS AND CERTAIN
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BMO AFFILIATES 46
13.1 Preemptive Rights. 46
13.2 Subject Membership Units are Nonvoting;
Exceptions. 47
13.3 Notice of Certain In Kind Distributions 48
ARTICLE XIV DISSOLUTION 48
14.1 Dissolution. 48
14.2 Winding Up. 49
14.3 Articles of Dissolution. 49
14.4 Deficit Capital Account. 49
14.5 Nonrecourse to Other Members. 49
14.6 Termination. 50
ARTICLE XV INDEMNIFICATION 50
15.1 Exculpatory Provisions. 50
15.2 Indemnification of Members. 50
15.3 Advance of Expenses. 50
15.4 Control of Claim. 51
15.5 Non-Exclusivity. 51
15.6 Satisfaction from Company Assets. 51
15.7 Notices of Claims. 51
ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS 51
16.1 Notices 51
16.2 Amendments. 52
16.3 Construction. 52
16.4 Headings. 52
16.5 Waiver. 53
16.6 Severability. 53
16.7 Binding. 53
16.8 Counterparts. 53
16.9 Governing Law. 53
(iii)
SCHEDULES
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Schedule A - Capital Contributions Since Inception
Schedule B - Membership Units and Percentage Interests
Schedule C - Unfunded Capital Commitments
(iv)
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
MEDIACOM LLC
THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT, dated as of
January 20, 1998 (this "Agreement"), is made by and among the Members set forth
on Schedule A hereto.
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RECITALS
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WHEREAS, Mediacom LLC was established as a limited liability company
pursuant to an operating agreement dated as of July 17, 1995;
WHEREAS, the operating agreement was amended and restated in its
entirety as the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Mediacom LLC dated
as of March 12, 1996 (the "Initial Amended and Restated Operating Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Initial Amended and Restated Operating Agreement was
further amended and restated in its entirety as of March 31, 1997, and
thereafter amended as of June 16, 1997 (the "Second Amended and Restated
Operating Agreement");
WHEREAS, certain of the parties hereto are becoming members of
Mediacom LLC by making capital contributions and committing to make additional
capital contributions; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to provide further for the
governance of Mediacom LLC and to set forth in detail their respective rights
and obligations pursuant to the New York Limited Liability Company Act in
connection with the operation of Mediacom LLC and to amend and restate in its
entirety the Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the parties executing this Agreement
below, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
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1.1 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇ this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below when used in this Agreement with initial capital
letters:
(a) "Accounting Period" shall mean, as the context may require, the
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period commencing on the date of this Agreement (as originally entered into) or
on the day following the last day of the immediately preceding Accounting
Period, and ending on the next succeeding of the following: (a) the last day of
each Fiscal Year; (b) the day prior to the day as of which a current or newly-
admitted Member makes a Capital Contribution to the Company, if the Percentage
Interests change as a result of such Capital Contribution; (c) the date upon
which the Company shall be dissolved; or (d) any day designated by the Manager
as the date upon which an Accounting Period shall end.
(b) "Additional Capital Contribution" shall have the meaning set
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forth in Section 7.2(a) hereof.
(c) "Adjusted Basis" shall mean, as of any date of determination, the
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Company's adjusted basis in any asset as of such date, as determined for Federal
income tax purposes pursuant to Section 1011 of the Code.
(d) "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other
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Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, with
"control" for such purpose meaning 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 or voting interests,
by contract or otherwise.
(e) "Agreement" shall mean this Third Amended and Restated
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Operating Agreement as amended from time to time.
(f) "Articles of Organization" shall mean the Articles of Organization
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of the Company filed with the New York Secretary of State on July 17, 1995, as
they may from time to time be amended.
(g) "BHCA" shall mean the United States Bank Holding Company Act of
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1956, as amended, and any later law, regulation or rule of similar effect.
(h) "BMO Affiliate" shall mean any Affiliate of Bank of Montreal, or
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any successor, subject to the BHCA or similar provisions restricting investments
in non-banking organizations under the IBA.
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(i) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
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any other day on which banks in the State of New York are required or permitted
by law to be closed.
(j) "Capital Account" as of any date shall mean the Capital
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Contribution to the Company by a Member, adjusted as of such date pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement.
(k) "Capital Call" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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7.2(a) hereof.
(l) "Capital Commitment" shall mean the obligation, with respect to
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any Member, of such Member to make a Capital Contribution to the Company.
(m) "Capital Contribution" shall mean any contribution by a Member to
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the capital of the Company in cash, property or services rendered, as the same
may be reflected from time to time on Schedule A hereto.
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(n) "Carrying Value" shall mean (i) with respect to any asset (other
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than cash) included in a Capital Contribution of a Member, the fair market value
of such contributed property on the date of contribution, (ii) with respect to
any property held by the Company at the time of any adjustment of Percentage
Interests pursuant to Section 8.5, the fair market value of such property and
(iii) with respect to any other asset, the Adjusted Basis thereof; provided,
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that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Carrying Value
shall be reduced, but not below zero, by all depreciation, amortization, and
similar expense thereafter charged to the Members' Capital Accounts with respect
to such property.
(o) "Claim" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.2
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hereof.
(p) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
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amended, and any successor to that Code.
(q) "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity" shall mean, collectively, (i) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
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(ii) any Person controlled by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and owned by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
(iii) members of the immediate family of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or (iv) any Person
51% of which is beneficially owned by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and members of the
immediate family of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
(r) "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members" shall mean (i) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, and (ii) any
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Person controlled by him and of which he, members of his immediate family or
trusts established for the benefit of any of the foregoing are 51% equity
holders; provided, that ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or such Person shall have at least a
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1% Percentage Interest.
(s) "Commitment Period" shall mean, with respect to any Member that
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has a Capital Commitment, the period commencing on the date of acceptance by the
Company of such Capital Commitment
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and extending through the second anniversary thereof, which period may, in the
discretion of the Manager, be extended through the third anniversary thereof.
(t) "Company" shall refer to MEDIACOM LLC, a New York limited
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liability company.
(u) "Credit Agreement" shall mean and include (i) that certain Second
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Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1997, among Mediacom
Arizona, Mediacom Delaware, Mediacom California, the lenders party thereto and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as administrative agent, as amended, restated,
modified or supplemented from time to time, including any increase, deferral,
renewal, extension or refinancing thereof, (ii) that certain Credit Agreement,
dated as of January 22, 1998, among Mediacom Southeast, the lenders party
thereto and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, as amended,
restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, including any increase,
deferral, renewal, extension or refinancing thereof and (iii) any senior credit
facility entered into hereafter by the Company or any Subsidiary.
(v) "Default Rule" shall mean a rule stated in the New York Act:
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(1) which structures, defines, or regulates the finances, governance,
operations, or other aspects of a limited liability company organized under the
New York Act, and
(2) which applies except to the extent it is negated or modified
through the provisions of a limited liability company's articles of organization
or operating agreement.
(w) "Distribution" means any cash and other property paid to a
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Member (in its capacity as such) by the Company.
(x) "Excess Chase Units" shall mean, if the FCC does not, within one
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year from the date of closing of the U.S. Cable Acquisition, raise from five
percent (5%) to ten percent (10%) the level of ownership interest required to
invoke FCC cross-ownership restrictions, those Membership Units held by Chase
Manhattan Capital, L.P. and CB Capital Investors, L.P. (the "Chase Entities")
which cause the total number of Membership Units held by the Chase Entities to
exceed four and 99/100 (4.99%) percent (or if then higher, the highest ownership
position possible without invoking FCC cross ownership restrictions) of the
outstanding Membership Units.
(y) "Executive Committee" shall have the meaning set forth in
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Section 5.1 hereof.
(z) "Executive Compensation" shall have the meaning set forth in
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Section 5.13(b) of this Agreement.
4
(aa) "FCC" shall mean the Federal Communications Commission or
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any governmental authority substituted therefor.
(bb) "Fiscal Year" shall mean the fiscal year of the Company,
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which shall be the year ending December 31.
(cc) "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles
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applied on a consistent basis.
(dd) "IBA" shall mean the United States International Banking Act
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of 1978, as amended, and any later law, regulation or rule of similar effect.
(ee) "Indemnified Persons" shall have the meaning set forth in
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Section 15.1 of this Agreement.
(ff) "Largest Member" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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5.5(b) of this Agreement.
(gg) "Loss" shall mean the taxable loss of the Company for any
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Fiscal Year or portion thereof, as computed for Federal income tax purposes in
accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code. For this purpose, all items of
income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to
Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be aggregated, but there shall be excluded
from such computation any item of income, gain, loss, or deduction which is
specifically allocated.
(hh) "Management Agreement" shall mean each agreement entered
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into by a Subsidiary and Mediacom Management providing for certain supervisory
services to be performed by Mediacom Management with respect to the Systems.
(ii) "Manager" shall mean ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and any other Member
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who succeeds him as a manager pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that Rocco
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▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or such Person shall have at least a 1% Percentage Interest.
(jj) "Mediacom Arizona" shall mean Mediacom Arizona LLC, a
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Delaware limited liability company in which the Company holds a 99% equity
interest.
(kk) "Mediacom California" shall mean Mediacom California LLC, a
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Delaware limited liability company in which the Company holds a 99% equity
interest.
(ll) "Mediacom Delaware" shall mean Mediacom Delaware LLC, a
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Delaware limited liability company in which the Company holds a 100% equity
interest.
(mm) "Mediacom Management" shall mean Mediacom Management
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Corporation, a Delaware corporation and Affiliate of the Manager which provides
supervisory services with respect to the Systems.
5
(nn) "Mediacom Southeast" shall mean Mediacom Southeast LLC, a
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Delaware limited liability company in which the Company holds a 100% equity
interest.
(oo) "Member" shall mean each Person who or which executes a
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counterpart of this Agreement as a Member and each Person who or which may
hereafter become a party to this Agreement.
(pp) "Membership Units" shall mean units of membership interest
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in the Company, each such unit having a value upon issuance of $1,000, as the
same may be reflected from time to time on Schedule B hereto.
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(qq) "Minimum Gain" shall mean "partnership minimum gain" as
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defined in Treasury Regulation 1.704-2(d).
(rr) "Net Agreed Value" shall mean
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(1) in the case of any Capital Contribution other than cash, the fair
market value of such property at the time of contribution reduced by any
indebtedness secured by such property and assumed or taken subject to by the
Company upon such contribution under Section 752 of the Code, and
(2) in the case of any property (other than cash) distributed to a
Member, the fair market value of such property at the time of such distribution
reduced by any indebtedness secured by such property and assumed or taken
subject to by such Member upon such distribution under Section 752 of the Code.
(ss) "New York Act" shall mean the New York Limited Liability
------------
Company Act.
(tt) "Nonfunding Member" shall have the meaning set forth in
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Section 7.2(b) hereof.
(uu) "Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain" has the meaning set
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forth in Treasury Regulation 1.704-2(i)(3).
(vv) "Percentage Interest" shall mean with respect to any Member
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the ratio of the Membership Units held by such Member to the aggregate number of
Membership Units held by all Members, as the same may be reflected from time to
time on Schedule B hereto.
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(ww) "Person" shall mean any natural person, corporation,
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governmental authority, limited liability company, partnership, trust,
unincorporated association or other commercial or legal entity.
(xx) "Preferred Capital" shall mean with respect to any Member,
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the product of the number of Membership Units held by such Member times
$1,000.00, as adjusted pursuant to Section 8.5.
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(yy) "Preferred Return" shall mean, with respect to the Preferred
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Capital relating to each Membership Unit held by a Member, a cumulative return
of twelve (12%) percent per annum compounded annually, such compounding to be
initially in respect of (and pro rated for) the period commencing on the date of
the issuance of such Membership Unit (including by virtue of Section 8.5 of this
Agreement, if applicable) and ending on the last day of the then-current Fiscal
Year, and thereafter annually.
(zz) "Profit" shall mean the taxable income of the Company for
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any Fiscal Year or portion thereof as computed for Federal income tax purposes
in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code. For this purpose, all items of
income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to
Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be aggregated, but there shall be excluded
from such computation any item of income, gain, loss, or deduction which is
specifically allocated.
(aaa) "Purchase Note" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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11.1(c) of this Agreement.
(bbb) "Put" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(a) of
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this Agreement.
(ccc) "Put Notice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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11.1(a) of this Agreement.
(ddd) "Put Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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11.1(b) of this Agreement.
(eee) "Records" shall mean:
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(1) true and full information regarding the status of the
business and financial condition of the Company;
(2) copies of the Company's Federal, state, and local income
tax returns;
(3) a current list of the name and last known business,
residence, or mailing address of each Member and the Manager;
(4) a copy of this Agreement, the Articles of Organization, and all
amendments thereto, together with executed copies of any written powers of
attorney pursuant to which this Agreement and the Articles of Organization and
all amendments thereto have been executed;
(5) true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a
description and statement of the value of any other property or services
contributed by each Member and which each Member has agreed to contribute in the
future, and the date on which each became a Member;
7
(6) a copy of each material contract entered into by the Company;
(7) minutes of the meetings of the Members;
(8) a copy of each effective registration statement and report filed
with the SEC or any national securities exchange association; and
(9) other information regarding the affairs of the Company as required
by an act of the Members or as is prudent and desirable in the opinion of the
Manager.
(fff) "Regulatory Allocations" shall have the meaning set forth in
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Section 9.3(c)(6) of this Agreement.
