THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OPERATING AGREEMENT
Dated Effective February 1,
2006, as amended on September 18, 2009
i
ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
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1.4 Principal Place of Business
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1.8 Payment of Individual Obligations
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1.9 Independent Activities; Transactions With
Affiliates
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SECTION 2. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL
ACCOUNTS
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7
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7
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2.2 Additional Capital Contributions; Additional
Units
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3.6 Other Allocation Rules
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9
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3.7 Tax Allocations: Code
Section 704(c)
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9
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3.8 Tax Credit Allocations
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10
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10
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10
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10
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4.3 Limitations on Distributions
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10
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5.2 Number of Total Directors
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10
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5.3 Election of Directors
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10
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12
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5.5 Authority of Directors
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12
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5.7 Restriction on Authority of
Directors
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5.8 Director Meetings and Notice
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14
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5.9 Action Without a Meeting
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5.10 Quorum; Manner of Acting
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14
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5.11 Voting; Potential Financial
Interest
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14
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5.12 Duties and Obligations of
Directors
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14
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5.13 Chairman and Vice Chairman
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15
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5.14 Chief Executive Officer
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5.16 Chief Operating Officer
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5.17 Chief Financial Officer
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15
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5.18 Secretary; Assistant Secretary
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5.21 Execution of Instruments
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5.22 Limitation of Liability; Indemnification of
Directors
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5.23 Compensation; Expenses of
Directors
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SECTION 6. ROLE OF MEMBERS
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6.5 Voting Rights of Members
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6.8 Notice of Meetings; Waiver
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6.10 Voting; Action by Members
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6.12 Termination of Membership
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6.13 Continuation of the Company
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18
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6.14 No Obligation to Purchase Membership
Interest
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6.15 Waiver of Dissenters Rights
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SECTION 7. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND
RECORDS
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7.1 Accounting, Books and Records
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7.2 Delivery to Members and
Inspection
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9.1 Restrictions on Transfers
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9.3 Conditions Precedent to Transfers
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9.5 No Dissolution or Termination
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9.6 Prohibition of Assignment
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9.7 Rights of Unadmitted Assignees
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9.8 Admission of Substituted Members
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9.9 Representations Regarding
Transfers
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9.10 Distribution and Allocations in Respect of
Transferred Units
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SECTION 10. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING
UP
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10.3 Compliance with Certain Requirements of
Regulations; Deficit Capital Accounts
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10.4 Deemed Distribution and
Recontribution
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10.5 Rights of Unit Holders
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10.6 Allocations During Period of
Liquidation
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10.7 Character of Liquidating
Distributions
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10.9 Forms of Liquidating
Distributions
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SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS
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11.6 Incorporation By Reference
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11.9 Waiver of Jury Trial
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11.10 Counterpart Execution
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11.11 Specific Performance
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v
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC, AS AMENDED ON SEPTEMBER 18,
2009
THIS THIRD
AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”) is entered into and shall be effective as
of the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined), by and among
Advanced BioEnergy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Company”), each of the Persons (as hereinafter
defined) who are identified as Members on the attached Exhibit
“A” and who have executed a counterpart of this
Agreement and a Subscription Agreement, and any other Persons as
may from time-to-time be subsequently admitted as a Member of the
Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 1.10.
WHEREAS,
the Company’s organizers caused to be filed with the State of
Delaware, a Certificate of Formation dated January 4, 2005,
pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the
“Act”); and
WHEREAS,
the Company’s organizers adopted an Amended and Restated
Operating Agreement of the Company dated June 30, 2005;
and
WHEREAS,
the Members amended and restated the Amended and Restated Operating
Agreement dated June 30, 2005 to revise and set forth their
respective rights, duties, and responsibilities with respect to the
Company and its business and affairs on the Effective Date;
and
WHEREAS,
the Members voted on September 18, 2009 at its Regular Meeting
of Members to amend the Agreement to add a new Section 5.3(c)
to the Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE , in consideration of the covenants and agreements
contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1.1
Formation . The initial Members formed the Company as a
Delaware limited liability company by filing a Certificate of
Formation with the Delaware Secretary of State, Division of
Corporations on January 4, 2005, pursuant to the provisions of
the Act. To the extent that the rights or obligations of any Member
are different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than
they would be in the absence of such provision, this Agreement
shall, to the extent permitted by the Act, control.
