EXHIBIT 10.32
EXECUTION COPY
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CONSOLIDATED CONTAINER HOLDINGS LLC
Table of Contents
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ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
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1.1 Formation
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1.2 Name
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1.3 Registered Office and Principal
Office of Company; Addresses of Members
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1.4 Term
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1.5 Assumed Name Certificate
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1.6
Ownership
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1.7
No Individual Authority
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1.8 Title to Company Property
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1.9
Limits of Company
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ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
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ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
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3.1 Purposes and Scope
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ARTICLE IV CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
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4.1
Initial Capital Contributions
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4.2
Non-Contemplated Contributions
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4.3 Capital Accounts
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4.4
Interest
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4.5
No Withdrawal
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4.6
Limitation on Capital Contributions
and Loans
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ARTICLE V
ALLOCATIONS
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5.1
Allocation of Profits and
Losses
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5.2
Special Allocations
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5.3
Curative Allocations
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5.4
Tax Allocations: Code
Section 704(c)
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5.5
Allocations Upon Option
Exercise
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5.6
Other Allocation Rules
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ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
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6.1
Distributions of Available Cash
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6.2
Amounts Withheld
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6.3
Excess Distributions
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6.4
Tax Distributions
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ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
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7.1 Management Committee
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7.2
Major Decisions
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7.3
Approval of Major Decisions
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7.4
Officers
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7.5
Certificate of Formation
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7.6
Compensation and Reimbursement of
Member Expenses
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7.7
Outside Activities;
Noncompetition
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7.8
Transactions with Affiliates
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7.9
Indemnification of Members
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7.10
Liability of the Members
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7.11
Preemptive Rights
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7.12
Certain Anti-dilutive Rights
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7.13 Exercise of Certain Options
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ARTICLE VIII
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
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8.1
Limitation of Liability
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8.2
Return of Capital
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ARTICLE IX BOOKS,
RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
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9.1 Records and Accounting
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9.2
Fiscal Year
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9.3
Reports
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9.4
Documents
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9.5
Certain Administrative Expenses of
RPH
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ARTICLE X TAX
MATTERS
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10.1 Tax Matters Partner
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10.2 Annual Tax Returns
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10.3 Notice and Limitations on Authority
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10.4 Tax Elections
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10.5 Actions in Event of Audit
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10.6 Organizational Expenses
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10.7 Taxation as a Partnership
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ARTICLE XI
TRANSFERS OF UNITS; NEW MEMBERS
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11.1
Transfer Restrictions
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11.2
Transfer to Affiliates and Pledgees
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11.3
[Reserved]
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11.4
Registration
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11.5 Right of First Offer; Tag-Along Rights
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11.6 Drag-Along Rights
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11.7 Put Rights
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11.8
Prohibited Transfers
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11.9
Rights of Assignee
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11.10
Admission as a New Member
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11.11
Distributions and Allocations in Respect of Transferred Units
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11.12
Conversion to Corporate Form
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ARTICLE XII
PREFERRED UNITS
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12.1
Issuance of Series A Preferred Units
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12.2 Terms of Series A Preferred Units
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12.3
Issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred
Units
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12.4
Terms of Series B Convertible Preferred
Units
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12.5
Terms of Series C Preferred Units
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ARTICLE XIII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
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13.1
Dissolution
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13.2
Continuation of the Company
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13.3 Liquidation
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13.4 Reserves
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13.5
Distribution in Kind
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13.6
Disposition of Documents and Records
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13.7
Negative Capital Accounts
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13.8
Filing of Certificate of Cancellation
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13.9
Return of Capital
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13.10 Waiver
of Partition
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ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT
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14.1
Amendment Procedures
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ARTICLE XV GENERAL
PROVISIONS
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15.1
Addresses and Notices
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15.2
Titles and Captions
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15.3
Pronouns and Plurals
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15.4
Further Action
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15.5 Binding Effect
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15.6
Integration
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15.7 No Third Party Beneficiary
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15.8
Waiver
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15.9
Counterparts
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15.10
Applicable Law
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15.11
Invalidity of Provisions
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15.12
Confidentiality
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15.13
Representations and Warranties
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iv
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CONSOLIDATED CONTAINER HOLDINGS LLC
This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of CONSOLIDATED CONTAINER HOLDINGS LLC
(the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of
May 20, 2004, by and among Franklin Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“ Franklin Holdings ”), Franklin
Plastics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Franklin
”), Reid Plastics Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“ RPH ”), Vestar Packaging LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (“ Vestar Packaging
”), Vestar CCH LLC (“ Vestar CCH ”), a
Delaware limited liability company, Vestar CCH Preferred LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (“ Vestar
Refinancing ”), Ronald Davis, William Bell and Richard
Robinson, together with any Person who becomes a Member as provided
herein.
ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
1.1 Formation . The Company
was formed as a limited liability company by the filing of the
Certificate in accordance with the Delaware Act on April 20,
1999. The Members hereby enter into this Agreement in order to set
forth the rights and obligations of the Members and certain matters
related thereto. Except as expressly provided and permitted herein
to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the Members and the
administration and termination of the Company shall be governed by
the Delaware Act.
1.2 Name . The name of the
Company shall be, and the business of the Company shall be
conducted under the name of, “Consolidated Container Holdings
LLC.” The Company’s business may be conducted under any
other name or names approved by the Management Committee.
1.3 Registered Office and
Principal Office of Company; Addresses of Members .
(a) The
registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be
1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19805, and the registered
agent for service of process on the Company at such registered
office shall be Corporation Service Company, 1013 Centre Road,
Wilmington, Delaware 19805. The principal place of business of the
Company shall be at 3101 Towercreek Parkway, Suite 300, Atlanta,
Georgia 30339, or such other location as determined by the
Management Committee. The Company may maintain offices at such
other locations as the Management Committee deems advisable.
2
(b) The
addresses of the Members as of the date of the initial issuance of
Series B Convertible Preferred Units are set forth in
Section 15.1 . The address of a Member may be changed
in accordance with the requirements set forth in
Section 15.1 .
1.4 Term . The existence of
the Company commenced on the Commencement Date, and the Company
shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Company
pursuant to the express provisions of Article XIII
(other than a dissolution that is followed by the reconstitution of
the Company pursuant to Section 13.2 ).
1.5 Assumed Name Certificate .
The Members shall execute and file any assumed or fictitious name
certificate or certificates or any similar documents required by
law to be filed in connection with the formation and operation of
the Company.