(ggg) "Regulatory Violation" shall mean (i) with respect to any
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Member that is a Small Business Investment Company, a diversion of the proceeds
of the investment by such Member hereunder from the reported use thereof on SBA
Form 1031 delivered in connection with such Member's Capital Contribution, if
such diversion was effected without obtaining the prior written consent of such
Member (which may be withheld in its sole discretion) or (ii) a change in the
principal business activity of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an ineligible
business activity (within the meaning of the Small Business Investment Act of
1958 and the regulations issued thereunder as set forth in 13 CFR 107 and 121,
as amended) if such change occurs within one year after the date hereof.
(hhh) "Second Largest Member" shall have the meaning set forth in
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Section 5.5(b) of this Agreement.
(iii) "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or
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any governmental authority substituted therefor.
(jjj) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
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amended, and any successor thereto.
(kkk) "Specified Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
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Section 8.5(e) of this Agreement.
(lll) "Subject Membership Units" shall mean any Membership Units
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acquired by a BMO Affiliate (whether directly from the Company upon subscription
or otherwise), and any Membership Units or similar interests issued or
distributed with respect thereto, or in replacement thereof; provided, however,
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that upon an irrevocable transfer to a Person other than a BMO Affiliate or
Subject Transferee, a Subject Membership Unit shall immediately cease to be a
Subject Membership Unit.
(mmm) "Subject Transferee" shall mean any transferee of Subject
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Membership Units transferred by a BMO Affiliate or a Subject Transferee, but
shall not include a
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transferee (1) who must obtain the approval of the Manager under Section 12.1(a)
of the Agreement to become a Member with respect to such Subject Membership
Units; (2) of a transfer that requires approval of the Executive Committee under
Section 12.1(a) of this Agreement to be effective; or (3) in a public offering
registered under the Securities Act.
(nnn) "Subsidiary" shall mean Mediacom Arizona, Mediacom
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California, Mediacom Delaware, Mediacom Southeast and each other entity which
operates Systems and of which the Company is, directly or indirectly, the holder
of the majority of equity interests.
(ooo) "System" shall mean (i) any cable distribution system that
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receives broadcast signals by antennae, microwave transmission, satellite
transmission or any other form of transmission that amplifies such signals and
distributes them via cable, and (ii) any other business from which the Company
or its Subsidiaries derives revenue from telecommunications services.
(ppp) "System Cash Flow" shall mean, for any period, the sum, for
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the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis), of the
following: (i) the gross operating revenues for such period minus (ii) all
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operating expenses for such period, including, without limitation, technical,
programming and selling, general and administrative expenses, but excluding (to
the extent included in operating expenses) income taxes, depreciation,
amortization, interest expense, and any payments described in Section 5.13 of
this Agreement; provided, however, that gross operating revenues and operating
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expenses for any period shall exclude all extraordinary and unusual items and
all non-cash items.
(qqq) "Termination Event" shall mean the death, legal incapacity,
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resignation, removal, bankruptcy or dissolution of the Manager, unless the
holders of no less than two-thirds of Membership Units elect to continue the
Company.
(rrr) "Treasury Regulations" shall mean all proposed, temporary
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and final regulations promulgated under the Code as from time to time in effect.
(sss) "Triggering Event" is defined as the earlier to occur of:
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(1) Any date upon which (a) any Member's investment in Membership
Units of the Company exceeds permitted amounts under any legal restriction to
which it is subject, or such Member is otherwise not permitted to hold such
Membership Units, under any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Member or
(b) legal restrictions are imposed on any Member which make the holding of such
Membership Units or a portion thereof illegal or unduly burdensome (in which
case such Member shall have a Put Option only with respect to excess Membership
Units held by such Member); or
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(2) The occurrence of a Regulatory Violation, provided that no such
restriction or occurrence described above shall constitute a Triggering Event if
such restriction or occurrence is caused by the voluntary act of the Member with
the intention to create a Triggering Event to which such restriction or
occurrence applies.
(ttt) "Unfunded Capital Commitment" shall mean, for any Member at
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any time, the amount of such Member's Capital Commitment in excess of such
Member's aggregate Capital Contributions, as the same may be reflected from time
to time on Schedule C hereto; provided, however, that a Member's Unfunded
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Capital Commitment shall at no time exceed any amount which would result in a
Triggering Event for such Member by reason of such Member making an Additional
Capital Contribution pursuant to a Capital Call.
(uuu) "Unrealized Gain" shall mean, with respect to any asset and
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as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of the then current fair
market value of such asset over the Carrying Value thereof as of such date.
(vvv) "Unrealized Loss" shall mean, with respect to any asset and
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as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of the then current
Carrying Value of such asset over the fair market value thereof as of such date.
(www) "Unreturned Preferred Capital" shall mean, for any Member at
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any time, the excess (if any) of such Member's Preferred Capital over all
amounts previously distributed to such Member pursuant to Section 8.2(a) or
8.4(b)(1).
(xxx) "Unreturned Preferred Return" shall mean, for any Member at
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any time, the excess (if any) of such Member's accrued Preferred Return at such
time over all amounts previously distributed to such Member pursuant to Section
8.2(b) or 8.4(b)(2).
(yyy) "U.S. Cable Acquisition" shall mean the acquisition by the
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Company or a Subsidiary of certain cable television systems and other assets to
be acquired pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of August 29, 1997
between the Company, Cablevision Systems Corporation, U.S. Cable Television
Group, L.P., ECC Holding Corporation and Missouri Cable Partners, L.P.
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ARTICLE II
RELATIONSHIP OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE
DEFAULT RULES PROVIDED BY THE NEW YORK ACT
AND TO THE ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION
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2.1 RELATIONSHIP OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE DEFAULT RULES PROVIDED BY
THE NEW YORK ACT.
Regardless of whether this Agreement specifically refers to particular
Default Rules:
(a) if any provision of this Agreement conflicts with a Default Rule,
the provision of this Agreement controls and the Default Rule is modified or
negated accordingly, and
(b) if it is necessary to construe a Default Rule as modified or
negated in order to effectuate any provision of this Agreement, the Default Rule
is modified or negated accordingly.
2.2 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ARTICLES OF
ORGANIZATION.
If a provision of this Agreement differs from a provision of the
Articles of Organization, then to the extent allowed by law this Agreement shall
govern.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
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3.1 FORMATION. The Company was formed as a limited liability company
by the filing with the New York Secretary of State of its Articles of
Organization pursuant to the New York Act.
3.2 NAME. The name of the Company is MEDIACOM LLC.
3.3 PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The principal place of business of
the Company within the State of New York shall be ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The Company may establish any other places of
business as the Manager may from time to time deem advisable.
3.4 TERM. The term of the Company shall be until December 31, 2020,
unless the Company is dissolved sooner pursuant to this Agreement or the New
York Act.
3.5 PURPOSES. The Company is formed for the purpose of acquiring,
directly or through Persons in which the Company invests equity or debt,
franchises to operate, and to own, invest in, design, construct, maintain,
manage and operate, exchange and dispose of, one or more Systems or entities
providing telecommunications services, and to do all things reasonably
11
incidental thereto, including borrowing and lending money and securing such
borrowings by mortgage, pledge, or other lien, and leasing or disposing of
Systems or entities providing telecommunications services. The Company has
invested in Mediacom Arizona, Mediacom Delaware and Mediacom California, and,
upon closing of the U.S. Cable Acquisition, Mediacom Southeast.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERS
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4.1 NAMES AND ADDRESSES. The names and addresses of the Members are
as set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement.
----------
4.2 ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. A Person may be admitted as a Member after
the date of this Agreement upon compliance with the terms of this Agreement and
any other conditions imposed by the Manager from time to time for the admission
of additional or substitute Members.
4.3 BOOKS AND RECORDS. The Company shall keep the Records at its
principal place of business.
4.4 INFORMATION. Each Member and its agents may inspect the Records
during ordinary business hours and upon reasonable notice to the Manager at the
principal place of business of the Company.
4.5 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Each Member's liability shall be
limited as set forth in this Agreement, the New York Act and other applicable
law. No Member shall be personally liable for any indebtedness, liability or
obligation of the Company without entering into a written agreement assuming
such personal liability, except that such Member shall remain personally liable
for the payment of its Capital Commitment and as otherwise set forth in this
Agreement, the New York Act and any other applicable law.
4.6 PRIORITY AND RETURN OF CAPITAL. Except as expressly set forth
herein, no Member shall have priority over any other Member, whether for the
return of a Capital Contribution or for Profits, Losses or a Distribution;
provided, however, that this Section 4.6 shall not apply to loans or other
-------- -------
obligations (as distinguished from a Capital Contribution) made by a Member or
its Affiliates to or on behalf of the Company.
4.7 LIABILITY OF A MEMBER TO THE COMPANY. A Member who or which
rightfully receives the return of any portion of a Capital Contribution is
liable to the Company only to the extent now or hereafter provided by the New
York Act. A Member who or which receives a Distribution made by the Company in
violation of this Agreement or made when the Company's liabilities exceed its
assets (after giving effect to such Distribution) shall be liable to the Company
for the amount of such Distribution.
12
4.8 FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS. No Member admitted after the date of this
Agreement or making an additional Capital Contribution after the date of this
Agreement shall be entitled to any retroactive allocation of losses, income or
expense deductions incurred by the Company. The Manager may, in his discretion,
at the time a Member is admitted or makes additional Capital Contributions,
close the books and records of the Company (as though the Fiscal Year had ended)
or make pro rata allocations of loss, income and expense deductions to such
Member for that portion of the Fiscal Year in which such Member was admitted or
makes additional Capital Contributions in accordance with the Code.
ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE COMPANY
---------------------------------------
5.1 MANAGEMENT. Except as otherwise provided herein, (i) the overall
management and control of the business and affairs of the Company shall be
vested in one Manager who shall report on certain matters to a committee of the
Company (the "Executive Committee"); provided, that nothing in this Article V
------------------- --------
shall derogate from the power of the Manager and the Members to agree jointly in
writing to cause the Company to act and (ii) the Manager shall exercise all
powers necessary and convenient for the purposes of the Company, including those
enumerated in Section 3.5 and Section 5.3, on behalf and in the name of the
Company.
5.2 NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MANAGER. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
shall serve as the Manager, and shall hold office until his resignation or other
event that terminates his membership and the qualification of his successor.
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Member then serving as Manager shall have the right
to designate a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Member, the chief executive officer of which is ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as successor Manager without the vote or consent of the Members. Any
successor Manager not appointed as described above, shall be elected by the vote
or written consent of at least a majority of all Membership Units. Such
successor Manager need not be a resident of the State of New York. Any Manager
shall hold at least a 1% Percentage Interest in the Company.
5.3 POWERS OF MANAGER. Except as set forth in this Agreement, the
Manager shall have power and authority, on behalf of the Company itself and on
behalf of the Subsidiaries, to (a) purchase, lease or otherwise acquire from, or
sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, to any Person any property, (b) form
Subsidiaries, (c) open bank accounts and otherwise invest funds, (d) incur or
guarantee indebtedness, (e) authorize a Member to guarantee indebtedness of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries in an amount or amounts in the aggregate not
to exceed $10,200,000 for any Member, (f) issue additional Membership Units, (g)
purchase insurance on the business and assets of the Company, (h) commence
lawsuits and other proceedings, (i) enter into any agreement, instrument or
other writing, (j) retain accountants, attorneys or other agents, and (k) take
any other lawful action that the Manager
13
considers necessary, convenient or advisable in connection with the business of
the Company. The Manager shall have the power to cause the Company to enter into
contracts with Affiliates of the Company or the Manager in respect of property,
services, or credit in the ordinary course of business, but only if the monetary
or business consideration arising therefrom would be comparable and
substantially as advantageous to the Company as in a comparable transaction with
a Person not an Affiliate.
5.4 BINDING AUTHORITY. No Person shall have any power or authority
to bind the Company unless such Person has been authorized by the Manager to act
on behalf of the Company in accordance with this Agreement.
5.5 MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. (a) Except where expressly
provided to the contrary herein, all decisions with respect to the management
and control of the Company that are duly made by the Manager shall be binding on
the Company and each of the Members.
(b) The Manager has established the Executive Committee, which shall
meet periodically to exchange information with respect to Company affairs. The
approval of the Executive Committee shall be required to authorize certain acts
or transac tions as specified in this Agreement. The Executive Committee shall
have five members. The Manager shall be a member and Chairman of the Executive
Committee and shall designate two additional members of the Executive Committee,
one of whom may be an Affiliate of the Manager or an employee of Mediacom
Management or a Subsidiary. The Member (for this purpose, a Member and each
Affiliate shall be deemed one Member) having the largest number of Membership
Units (for this purpose, calculated on the assumption that all Capital
Commitments have been funded) (the "Largest Member") shall designate the
--------------
remaining two members of the Executive Committee; provided, however, that if the
-------- -------
Member having the second largest number of Membership Units (the "Second Largest
--------------
Member") has Membership Units in excess of 50 percent of the number of
------
Membership Units of the Largest Member, such two Members shall each designate
one member of the Executive Committee. If a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Member or an Affiliate
thereof is then serving as Manager, in no event shall a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Member be the
Largest Member or the Second Largest Member. In the event that, but for the
immediately preceding sentence, the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Member would be either the Largest
Member or the Second Largest Member, the Member having the next largest number
of Membership Units will be the Largest Member or the Second Largest Member, as
the case may be. Except as provided above, each Member having the right to make
a designation of a representative to the Executive Committee shall have complete
discretion with respect to the designation of its representative and any change
in such representation shall become effective upon receipt of written notice
thereof by the Company.