1.2 Name
. The name of the Company shall be “Advanced BioEnergy,
LLC” and all business of the Company shall be conducted in
such name.
1.3 Purpose;
Powers . The nature of the business and purposes of the Company
are: (i) to own, construct, operate, lease, finance, contract
with, and/or invest in ethanol production and co-product production
facilities as permitted under the applicable laws of the State of
Delaware; (ii) to engage in the processing of corn, grains and
other feedstock into ethanol and any and all related co-products,
and the marketing of all products and co-products from such
processing; and (iii) to engage in any other business and
investment activity in which a Delaware limited liability company
may lawfully be engaged, as determined by the Directors. The
Company has the power to do any and all acts necessary,
appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental or convenient to or in
furtherance of the purpose of the Company as set forth in this
Section 1.3 and has, without limitation, any and all powers
that may be exercised on behalf of the Company by the Directors
pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
1.4
Principal Place of Business . The Company shall continuously
maintain a principal place of business in Nebraska. The principal
place of business of the Company shall be at 4424 South 179
th Street, Omaha, Nebraska,
1
68135, or
elsewhere as the Directors may determine. Any documents required by
the Act to be kept by the Company shall be maintained at the
Company’s principal place of business.
1.5 Term
. The term of the Company commenced on the date the Certificate of
Formation (the “Certificate”) of the Company was filed
with the Delaware Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, and
shall continue until the winding up and liquidation of the Company
and its business is completed following a Dissolution Event as
provided in Section 10 hereof.
1.6
Registered Agent . The Company shall continuously maintain a
registered office and a registered agent for service of process in
the State of Delaware. The name and address of the Registered Agent
shall be The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
1.7 Title to
Property . All Property owned by the Company shall be owned by
the Company as an entity and no Member shall have any ownership
interest in such Property (as hereinafter defined) in his/her/its
individual name. Each Member’s interest in the Company shall
be personal property for all purposes. At all times after the
Effective Date, the Company shall hold title to all of its Property
in the name of the Company and not in the name of any
Member.
1.8 Payment
of Individual Obligations . The Company’s credit and
assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no
asset of the Company shall be Transferred or encumbered for, or in
payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.
1.9
Independent Activities; Transactions With Affiliates . The
Directors shall be required to devote such time to the affairs of
the Company as may be necessary to manage and operate the Company,
and shall be free to serve any other Person or enterprise in any
capacity that the Director may deem appropriate in its discretion.
Neither this Agreement nor any activity undertaken pursuant hereto
shall (i) prevent any Member or Director or its Affiliates,
acting on its own behalf, from engaging in whatever activities it
chooses, whether the same are competitive with the Company or
otherwise, and any such activities may be undertaken without having
or incurring any obligation to offer any interest in such
activities to the Company or any Member; or (ii) require any
Member or Director to permit the Company or Director or Member or
its Affiliates to participate in any such activities, and as a
material part of the consideration for the execution of this
Agreement by each Member, each Member hereby waives, relinquishes,
and renounces any such right or claim of participation. To the
extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, the Directors are hereby authorized to cause the
Company to purchase Property from, sell Property to or otherwise
deal with any Member (including any Member who is also a Director),
acting on its own behalf, or any Affiliate of any Member; provided
that any such purchase, sale or other transaction shall be made on
terms and conditions which are no less favorable to the Company
than if the sale, purchase or other transaction had been made with
an independent third party.
1.10
Definitions . Capitalized words and phrases used in this
Agreement have the following meanings:
(a) “Act”
means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from
time to time (or any corresponding provision or provisions of any
succeeding law).
(b) “Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Unit
Holder, the deficit balance, if any, in such Unit Holder’s
Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year, after
giving effect to the following adjustments: (i) Credit to such
Capital Account any amounts which such Unit Holder is deemed to be
obligated to restore pursuant to the next to the last sentences in
Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations;
and (ii) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in
Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations. The foregoing
definition is intended to comply with the provisions of
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) “Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person: (i) any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with
such Person; (ii) any officer, director, general partner,
member or trustee of such Person; or (iii) any Person who is
an officer, director, general partner, member or trustee of any
Person described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence.