1.6 Ownership . The interest
of each Member in the Company shall be personal property for all
purposes. All property and interests in property, real or personal,
owned by the Company shall be deemed owned by the Company as an
entity, and no Member, individually, shall have any ownership of
such property or interest except by having an ownership interest in
the Company as a Member. Each of the Members irrevocably waives,
during the term of the Company and during any period of its
liquidation following any dissolution, any right that it may have
to maintain any action for partition with respect to any of the
assets of the Company.
1.7 No Individual Authority .
No Member shall have any authority to act for, or to undertake or
assume, any obligation, debt, duty or responsibility on behalf of
any other Member or the Company except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement.
1.8 Title to Company Property
. It is the desire and intention of the Members that legal title to
all property of the Company shall be held and conveyed in the name
of the Company.
1.9 Limits of Company . The
relationship between the parties hereto shall be limited to the
carrying on of the business of the Company in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement. Such relationship shall be construed and
deemed to be a limited liability company for the sole and limited
purpose of carrying on such business. Except as otherwise provided
for or contemplated in this Agreement, nothing herein shall be
construed to create a partnership between the Members or to
authorize any Member to act as general agent for any other
Member.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
The
following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise
clearly indicated to the contrary, apply to the terms used in this
Agreement.
“
Adjusted Capital Account ” means, with respect to any
Member, a special account maintained for such Member, the balance
of which shall equal such Member’s Capital Account balance,
increased by the amount (if any) of such Member’s share of
the Company Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain of the
Company.
3
“
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means, with respect
to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s
Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year, after
giving effect to the following adjustments:
(a) Credit to such Capital Account
any amounts which such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to
any provision of this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to
restore pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(c),
the penultimate sentence of Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1),
or the penultimate sentence of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5);
and
(b) Debit to such Capital Account the
items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
(5), and (6).
The
foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is
intended to comply with Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
“
Adjusted Tax Distribution Amount ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.4(c) .
“
Affiliate ” means, with respect to a particular
Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling,
Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person.
“
Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement of Consolidated Container Holdings LLC,
as it may be further amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“
As-Converted Units ” means, with respect to any Member
that shall own Series A Preferred Units at the time the Suiza
Member, in the case of any Reid Member, or the Reid Members, in the
case of the Suiza Member, propose to effect a sale of its Units in
accordance with the terms hereof, a number of Units equal to the
aggregate Liquidation Preference of the number of Series A
Preferred Units owned by such Member divided by the price per Unit
proposed to be paid for each Unit proposed to be sold by such Suiza
Member or Reid Member, as the case may be.
“
As-Converted Percentage Interest ” means the
percentage interest of a Member in certain allocations of Profits,
Losses, and other items of income, gain, loss, or deduction and
certain distributions of cash and property, which with respect to
each Member shall be equal to the number of Units owned by such
Member (on an as-converted basis, as applicable, excluding for this
purpose the special conversion rights of Series B Convertible
Preferred Units under Section 12.4(f) ), as a percentage of
the total number of Units owned by all Members (on such
as-converted basis) at any given time.
“
Available Cash ” of the Company as of any date means
all cash funds of the Company on hand as of such date after:
(a) payment of all expenditures of any kind, including
operating expenses and capital expenditures, that are due and
payable as of such date or that are expected to become due and
payable in the next 30 days; and (b) provision for adequate
reserves (working capital and capital), with the amount of such
reserves to be determined by the Management Committee (acting
reasonably and in good faith).
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“
Blocked Affiliate Transfer ” has the meaning set forth
in Section 11.2 .
“
Book Depreciation ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.3(b)(v) .
“
Book Value ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.3(c) .
“
Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each
week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the
Government of the United States shall not be regarded as a Business
Day.
“
Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained
for a Member pursuant to Section 4.3 with respect to
Units held by such Member.
“
Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any
Member, the amount of money and the initial Book Value of any
property (other than money) contributed to the Company with respect
to the interest in the Company held by such Member, reduced by the
amount of any liabilities of the Member assumed by the Company or
which are secured by any property contributed by such Member to the
Company.
“
Certificate ” means the Certificate of Formation of
the Company filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, as it
may be amended or restated from time to time.
“
Change in Control ” means the first to occur of the
following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions)
of all or substantially all of the assets of Suiza Foods or Vestar
Refinancing, as the case may be, to any person, or
“group” of related persons, as defined in
Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (a
“ Group ”); (ii) a majority of the board of
directors of Suiza Foods or Vestar Refinancing, as the case may be,
shall consist of persons who are not Continuing Directors; or
(iii) the acquisition by any person or Group of the power,
directly or indirectly, to vote or direct the voting of securities
having more than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election
of directors of Suiza Foods or Vestar Refinancing, as the case may
be, or to designate a majority of the directors of Suiza Foods or
Vestar Refinancing, as the case may be; or (iv) a merger of
Suiza Foods or Vestar Refinancing, as the case may be, with another
entity in which the previous shareholders or members of the merging
entity do not continue to own at least a majority of the voting
equity securities of the surviving entity.
“
Closing Date ” means July 1, 1999.
“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended and in effect from time to time. All references herein to
the Code shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of
succeeding law.
“
Commencement Date ” means the date that the
Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of
Delaware.
“
Company ” means Consolidated Container Holdings LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company established by filing of the
Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
5
“
Company Estimated Net Taxable Income ” has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.4(a) .
“
Company Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in
Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).
“
Company Option ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5(b) .
“
Competing Business ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.7(b) .
“
Continuing Director ” means, as of the date of
determination, any person who (i) was a member of the board of
directors or management committee of Suiza Foods or Vestar
Refinancing, as the case may be, on the date of this Agreement, or
(ii) was nominated for election or elected to the board of
directors or management committee of Suiza Foods or Vestar
Refinancing, as the case may be, with the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board
of directors at the time of such nomination or election.
“
Contribution Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.2(a) .
“
Contributions ” means the contribution by Franklin of
the member interests of PCI to Consolidated Container Company LLC
and the contribution by Vestar Packaging of $60,800,000 to the
Company, both pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
“
Control ” (and derivations thereof) means, with
respect to a particular Person, (a) the ownership, directly or
indirectly, of more than 50% of the equity or voting interests in
such Person or (b) the right to elect or appoint, together
with others who are required to act in concert with such Person,
more than 50% of the directors or members of another governing body
that directs the management and policies of such Person.
“
Converted Units ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.5(e) .
“
Convertible Preferred Units ” means any Preferred
Units that are convertible, directly or indirectly, into
Units.
“
Convertible Securities ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.12(b) .