(c) The presence of four members of the Executive Committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or any specified item of
business requiring a vote. If a quorum
14
shall not be present at any meeting of the Executive Committee requiring a vote,
the meeting may adjourn from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. The Executive
Committee shall act at meetings thereof duly convened and held as provided in
this Agreement. Each representative shall have one vote, and, subject to Section
5.7(b), the vote of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall
be the act of the Executive Committee.
(d) Any one or more members of the Executive Committee may participate
in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment allowing all Persons participating in the meeting to hear each other
at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in
person at a meeting. Any Person appointed by a Member to serve as a
representative on the Executive Committee may, by an instrument in writing,
authorize another member of the Executive Committee to act as such
representative's proxy at any meeting or meetings or by written consent and to
vote on behalf of such representative. Any action required or permitted by this
Agreement to be taken by the Executive Committee may be taken if all members of
such Committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing
the action. Such resolution and the written consents thereto shall be filed
with the minutes of the proceedings of the Executive Committee.
(e) Regular informational meetings of the Executive Committee may be
held upon at least 24 hours notice at such time and at such place, but no less
often than quarterly, as shall from time to time be determined by the Manager.
Additional informational meetings shall take place as and where needed.
(f) Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by any
member thereof on five days' notice to the other members either personally or by
facsimile at such address as shall be specified in writing by each
representative for purposes of notice, which notice shall specify the time,
place and purpose of such meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case of
exigency, special voting meetings may be called on such shorter notice, given as
aforesaid or by telephone, as the Executive Committee members may agree upon.
(g) Any action taken by an Executive Committee member shall be deemed
to have been duly authorized by the Member appointing such member. The
resignation or removal of a member of the Executive Committee shall not
invalidate any act of such member taken before the giving of written notice of
the removal or resignation of such member.
(h) Each Member designating a member of the Executive Committee, each
Executive Committee member, and their respective Affiliates may have other
business interests and may engage in other activities in addition to those
relating to the Company. Such Persons may make direct or indirect investments
in Systems or entities offering telecommunications services, provided
15
that if such investment is not a passive one and requires management by such
Person (if such Person is other than a commercial or investment bank or other
financial institution), such Person shall first offer to the Company the
opportunity to make the investment. The Company shall have thirty days in which
to determine whether to make such investment and if it so determines, the
Company shall proceed diligently to prepare a contract of purchase and sale
customary for transactions of the type contemplated and to consummate the
transaction. In the event such transaction is consummated, the Person, if other
than the Manager or an Affiliate of the Manager, making the offer shall be
reimbursed for its expenses incurred and, in addition, shall be paid one-half of
the fee described in Section 5.13(a) hereof, with the other one-half of said fee
being paid as set forth in Section 5.13(a). Each Member designating a member of
the Executive Committee and each Executive Committee member shall incur no
liability to the Company or any Member as a result of engaging in such other
business interests or activities. The provisions of the second, third and fourth
sentences of this Section 5.5(h) shall not apply to activities of Members
subsequent to December 31, 2004.
5.6 MATTERS REQUIRING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT. The following
matters shall be reported upon or information delivered by the Manager at the
quarterly informational meetings of the Executive Committee:
(i) the general status of the business and the Systems;
(ii) copies of all projections delivered to the lenders of the
Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with proposed acquisitions or
refinancings by the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(iii) copies of all regular reports to management submitted by
the independent auditors for the Company;
(iv) the financial status of the Company, including amounts of
projected Capital Calls and the incurrence, renewal or refinancing of
indebtedness for borrowed money by the Company;
(v) the status of any Subsidiary;
(vi) the status of any proposed acquisition;
(vii) the status of any litigation or any other legal or
regulatory proceeding;
(viii) the engagement of counsel, independent accountants or
other professional advisors; and
16
(ix) any matter expressly stated in this Agreement to be subject
to approval of the Executive Committee.
5.7 ACTIONS REQUIRING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVAL. (a) Each member
of the Executive Committee shall have one vote. The following matters shall
require approval of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee and
such action shall not be taken by the Company on its own behalf or on behalf of
any Subsidiary, as the case may be, without such approval:
(i) individual acquisitions of Subsidiaries or Systems requiring
a Capital Call exceeding $10 million or having a purchase price exceeding
$40 million;
(ii) any Capital Call exceeding $8 million not involving an
acquisition;
(iii) financing transactions increasing the aggregate
indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries by $40 million or more;
(iv) dispositions of properties having a sale price exceeding $40
million;
(v) a single transaction or proposed set of similar transactions
with Affiliates of the Manager or the Company exceeding $1 million other
than as permitted in Section 5.13 of this Agreement.
(vi) offerings of Membership Units or other equity interests in
the Company, and any amendments to this Agreement necessary or desirable to
complete the offering;
(vii) the determination of the equity value of the Company upon
the occurrence of certain events as described in and pursuant to Section
8.5 of this Agreement;
(viii) except as set forth in Section 12.1(a) of this Agreement,
proposed transfers by Members of Membership Units exceeding 5,000;
(ix) the resolution of conflicts of interest between the Company
and any Affiliate of the Company, including the Manager;
(x) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any
other business entity;
(xi) (A) the voluntary commencement of any proceeding or the
voluntary filing of any petition seeking relief under any bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar law, (B) the consent to the institution
of, or causing the Company to fail to contest in a timely and appropriate
manner, any involuntary proceeding or any involuntary filing
17
of any petition of the type described in subclause (A) above, (C) the
application for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Company or
for a substantial part of the property or assets of the Company, (D) the
filing of an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed
against the Company in any such proceeding, (E) the consent to any order
for relief issued with respect to any such proceeding, (F) the making of a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (G) the admission in
writing the inability of the Company or causing the Company to fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due or (H) the taking of any
action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or
(xii) any other matter expressly stated in this Agreement to be
subject to approval of the Executive Committee.
(b) An Executive Committee member shall not be obligated to abstain
from voting on any matter (or vote in any particular manner) because of any
interest (or conflict of interest) of such representative or the Member
designating such representative (or any Affiliate thereof) in such matter;
provided, however, that (i) the interest (or conflict of interest) of such
-------- -------
representative, Member or Affiliate is disclosed to the other representatives
prior to any vote; and (ii) the monetary or business consideration arising in
connection with the proposed transaction would be comparable and substantially
as advantageous to the Company as in a comparable transaction with a Person not
an Affiliate. Such matter shall not be approved by the Executive Committee
without the affirmative vote of at least 50% of the Executive Committee members
not having any interest (or conflict of interest) in such matter.
5.8 EXPANSION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. In the event:
(a) of the bankruptcy, death, dissolution, removal, legal incapacity
or resignation of the Manager or the occurrence of any other event that
terminates the membership of the Manager;
(b) that the Manager for any reason is no longer the chief executive
officer and controlling shareholder of Mediacom Management while any Management
Agreement is in effect;
(c) that the Company has not disposed of its assets and redeemed the
Membership Units of the non-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members within two years of the date on
which the Members have approved a disposition pursuant to Section 6.8 of this
Agreement; or
(d) that the System Cash Flow for any two consecutive fiscal quarters
is less than 80 percent of the projected System Cash Flow for such periods in
the projections most recently submitted by the Company to lenders of the Company
or its Subsidiaries in connection with proposed acquisitions or
18
refinancings by the Company or its Subsidiaries and reported to the Executive
Committee under clause (ii) of Section 5.6 of this Agreement;
the number of representatives on the Executive Committee shall be increased to
seven. The ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members shall designate three members and the non-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Members shall have the right to designate four members of the Executive
Committee. The Largest Member shall designate the additional two members of the
Executive Committee; provided, however, that if the Second Largest Member has
-------- -------
Membership Units in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the number of Membership
Units of the Largest Member, such two Members shall each designate one
additional member of the Executive Committee. If any Member having the right to
designate a member of the Executive Committee fails to do so, such right shall
apply to the Member that has, together with its Affiliates, the next largest
number of Membership Units that has not designated a member of the Executive
Committee. The quorum for a meeting of the expanded Executive Committee shall
be four. The matters requiring approval of the Executive Committee pursuant to
Section 5.7 hereof based upon dollar value shall be expanded to include all
matters involving fifty (50%) percent or more of the dollar values set forth in
Section 5.7. The size and approval rights of the Executive Committee shall
continue as set forth in this Section 5.8 for so long as the conditions
described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above continue. The size and approval
rights of the Executive Committee resulting from a condition described in clause
(d) above shall continue as set forth in this Section 5.8 until the System Cash
Flow for two consecutive fiscal quarters exceeds 80 percent of the projected
System Cash Flow provided by the Company to lenders of the Company or its
Subsidiaries in connection with proposed acquisitions or refinancings by the
Company and reported to the Executive Committee under clause (ii) of Section 5.6
of this Agreement.
5.9 LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN ACTS. The Manager shall perform his duties
in good faith, in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of
the Company and with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a similar
position would use under similar circumstances. A Manager who so performs such
duties shall not have any liability by reason of being or having been a Manager.
The Manager shall not be liable to the Company or any Member for any loss or
damage sustained by the Company or any Member, unless the loss or damage shall
have been the result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Manager. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, a Manager
does not in any way guaranty the return of any Capital Contribution to a Member,
or the distribution of the Preferred Return or any profit for the Members from
the operations of the Company.
5.10 NO EXCLUSIVE DUTY TO COMPANY. The Manager shall not be required
to manage the Company as his sole and exclusive function and may have other
business interests and may engage in other activities in addition to those
relating to the Company; provided, that the Manager shall be actively involved
--------
in, and shall
19
devote substantially all of his business time to, the management of the business
and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries (it being understood that if
the Manager is a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity of which ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is the chief
executive officer, the aforesaid undertaking as to devotion of substantially all
of his business time shall continue to apply to ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇). The Manager may
make direct or indirect investments in Systems, or entities offering
telecommunications services, provided that if such investment is not a passive
one and requires management by a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Member, the Manager shall first offer
to the Company the opportunity to make the investment. The Manager shall incur
no liability to the Company or any Member as a result of engaging in such other
business interests or activities.
5.11 RESIGNATION. The Manager may resign at any time by giving
written notice to the Company. The resignation of any Manager shall take effect
upon the qualification of a successor Manager pursuant to Section 5.2. Unless
otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not
be necessary to make it effective. The resignation of a Manager who is also a
Member shall not affect the Manager's rights as a Member and shall not
constitute a withdrawal of a Member.
5.12 REMOVAL. The Manager may be removed or replaced in the event of
his gross negligence or willful misconduct by the vote or written consent of the
holders of at least two thirds of the Membership Units. In determining the vote
of Membership Units outstanding for purposes of the first sentence of this
Section 5.12, Membership Units held by the Manager shall not be included. The
removal of a Manager who is also a Member shall not affect the Manager's rights
as a Member and shall not constitute a withdrawal of such Member.
5.13 COMPENSATION. The Manager or an Affiliate thereof (including
Mediacom Management) performing services for the Company, any Subsidiary, or any
other Person in which the Company directly or indirectly invests shall be
compensated for such services as follows:
(a) a fee of one (1%) percent of the value of further acquisitions
made directly or indirectly by the Company, payable upon consummation of such
acquisitions, in connection with the direct or indirect investment by the
Company in Systems or entities providing telecommunications services, such fee
to be payable with respect to acquisitions made by the Company until such time
as the pro forma annual consolidated operating revenues of the Company and its
---------
Subsidiaries equal $75 million, and one-half (0.5%) of one percent of the value
of such acquisitions thereafter;
(b) reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection with (i) the operation of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, including without limitation, travelling to and visiting the
Systems of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) investigating, analyzing,
negotiating or otherwise acting for or on behalf of the Company or
20
its subsidiaries in connection with any potential acquisition by the Company or
its Subsidiaries of a System; provided, however, that no such reimbursement
-------- -------
shall be made for (x) compensation, including salaries, withholding taxes,
unemployment insurance contributions, pension, health and other benefits of
executive management personnel (all such compensation being herein collectively
called "Executive Compensation") or (y) overhead allocated in respect of the
-----------------------
executive management of the business or operations of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, including rent, utilities, telephone and telecopy charges,
furniture, fixtures and the like; and
(c) an ongoing annual management fee (in the aggregate for the Manager
and all of his Affiliates) of five (5%) percent of the first $50 million of the
consolidated annual gross operating revenues of the Company and its
Subsidiaries; four and one-half (4.5%) percent of the consolidated annual gross
operating revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $50 million
and less than or equal to $75 million; and four (4%) percent of the consolidated
annual gross operating revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of
$75 million, such fee to be substantially on the terms set forth in the
Management Agreement between each Subsidiary and Mediacom Management, subject to
any restrictions or limitations of any loan agreements to which such Subsidiary
is a party as a borrower, it being understood that neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries shall pay compensation to any executive management personnel
(or pay any Person, other than Mediacom Management, in respect of executive
management personnel or matters, for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), it
being the intention of the parties hereto that the compensation of all executive
management personnel required in connection with the business or operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be paid by Mediacom Management (and that
the Executive Compensation for such employees shall be covered by the fees
described in this Section 5.13). Various portions of the fee described in this
Section 5.13(c) may be paid by the Company and the Subsidiaries, but the
aggregate of such fees paid by the Company and the Subsidiaries shall not exceed
the amounts described hereinabove.
For purposes hereof, "executive management personnel" shall not
include any individual (such as a system or regional employee) who, other than
for minimal duties, is employed principally in connection with the day-to-day
management and operations of one or more Systems or one or more geographic
regions of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
Except as described in this Section 5.13, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries shall pay, or reimburse any Person for paying, any fees or
expenses (including out-of-pocket expenses or allocated overhead), in respect of
the executive management of the business or operations of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.