For purposes of this definition, the terms
“controlling,” “controlled by” or
“under common control with” shall mean the possession,
direct or indirect, of the power to direct
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or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person or entity,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise, or the power to elect at least 50% of the directors,
members, or persons exercising similar authority with respect to
such Person or entities.
(d) “Agreement”
means this Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of
Advanced BioEnergy, LLC, as amended from time to time.
(e) “Assignee”
means a transferee of Units who is not admitted as a substituted
member pursuant to Section 9.8.
(f) “Capital
Account” means the separate capital account maintained for
each Unit Holder in accordance with Section 2.3.
(g) “Capital
Contributions” means, with respect to any Member, the amount
of money (US Dollars) and the initial Gross Asset Value of any
assets or property (other than money) contributed by the Member (or
such Member’s predecessor in interest) to the Company (net of
liabilities secured by such contributed property that the Company
is considered to assume or take subject to under Code
Section 752) with respect to the Units in the Company held or
purchased by such Member, including additional Capital
Contributions.
(h) “Certificate”
means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the
Delaware Secretary of State, Division of Corporations.
(i) “Code”
means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
(j) “Company”
means Advanced BioEnergy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.
(k) “Company
Minimum Gain” has the meaning given the term
“partnership minimum gain” in
Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d) of the
Regulations.
(l) “Debt”
means (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred
purchase price of property as evidenced by a note, bonds, or other
instruments; (ii) obligations as lessee under capital leases;
(iii) obligations secured by any mortgage, pledge, security
interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind existing on any
asset owned or held by the Company whether or not the Company has
assumed or become liable for the obligations secured thereby;
(iv) any obligation under any interest rate swap agreement;
(v) accounts payable; and (vi) obligations under direct
or indirect guarantees of (including obligations (contingent or
otherwise) to assure a creditor against loss in respect of)
indebtedness or obligations of the kinds referred to in clauses
(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), above provided that Debt shall
not include obligations in respect of any accounts payable that are
incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s business and
are not delinquent or are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings.
(m) “Depreciation”
means, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with
respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year, except that if the Gross
Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal
income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year,
Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such
beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year
bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that
if the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes of an asset
at the beginning of such Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation shall be
determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using
any reasonable method selected by the Directors.
(n) “Director”
means any Person who (i) is referred to as such in
Section 5.1 of this Agreement or has become a Director
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) has not
ceased to be a Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Directors” mean all such Persons. For purposes of the
Act, the Directors shall be deemed to be the “managers”
(as such term is defined and used in the Act) of the
Company.
(o) “Dissolution
Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1
hereof.
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(p) “Effective
Date” means February 1, 2006.
(q) “Facilities”
shall mean the ethanol production and co-product production
facilities in Nebraska or such other location as may be determined
by the Directors to be constructed and operated by the Company
pursuant to the Business Plan.
(r) “Financial
Closing” shall mean the actual closing (execution and
delivery of all required documents) by the Company with its project
lender(s) providing for all debt financing, including senior and
subordinated debt and any other project financing characterized by
debt obligations and repayable as debt which is required by the
project lender(s) or which is deemed necessary or prudent in the
sole discretion of the Directors.
(s) “Fiscal
Year” means (i) any twelve-month period commencing on
October 1 and ending on September 30 and (ii) the period
commencing on the immediately preceding October 1 and ending on the
date on which all Property is distributed to the Unit Holders
pursuant to Section 10 hereof, or, if the context requires,
any portion of a Fiscal Year for which an allocation of Profits or
Losses or a distribution is to be made.
(t) “GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the
United States of America from time to time.
(u) “Gross
Asset Value” means with respect to any asset, the
asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes,
except as follows: (i) The initial Gross Asset Value of any
asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross
fair market value of such asset, as determined by the Directors
provided that the initial Gross Asset Values of the assets
contributed to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof
shall be as set forth in such section; (ii) The Gross Asset
Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their
respective gross fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g)
into account), as determined by the Directors as of the following
times: (A) the acquisition of an additional interest in the
Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a
de minimis Capital Contribution; (B) the distribution by the
Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company
property as consideration for an interest in the Company; and
(C) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), provided that an
adjustment described in clauses (A) and (B) of this
paragraph shall be made only if the Directors reasonably determine
that such adjustment is necessary to reflect the relative economic
interests of the Members in the Company; (iii) The Gross Asset
Value of any item of Company assets distributed to any Member shall
be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value (taking Code
Section 7701(g) into account) of such asset on the date of
distribution as determined by the Directors; and (iv) The
Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or
decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such
assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b),
but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account
in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and subparagraph (vi) of the definition
of “Profits” and “Losses” or Section 3.3(c)
hereof; provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be
adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) to the extent that
an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (ii) is required in
connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an
adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (iv). If the Gross Asset
Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to
subparagraph (ii) or (iv), such Gross Asset Value shall
thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with
respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Profits and
Losses.