“
Credit Instruments ” means the Credit Agreement, dated
as of May 20, 2004 among the Company, Consolidated Container
Company LLC, the banks party thereto from time to time, Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, the Pledge
Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2004 among the Company,
Consolidated Container Company LLC, and each of the other Pledgors
party thereto in favor of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as
Collateral Agent, the Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of May 20, 2004
made by each of the domestic subsidiaries of Consolidated Container
Company LLC and the Security Agreement, dated as of May 20,
2004 among the Company, Consolidated Container Company LLC and
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Agent, in each
case as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
6
“
Delaware Act ” means the Delaware Revised Limited
Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq., as amended
from time to time.
“
Dissolution Event ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 13.1(b) .
“
Event of Bankruptcy ” means, with respect to any
Member or the Company, any of the following acts or events:
(a) making an assignment for the
benefit of creditors;
(b) filing a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy;
(c) becoming the subject of an order
for relief or being declared insolvent or bankrupt in any federal
or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding;
(d) filing a petition or answer
seeking a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment,
liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any statute, law,
or regulation;
(e) filing an answer or other
pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations
of a petition filed against it in a proceeding of the type
described in parts (a) through (d) of the
definition;
(f) seeking, consenting to, or
acquiescing in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or
liquidator of all or any substantial part of its properties;
or
(g) the expiration of 90 days
after the date of the commencement of a proceeding against such
Person seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition,
readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any
statute, law, or regulation if the proceeding has not been
previously dismissed or the expiration of 60 days after the
date of the appointment, without such Person’s consent or
acquiescence, of a trustee or receiver for the liquidation of such
Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s
properties, if the appointment has not been previously vacated or
stayed, or the expiration of 60 days after the date of
expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not been previously
vacated.
“
Fair Market Value ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.7(c) .
“
Fiscal Year ” means the 12-month period ending
December 31 of each year; provided that the initial Fiscal
Year shall be the period beginning on the Commencement Date and
ending December 31, 1999, and the last Fiscal Year shall be
the period beginning on January 1 of the calendar year in which the
final liquidation and termination of the Company is completed and
ending on the date such final liquidation and termination is
completed (to the extent any computation or other provision hereof
provides for an action to be taken on a Fiscal Year basis, an
appropriate proration or other adjustment shall be made in respect
of the initial and final Fiscal Years to reflect that such periods
are less than full calendar year periods).
“
Franklin ” means Franklin Plastics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
7
“
Franklin Holdings ” means Franklin Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation.
“
Franklin Managers ” means the Managers designated by
Franklin pursuant to Section 7.1 .
“
Franklin Option Members ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5(b) .
“
Franklin Replacement Options ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 7.13 .
“
Indemnitee ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.9 .
“
Independent Accountants ” means any of the four
largest nationally recognized accounting firms in the United
States, as selected by the Management Committee. Deloitte &
Touche LLP shall be the initial Independent Accountant.
“
Individual Members ” means Ronald Davis, William Bell
and Richard Robinson.
“
Initial Liquidation Preference ” means the initial
liquidation preference of a series of Preferred Units as set forth
in Article XII .
“
Initial Public Offering ” means any underwritten
public offering of securities of RPH (which is intended to be the
corporate successor to the Company in the event of an Initial
Public Offering, by merger of the Company and, subject to
Section 11.12 , Franklin into RPH), or its successor,
the gross proceeds of which exceed $50,000,000.
“
Liquidation Preference ” means the liquidation
preference of a series of Preferred Units as such liquidation
preference may be increased or decreased from time to time as set
forth in Article XII .
“
Liquidator ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 13.3 .
“
Losses ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.3(b) .
“
Major Decision ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.2 .
“
Management Committee ” means a committee appointed by
Franklin and Vestar Refinancing in accordance with
Section 7.1 .
“
Manager ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.1 .
“
Member ” means Franklin, Franklin Holdings, RPH, each
of the Vestar Entities, each of the Individual Members and any
other Person who is admitted as a member in the Company on and
after the Closing Date and whose admission has been reflected on
the books and records of the Company.
“
Member Minimum Gain ” shall mean partner nonrecourse
debt minimum gain as determined under the rules of Regulations
Section 1.704-2(i).
8
“
Member Nonrecourse Deduction ” has the meaning set
forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1) and (2).
“
Merger Agreement ” means the Contribution and Merger
Agreement dated as of April 29, 1999, among Suiza Foods,
Franklin, the Suiza Companies identified therein, RPH, Reid
Plastics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Reid Companies
identified therein, Vestar Packaging, and the Company.
“
Mergers ” means the Mergers, as defined in the Merger
Agreement, pursuant to which the Suiza Companies and the Reid
Companies will be merged into the Company.
“
New Units Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.11(b) .
“
Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 1.704-2(b)(1) of the Regulations.
“
Notice ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.5(a) .
“
Other Convertible Securities ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 12.4(h)(ii) .
“
PCI ” means Plastic Containers, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Continental Can Company,
Inc., or, after certain corporate restructuring transactions,
Plastic Containers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and
wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin.
“
PCI Notes ” has the meaning given to it in the Merger
Agreement.
“
Percentage Interest ” means the percentage interest of
a Member in certain allocations of Profits, Losses, and other items
of income, gain, loss, or deduction and certain distributions of
cash and property, which with respect to each Member shall be equal
to the number of Units owned by such Member as a percentage of the
total number of Units owned by all Members at any given time.
“
Person ” means an individual, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate,
unincorporated organization, association, or other entity.
“
Plastics Operations ” means any manufacture,
distribution or sale of plastic packaging products and the conduct
of any operations ancillary thereto, including but not limited to
any operations conducted by any Reid Company or any Suiza Company
immediately prior to Closing.
“
Preferred Units ” means the preferred interest of a
Member of the Company issued in accordance with
Article XII , including the Series A Preferred
Units, the Series B Convertible Preferred Units and the
Series C Preferred Units.
“
Principal Companies ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.7(b) .
“
Pro Rata Share ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.11(a) .
9
“
Profits ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.3(b) .
“
Redemption Change in Control ” means the first to
occur of the following events: (i) any merger, consolidation or
other business combination of the Company or Consolidated Container
Company LLC with any other entity, recapitalization, spin-off,
distribution or any other similar transaction (in one transaction
or a series of related transactions), where the beneficial owners
of membership interests in such company as of immediately following
the initial issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Units, and
their respective Affiliates, cease beneficially to own at least 30%
of the voting power of the voting securities of the entity
surviving or resulting from such transaction (or the ultimate sole
parent thereof) or (ii) any transaction or series of related
transactions as a result of which the beneficial owners of
membership interests in such company as of immediately following
the initial issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Units,
and their respective Affiliates, cease beneficially to own at least
30% of the voting power of the voting securities of the Company (or
the ultimate sole parent thereof) or, directly or indirectly,
Consolidated Container Company LLC.