21
5.14 OFFICERS. The Manager may designate one or more individuals as
officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, who shall have such titles and
exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be assigned to them from
time to time by the Manager. Any officer may be removed by the Manager at any
time, with or without cause. Each officer shall hold office until his or her
successor is elected and qualified. Any number of offices may be held by the
same individual. The salaries and other compensation of the officers shall be
fixed by the Manager. Officers of the Company shall hold the same office in each
Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary may have additional officers as necessary or
desirable for the purpose of local management of Systems.
5.15 CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE MANAGER AND THE MEMBERS. Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding: (i) other than in connection with an
acquisition under the terms of which the seller shall retain an ownership
interest in the acquired System or entity providing telecommunications services,
at least 99% of the aggregate equity interests in Mediacom California, Mediacom
Arizona, Mediacom Delaware and Mediacom Southeast shall at all times be owned
directly by the Company; (ii) other than in connection with an acquisition under
the terms of which the seller shall retain an ownership interest in the acquired
System or entity providing telecommunications services, each Subsidiary other
than Mediacom California, Mediacom Arizona, Mediacom Delaware and Mediacom
Southeast shall be directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the Company; (iii)
other than in connection with an acquisition under the terms of which the seller
shall retain an ownership interest in the acquired System or entity providing
telecommunications services, each System or Subsidiary acquired directly or
indirectly by the Company after the date hereof shall be wholly-owned by the
Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries; (iv) the terms of each
Management Agreement currently in effect shall remain in full force and effect;
(v) each acquired System or new Subsidiary, as appropriate, shall enter into a
Management Agreement in the form of, and providing for the compensation set
forth in, Section 5.13 of this Agreement; (vi) the Manager shall cause the
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members to hold directly or indirectly at least 3,300 Membership Units
for so long as any ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Member is Manager; and (vii) the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall not enter into any loan or other agreement with respect to
indebtedness that would prohibit performance of its obligations under this
Agreement or that would cause performance of its obligations under this
Agreement to result in a default (or, except with respect to a refinancing, an
obligation to prepay any indebtedness) under any other agreement providing for
indebtedness of the Company.
5.16 MANAGER'S RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER.
(a) In the event the Executive Committee or the Members determine to
sell one or more Systems or entities providing telecommunications services, one
or more Subsidiaries, or the Company's assets, the Company shall grant to the
Manager and his
22
Affiliates the right of first offer with respect to such properties.
(b) Within 30 days of a determination to sell, the Manager shall have
the right to present to the Members an offer including the purchase price and
the other substantive terms and conditions of the offer.
(c) 30 days after delivery of the Manager's offer to the Members, the
Company shall hold a meeting at which a vote of the majority of the Membership
Units not held by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members shall accept or reject the offer.
(d) If the Manager's offer is accepted, the Company (acting through
the Executive Committee) and the Manager (acting on behalf of the buyer) shall
proceed diligently to prepare a contract of purchase and sale customary for
transactions of the type contemplated and to consummate the transaction on the
terms and conditions of the accepted offer.
(e) If the Manager's offer is rejected, the members of the Executive
Committee that do not have conflicts of interest (or a committee designated by
such members of the Executive Committee) shall for a period of 120 days proceed
diligently to solicit in a commercially reasonable manner offers from
prospective buyers, which may include any Member or its Affiliates.
(f) If within such 120-day period the Company receives a bona fide
---- ----
offer from a qualified buyer on terms at least as favorable as the Manager's
offer and providing for a purchase price (net of brokerage commissions) of not
less than 105% of the Manager's offer for the offered properties, the members of
the Executive Committee who conducted the bidding process (or committee
appointed by such members) shall proceed diligently on behalf of the Company to
negotiate a contract of purchase and sale customary for transactions of the type
contemplated and to consummate the transaction on the terms and conditions of
the accepted offer. If no such offer is received or the Company is unable to
negotiate a contract of purchase and sale on terms acceptable to the Company,
the members of the Executive Committee that conducted the bidding process shall
either (i) accept the Manager's offer and proceed as set forth in Section
5.16(d) above, or (ii) reject the Manager's offer and the Company shall continue
to operate the System or entity unless the sale was being conducted as a result
of a vote of the Members under Section 6.8(b), in which event the Company and
the Manager shall proceed as set forth in Section 5.16(d) above.
(g) If for any reason a sale to a third party is not completed, the
sale of such properties shall again be subject to the terms of this Section
5.16.
5.17 ACTIONS OF THE MANAGER. The Members ratify and approve the
execution and delivery by the Manager, on behalf of the Company itself or on
behalf of the Company as a member of Mediacom California, Mediacom Arizona,
Mediacom Delaware and Mediacom
23
Southeast, of the following: The Articles of Organization and the Operating
Agreement of Mediacom Delaware; the Articles of Organization and the Operating
Agreement of Mediacom Southeast; the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of
December 24, 1996, between American Cable TV Investors 5, Ltd. and the Company,
the assignment of said Asset Purchase Agreement by the Company to Mediacom
Delaware and the further instruments executed pursuant to said Asset Purchase
Agreement; the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 22, 1997, between
CoxCom, Inc. and Mediacom California and the further instruments executed
pursuant to said Asset Purchase Agreement; the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated
as of September 17, 1997, between ▇▇▇▇▇ Cable Income Fund I-B/C Venture and
Mediacom California and the further instruments to be executed pursuant to said
Asset Purchase Agreement; the Asset Purchase Agreement relating to the U.S.
Cable Acquisition, the assignment of said Asset Purchase Agreement by the
Company to Mediacom Southeast and the further instruments to be executed
pursuant to said Asset Purchase Agreement; the Management Agreements between
Mediacom Management and each of Mediacom California, Mediacom Arizona, Mediacom
Delaware and Mediacom Southeast; the Credit Agreement and the further
instruments to be executed pursuant to the Credit Agreement; the Secured
Promissory Note to be made by the Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank in the
principal amount of $10,500,000, and the unsecured promissory note to be made by
the Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank in the principal amount of $9,500,000,
each to fund, in part, the payment by Mediacom Southeast of the purchase price
for the U.S. Cable Acquisition and the further instruments to be executed in
connection with said Secured Promissory Note; and approve the form of the
instruments to be executed by the Company in connection with the private
offering by the Company of notes to be issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act (including the preparation of an Offering Memorandum covering
such offering and the formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary to act as co-
obligor under such notes) to fund, in part, the payment by Mediacom Southeast of
the purchase price for the U.S. Cable Acquisition. The Members further ratify
and approve the aggregate equity valuations of the Company previously presented
to and approved by the Executive Committee, the issuances of additional
Membership Units and related Percentage Interests as a result of such
valuations, as set forth on Schedule B hereto. In addition, the Members
----------
ratify all acquisition fees pursuant to Section 5.13(a) of this Agreement in
accordance with the detail and calculations previously presented to the
Executive Committee.
5.18 ORGANIZATIONAL AND OTHER CHANGES IN CONNECTION WITH INITIAL
PUBLIC OFFERING. In connection with a determination of the Executive Committee
to cause the Company to effect an initial public offering of its equity
securities, the Executive Committee, at its option, may require the Manager (i)
to form a corporation or other entity under the laws of any state that the
Manager deems appropriate and (ii) to cause the Company to transfer to such
corporation or other entity all of the assets of the Company, and have such
corporation or other entity assume all of the liabilities of the Company
(whether effected through a merger or otherwise). Each Member of the Company
shall take such steps to effect the
24
initial public offering as may be requested by the Manager, including, without
limitation, consenting to and/or voting in favor of any necessary or desirable
recapitalization, reorganization or exchange and transferring such Member's
interests in the Company to such corporation or other entity in connection with
any such recapitalization, reorganization or exchange involving equity interests
of such corporation or other entity. In connection with the decision to effect
an initial public offering, regardless of whether the Company is continued as a
limited liability company, the Executive Committee, acting by a vote of no less
than two-thirds of the Membership Units then outstanding, and with the
assistance of such valuation experts as it may retain (with such number of
outstanding Membership Units to give effect to the equity valuation and new
ownership structure of the Company as determined by such experts), shall propose
a uniform equity and economic structure for the publicly held entity which, at
that time, affords to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members the then present value of the
allocation, distribution and valuation provisions and other economic benefits of
this Agreement that apply only to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members and their Affiliates.
Such uniform equity and economic structure, upon acceptance by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Members, shall apply to the publicly held entity. The Executive Committee shall
also then propose, with the assistance of such valuation experts, a managerial
and executive control structure for the publicly held entity which, at such
time, affords to the Executive Committee, as then in effect, and to the Manager
and its Affiliates the same managerial and executive rights, powers and duties
in effect at such time. Such managerial and executive control structure, upon
acceptance by the Executive Committee and the Manager, shall apply to the
publicly held entity.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
-------------------
6.1 MEETINGS. Commencing in 1998, an annual meeting of the Members
shall be held during the second quarter of each Fiscal Year of the Company and
at such other times as shall be determined by the Manager for the purpose of the
transaction of any business as may come before such meeting.
6.2 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Members, for any
purpose or purposes, may be called by the Manager, the Executive Committee or by
Members holding 25 percent or more of the Percentage Interests.
6.3 PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the Members may be held at any
place, within or outside the State of New York, for any meeting of the Members
designated in any notice of such meeting. If no such designation is made, the
place of any such meeting shall be the principal office of the Company.
6.4 NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written or oral notice stating the place,
day and hour of the meeting indicating that it is being
25
issued by or at the direction of the Person or Persons calling the meeting,
stating the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be
delivered no fewer than five nor more than sixty days before the date of the
meeting.
6.5 RECORD DATE. For the purpose of determining the Members entitled
to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment of such
meeting, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Distribution, or to make
a determination of Members for any other purpose, the date on which notice of
the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution declaring Distribution
is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for making such a
determination. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting
of Members has been made pursuant to this Section, the determination shall apply
to any adjournment of the meeting.
6.6 QUORUM. Members holding not less than a majority of all
Membership Units, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
at any meeting of Members. In the absence of a quorum at any meeting of
Members, a majority of the Membership Units so represented may adjourn the
meeting from time to time for a period not to exceed sixty days without further
notice. However, if the adjournment is for more than sixty days, or if after
the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice
of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Member of record entitled to
vote at such meeting. At an adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be
present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. The Members present at a
meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal during the meeting of Membership Units whose absence results in less
than a quorum being present.
6.7 MANNER OF ACTING. If a quorum is present at any meeting, the
vote or written consent of Members holding not less than a majority of
Membership Units shall be the act of the Members unless the vote of a greater or
lesser proportion or number is otherwise required by the New York Act, the
Articles of Organization or this Agreement.
6.8 ACTIONS REQUIRING APPROVAL OF THE MEMBERS. The following matters
shall require approval of Members holding no less than two-thirds of the
Membership Units entitled to vote and such action shall not be taken by the
Company on its own behalf or on behalf of any Subsidiary, as the case may be,
without such approval:
(a) the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Company
on or prior to December 31, 2004 (for which the Manager's approval shall also be
necessary except when the Members have not elected to continue the business of
the Company following the bankruptcy, dissolution, death, legal incapacity,
removal or resignation of the Manager);
26
(b) the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Company after December 31, 2004;
(c) the amendment of this Agreement (other than as set forth in
Section 16.2 of this Agreement);
(d) a material change to the business purposes of the Company;
(e) offerings of Membership Units or other equity interests in the
Company pursuant to Section 5.18 of this Agreement, and any amendments to this
Agreement necessary or desirable to complete the offering; and
(f) the continuation of the business of the Company following the
bankruptcy, dissolution, death, legal incapacity, removal or resignation of the
Manager.
6.9 PROXIES.
(a) A Member may vote in person or by proxy executed in writing
by the Member or by a duly authorized attorney-in-fact.
(b) Every proxy must be signed by the Member or its attorney-in-fact.
No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months from the date
thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable
at the pleasure of the Member executing it, except as otherwise provided in this
Section.
(c) Except when other provision shall have been made by written
agreement between the parties, the record holder of a Membership Unit which he,
she or it holds as pledgee or otherwise as security or which belongs to another,
shall issue to the pledgor or to such owner of such Membership Unit, upon demand
therefor and payment of necessary expenses thereof, a proxy to vote or take
other action thereon.
(d) A proxy which is entitled "irrevocable proxy" and which states
that it is irrevocable, is irrevocable when it is held by (i) a pledgee, (ii) a
Person who has purchased or agreed to purchase the Membership Units, (iii) a
creditor or creditors of the Company which extend or continue credit to the
Company in consideration of the proxy if the proxy states that it was given in
consideration of such extension or continuation of credit, the amount thereof,
and the name of the Person extending or continuing credit, (iv) a Person who has
contracted to perform services as an officer of the Company, if a proxy is
required by the contract of employment, if the proxy states that it was given in
consideration of such contract of employment, the name of the employee and the
period of employment contracted for, or (v) a nominee of any of the Persons
described in clauses (i)-(iv) of this sentence.
(e) Notwithstanding a provision in a proxy stating that it is
irrevocable, the proxy becomes revocable after the
27
pledge is redeemed, or the debt of the Company is paid, or the period of
employment provided for in the contract of employment has terminated and, in a
case provided for in Section 6.9(d)(iii) or (iv) of this Agreement, becomes
revocable three years after the date of the proxy or at the end of the period,
if any, specified therein, whichever period is less, unless the period of
irrevocability is renewed from time to time by the execution of a new
irrevocable proxy as provided in this Section. This paragraph does not affect
the duration of a proxy under paragraph (b) of this Section.