(v) “Issuance
Items” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(h)
hereof.
(w) “Liquidation
Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6
hereof.
(x) “Liquidator”
has the meaning set forth in Section 10.8 hereof.
(y) “Losses”
has the meaning set forth in the definition of
“Profits” and “Losses.”
(z) “Member”
means any Person (i) whose name is set forth as such on
Exhibit “A” initially attached hereto or has become a
Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) who
is the owner of one or more Units.
(aa) “Members”
means all such Members.
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(bb) “Membership
Economic Interest” means collectively, a Member’s share
of “Profits” and “Losses,” the right to
receive distributions of the Company’s assets, and the right
to information concerning the business and affairs of the Company
provided by the Act. The Membership Economic Interest of a Member
is quantified by the unit of measurement referred to herein as
“Units.”
(cc) “Membership
Interest” means collectively, the Membership Economic
Interest and Membership Voting Interest.
(dd) “Membership
Register” means the membership register maintained by the
Company at its principal office or by a duly appointed agent of the
Company setting forth the name, address, the number of Units, and
Capital Contributions of each Member of the Company, which shall be
modified from time to time as additional Units are issued and as
Units are transferred pursuant to this Agreement.
(ee) “Membership
Voting Interest” means collectively, a Member’s right
to vote as set forth in this Agreement or required by the Act. The
Membership Voting Interest of a Member shall mean as to any matter
to which the Member is entitled to vote hereunder or as may be
required under the Act, the right to one (1) vote for each
Unit registered in the name of such Member as shown in the
Membership Register.
(ff) “Net
Cash Flow” means the gross cash proceeds of the Company less
the portion thereof used to pay or establish reserves for all
Company expenses, debt payments, capital improvements,
replacements, and contingencies, all as reasonably determined by
the Directors. “Net Cash Flow” shall not be reduced by
depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions, or similar
allowances, but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves
previously established.
(gg) “Nonrecourse
Deductions” has the meaning set forth in
Section 1.704-2(b)(1) of the Regulations.
(hh)
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in
Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the Regulations.
(ii)
“Officer” or “Officers” has the meaning set
forth in Section 5.18 hereof.
(jj)
“Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.2 hereof.
(kk) “Person”
means any individual, partnership (whether general or limited),
joint venture, limited liability company, corporation, trust,
estate, association, nominee or other entity.
(ll)
“Profits and Losses” mean, for each Fiscal Year, an
amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such
Fiscal Year, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for
this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction
required to be stated separately pursuant to Code
Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or
loss), with the following adjustments (without duplication):
(i) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal
income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing
Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of
“Profits” and “Losses” shall be added to
such taxable income or loss; (ii) Any expenditures of the
Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) or treated as
Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) expenditures pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into
account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition
of “Profits” and “Losses” shall be
subtracted from such taxable income or loss; (iii) In the
event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted
pursuant to subparagraphs (ii) or (iii) of the definition
of Gross Asset Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be
treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross
Asset Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment
decreases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) from the disposition
of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of
computing Profits or Losses; (iv) Gain or loss resulting from
any disposition of Property with respect to which gain or loss is
recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by
reference to the Gross Asset Value of the Property disposed of,
notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such Property
differs from its Gross Asset Value; (v) In lieu of the
depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions
taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there
shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year,
computed in accordance with the definition of Depreciation;
(vi) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of
any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required,
pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-
5
(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other
than in liquidation of a Unit Holder’s interest in the
Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item
of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or
loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition
of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of
computing Profits or Losses; and (vii) Notwithstanding any
other provision of this definition, any items which are specially
allocated pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 3.4 hereof
shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses. The
amounts of the items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction
available to be specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3
and Section 3.4 hereof shall be determined by applying rules
analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (i) through (vi)
above.