“
Registration Rights Agreement ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 11.12(b) .
“
Regulations ” means the Treasury Regulations
promulgated under the Code, as amended and in effect (including
corresponding provisions of any succeeding regulations).
“
Regulatory Allocations ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.3 .
“
Reid Companies ” has the meaning given to it in the
Merger Agreement.
“
Reid Converted Units ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.5(e) .
“
Reid Members ” means RPH, each of the Vestar Entities,
and any Affiliate of either of them that becomes a Member, or for
purposes of Article XI, an RPH stockholder.
“
Reid Options ” has the meaning given to it in the
Merger Agreement.
“
Reid Parent ” means Vestar Reid LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company.
“
RPH ” means Reid Plastics Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
“
Russell-Stanley ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.7(d) .
“
Sale Percentage ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.5(e) .
“
Senior Secured Indenture ” means that certain
Indenture dated as of May 20, 2004 by and among Consolidated
Container Company LLC, Consolidated Container Capital, Inc., the
Guarantors (as defined therein) and the Bank of New York, as
trustee with respect to the 10.75% Senior Secured Discount Notes
due 2009, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time.
“
Series A Preferred Units ” means the preferred
interest of a Member of the Company issued in accordance with
Section 12.1 .
10
“
Series A Redemption Price ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 12.2(c) .
“
Series B Convertible Preferred Units ” means the
preferred interest of a Member of the Company issued in accordance
with Section 12.3 .
“
Series B Convertible Preferred Unit Reoffer ”
means the offer by Vestar Refinancing of Series B Convertible
Preferred Units purchased by Vestar Refinancing on the date hereof
to all holders of Units and to the owners of equity interests in
such holders (excluding Vestar Refinancing, Vestar CCH, Franklin,
Franklin Holdings and the owners of equity interests in any
thereof, both in such capacity and as owners of equity interests in
any other holder of Units, and excluding RPH and Vestar Packaging),
on a pro rata basis based upon each such holder’s direct or
indirect Percentage Interest, before giving effect to the issuance
of the Series B Convertible Preferred Units; provided that:
(i) such offer is made as soon as reasonably practicable after
the date hereof, is held open for at least 60 calendar days and is
completed within 90 calendar days hereof; and (ii) each
Series B Convertible Preferred Unit shall be offered for a
purchase price equal to its Initial Liquidation Preference.
“
Series B Redemption Price ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 12.4(c) .
“
Series C Preferred Units ” means the preferred
interest of a Member of the Company issued in accordance with
Section 12.5 .
“
Series C Redemption Price ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 12.5(c) .
“
Subordinated Indenture ” means the Indenture dated as
of July 1, 1999, among Consolidated Container Company LLC,
Consolidated Container Capital, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors (as
defined therein) and The Bank of New York, as trustee, as
supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, dated as of
March 31, 2000.
“
Suiza Affiliates ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.7(b) .
“
Suiza Companies ” has the meaning given to it in the
Merger Agreement.
“
Suiza Converted Units ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.5(e) .
“
Suiza Foods ” means Dean Foods Company, a Delaware
corporation.
“
Suiza Member ” means Franklin and any Affiliate of
Franklin that becomes a Member; provided, however, that for
purposes of Section 7.7 , neither Peter M. Bernon or
Alan J. Bernon shall ever be included within the definition of
“Suiza Member.”
“
Supply Agreement ” means each of: (i) the Supply
Agreement for PET Bottles between Suiza Foods Corporation and the
Company, dated as of July 2, 1999; (ii) the Supply
Agreement for HDPE Bottles between Suiza Foods Corporation and the
Company, dated as of July 2, 1999; and (iii) the Supply
Agreement for Bottle Components between Suiza Foods Corporation and
the Company, dated as of July 2, 1999.
“
Tagging Member ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.5(e) .
11
“
Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.4(a) .
“
Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.1 .
“
Tax Rate Differential ” means a decimal equal to the
difference between (i) the maximum marginal federal and New
York State and New York City individual tax rate applicable to
ordinary income (including, to the extent applicable, alternative
minimum tax, if any) and (ii) the maximum marginal federal and
New York State and New York City individual tax rate applicable to
long-term capital gains (including, to the extent applicable,
alternative minimum tax, if any).
“
Tax Shortfall Member ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.4(d) .
“
Tax Target Group ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.4(d) .
“
Transferring Members ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.5(e) .
“
Units ” means the common equity interest of a Member
in the Company, including, without limitation, such Member’s
right: (a) to a distributive share of the Profits, Losses, and
other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit of the
Company; (b) to a distributive share of the assets of the
Company; and (c) to participate in the management and
operation of the Company as provided in this Agreement. The number
of Units of each Member, as of the date hereof, is set forth in
Exhibit 4.1 attached hereto under the caption
“Ownership-Holders of Units”.
“
Unit Value ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.4(h) .
“
Unpaid Distribution Amount ” shall mean, for each
Series A Preferred Unit, the amount of distributions accrued
during the most recently completed calendar quarter which
distributions have neither been paid nor been taken into account
through an increase in Liquidation Preference on such Series A
Preferred Units.
“
VCP ” means Vestar Capital Partners III, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership.
“
VCP Affiliates ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.7(d) .
“
VCP Management Agreement ” has the meaning given to it
in the Merger Agreement.
“
Vestar CCH ” means Vestar CCH LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company.
“
Vestar Entities ” means Vestar CCH, Vestar Packaging
and Vestar Refinancing.
“
Vestar Packaging ” means Vestar Packaging LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company.
“
Vestar Refinancing ” means Vestar CCH Preferred LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company.
12
“
Vestar Refinancing Managers ” means the Managers
designated by Vestar Refinancing pursuant to
Section 7.1 .