(f) A proxy may be revoked, notwithstanding a provision making it
irrevocable, by a purchaser of a Membership Unit without knowledge of the
existence of such proxy.
6.10 ACTION BY MEMBERS WITHOUT A MEETING.
(a) Whenever the Members of the Company are required or permitted to
take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a vote following ten
days' prior written notice to all Members, if a consent or consents in writing,
setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by the Members who hold the
voting interests having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all of the
Members entitled to vote therein were present and voted and shall be delivered
to the office of the Company, its principal place of business or a Manager,
employee or agent of the Company having custody of the Records. Delivery made
to the office of the Company shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested.
(b) Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each
Member who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take
the action referred to therein unless, within sixty days of the earliest dated
consent delivered in the manner required by this Section 6.10 to the Company,
written consents signed by a sufficient number of Members to take the action are
delivered to the Company at its principal place of business or directly to a
Manager, employee or agent of the Company having custody of the records of the
Company. Delivery made to such principal place of business of the Company or to
such Manager, employee or agent shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested.
(c) Prompt notice of the taking of the action without a meeting by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to each Member who has not
consented in writing but which would have been entitled to vote thereon had such
action been taken at a meeting.
6.11 WAIVER OF NOTICE. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any
Member who submits a signed waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, whether
before or after the meeting. The attendance of any Member at a meeting, in
person or by proxy, without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting
the lack
28
of notice of such meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by such
Member.
6.12 VOTING AGREEMENTS. An agreement between two or more Members, if
in writing and signed by the parties thereto, may provide that in exercising any
voting rights, the Membership Units held by them shall be voted as therein
provided, or as they may agree, or as determined in accordance with a procedure
agreed upon by them.
ARTICLE VII
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
---------------------
7.1 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. Each Member has contributed the amount
set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement as the Capital Contribution to be made
----------
by such Member.
7.2 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL CALLS; ALLOCATIONS. (a) At any
time and from time to time during a Commitment Period with respect to any Member
while there is an Unfunded Capital Commitment with respect to such Member, the
Manager may make capital calls with respect to all or any portion of not less
than five (5%) percent of such Member's Unfunded Capital Commitment (each, a
"Capital Call"). All Capital Calls shall be issued pro rata to all Members
------------- --- ----
having Unfunded Capital Commitments in proportion to their respective Unfunded
Capital Commitments except as noted in the following sentence. If legal or
regulatory restrictions applicable to a Member result in or, in the Manager's
judgment, can reasonably be expected to result in a Member's acquisition of
additional Membership Units being or becoming illegal, (i) the Manager may limit
or otherwise condition or elect not to make a Capital Call to such Member and
(ii) the Manager, on behalf of the Company, and the affected Member may elect to
terminate such Member's Unfunded Capital Commitment. A Capital Call shall
specify the date (which shall be no earlier than 10 business days following the
Capital Call), place and amount of the required contribution (each such
contribution, an "Additional Capital Contribution"). Each Member having
-------------------------------
Unfunded Capital Commitments agrees to comply with the terms of each Capital
Call.
(b) In the event a Member fails to make an Additional Capital
Contribution as and when due (a "Nonfunding Member"), the Manager will send
-----------------
notice of such default to such Nonfunding Member demanding the payment of the
Additional Capital Contribution together with interest at the prime commercial
lending rate of interest of The Chase Manhattan Bank plus five (5%) percent. If
the Nonfunding Member fails to remit the Additional Capital Contribution and
interest thereon within 15 days of the date of the notice and demand, the
Manager may proceed at law for damages or at equity for specific performance of
such defaulting Member's obligations. Each Member agrees that it shall be
liable for consequential damages to the Company arising from the lack of timely
payment of an Additional Capital Contribution. In addition,
29
the Nonfunding Member will be deemed to have forfeited its rights to vote, to
receive Distributions and to designate any representative to the Executive
Committee. Further, the Company shall have the option to acquire the Membership
Units of the Nonfunding Member for fifty (50%) percent of the equity value most
recently determined under Section 8.5 of this Agreement, less the interest
accrued on the Unfunded Capital Commitment, the costs of attempted collection,
and the costs in connection with acquiring the Membership Units. Upon exercise
of the option, the interest of the Member shall terminate.
7.3 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS. A Capital Account shall be maintained for each
Member in accordance with Section 9.2.
7.4 TRANSFERS. Upon a permitted sale or other transfer of Membership
Units in the Company, the Capital Account relating to such transferred
Membership Units shall become the Capital Account of the Person to which or whom
such Membership Units are sold or transferred in accordance with Section 9.2(e).
7.5 MODIFICATIONS. The manner in which Capital Accounts are to be
maintained pursuant to this Agreement is intended to comply with the
requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code. If in the opinion of the Manager,
on the advice of the Company's accountants, the manner in which Capital Accounts
are to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement should be modified to comply
with Section 704(b) of the Code, then the method in which Capital Accounts are
maintained shall be so modified; provided, however, that any change in the
-------- -------
manner of maintaining Capital Accounts shall not materially alter the economic
agreement between or among the Members as expressed in this Agreement without
the consent of each Member.
7.6 DEFICIT CAPITAL ACCOUNT. Except as otherwise required in the New
York Act or this Agreement, no Member shall have any liability to restore a
deficit balance in a Capital Account, in excess of the amount of any
indebtedness of the Company for which such Member is liable. Any Member liable
for indebtedness of the Company shall be liable to restore the lesser of its
deficit Capital Account or the amount of indebtedness of the Company for which
such Member is liable. Such restoration shall be made at the time of
dissolution of the Company.
7.7 WITHDRAWAL OR REDUCTION OF CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. A Member shall
not receive from the Company any portion of a Capital Contribution until all
indebtedness, liabilities of the Company, except any indebtedness, liabilities
and obligations to Members on account of their Capital Contributions, have been
paid or there remains property of the Company, in the sole discretion of the
Manager, sufficient to pay them. A Member, irrespective of the nature of the
Capital Contribution of such Member, has only the right to demand and receive
cash in return for such Capital Contribution.
30
7.8 No Rights of Redemption or Return of Contribution. Except as
provided in this Agreement, no Member has a right to have its Membership Units
redeemed or its Capital Contributions returned prior to the dissolution of the
Company.
ARTICLE VII
PROFITS, LOSSES AND DISTRIBUTIONS;
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF MEMBERSHIP UNITS
------------------------------------------------
8.1 ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND LOSSES.
(a) Profits for each Accounting Period shall be allocated among
the Members as follows:
(1) First, to the Members with deficit Capital Account balances at the
end of such Accounting Period (but prior to any allocation of Profits pursuant
to this Section 8.1(a)), in proportion to such deficits, until such deficits are
reduced to zero;
(2) Second, the amount by which the Members' aggregate Unreturned
Preferred Capital exceeds the aggregate of their Capital Account balances at the
end of such Accounting Period (after the allocation of Profits provided for in
Section 8.1(a)(1), but prior to any other allocations of Profits pursuant to
this Section 8.1(a)), shall be apportioned among the Members so as to first make
Members' Capital Accounts correspond to their Percentage Interests and
thereafter in proportion with their Percentage Interests;
(3) Third, the amount by which (i) the sum of the Members' aggregate
Unreturned Preferred Capital and their aggregate Preferred Return exceeds (ii)
the aggregate of their Capital Account balances at the end of such Accounting
Period (after the allocation of Profits provided for in Sections 8.1(a)(1) and
8.1(a)(2), but prior to any other allocations of Profits pursuant to this
Section 8.1(a)), shall be apportioned among the Members so as to first make
Members' Capital Accounts correspond to their Percentage Interests and
thereafter in proportion with their Percentage Interests;
(4) Fourth, to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in proportion to their Percentage
Interests until amounts credited to the Capital Accounts of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members
pursuant to this clause (4) for the current and all previous Accounting Periods
equals 25% of the amount credited to Capital Account balances of the Members,
including the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members, for the current and all previous Accounting
Periods pursuant to clause (3) above; and
(5) The balance, 80% to the Members (including the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members)
in proportion to their Percentage Interests and 20% to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in
proportion to their respective Membership Units.
31
(b) Losses for each Accounting Period (other than as set forth in
Section 8.1(c) below) shall be allocated among the Members as follows:
(1) First, ninety-nine (99%) percent to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members with
positive Capital Account balances at the end of such Accounting Period (but
prior to any allocation of Losses pursuant to this Section 8.1(b)(1)), in the
aggregate amount (from the inception of the Company) of $3,245,000, and one (1%)
percent to the remaining Members with positive Capital Account balances at the
end of such Accounting Period (but prior to any allocation of Losses pursuant to
this Section 8.1(b)(1)) in proportion to such positive Capital Account balances;
(2) Second, to any Members that have guaranteed a liability for
indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in the aggregate amount
(from the inception of the Company) of the indebtedness so guaranteed, in
proportion to the respective sums of each such Member's Capital Account balances
at the end of such Accounting Period (after the allocation of Losses provided
for in Section 8.1(b)(1) but prior to any other allocation of Losses pursuant to
this Section 8.1(b));
(3) Third, to any Members with positive Capital Account balances at
the end of such Accounting Period (after the allocation of Losses provided for
in Section 8.1(b)(1) and 8.1(b)(2) but prior to any other allocation of Losses
pursuant to this Section 8.1(b)), in proportion to such positive balances, until
such positive balances are reduced to zero; and
(4) The balance, in proportion with the Members' Percentage
Interests.
(c) With respect to the calendar year ending December 31, 1998, after
the allocations set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above, and prior to the
allocations set forth in clauses (3) and (4) above, up to $2,500,000 of Losses
shall be allocated to the Largest Member. With respect to the calendar year
ending December 31, 1998, all other allocations of Losses set forth in Section
8.1(b) shall apply.
8.2 DISTRIBUTIONS. All Distributions other than Distributions
pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof shall be made in the following order of priority:
(a) First, Distributions shall be made to the Members including the
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in proportion to their respective Membership Units until each
has received amounts in the aggregate equal to the Preferred Capital;
(b) Second, Distributions shall be made to the Members including the
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in proportion to their Unreturned Preferred Returns until each
has received amounts in the aggregate equal to their Unreturned Preferred Return
as of the date of such Distribution (applied first to any Preferred Return
accrued
32
in respect of the year in which such Distribution occurs and second to
any other Preferred Return);
(c) Third, Distributions shall be made to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in
proportion to their respective Membership Units until the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members have
received amounts in the aggregate equal to 25% of all Distributions made to the
Members, including the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members, pursuant to Section 8.2(b); and
(d) Fourth, Distributions shall be made 80% to the Members, including
the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members, in proportion to their Percentage Interests and 20% to the
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in proportion to their respective Membership Units.
Subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement and any other loan or other
agreement with respect to indebtedness to which the Company is obligated (as a
borrower, guarantor or otherwise), the Manager shall use reasonable commercial
efforts to make Distributions pursuant to this Section 8.2 in accordance with
the priority set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) during the first three
months of each Accounting Period in an aggregate amount equal to at least 35% of
the aggregate Profit allocated to the Members for the immediately preceding
Accounting Period.
8.3 NO RIGHT TO DISTRIBUTIONS EXCEPT UPON DISSOLUTION OF THE COMPANY.
The occurrence of a Termination Event with respect to the Company does
not entitle any Member to any Distributions unless such event results in the
dissolution of the Company, in which case such Member shall be entitled to
receive the Distributions set forth in Section 8.4.
8.4 DISTRIBUTIONS UPON DISSOLUTION OF THE COMPANY. Upon dissolution
of the Company:
(a) The Company shall first satisfy (or provide for the satisfaction
of) all the Company's debts and other obligations (including debts to Members,
former Members and their Affiliates).
(b) The Company shall distribute its remaining assets to the Members
and any former Members whose interests have not been previously redeemed as
follows:
(1) First, to the Members in proportion to the amounts by which their
Preferred Capital exceeds previous Distributions until each has received amounts
in the aggregate equal to their Preferred Capital;
(2) Second, to the Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests
until each has received amounts in the aggregate equal to the Unreturned
Preferred Return as of the date of such Distribution (applied first to any
Preferred Return accrued in respect of the year in which such Distribution
occurs and second to any previously accrued Preferred Return);
33
(3) Third, to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in proportion to their respective
Membership Units, the amount by which 25% of all Distributions made to Members,
including the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members, with respect to the Preferred Return pursuant to
Section 8.2(b) and clause (2) of this Section 8.4(b) exceeds the amount of all
Distributions made to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members pursuant to Section 8.2(c); and
(4) Fourth, 80% to the Members including the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members, in
proportion to their Percentage Interests and 20% to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in
proportion to their respective Membership Units.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 8.4(b), upon
the dissolution of the Company, all Distributions shall be made to the Members
in proportion to the positive balances of such Members' Capital Account (after
such Capital Accounts have been adjusted to take into account all events related
to such dissolution) and (after all Members have a zero balance in their Capital
Accounts) all Distributions shall be made as provided in Section 8.4(b).
8.5 VALUATION OF THE COMPANY. (a) The Executive Committee has
previously determined the aggregate equity value of the Company giving effect to
the closing of the U.S. Cable Acquisition and the Capital Contributions to
finance such Acquisition. Pursuant to Section 5.17 of this Agreement, the
Members have ratified and approved such valuation, the issuance of additional
Membership Units and related Percentage Interests as a result of the valuations,
as set forth on Schedule B hereto.