(mm) “Property”
means all real and personal property acquired by the Company,
including cash, and any improvements thereto, and shall include
both tangible and intangible property.
(nn) “Regulations”
means the Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary Regulations,
promulgated under the Code, as such regulations are amended from
time to time.
(oo) “Regulatory
Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4
hereof.
(pp) “Related
Party” means the adopted or birth relatives of any Person and
such Person’s spouse (whether by marriage or common law), if
any, including without limitation great-grandparents, grandparents,
parents, children (including stepchildren and adopted children),
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thereof, and such
Person’s (and such Person’s spouse’s) brothers,
sisters, and cousins and their respective lineal ancestors and
descendants, and any other ancestors and/or descendants, and any
spouse of any of the foregoing, each trust created for the
exclusive benefit of one or more of the foregoing, and the
successors, assigns, heirs, executors, personal representatives and
estates of any of the foregoing.
(qq)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(rr) “Tax
Matters Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4
hereof.
(ss) “Transfer”
means, as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary transfer, sale,
pledge or hypothecation or other disposition and, as a verb,
voluntarily or involuntarily to transfer, give, sell, exchange,
assign, pledge, bequest or hypothecate or otherwise dispose
of.
(tt) “Units”
or “Unit” means an ownership interest in the Company
representing a Capital Contribution made as provided in
Section 2 in consideration of the Units, including any and all
benefits to which the holder of such Units may be entitled as
provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such
Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
(uu) “Unit
Holders” means all Unit Holders.
(vv) “Unit
Holder” means the owner of one or more Units.
(ww) “Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Debt” has the same meaning as the term
“partner nonrecourse debt” in
Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations.
(xx) “Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount, with
respect to each Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company
Minimum Gain that would result if such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt
were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance
with Section 1.704-2(i)(3) of the Regulations.
(yy) “Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Deductions” has the same meaning as the
term “partner nonrecourse deductions” in
Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2) of the
Regulations.
6
SECTION 2. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS;
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
2.1
Membership Register . The name, address, and initial Units
quantifying the Membership Interest of each Member are set out in
Exhibit A attached hereto, and shall also be set out in the
Membership Register along with each Member’s original Capital
Contribution.
2.2
Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Units . No Unit
Holder shall be obligated to make any additional Capital
Contributions to the Company or to pay any assessment to the
Company, other than any unpaid amounts on such Unit Holder’s
original Capital Contributions, and no Units shall be subject to
any calls, requests or demands for capital. Subject to
Section 5.7, additional Membership Economic Interests
quantified by additional Units may be issued in consideration of
Capital Contributions as agreed to between the Directors and the
Person acquiring the Membership Economic Interest quantified by the
additional Units. Each Person to whom additional Units are issued
shall be admitted as a Member in accordance with this Agreement.
Upon such Capital Contributions, the Directors shall cause
Exhibit A and the Membership Register to be appropriately
amended.
2.3 Capital
Accounts . A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Unit
Holder in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) To each
Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be credited
(i) such Unit Holder’s Capital Contributions;
(ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive share of Profits
and any items in the nature of income or gain which are specially
allocated pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 3.4; and
(iii) the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such
Unit Holder or which are secured by any Property distributed to
such Unit Holder;
(b) To each
Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be debited
(i) the amount of money and the Gross Asset Value of any
Property distributed to such Unit Holder pursuant to any provision
of this Agreement; (ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive
share of Losses and any items in the nature of expenses or losses
which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 3.3 and 3.4
hereof; and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of such Unit Holder
assumed by the Company or which are secured by any Property
contributed by such Unit Holder to the Company;
(c) In the
event Units are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of
the transferor to the extent it relates to the Transferred Units;
and
(d) In
determining the amount of any liability for purposes of
subparagraphs (a) and (b) above there shall be taken into
account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of
the Code and Regulations.
The foregoing
provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to
the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and
applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. In the event
the Directors shall determine that it is prudent to modify the
manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits
thereto (including, without limitation, debits or credits relating
to liabilities which are secured by contributed or distributed
property or which are assumed by the Company or any Unit Holders),
are computed in order to comply with such Regulations, the
Directors may make such modification, provided that it is not
likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributed to any
Person pursuant to Section 10 hereof upon the dissolution of
the Company. The Directors also shall (i) make any adjustments
that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the
Capital Accounts of the Unit Holders and the amount of capital
reflected on the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for
book purposes, in accordance with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q), and (ii) make any appropriate
modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise
cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b).