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
3.1 Purposes and Scope .
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the purposes of the
Company are to:
(a) acquire (directly or through
subsidiaries) the operations of the Reid Companies and the Suiza
Companies through the Mergers and the Contributions;
(b) own, operate, manage, maintain,
improve, develop, purchase, sell or exchange, and otherwise acquire
or dispose of, Plastics Operations; provided, however, that the
Company may also invest or expend up to $25 million in the
aggregate to own, operate, manage, maintain, improve, develop,
purchase, and otherwise acquire or dispose of non-plastic packaging
operations;
(c) borrow money in furtherance of
any or all of the objectives of the Company business, and to secure
the same by mortgage, pledge, or other liens; and
(d) do any and all other acts or
things that may be incidental or necessary to carry on the business
of the Company as herein contemplated. The Company shall not engage
in any other business or activity not intended to implement the
foregoing without the prior written consent of the Management
Committee.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Initial Capital
Contributions . The initial Capital Contributions of Franklin
and by RPH were effected on the Closing Date through the Mergers.
The initial Capital Contributions of PCI and by Vestar Packaging
were effected on the Closing Date through the Contributions. On the
date of the initial issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred
Units, the Capital Contributions of each Member shall be revalued
as set forth on Exhibit 4.1 attached hereto.
4.2 Non-Contemplated
Contributions .
(a) If the Management Committee
approves (in accordance with the Major Decision provisions of
Section 7.3 ) any additional Capital Contributions
beyond those required by Section 4.1 , the Company
shall deliver a written notice to all of the Members (a “
Contribution Notice ”) requesting such additional
Capital Contributions. Each Contribution Notice shall specify the
following information:
(i) the aggregate amount of Capital
Contributions requested in the Contribution Notice;
13
(ii) the amount of additional cash
funds each Member is required to contribute to the Company (which
Capital Contributions shall be made by the Members in proportion to
their As-Converted Percentage Interests);
(iii) the date on which such
additional Capital Contributions are due, which date shall be
approved in advance by the Management Committee; and
(iv) wiring or other instructions for
the bank account into which the required Capital Contribution is to
be deposited.
(b) Any Capital Contributions made
pursuant to Section 4.2(a) shall be spent by the
Company in accordance with the general directions of the Management
Committee, as approved in connection with the approval of such
Capital Contributions.
(c) Except as provided in
Section 4.1 and in the foregoing provisions of this
Section 4.2 , no Member shall be required to make any
Capital Contribution.
(d) Upon the exercise of a Franklin
Replacement Option, for all purposes, including Capital Accounts
and As-Converted Percentage Interests, a number of Units shall be
considered transferred from Franklin to RPH and Vestar Packaging
such that RPH’s and Vestar Packaging’s respective
As-Converted Percentage Interests immediately after the exercise of
the Franklin Replacement Option shall be equal to their respective
As-Converted Percentage Interests immediately prior to such
exercise.
4.3 Capital Accounts .
(a)
Maintenance Rules . The Company shall maintain for each
Member a separate Capital Account in accordance with this
Section 4.3 . The Capital Account shall be maintained
in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) Such Capital Account shall be
increased by the cash amount or Book Value of any property
contributed by such Member to the Company pursuant to this
Agreement, such Member’s share of Profits allocable to Units
and any items in the nature of income or gain which are specially
allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.2 and
Section 5.3 with respect to Units held by such Member,
and the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such Member or
which are secured by any property distributed to such Member.
(ii) Such Capital Account shall be
decreased by the cash amount or Book Value of any property
distributed to such Member pursuant to this Agreement, such
Member’s allocable share of Losses and any items in the
nature of deductions or losses which are specially allocated to
such Member pursuant to Section 5.2 and
Section 5.3 , and the amount of any liabilities of the
Member assumed by the Company or which are secured by any property
contributed by such Member to the Company.
(iii) In the event all or a portion
of an interest in the Company is transferred in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall
14
succeed to the
Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the
transferred interest; provided , however , that if
the transfer causes a termination of the Company under
Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code, then the Company shall be
deemed to have contributed its assets to a new limited liability
company in exchange for interests in the new limited liability
company, followed by a distribution of the interests in the new
limited liability company to the Company and liquidation of the
Company. Such deemed liquidation and reconstitution shall not cause
the Company to be dissolved or reconstituted for purposes other
than federal income tax, unless otherwise provided in Article
XIII .
(iv)
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.3 to the
contrary, upon the exercise of a Franklin Replacement Option or a
Company Option, the initial Capital Account of the exercising
Member shall be equal to the exercise price of such option.
The
foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement
relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts generally are
intended to comply with Section 1.704-1(b) of the Regulations
and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with
such Regulations. If the Management Committee reasonably determines
that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital
Accounts, or any increases or decreases to the Capital Accounts,
are computed in order to comply with such Regulations, the
Management Committee may authorize such modifications, provided
that it does not have any effect on the amounts distributable to
any Person pursuant to Section 13.3 upon the dissolution of
the Company.
(b) Definition of Profits and
Losses . “ Profits ” and “
Losses ” mean, for each Fiscal Year or other period,
an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for
such year or period, 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:
(i)
Income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and
not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses
pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) 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 and Losses pursuant to this
Section 4.3(b) shall be subtracted from such taxable
income or loss;
(iii)
In the event the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted
pursuant to Section 4.3(c)(ii) or
Section 4.3(c)(iv) , the amount of such adjustment
shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of
such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses;
15
(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 Book Value of the
property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis
of such property differs from its Book Value;
(v) In
lieu of the deduction for depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization taken into account in computing such taxable income or
loss, there shall be taken into account “ Book
Depreciation ” as defined in this Section
4.3(b)(v) . “ Book Depreciation ” for any
asset means for any Fiscal Year or other period an amount that
bears the same ratio to the Book Value of that asset at the
beginning of such Fiscal Year or other period as the federal income
tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction
allowable for that asset for such year or other period bears to the
adjusted tax basis of that asset at the beginning of such year or
other period. If the federal income tax depreciation, amortization,
or other cost recovery deduction allowable for any asset for such
year or other period is zero, then Book Depreciation for that asset
shall be determined with reference to such beginning Book Value
using any reasonable method selected by the Management Committee;
and
(vi)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 4.3(b) , any items that are specially allocated
pursuant to Section 5.2 or Section 5.3 shall not
be taken into account in computing Profits and Losses.
(c) Definition of Book Value .
“ Book Value ” means for any asset the
asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes,
except as follows:
(i) The
initial Book Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the
Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset on the
date of contribution, as determined by the Management
Committee.
(ii)
The Book Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal
their respective gross fair market values, as determined by the
Management Committee, as of the following times: (A) the
acquisition of an additional interest in the Company (including
Series B Convertible Preferred Units) by any new or existing
Member in exchange for more than a de minimis capital contribution
if the Management Committee reasonably determines that such
adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative
economic interests of the Members in the Company; (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 if the Management Committee reasonably determines that such
adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative
economic interests of the Members in the Company; and (C) the
liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g);
16
(iii)
The Book Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall
be the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of
distribution, as determined by the Management Committee.