----------
(b) The following Membership Units shall be issued on the basis of a
Company valuation expressed as the aggregate value of the outstanding Membership
Units after giving effect to the closing of the U.S. Cable Acquisition, as set
forth on Schedule B hereto: (i) Membership Units, if any, issued in respect of
----------
Capital Contributions to be made prior to June 30, 1998 to the extent of the
first one-third (1/3) of the Unfunded Capital Commitments as of January 23,
1998; and (ii) Membership Units, if any, issued in respect of Capital
Contributions to be made to fund the purchase of any Excess Chase Units.
(c) Except as provided in clause (b) above, each Membership Unit to
be issued in respect of Capital Contributions made prior to June 30, 1998 shall
be issued on the basis of a new equity valuation of the Company, as determined
by the Executive Committee in the manner set forth in clause (d) below.
(d) Upon the receipt by the Company after the later of (i) January
23, 1998, and (ii) the date of the most recent valuation of the Company under
this clause (d), of funds in respect of Capital Contributions in an aggregate
cumulative amount of at least $5,000,000, the Executive Committee shall
determine the aggregate equity value of the Company at such time; provided,
--------
however, that the value so determined shall not be greater than
-------
34
10.5 times the annualized System Cash Flow for the three month period most
recently ended prior to such valuation date (giving pro forma effect to the
acquisition of any System during such period as if such acquisition had occurred
on the first day of such period), less the aggregate consolidated indebtedness
for borrowed money of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of such valuation
date; provided, further, that such determinations shall not be made more
-------- -------
frequently than once during each Fiscal Year; and provided, further, that the
-------- -------
Executive Committee, acting by unanimous vote of its members, may determine the
aggregate equity value of the Company as it deems appropriate and at any such
other times and as frequently as it may otherwise deem appropriate. Except as
set forth in clause (e) below, the Company shall issue additional Membership
Units to its Members based upon such determination, effective as of the date of
such determination, as follows:
(1) First, Membership Units shall be issued to the Members in
proportion to their respective Percentage Interests until each has received
Membership Units representing a value equal to the Unreturned Preferred Return;
(2) Second, Membership Units shall be issued to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members
in proportion to their respective Membership Units until the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members
have been issued Membership Units in the aggregate equal to 25% of all of the
Membership Units issued to existing Members including the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members
pursuant to clause (a) above; and
(3) Third, Membership Units shall be issued 80% to the Members
including the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in proportion to their respective Percentage
Interests and 20% to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members in proportion to their respective
Membership Units.
Following such issuance:
(x) All calculations of Preferred Capital, Preferred Return, and
Percentage Interests shall be based upon the Membership Units outstanding on the
date of such issuance, and the amount of the Preferred Return shall be
calculated from the date of such issuance; and
(y) The Members' Capital Accounts shall be adjusted in accordance with
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) so that the balance of each
Member's Capital Account shall equal the product of the number of Membership
Units held by such Member times $1,000.
(e) In the event that following a valuation of the Company pursuant to
Section 8.5(d) which results in the issuance of additional Membership Units to
the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Members pursuant to clauses (2) and/or (3) of Section 8.5(d) (the
"Specified Value"), the aggregate equity value of the Company is later
----------------
determined pursuant to Section 8.5(d) (other than as a consequence of a
Distribution to Members) at an amount below the Specified Value, any issuances
of additional Membership Units to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
35
Members under clauses (2) and (3) of Section 8.5(d) as a consequence of that or
any later valuation pursuant to Section 8.5(d) shall be made only after the
existing Members shall have received the full number of Membership Units
issuable under clause (1) of Section 8.5(d). Thereafter, issuances of additional
Membership Units shall be effected as set forth above.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
-----------
9.1 TAX CHARACTERIZATION AND RETURNS.
(a) The Members acknowledge that the Company will be treated as a
"partnership" for Federal and state tax purposes. All provisions of this
Agreement and the Articles of Organization are to be construed so as to preserve
that tax status.
(b) Within 135 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Manager
will cause to be delivered to each Person who was a Member at any time during
such Fiscal Year a Form K-1 and such other information, if any, with respect to
the Company as may be necessary for the preparation of each Member's Federal or
state income tax (or information) returns, including a statement showing each
Member's share of income, gain or loss, and credits for the Fiscal Year.
9.2 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.
(a) The Capital Account of each Member shall be increased by
---------
(1) the amount of all Capital Contributions made by such Member (which
amount, in the case of contributed property other than cash, shall be the Net
Agreed Value thereof) and
(2) all Profit and each item of income and gain which is allocated to
the Member pursuant to Section 8.1, 9.3(b), and 9.3(c) hereof (computed in each
instance with the adjustments detailed in Section 9.2(b) below)
and decreased by
---------
(x) all Loss and each item of loss and deduction which is allocated to
the Member pursuant to Section 8.1, 9.3(b), and 9.3(c) (computed in each
instance with the adjustments detailed in Section 9.2(b) below) and
(y) all cash and the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed by
the Company to such Member pursuant to this Agreement.
36
(b) Solely for the purposes of maintaining the Members' Capital
Accounts, the Profit or Loss of the Company and each item of income, gain, loss,
or deduction which is specially allocated pursuant to Section 9.3(b) and 9.3(c)
shall be adjusted as follows:
(1) Any income of the Company that is exempt from Federal
income tax shall be added to such Profit or Loss;
(2) all deductions for depreciation, cost recovery, amortization, or
similar items attributable to any property (other than cash) contributed by a
Member to the Company shall be determined as if the Adjusted Basis of such
property on the date of contribution was equal to the Carrying Value of such
property on such date, in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-
1(b)(2)(iv)(g);
(3) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition
of any asset shall be determined by the Company as if the Adjusted Basis of such
asset as of the date of disposition were equal to the Carrying Value of such
asset as of such date;
(4) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Company to promote the
sale of (or to sell) an interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized
under Section 709 of the Code shall be treated as an item of deduction.
(c) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss, and deduction
shall be made without regard to any adjustment in the basis of Company asset as
a result of an election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the
Company (except to the extent required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-
1(b)(2)(iv)(m)) and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the
Code, without regard to the fact that such items are neither currently
deductible nor capitalizable for Federal income tax purposes; and
(d) In the event that any Distribution is made to a Member other than
in cash (including liquidating Distributions), the Capital Accounts of the
Members, immediately prior to such Distribution, shall be appropriately adjusted
upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
attributable to the distributed property (determined on the basis of the fair
market value of the property at the time of Distribution).
(e) A transferee will succeed to the Capital Account (or such portion
thereof) relating to the interest transferred, and there shall be no adjustment
to the Capital Accounts as a result of such transfer except as otherwise
required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1. If, however, the transfer
causes a termination of the Company under Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code, the
Company shall be deemed to have continued as prescribed by Treasury Regulation
Sections 1.704-1 and 1.708(b)(1)(iv), and the Capital Accounts of the Members
shall at
37
such time be determined, and shall thereafter be maintained, in accordance with
the rules set forth in this Agreement.
9.3 SPECIAL TAX RULES.
(a) Special Rules Relating to Contributed Property. Solely for tax
----------------------------------------------
purposes (and not for Capital Account purposes), in the case of any property
(other than cash) included in a Capital Contribution, or that is held by the
Company on the date any adjustment of Percentage Interest is made pursuant to
Section 8.5, items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit attributable to
such contributed property shall be allocated as follows:
(1) first, among the Members in a manner that takes into account the
-----
variation between the fair market value of such property and its Adjusted Basis
at the time of contribution or adjustment of Percentage Interests (in accordance
with Section 704(c) of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations), and
(2) thereafter, in accordance with Section 8.1 and the other
----------
provisions of this Article.
(b) Guaranteed Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event
-------------------
that any fees, interest, or other amounts paid or payable to any Member are
deducted by the Company in reliance on Sections 707(a) or 707(c) of the Code,
and such fees, interest, or other amounts are disallowed as deductions to the
Company and are recharacterized as Company distributions, there shall be
allocated to such Member, prior to the allocations provided in Section 8.1, an
amount of Company gross income for the year in which such fees, interest, or
other amounts are treated as Company distributions equal to such fees, interest,
or other amounts so treated as distributions.
(c) Special Overrides. (1) Solely for purposes of determining a
-----------------
Member's Capital Account in applying the provisions of this clause (c), the
anticipated adjustments, allocations, and distributions described in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4)-(6) shall be taken into account, and
each Member shall be deemed obligated to restore any deficit in its Capital
Account to the extent of the sum of its share of the Minimum Gain, as determined
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(g)(i), and its share of the
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, as determined pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(5).
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no
allocation of Loss, or other allocation of loss or deduction, shall be made to
any Member if such allocation would result in such Member having a negative
balance in its Capital Account at the close of any Fiscal Year in excess of the
amount it would be required to restore on a liquidation of the Company at the
close of such Fiscal Year (or a liquidation of such Member's interest in the
Company).
38
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the
event any Member unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation, or
distribution described in clause (4), (5), or (6) of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) that results in such Member having a negative balance in
its Capital Account at the close of any Fiscal Year in excess of the amount that
it is required to restore on a liquidation of the Company at the close of such
Fiscal Year (or of the Member's interest in the Company), or for any other
reason has a deficit Capital Account balance in excess of such amount, such
Member shall, prior to the allocations otherwise provided in this Section, be
allocated Profit (and other income and gain) in an amount and manner sufficient
to eliminate such excess as promptly as possible.
(4) In accordance with and pursuant to Treasury Regulation 1.704-
2(i)(1), all partner nonrecourse deductions (as defined in that Regulation)
shall be allocated to the Member that bears the economic risk of loss on the
debt giving rise to such deductions as determined under that Regulation.
Further, in accordance with and pursuant to Treasury Regulation 1.704-2(f) and -
2(i)(4) (and subject to the exceptions set forth therein), if there is a net
decrease in either the Company's Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain or both during any Fiscal Year, all Members shall be allocated,
before any other allocation is made of Profit (and other income and gain) or
Loss (or other loss or deduction) for such Fiscal Year, items of income and gain
for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to
the Member's share in the decrease in Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain, as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-
2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(i)(4).
(5) It is the intent of the parties to this Agreement that the
chargeback provisions and the limitation on loss allocations provided in this
Section satisfy the "allocation of nonrecourse liability" rules provided in
Treasury Regulation 1.704-2 and the requirements of Treasury Regulation 1.704-
1(b)(2)(ii)(d) (relating to the alternate test for economic effect and
"qualified income offset"). It is further intended that the allocations under
this Section shall effect an allocation for Federal income tax purposes in a
manner consistent with Section 704(b) and (c) of the Code and comply with any
limitations or restrictions therein. If for any reason the allocations
contained in this Agreement shall conflict with the Treasury Regulations
promulgated under Section 704 of the Code, the Members acknowledge that such
Regulations shall control.
(6) The allocations set forth in this Section (the "Regulatory
----------
Allocations") are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury
-----------
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b). The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent
with the manner in which the Members intend to divide Company Distributions.
Accordingly, the Manager, as the "tax matters partner" (or any successor
thereto) is hereby authorized, with the advice of the Company's accountants, to
devise other allocations of income, gains
39
and losses and other items among the Members as may be necessary so as to
prevent the Regulatory Allocations from distorting the manner in which Company
Distributions will be divided among the Members; provided, however, that any
-------- -------
change in the manner of maintaining Capital Accounts shall not materially alter
the economic agreement between or among the Members as expressed in this
Agreement without the consent of each Member. In general, the Members anticipate
that this will be accomplished by specially allocating items of income, gain,
loss and deduction among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory
Allocations and such special allocations to such Member is zero. However, the
Tax Matters Partner shall have discretion to accomplish this result in any
reasonable manner.
9.4 ACCOUNTING DECISIONS.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager will make
all decisions as to accounting matters. The Manager shall cause the Company at
all times to retain an independent nationally-recognized accounting firm as its
auditors.
(b) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager may cause
the Company to make whatever elections the Company may make under the Code,
including the election referred to in Section 754 of the Code to adjust the
basis of Company assets.
(c) The Company shall make the following elections on the
appropriate tax returns:
(1) To adopt the calendar year as the Fiscal Year;
(2) To adopt the accrual method of accounting for income tax purposes
and keep the Company's books and records in accordance with GAAP;
(3) If a Distribution as described in Section 734 of the Code occurs
or if a transfer of a Membership Unit described in Section 743 of the Code
occurs, upon the written request of any Member, to elect to adjust the basis of
the property of the Company pursuant to Section 754 of the Code;
(4) To elect to amortize the organizational expenses of the Company
and the start up expenditures of the Company under Section 195 of the Code
ratably over a period of sixty months as permitted by Section 709(b) of the
Code; and
(5) Any other election that the Manager may deem appropriate and in
the best interests of the Members. Neither the Company nor any Member may make
an election for the Company to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K
of Chapter I of Subtitle A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable
state law, and no provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted to authorize
any such election.
40
9.5 TAX MATTERS PARTNER. The Manager shall be the "tax matters
partner" of the Company pursuant to Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code. The Manager
shall not extend the statute of limitations, compromise any tax controversy or
take any other material action as "tax matters partner" except after
consultation with the Executive Committee.
9.6 TAX RETURNS. The Manager shall cause to be prepared and filed
all necessary Federal and state income tax returns for the Company. Each Member
shall furnish to the Manager all pertinent information in its possession
relating to Company operations that is necessary to enable the Company's income
tax returns to be prepared and filed.