3.1
Profits . After giving effect to the special allocations in
Section 3.3 and Section 3.4 hereof, Profits for any
Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion
to Units held.
3.2
Losses . After giving effect to the special allocations in
Section 3.3 and 3.4 hereof, Losses for any Fiscal Year shall
be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion to Units
held.
7
3.3 Special
Allocations . The following special allocations shall be made
in the following order:
(a) Minimum
Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations, notwithstanding any
other provision of this Section 3, if there is a net decrease
in Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder
shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for
such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease
in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations
Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous
sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts
required to be allocated to each Unit Holder pursuant thereto. The
items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with
sections 1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This
Section 3.3(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain
chargeback requirement in Section 1.704-2(f) of the
Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
(b) Unit
Holder Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 3, if there is a net decrease in
Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Debt during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder
who has a share of the Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain
attributable to such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt, determined in
accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations,
shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for
such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease
in Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations
pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to
the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Unit Holder
pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined
in accordance with Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of
the Regulations. This Section 3.3(b) is intended to comply
with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
(c) Qualified
Income Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any
adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in
Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations, items of Company income
and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount
and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the
Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as soon as
practicable, provided that an allocation pursuant to this
Section 3.3(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that
the Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all
other allocations provided for in this Section 3 have been
tentatively made as if this Section 3.3(c) were not in the
Agreement.
(d) Gross
Income Allocation. In the event any Member has a deficit Capital
Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum
of (i) the amount such Member is obligated to restore pursuant
to any provision of this Agreement; and (ii) the amount such
Member is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the
penultimate sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and
1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, each such Member shall be
specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount
of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation
pursuant to this Section 3.3(d) shall be made only if and to
the extent that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in
excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this
Section 3 have been made as if Section 3.3(c) and this
Section 3.3(d) were not in this Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse
Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other
period shall be specially allocated among the Members in proportion
to Units held.
(f) Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Unit Holder Nonrecourse
Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be specially allocated to the
Unit Holder who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the
Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt to which such Unit Holder Nonrecourse
Deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations
Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(g) Section 754
Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis
of any Company asset, pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code
Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to
be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result
of a distribution to a Unit Holder in complete liquidation of such
Unit Holder’s interest in the Company, the amount of such
adjustment to Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain
(if the adjustment increases the basis of
8
the asset) or
loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss
shall be specially allocated to the Unit Holders in accordance with
their interests in the Company in the event Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Unit Holder to whom such
distribution was made in the event Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.
(h) Allocations
Relating to Taxable Issuance of Company Units. Any income, gain,
loss or deduction realized as a direct or indirect result of the
issuance of Units by the Company to a Unit Holder (the
“Issuance Items”) shall be allocated among the Unit
Holders so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such
Issuance Items, together with all other allocations under this
Agreement to each Unit Holder shall be equal to the net amount that
would have been allocated to each such Unit Holder if the Issuance
Items had not been realized.
3.4 Curative
Allocations . The allocations set forth in
Sections 3.3(a), 3.3(b), 3.3(c), 3.3(d), 3.3(e), 3.3(f),
3.3(g) and 3.5 (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are
intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. It
is the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all
Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory
Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Company
income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 3.4.
Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 3 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the
Directors shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company
income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it determines
appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made,
each Member’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent
possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Member would
have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of the
Agreement and all Company items were allocated pursuant to
Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3(h).
3.5 Loss
Limitation . Losses allocated pursuant to Section 3.2
hereof shall not exceed the maximum amount of Losses that can be
allocated without causing any Unit Holder to have an Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit at the end of any Fiscal Year. In the event
some but not all of the Unit Holders would have Adjusted Capital
Account Deficits as a consequence of an allocation of Losses
pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof, the limitation set forth in
this Section 3.5 shall be applied on a Unit Holder by Unit
Holder basis and Losses not allocable to any Unit Holder as a
result of such limitation shall be allocated to the other Unit
Holders in accordance with the positive balances in such Unit
Holder’s Capital Accounts so as to allocate the maximum
permissible Losses to each Unit Holder under
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations.
3.6 Other
Allocation Rules .