(iv)
The Book Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased)
to reflect any adjustment 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 Section 5.2(d) ;
provided , however , that Book Values shall not be
adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.3(c)(iv) to the
extent the Management Committee determines that an adjustment
pursuant to Section 4.3(c)(ii) is necessary or
appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise
result in an adjustment pursuant to this
Section 4.3(c)(iv) .
(v) If
the Book Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant
to Section 4.3(c)(i) , Section 4.3(c)(ii) ,
or Section 4.3(c)(iv) , such Book Value shall thereafter be
adjusted by the Book Depreciation taken into account with respect
to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
4.4
Interest . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
no interest shall be paid by the Company on Capital Contributions
or on balances in Capital Accounts.
4.5
No Withdrawal . No Member shall be entitled to withdraw any
part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to
receive any distribution from the Company, except as provided in
Articles VI , XII and XIII .
4.6
Limitation on Capital Contributions and Loans . Except as
specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member may contribute
capital, loan, or advance money to the Company.
ARTICLE V
ALLOCATIONS
5.1
Allocation of Profits and Losses .
(a)
Subject to Sections 5.1(b) , 5.2 and 5.3
, Profits and Losses of the Company for each Fiscal Year shall be
allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members in a manner
that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the provisions
of Article VI, Section 13.3 and other relevant
provisions, hereof. If a Unit is the subject of a transfer or the
number of Units of a Member is changed pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement during any Fiscal Year, the amount of Profit and
Loss to be allocated to the Members for such entire Fiscal Year
shall be allocated to the portion of such Fiscal Year which
precedes the date of such transfer or change (and if there shall
have been a prior transfer or change in such Fiscal Year, which
commences on the date of such prior transfer or change) and to the
portion of such Fiscal Year which occurs on and after the date of
such transfer or change (and if there shall be a subsequent
transfer or change in such Fiscal Year, which precedes the date of
such subsequent transfer or change), in proportion to the number of
days in each such portion (or, in the case of a transfer, in
accordance with an
17
interim closing
of the books at the election and the expense of the transferee and
the transferor), and the amounts of the items so allocated to each
such portion shall be credited or charged to the Members pro rata
during each such portion of the Fiscal Year in question. Such
allocation shall be made without regard to the date, amount or
receipt of any distributions that may have been made with respect
to the transferred Units.
(b)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
Section 5.1(a):
(i) The
Losses allocated pursuant to Section 5.1(a) to any
Member for any Fiscal Year shall not exceed the maximum amount of
Losses that may be allocated to such Member without causing such
Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of
such Fiscal Year.
(ii) If
some but not all of the Members would have an Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit as a consequence of an allocation of Losses
pursuant to Section 5.1(a) , the limitations set forth in
this Section 5.1(b) shall be applied by allocating
Losses pursuant to this Section 5.1(b) only to those
Members who would not have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as a
consequence of receiving such an allocation of Losses (with the
allocation of such Losses among such Members to be determined by
the Management Committee, based on the allocation that is most
likely to effectuate the distribution priorities set forth in
Section 6.1 ).
(iii)
If no Member may receive an additional allocation of Losses
pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(ii) above, such additional
Losses not allocated pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(ii)
shall be allocated solely to the Members in proportion to their
interests in the Company (as determined in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 5.1 ).
5.2
Special Allocations .
(a)
Minimum Gain Chargeback—Company Nonrecourse
Liabilities . If there is a net decrease in Company Minimum
Gain during any Fiscal Year, certain items of income and gain shall
be allocated (on a gross basis) to the Members in the amounts and
manner described in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and
(j)(2)(i) and (ii), subject to the exemptions set forth in
Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(2), (3), (4), and (5). This
Section 5.2(a) is intended to comply with the minimum
gain chargeback requirement (set forth in Regulations
Section 1.704-2(f)) relating to Company nonrecourse
liabilities (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3))
and shall be so interpreted.
(b)
Minimum Gain Chargeback—Member Nonrecourse Debt . If
there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain during any Fiscal
Year, certain items of income and gain shall be allocated (on a
gross basis) as quickly as possible to those Members who had a
share of the Member Minimum Gain (determined pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5)) in the amounts and manner
described in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), (j)(2)(ii),
and (j)(2)(iii). This Section 5.2(b) is intended to
comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement (set forth in
Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4)) relating to
18
partner
nonrecourse debt (as defined in Regulations
Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) and shall be so interpreted.
(c)
Qualified Income Offset . If, after applying
Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.2(b) , any
Member has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, items of Company
income and gain shall be specially allocated (on a gross basis) to
each such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate,
to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit of such Member as quickly as possible.
(d)
Optional Basis Adjustments . To the extent an adjustment to
the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code
Sections 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the
Capital Accounts 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) and such gain or loss shall be
specially allocated to the Members in a manner consistent with the
manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted
pursuant to such Section of the Regulations.
(e)
Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions for any
Fiscal Year shall be specially allocated among the Members in
proportion to their interests in the Company (determined in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1 ).
(f)
Member Nonrecourse Deductions . Member Nonrecourse
Deductions shall be allocated pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-2(b)(4) and (i)(1) to the Member who bears the
economic risk of loss with respect to the deductions.
(g)
Special Allocation: Economic Sharing Arrangement .
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Article V , the Members acknowledge and agree that the
manner in which distributions are to be made pursuant to
Section 6.1 correctly reflects the Members’
economic sharing arrangement in the Company. To the extent that
allocations of Profits, Losses, and other items of income, gain,
loss, and deduction set forth in this Article V (other
than this Section 5.2(g) ) could produce an economic
sharing arrangement among the Members different than that described
in Section 6.1 , then the Company shall specially allocate
items of gross income, gain, loss, and deduction among the Members
in any manner that may be required to cause the allocations of
Profits, Losses, and other items of income, gain, loss, and
deduction described in Article V to be consistent with
the economic sharing arrangement described in
Section 6.1 .
5.3
Curative Allocations . The allocations set forth in
Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.2(a) through
Section 5.2(f) (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 5.3 . Therefore,
notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article V
(other than the Regulatory Allocations), the Management Committee
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
19
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
Section 5.1(a) and Section 5.2(g) . In
exercising its discretion under this Section 5.3 , the
Management Committee shall take into account future Regulatory
Allocations under Sections 5.2(a) and 5.2(b)
that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Regulatory
Allocations previously made under Sections 5.2(e) and
5.2(f) .