9.7 TAX WITHHOLDINGS. The Company shall at all time be entitled to
make payments with respect to any Member in amounts required to discharge any
legal obligation of the Company pursuant to any provision of the Code or any
other tax provision or any provision enacted in the future imposing a similar
obligation on the Company to withhold or make payments to any governmental
authority with respect to any United States federal, state or local tax
liability of such Member arising as a result of such Member's interest in the
Company. Each such payment made to any governmental authority shall be deemed
to be a loan by the Company to such Member and shall not be deemed to be a
Distribution. The amount of such payments made with respect to any Member, plus
interest at an annual rate equal to two percent plus the Company's highest
borrowing rate on each such amount from the date of each such payment until such
amount is repaid to the Company, shall be repaid to the Company by (i) deduction
from the current or next succeeding Distribution or Distributions otherwise
payable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) earlier payment of
such amounts and interest by such Member to the Company.
ARTICLE X
FINANCIAL REPORTS; INSPECTION RIGHTS
------------------------------------
10.1 REPORTS TO MEMBERS. Within 135 days after the end of each
Fiscal Year and 75 days after the end of each quarter other than the last
quarter thereof, the Company shall cause to be prepared and mailed to each
Member a financial report (audited by an accounting firm of recognized national
standing in the case of a report sent as of the end of a Fiscal Year and
unaudited in the case of a report sent as of the end of a quarter) setting forth
as of the end of such Fiscal Year or quarter:
(a) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as of the end of such Fiscal Year or quarter prepared in accordance with GAAP;
and
(b) consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash
flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year or quarter (and
for the period from the beginning
41
of the Fiscal Year to the end of such quarter) prepared in accordance with GAAP.
In addition, the Company will deliver to the Members promptly upon their
becoming available, (i) copies of all registration statements and regular
periodic reports, if any, that the Company shall have filed with the SEC or any
national securities exchange, (ii) copies of all projections delivered to the
lenders of the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with proposed
acquisitions or refinancings by the Company or its subsidiaries and (iii) copies
of all regular reports to management submitted by the independent auditors for
the Company.
10.2 INSPECTION RIGHTS. The Company shall, upon reasonable notice
during normal business hours, permit any Member and its agents, including
counsel, to inspect its properties, examine its books and records and to discuss
with management the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries,
and to examine, copy and make extracts from its books and records.
10.3 CERTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Concurrently with the delivery
by the Company to each Member of its annual financial statements pursuant to
Section 10.1 above, the Company will deliver to each Member that is a Small
Business Investment Company a written assessment of the economic impact of the
investment by such Member in the Company, specifying the full-time equivalent
jobs created or retained in connection with such investment, the impact of such
investment on the business of the Company in terms of expanded revenue and
taxes, and other economic benefits resulting from such investment, including but
not limited to, technology development or commercialization, minority business
development, urban or rural business development, expansion of exports and
assistance to manufacturing firms, all as contemplated by 13 C.F.R. (S)
107.304(c).
10.4 USE OF PROCEEDS. Within 75 days after the date of a Capital
Contribution to the Company by a Member that is a Small Business Investment
Company, the Company shall deliver to such Member a written statement certified
by the Manager describing in reasonable detail the use of the proceeds of the
investment hereunder by the Company and its Subsidiaries. In addition to any
other rights granted hereunder, the Company shall grant any Member that is a
Small Business Investment Company and the United States Small Business
Administration access to the Company's records for the purpose of verifying the
use of such proceeds.
ARTICLE XI
PUT RIGHTS
----------
11.1 PUT RIGHT AT THE OPTION OF THE MEMBERS. Under the circumstances
and on the terms described below, Members shall have the following rights:
42
(a) Members shall have the right to require the Company to redeem all
or any part of the Membership Units held by them at any time on or after a
Triggering Event (the "Put"). A Member may exercise the Put by giving the
---
Company notice of such intent setting forth the Triggering Event (such notice
hereinafter a "Put Notice").
----------
(b) The consideration to be paid in connection with the Put shall be
payable in cash in an amount equal to the value of the Membership Units subject
to the Put, based upon the fair market value of the Company as a going concern
with no discount attributed to the restrictions of transferability of the
Membership Units and the minority Percentage Interests (the "Put Price"). If
---------
the Company and the Members delivering a Put Notice agree in writing as to the
amount of the Put Price for the Membership Units that are the subject of such
Put Notices, such amount shall bind them. If the Company and the Members
exercising the Put do not agree in writing, then the fair market value shall be
the average of the valuations determined by two independent valuation experts,
one selected by the Company and one by the Members exercising the Put. If the
valuations of such experts differ by more than 10 percent, the two experts shall
select a third independent valuation expert, the opinion of which shall be
binding, to determine a value no higher than the higher valuation nor lower than
the lower valuation. The costs of each such expert shall be borne equally by
the Company and the Members exercising such Put.
(c) The redemption of the Membership Units subject to the Put shall
occur no later than the 30th day after final determination of the Put Price,
unless the Company and the Members exercising the Put agree to a different date.
If, prior to the closing date for the Put, the Company is unable to purchase for
cash all of the Membership Units required to be purchased pursuant to the Put
Option, the Company shall promptly (but in any event within three business days
of such determination) give notice to each of the Members exercising the Put of
the aggregate amount of Membership Units it is unable to purchase for cash (a
"Put Cash Postponement"). In the case of any Put Cash Postponement, the Company
--------- ------------
shall use its best commercial efforts to increase its ability to pay cash for
the Membership Units subject to the Put. If on the Put Closing Date, the Company
does not purchase all of the Membership Units subject to the Put for cash, the
Company shall issue to any Member subjected to a Put Cash Postponement a junior
subordinated promissory note of the Company (a "Purchase Note") having a
-------------
principal amount equal to the aggregate Put Price for the Membership Units
subject to the Put Cash Postponement plus deferred interest accruing and
compounding annually at an annual rate equal to five percent (5%) over the
interest rate publicly announced by The Chase Manhattan Bank from time to time
as its prime commercial lending rate of interest. The maturity date of a
Purchase Note shall be five years from the date of issuance, but a Purchase Note
may be prepaid without penalty. At the time of payment, the Company shall pay
principal and accrued deferred interest on the Purchase Note.
43
(d) In the event a Triggering Event described in clause (2) of Section
1.1(sss), only such number of Membership Units held by a Member as shall be
necessary to cure the legal restriction therein referred to shall be entitled to
the benefits of a Put under this Section 11.1.
ARTICLE XII
TRANSFERABILITY
---------------
12. TRANSFEREE NOT A MEMBER. (a) Subject to the terms of Section
12.3 hereof, a Member may transfer Membership Units to an Affiliate and have
such Affiliate become a Member. No Person acquiring a Membership Unit other
than an existing Member or an Affiliate of an existing Member shall become a
Member unless such Person is approved by the Manager. No transfer of more than
5,000 Membership Units (other than by a Member to an Affiliate in accordance
with Section 12.3) shall be effective unless approved by the Manager and the
Executive Committee. No Person shall become a Member until, in addition to the
required vote or consent: (i) Such Person by written agreement shall have
accepted the terms of, and agreed to be bound by, this Agreement; (ii) any
required certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a Member, if
required, shall have been prepared for filing or recordation; (iii) such Person
complies with any other condition imposed by the Manager. If no such approval
is obtained, such Person's Membership Unit shall only entitle such Person to
receive the Distributions and allocations of profits and losses to which the
Member from whom or which such Person received such Membership Unit would be
entitled and shall not entitle such Person to any rights with respect to
management and ownership. Any such approval may be subject to any terms and
conditions imposed by the Manager in his sole and complete discretion.
(b) If it shall become unlawful for any Member to continue to hold
some or all of the Membership Units held by such Member, or by reason of legal
or regulatory restrictions the cost to such member to continue to hold such
Membership Units (in relation to the value of such Membership Units to such
Member) has, in the reasonable judgment of such Member, significantly increased,
then such Member may, at any time following the date three business days after
the delivery of such Member to each other Member of notice of the existence of
any such restriction, transfer all or any portion of the Membership Units held
by such Member free of any restrictions imposed under this Agreement (other than
those restrictions required by federal or state laws, including securities, FCC
and tax laws, and subject to the respective transferee meeting the requirements
of Section 12.3, and provided that the transferee Member shall hold its
Membership Units subject to all of the terms of this Agreement). In connection
therewith, the Company shall assist such Member in disposing of the Membership
Units held by it in a prompt and orderly manner, and (at the request of such
Member) make available (and authorize such Member to make available through the
Company) financial and other
44
information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries (including, without
limitation, the information described in Rule 144A(d)(4)) to any prospective
purchaser of such prospective purchaser of such Membership Units (it being
agreed that such prospective purchaser shall be either an "accredited investor"
within the meaning of Rule 501 (a) under the Securities Act or a "qualified
institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(1) under such Act to the
extent that such Membership Units are "restricted securities" as such term is
defined in Rule 144). The Company may require that each such prospective
purchaser keep confidential, pursuant to customary confidentiality requirements,
any information received by it pursuant to this provision.
12.2 EFFECTIVE DATE. Any sale of a Membership Unit or admission of a
Member shall be deemed effective immediately upon consummation of such sale and
the satisfaction by the transferee of all requirements of this Article XII.
12.3 REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TRANSFERS OF MEMBERSHIP UNITS. Any transfer
pursuant to this Article XII is subject to the following conditions:
(a) the proposed transferee must execute and deliver to the
Company an executed counterpart of this Agreement;
(b) the proposed transferee shall be lawfully entitled to hold the
Membership Units being transferred under the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission,
or any successor thereto;
(c) unless such transfer is being made pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule
144A thereunder, the transferring Member shall deliver to the Company a notice
with respect to the proposed transfer, together with an opinion of counsel in
form and substance satisfactory to the Company prepared by counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Company (which shall include, without limitation, counsel to
each of the Members as of the date hereof), to the effect that an exemption from
registration and qualification under such Securities Act is available;
(d) the transferring Member and its transferee shall each provide a
certificate to the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager,
to the effect that (A) the proposed transfer will not be effected on or through
(1) a United States national, regional or local securities exchange, (2) a
foreign securities exchange or (3) an interdealer quotation system that
regularly disseminates firm buy or sell quotations by identified brokers or
dealers (including, without limitation, the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation System) by electronic means or otherwise, and (B) it
is not, and the proposed transfer will not be made by, through or on behalf of,
(1) a Person who regularly quotes equity interests in the Company, such as a
broker or dealer making a market in equity interests in
45
the Company or (2) a Person who regularly makes available to the public
(including customers or subscribers) bid or offer quotes with respect to equity
interests in the Company and stands ready to effect buy or sell transactions at
the quoted prices for itself or on behalf of others; provided, however, that
--------- --------
such certificate shall not be required for any transfer in connection with a
registered public offering;
(e) the transferee must be a "U.S. Person" for federal income tax
purposes;
(f) such transfer must not cause the Company to terminate for tax
purposes; and
(g) such transfer must not cause the Company to lose its status
as a partnership for tax purposes.
Any transfer made in violation of this Section 12.3 shall be null and void and
of no force and effect.
12.4 TRANSFERS IN A REGISTERED PUBLIC OFFERING. The parties hereto
have entered into Registration Rights Agreements with the Company. Each party
hereto acknowledges that any Holder (as defined in its respective Registration
Rights Agreement) shall have the right to register and transfer Membership Units
in accordance with the provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement and that
the Company shall comply with its obligations thereunder. No such transfer
shall be subject to the restrictions on transfers set forth in this Article or
any other provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XII
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS AND CERTAIN
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BMO AFFILIATES
---------------------------------------
13.1 PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. (a) If, other than in connection with an
acquisition or other business combination, in contemplation of an initial public
offering of equity securities of the Company or in respect of issuances of
Membership Units pursuant to Section 8.5 of this Agreement, the Company proposes
to issue, grant or sell Membership Units or any securities exchangeable or
convertible into Membership Units in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, the Company shall first give to the Members a notice setting forth in
reasonable detail the price and other terms on which such Membership Units are
proposed to be issued or sold, the terms of such Membership Units and the amount
thereof proposed to be issued, granted or sold (without limiting the consent
rights of any Member in connection therewith). The Members shall thereafter
have the preemptive right, exercisable by notice to the Company no later than
twenty (20) days after the Company's notice is given, to purchase the amount of
such Membership Units set forth in such Member's notice (but in no event more
than such Member's pro rata share thereof, as of the date of the Company's
--- ----
notice,
46
based upon the ratio of the Membership Units held by such Member to the
aggregate of the Membership Units of the Company), for the price and other terms
set forth in the Company's notice. Any notice by a Member exercising the right
to purchase Membership Units pursuant to this Article XIII shall constitute an
irrevocable commitment to purchase from the Company the Membership Units
specified in such notice, subject to the maximum set forth in the preceding
sentence. If the Members fail to exercise their preemptive right to the full
extent of their pro rata share, the Company shall provide notice thereof to the
--- ----
exercising Members and an additional ten (10) days to subscribe for the
remaining Membership Units subject to preemptive rights. If the Members
exercise their preemptive right set forth in this Section 13.1 to the full
extent of their pro rata share or for any other reason the Company shall not
--- ----
issue, grant or sell Membership Units to Persons other than the Members then the
closing of the purchase shall take place on such date, no less than ten (10) and
no more than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the 20-day period referred
to above, as the Company may select and notify the Members at least seven (7)
days prior thereto. If the Members do not exercise their preemptive rights to
the full extent of their pro rata shares, and, as contemplated by Section
--- ----
13.1(b), the Company shall issue, grant or sell Membership Units to Persons
other than the Members, then the closing of the issuance of Membership Units to
Members shall take place at the same time as the closing of such issuance, grant
or sale to non-Members.