(a) For
purposes of determining the Profits, Losses, or any other items
allocable to any period, Profits, Losses, and any such other items
shall be determined on a daily, monthly, or other basis, as
determined by the Directors using any permissible method under Code
Section 706 and the Regulations thereunder.
(b) The Unit
Holders are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations
made by this Section 3 and hereby agree to be bound by the
provisions of this Section 3 in reporting their shares of
Company income and loss for income tax purposes.
(c) Solely
for purposes of determining a Unit Holder’s proportionate
share of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the
Company within the meaning of Regulations
Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Unit Holders’ aggregate
interests in Company profits shall be deemed to be as provided in
the capital accounts. To the extent permitted by
Section 1.704-2(h)(3) of the Regulations, the Directors shall
endeavor to treat distributions of Net Cash Flow as having been
made from the proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability or a Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt only to the extent that such distributions would
cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Unit
Holder.
(d) Allocations
of Profits and Losses to the Unit Holders shall be allocated among
them in the ratio which each Unit Holder’s Units bears to the
total number of Units issued and outstanding.
3.7 Tax
Allocations: Code Section 704(c) . In accordance with Code
Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss,
and deduction with respect to any Property contributed to the
capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated
among the Unit Holders so as to take account of any variation
between the adjusted basis of such Property to the Company for
federal income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value
(computed in accordance with the definition of Gross Asset Value).
In the event the Gross Asset Value of any
9
Company asset
is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of the definition of
Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss,
and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any
variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal
income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as
under Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder. Any
elections or other decisions relating to such allocations shall be
made by the Directors in any manner that reasonably reflects the
purpose and intention of this Agreement. Allocations pursuant to
this Section 3.7 are solely for purposes of federal, state,
and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into
account in computing, any Unit Holder’s Capital Account or
share of Profits, Losses, other items, or distributions pursuant to
any provision of this Agreement.
3.8 Tax
Credit Allocations . All credits against income tax with
respect to the Company’s property or operations shall be
allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective
membership interests in the Company for the Fiscal Year during
which the expenditure, production, sale, or other event giving rise
to the credit occurs. This Section 3.8 is intended to comply
with the applicable tax credit allocation principles of section
1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
4.1 Net Cash
Flow . The Directors, in their discretion, shall make
distributions of Net Cash Flow, if any, to the Members. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 10 hereof, Net Cash Flow, if
any, shall be distributed to the Unit Holders in proportion to
Units held subject to, and to the extent permitted by, any loan
covenants or restrictions on such distributions agreed to by the
Company in any loan agreements with the Company’s lenders
from time to time in effect. In determining Net Cash Flow, the
Directors shall endeavor to provide for cash distributions at such
times and in such amounts as will permit the Unit Holders to make
timely payment of income taxes.
4.2 Amounts
Withheld . All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any
provision of any state, local or foreign tax law with respect to
any payment, distribution or allocation to the Company or the Unit
Holders shall be treated as amounts paid or distributed, as the
case may be, to the Unit Holders with respect to which such amount
was withheld pursuant to this Section 4.2 for all purposes
under this Agreement. The Company is authorized to withhold from
payments and distributions, or with respect to allocations, to the
Unit Holders and to pay over to any federal, state and local
government or any foreign government, any amounts required to be so
withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other
federal, state or local law or any foreign law, and shall allocate
any such amounts to the Unit Holders with respect to which such
amount was withheld.
4.3
Limitations on Distributions . The Company shall make no
distributions to the Unit Holders except as provided in this
Section 4 and Section 10 hereof. Notwithstanding any
other provision, no distribution shall be made if it is not
permitted to be made under the Act.
5.1
Directors . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
the Directors shall direct the business and affairs of the Company,
and shall exercise all of the powers of the Company except such
powers as are by this Agreement conferred upon or reserved to the
Members. The Directors shall adopt such policies, rules,
regulations, and actions not inconsistent with law or this
Agreement as it may deem advisable. Subject to Section 5.7
hereof or any other express provisions hereof, the business and
affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction
of the Directors and not by its Members. The amendment or repeal of
this section or the adoption of any provision inconsistent
therewith shall require the approval of a majority of the
Membership Voting Interests.
5.2 Number
of Total Directors . The total number of initial Directors of
the Company shall be a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of
thirteen (13). At the first annual or special meeting of the
Members
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