5.4 Tax
Allocations: Code Section 704(c) .
(a) 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 Members 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 Book Value
(computed in accordance with Section 4.3(c)(i) ).
(b) If
the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to
Section 4.3(c)(ii) , 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 Book Value in the same manner
as under Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder.
(c) Any
elections or other decisions relating to such allocation shall be
made by the Management Committee.
(d)
Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.4 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 Capital Account,
Adjusted Capital Account, or share of Profits, Losses, and other
items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement.
5.5
Allocations Upon Option Exercise .
(a)
Upon the exercise of a Reid Option, any deduction arising solely as
a result of such exercise shall be specially allocated to
RPH.
(b)
Notwithstanding anything in this Article V to the contrary,
upon the exercise of a Franklin Replacement Option, or any other
option to purchase Units granted by the Company from time to time
(a “ Company Option ”), or both, allocations
shall be made in the following order and priority:
(i)
first, if there has been an exercise of a Company Option, all
Company income shall be allocated in the year of such exercise and
thereafter to the exercising Member until an amount of Company
income has been allocated to such exercising Member such that,
after such allocation, the proportion that the exercising
Member’s Adjusted Capital Account balance bears to the total
Adjusted Capital Account balances of all Members is equal to the
exercising Member’s interest in the Company immediately after
such exercise (determined in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.1),
20
(ii)
second, if there has been an exercise of a Franklin Replacement
Option, all allocations that would have been made to Franklin under
this Article V shall be made to Members who have exercised a
Franklin Replacement Option (the “ Franklin Option
Members ”) in the year of exercise and thereafter until
an amount of Company income has been allocated to the Franklin
Option Members such that, after such allocation, the proportion
that each Franklin Option Member’s Adjusted Capital Account
balance bears to the total Adjusted Capital Account balances of all
Members is equal to the exercising Member’s interest in the
Company immediately after such exercise (determined in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5.1 ), and
(iii)
third, according to the provisions of this Article V
.
5.6
Other Allocation Rules .
(a) For
purposes of determining the Profits, Losses, or any other item
allocable to any period, Profits, Losses, and any such other item
shall be determined on a daily, monthly, or other basis, as
determined by the Management Committee using any permissible method
under Code Section 706 and the Regulations thereunder.
(b) For
federal income tax purposes, every item of income, gain, loss and
deduction shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with
the allocations under Sections 5.1 , 5.2 , 5.3
, 5.4 and 5.5 .
(c) The
Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations
made by this Article V and hereby agree to be bound by
the provisions of this Article V in reporting their shares
of Profit and Loss for income tax purposes.
(d) The
Members agree that the Members’ interest in the Company (as
determined in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.1 ) represent the Members’ respective
interests in Company profits for purposes of allocating excess
nonrecourse liabilities (as defined in Regulations
Section 1.752-3(a)(3)) pursuant to Regulations Section
1.752-3(a)(3).
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1
Distributions of Available Cash . The Management Committee
shall review the Company’s accounts at the end of each
calendar quarter to determine whether distributions are
appropriate. Subject to § 18-607 of the Delaware Act, the
Management Committee shall authorize such distributions of
Available Cash as it may determine in its sole discretion. All such
distributions of cash shall be made to the Members in the following
manner:
(a)
First, to each Member with Series B Convertible Preferred
Units and/or Series C Preferred Units ratably in proportion
to, and up to, the sum of their respective Capital Contributions in
respect of Series B Convertible Preferred Units and
Series C Preferred Units (after taking into account prior
distributions made pursuant to this clause (a));
21
(b)
Second, to each Member in proportion to, and up to, their
respective Capital Contributions in respect of Units (as such
Capital Contributions shall have been revalued pursuant to this
Agreement and after taking into account prior distributions made
pursuant to this clause (b));
(c)
Third, to each Member with Series B Convertible Preferred
Units and/or Series C Preferred Units ratably in proportion
to, and up to, the amount by which the Liquidation Preference
(without taking into account any distributions made pursuant to
clause (a) above) exceeds the Initial Liquidation Preference for
all of the Series B Convertible Preferred Units and/or
Series C Preferred Units owned by each such Member;
(d)
Fourth, to each Member with Series B Convertible Preferred
Units and/or Series C Preferred Units in proportion to, and up
to, the amount equal to the quotient of: (i) the product of
the Tax Rate Differential and the amount distributed to such Member
pursuant to clause (c) above, and (ii) the difference
between one (1) and the maximum marginal federal income and
New York State and New York City individual tax rate (including, to
the extent applicable, alternative minimum tax, if any) expressed
as a decimal (after taking into account prior distributions made
pursuant to this clause (d));
(e)
Fifth, to each Member with Series A Preferred Units in
proportion to, and up to, the sum of (i) the amount by which
the Liquidation Preference exceeds the Initial Liquidation
Preference for all of the Series A Preferred Units owned by
each such Member and (ii) the aggregate Unpaid Distribution
Amount for all of the Series A Preferred Units owned by each
such Member; and
(f)
Sixth, to each Member in proportion to the Percentage
Interests.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary above, if Available Cash is derived from a
transaction that occurs in connection with the dissolution,
termination and liquidation of the Company, any Available Cash that
is derived from or attributable to such a transaction shall be
distributed to the Members in accordance with
Section 13.3 . For purposes of this Agreement, the
Capital Contributions in respect of Series C Preferred Units
shall be deemed to be their Initial Liquidation Preference.
6.2
Amounts Withheld . Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, each Member hereby authorizes the
Company to withhold and to pay over, or otherwise pay, any
withholding or other taxes payable by the Company with respect to
such Member as a result of such Member’s participation in the
Company. If and to the extent that the Company shall be required to
withhold or pay any such taxes, such Member shall be deemed for all
purposes of this Agreement to have received a payment from the
Company as of the time such withholding or tax is paid, which
payment shall be deemed to be a distribution with respect to such
Member’s Units or Preferred Units to the extent that the
Member (or any successor to such Member’s Units or Preferred
Units) is entitled to receive a distribution. Any withholdings
authorized by this Section 6.2 shall be made at the maximum
applicable statutory rate under the applicable tax law unless the
Company shall have received an opinion of counsel or other
22
evidence
satisfactory to the Management Committee to the effect that a lower
rate is applicable, or that no withholding is applicable.