(b) If the Members do not exercise their preemptive rights to the full
extent of their pro rata shares, the Company shall use its good faith and
--- ----
commercially reasonable efforts to issue, grant or sell the remaining Membership
Units on the terms set forth in its notice to the Members unless the Company is
advised by its financial advisors that the remaining number or amount is too
small to be reasonably sold. From the expiration of the 20-day period first
referred to in Section 13.1(a) and for a period of 90 days thereafter, the
Company may offer, issue, grant and sell to any Person, other than a Member
thereof, Membership Units having the terms set forth in the Company's notice
relating to such Membership Units for a price and other terms no less favorable
to the Company, and including no less cash, than those set forth in such notice
(without deduction for reasonable underwriting, sales agency and similar fees
payable in connection therewith); provided, however, that the Company may not
-------- -------
issue, grant or sell Membership Units in an amount greater than the amount set
forth in such notice minus the amount purchased or committed to be purchased by
the Members upon exercise of their preemptive rights.
(c) The preemptive rights set forth above in this Section 13.1 shall
terminate upon consummation of an initial public offering of equity securities
of the Company.
13.2 SUBJECT MEMBERSHIP UNITS ARE NONVOTING; EXCEPTIONS.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (including Section
12.1(b)), no BMO Affiliate and no Subject
47
Transferee shall at any time have the right to vote, to give any consent or
proxy with respect to, or otherwise exercise the rights as a holder of, Subject
Membership Units to agree to, approve or otherwise authorize any action or
inaction, or remove the Manager, under any of Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.5(b), 5.8,
5.12 and 6.8(e) of this Agreement (in all such instances, Subject Membership
Units shall be treated as not outstanding for purposes of whether any action or
inaction or removal has been approved by the requisite vote of Members). This
Section is not intended to derogate from or diminish any right such holder may
have to vote, consent to, approve or otherwise authorize or give proxies with
respect to actions under Section 6.8 of this Agreement (excluding Section
6.8(e)) or to take any action with respect to Membership Units other than
Subject Membership Units.
13.3 NOTICE OF CERTAIN IN KIND DISTRIBUTIONS. Before any
distribution in kind of assets of the Company to any BMO Affiliate who is a
Member, the Manager or the liquidating trustee, as applicable, shall give notice
in writing to such BMO Affiliate not fewer than 10 Business days before such
distribution identifying each asset proposed to be distributed and the date of
distribution. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, such
BMO Affiliate may elect, by notice in writing to the Manager or the liquidating
trustee not fewer than three Business Days before the date of distribution
specified in the notice given to such BMO Affiliate, to decline the distribution
of some or all of such assets to the extent that the acquisition of such assets
would, in the reasonable judgment of such BMO Affiliate, result in a violation
of the BHCA or IBA. In the event that the BMO Affiliate has so elected, the
Manager or liquidating trustee shall cause such assets, which would otherwise
have been distributed to such BMO Affiliate, to be disposed of immediately
regardless of the economic consequences of such a liquidation and the proceeds
of such disposition to be distributed to such BMO Affiliate, net of any expense
or other costs incurred or imposed on the Seller in connection with disposition.
In connection with any such election, the BMO Affiliate shall execute such
indemnification and similar agreements in favor of the Manager or the
liquidating trustee as shall reasonably be requested.
ARTICLE XIV
DISSOLUTION
-----------
14.1 DISSOLUTION. The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs
shall be wound up upon the first to occur of the following:
(a) The latest date on which the Company is to dissolve, if any,
as set forth in the Articles of Organization;
(b) The vote or written consent of the Manager provided that less than
$13 million in Capital Contributions and Additional Capital Contributions have
been made to the Company following December 31, 1996;
48
(c) The bankruptcy, death, dissolution, removal, legal incapacity or
resignation of the Manager or the occurrence of any other event that terminates
the continued membership of the Manager, unless within one hundred eighty days
after such event the Company is continued by the vote or written consent of no
less than two-thirds of the Percentage Interests of all of the remaining
Members; or
(d) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under Section
702 of the New York Act.
14.2 WINDING UP. Upon the dissolution of the Company the Manager
may, in the name of and for and on behalf of the Company, prosecute and defend
suits, whether civil, criminal or administrative, sell and close the Company's
business, dispose of and convey the Company's property, discharge the Company's
liabilities and distribute to the Members any remaining assets of the Company,
all without affecting the liability of Members. Upon winding up of the Company,
the assets shall be distributed as follows:
(a) To creditors, including any Member who is a creditor (including
with respect to any amounts owing in respect of a Put pursuant to Section 11.1
hereof), to the extent permitted by law, in satisfaction of liabilities of the
Company, whether by payment or by establishment of adequate reserves, other than
liabilities for Distributions to Members under Section 507 or Section 509 of the
New York Act;
(b) To Members and former Members in satisfaction of liabilities for
Distributions under Section 507 or Section 509 of the New York Act; and
(c) To the Members in the amounts and proportions set forth in
Section 8.4(b) of this Agreement.
14.3 ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION. Within ninety days following the
dissolution and the commencement of winding up of the Company, or at any other
time there are no Members, articles of dissolution shall be filed with the New
York Secretary of State pursuant to the New York Act.
14.4 DEFICIT CAPITAL ACCOUNT. Upon a liquidation of the Company
within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations,
if any Member is liable for indebtedness of the Company and has a deficit
Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, Distributions,
allocations and other adjustments for all Fiscal Years, including the Fiscal
Year in which such liquidation occurs), such Member shall be liable to make a
Capital Contribution in the amount of the lesser of the negative balance of such
Member's Capital Account or the amount of indebtedness of the Company for which
such Member is liable.
14.5 NONRECOURSE TO OTHER MEMBERS. Except as provided by applicable
law or as expressly provided in this Agreement, upon
49
dissolution, each Member shall receive a return of such Member's Capital
Contribution solely from the assets of the Company. If the assets of the Company
remaining after the payment or discharge of the debts and liabilities of the
Company is insufficient to return any Capital Contribution of any Member, such
Member shall have no recourse against any other Member.
14.6 TERMINATION. Upon completion of the dissolution, winding up,
liquidation, and distribution of the assets of the Company, the Company shall be
deemed terminated.
ARTICLE XV
INDEMNIFICATION
---------------
15.1 EXCULPATORY PROVISIONS. None of the Members nor any of their
respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, directors, employees or
control persons (as such term is defined in the Securities Act) of such Members
and none of the members of the Executive Committee (collectively, the
"Indemnified Persons") shall be liable directly or indirectly, to the Company or
--------------------
to any Member for any act or omission (in relation to the Company or this
Agreement) taken or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith, provided
--------
that such act or omission did not constitute gross negligence, fraud or willful
violation of the law or this Agreement.
15.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF MEMBERS. The Company shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by the New York Act, indemnify and hold harmless each
Indemnified Person against all claims, liabilities and expenses of whatever
nature ("Claims") relating to activities undertaken in connection with the
------
Company, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments,
in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel, accountants' and experts'
and other fees, costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the
investigation, defense or disposition (including by settlement) of any action,
suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or
administrative body in which such Indemnified Person may be or may have been
involved, as a party or otherwise, or with which such Indemnified Person may be
or may have been threatened, while acting as such Indemnified Person, provided
--------
that no indemnity shall be payable hereunder against any liability incurred by
such Indemnified Person by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence,
fraud or willful violation of the law or this Agreement or with respect to any
matter as to which such Indemnified Person shall have been adjudicated not to
have acted in good faith.
15.3 ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses incurred by an Indemnified Person
in defense or settlement of any Claim that may be subject to a right of
indemnification hereunder may be advanced by the Company prior to the final
disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined
that the
50
Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
15.4 CONTROL OF CLAIM. The Company shall have the right to select
counsel (provided such counsel is reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified
Person) and to control the defense of any action giving rise to a Claim,
provided that an Indemnified Person may nevertheless employ counsel to represent
--------
and defend it, but the Company will not be required to pay the fees and
disbursements of more than one counsel in any jurisdiction in any proceeding
(unless by reason of potential conflicts of interest, representation by more
than one counsel is necessary). The right to control the defense of any action
shall not include the right to enter into a settlement with respect to such
action, unless such settlement is for money damages only (and the Company first
places such funds in escrow or posts a bond or other security reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person sufficient, without regard to the
provisions of Section 15.6, to cover the full amount of the proposed
settlement).
15.5 NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The right of any Indemnified Person to the
indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative of, and in addition to, any
and all rights to which such Indemnified Person may otherwise be entitled by
contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall extend to such Indemnified
Person's successors, assigns and legal representatives.
15.6 SATISFACTION FROM COMPANY ASSETS. All judgments against the
Company or an Indemnified Person, in respect of which such Indemnified Person is
entitled to indemnification, shall first be satisfied from Company assets before
the Indemnified Person is responsible therefor.
15.7 NOTICES OF CLAIMS. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified
Person of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding or threatened
action or proceeding involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim
for indemnification in respect thereof is to be made against the Company, give
written notice to the Company of the commencement of such action; provided,
--------
however, that the failure of any Indemnified Person to give notice as provided
-------
herein shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under this Article XV,
except to the extent that the Company is actually prejudiced by such failure to
give notice. Each such Indemnified Person shall keep the Manager apprised of
the progress of any such proceeding.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
------------------
16.1 NOTICES. Any notice, demand or other communication required or
permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall have been sufficiently
given for all purposes if (a) delivered personally to the party or to an
executive officer of the party to
51
whom such notice, demand or other communication is directed, (b) sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Member or the
Company at his, her or its address set forth in this Agreement, or (c)
transmitted by facsimile, with hard copy sent by mail as set forth in clause (b)
of this Section 16.1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any such
notice shall be deemed to be given on the date of personal delivery or facsimile
transmission, and three business days after the date on which it was deposited
in a regularly maintained receptacle for the deposit of United States mail,
addressed and sent as set forth in this Section 16.1.
16.2 AMENDMENTS. No course of performance or other conduct
subsequently pursued or acquiesced in, and no oral agreement or representation
subsequently made, by the Members, whether or not relied or acted upon, and no
usage of trade, whether or not relied or acted upon, shall amend this Agreement
or impair or otherwise affect any Member's obligations pursuant to this
Agreement or any rights and remedies of a Member pursuant to this Agreement. No
amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless made with the consent of
no less than two-thirds of the Membership Units; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
Manager acting alone shall have the power to amend Schedules A, B and C hereto
----------- - -
to reflect transfers or issuances of Membership Units, to reflect changes in the
Unfunded Capital Commitments, to make adjustments pursuant to Section 8.5
hereof, to make any accounting and other amendments deemed necessary by the
Manager as Tax Matters Partner (with the advice of the Company's independent
accountants), and as approved by the Executive Committee under Section
5.7(a)(vii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment shall be effective: (i)
which has a disproportionate adverse economic effect upon the rights of any
Member vis-a-vis the other Members holding Membership Units having the same
rights, without the consent of such adversely affected Member; (ii) which has an
adverse economic effect upon the rights of a group of Members, without the
consent of a majority of such group of Members; or (iii) which alters the
rights, powers and duties of the Manager (in his capacity as Manager) (or an
Affiliate thereof) under this Agreement, or otherwise adversely affects the
Manager (in his capacity as Manager), without the consent of the Manager. In
addition to the foregoing, the Company shall not (in its capacity as a member of
any Subsidiary) consent to any amendment to the Operating Agreement of such
Subsidiary which would have an adverse effect upon the Company's economic rights
in such Subsidiary without the consent of a majority of the Membership Units.
16.3 CONSTRUCTION. Whenever the singular number is used in this
Agreement and when required by the context, the same shall include the plural
and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter
genders and vice versa.
16.4 HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
only and shall not be used to interpret or construe any provision of this
Agreement.
52
16.5 WAIVER. No failure of a Member to exercise, and no delay by a
Member in exercising, any right or remedy under this Agreement shall constitute
a waiver of such right or remedy. No waiver by a Member of any such right or
remedy under this Agreement shall be effective unless made in a writing duly
executed by all Members and specifically referring to each such right or remedy
being waived.
16.6 SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid
under applicable law. However, if any provision of this Agreement shall be
prohibited by or invalid under such law, it shall be deemed modified to conform
to the minimum requirements of such law or, if for any reason it is not deemed
so modified, it shall be prohibited or invalid only to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity without the remainder thereof or any other such
provision being prohibited or invalid.
16.7 BINDING. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of all Members, and each of the successors and assignees or the Members,
except that no right or obligation of a Member under this Agreement may be
assigned by such Member to another Person without first obtaining the written
consent of the Manager.
16.8 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one
and the same instrument.
16.9 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,
without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
[Remainder of this page intentionally blank;
signatures to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the individuals and entities signing this
Agreement below conclusively evidence their agreement to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement by so signing this Agreement.
-------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
U.S. INVESTOR, INC.
By:_____________________________
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President
and Treasurer
▇▇▇▇▇▇ COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By:_____________________________
Its:____________________________
BMO FINANCIAL, INC.
By:_____________________________
Its:____________________________
PRIVATE MARKET FUND, L.P.
By:_____________________________
Its:____________________________
By:_____________________________
Its:____________________________
CHASE MANHATTAN CAPITAL, L.P.
____________________ By:_____________________________
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Its:____________________________
____________________ By:_____________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Its:____________________________
CB CAPITAL INVESTORS, L.P.
By:_____________________________
Its:____________________________
By:_____________________________
Its:____________________________
54