6.3
Excess Distributions . To the extent that the aggregate of
actual and deemed distributions to a Member under this
Article VI for any period exceeds the distributions to
which such Member is entitled for such period, the amount of such
excess shall be considered an amount upon which the Company shall
pay a preferred return to all other Members, in proportion to the
As-Converted Percentage Interests of such other Members, until such
excess has been repaid to the Company by the Member receiving such
excess distribution, which repayment shall be made out of
distributions to which such Member would otherwise be subsequently
entitled if the Member does not otherwise repay such excess. The
preferred return payable under this Section 6.3 shall
be seven and one-half percent (7.5%) per annum, accruing from and
after the date on which such excess is distributed. Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if an excess
distribution or advance distribution made to a Member or a
shortfall tax distribution as calculated under
Section 6.4(c) remains outstanding when such Member or
any other Member disposes of its interest in the Company, by
transfer, liquidation, conversion into stock of RPH or otherwise, a
payment by such Member or an adjustment to such other
Member’s Units shall be made to settle the outstanding
amount; provided, that, any adjustment to the Member’s Units
in the Company will be made in Series A Preferred Units to
ensure that the Reid Members, collectively, own at least 51% of the
common equity in the Company.
6.4
Tax Distributions .
(a)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.1
, the Management Committee shall cause the Company from time to
time to distribute to (x) RPH and Franklin (and to an option
holder or transferee who becomes a Member as a result of option
exercise or Unit transfer) an amount equal to the excess of
(i) the amount by which the cumulative Company Estimated Net
Taxable Income (defined below) for the applicable Fiscal Year (or
portion thereof) to which such distribution relates which is
allocable to such Member exceeds the cumulative Company Estimated
Net Taxable Income allocated to such Member from prior Fiscal Years
(provided such amount shall not be below zero), multiplied by the
actual effective federal and state and local tax rates (including,
to the extent applicable, alternative minimum tax, if any)
applicable to the relevant corporation or individual, as the case
may be, in effect during the Fiscal Year to which such distribution
relates, over (ii) the sum of distributions already made to
such Member during the relevant Fiscal Year, and (y) the
Vestar Entities an amount equal to the excess of (i) the
amount by which the cumulative Company Estimated Net Taxable Income
for the applicable Fiscal Year (or portion thereof) to which such
distribution relates which is allocable in the aggregate to the
Vestar Entities exceeds the cumulative Company Estimated Net
Taxable Income allocated to such Members from prior Fiscal Years,
multiplied by the maximum marginal federal income and New York
State and New York City individual tax rate (including, to the
extent applicable, alternative minimum tax, if any) in effect
during the Fiscal Year to which such distribution relates, over
(ii) the sum of distributions already made in the aggregate to the
Vestar Entities during the relevant Fiscal Year (distributions
under (i) or (ii) being referred to herein as “
Tax Distributions ”). For these purposes, “
Company Estimated Net Taxable Income ” means
(Y) the estimate of the aggregate amount of items of taxable
income and gain of
\
23
the Company for
the applicable Fiscal Year (or portion thereof) to which such
distribution relates, minus (Z) the estimate of the aggregate
amount of items of taxable deduction and loss for such Fiscal Year
(or portion thereof) to which such distribution relates. The
Management Committee shall determine the Company Estimated Net
Taxable Income and each Member’s allocable share of Company
Estimated Net Taxable Income. For purposes of calculating
RPH’s or Franklin’s actual effective tax rates, all
other non-Company items of income, deduction, gain, loss and
credits available to such Member shall be taken into account. The
Members acknowledge and agree that the sole purpose of this
Section 6.4(a) is to enable the Company to distribute
sufficient cash to each Member to permit each Member to timely
satisfy its estimated income tax obligations, if any, arising from
the Member’s allocable share of the Company’s taxable
income. The Manager shall make such distributions on or about
April 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15
of each year and/or on any other date that similarly coincides with
the due date of any estimated income tax obligation of any Member.
The provisions of this Section 6.4(a) shall apply to
taxable income allocated to the Members as a result of a final
adjustment by a taxing authority to the Company’s taxable
income; provided, that, no Tax Distribution shall be made to
Franklin as a result of the disallowance of the current deduction
claimed by the Company for the bond tender premium paid in
connection with the redemption of the PCI Notes; provided, further,
that any Tax Distribution made to RPH or a Vestar Entity as a
result of such disallowance shall not be deemed an advance
distribution as provided in Section 6.4(b) and thus not
subject to the provisions of Section 6.4(d) ; provided,
further, that amounts that would otherwise be payable as subsequent
Tax Distributions to Franklin shall be deemed paid in an amount
equal to the Tax Distributions made to RPH and the Vestar Entities
as a result of such disallowance, but in the event of a final
adjustment by a taxing authority disallowing the deduction of the
bond tender premium claimed by Franklin, any amounts that Franklin
would have received as Tax Distributions but for the deemed payment
described above shall be paid to it and Franklin shall receive a
Tax Distribution both in accordance with Section 6.4(a)
as a result of the disallowance of the current deduction claimed by
the Company for the bond tender premium. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Section 6.4 , an option holder
who becomes a Member as a result of exercise is not entitled to a
Tax Distribution relating to compensatory income allocated pursuant
to Section 5.5 of this Agreement from the Company to
such option holder as a result of such option exercise.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 6.4 , no Tax Distributions shall be made in
excess of the amounts permitted under the Senior Secured Indenture
and the Subordinated Indenture.
(b) For
purposes of this Agreement, amounts distributed to the Members
pursuant to Section 6.4(a) shall be deemed to be
advance distributions of amounts to be distributed pursuant to
Section 6.1 .
(c) If
either the Reid Members (taken as a group) or the Suiza Members
(taken as a group) receive an actual Tax Distribution for the year
in an amount less than such group’s Adjusted Tax Distribution
Amount, then such shortfall tax distribution will be subject to the
provisions of Section 6.4(d) . A group’s “
Adjusted Tax Distribution Amount ”, for purposes of
this clause is equal to (y) the larger of the Tax Distribution
Amount for the Reid Members (taken as a group) and the Suiza
Members (taken as a
24
group)
multiplied by (z) the sum of the As-Converted Percentage
Interest for all Members of such group. Tax Distribution Amount for
each group is determined by dividing the actual aggregate Tax
Distributions made to such group by the sum of the As-Converted
Percentage Interests of the Members of such group.
(d) In
the case of a shortfall tax distribution as computed under
Section 6.4(c) , the amount of such shortfall shall be
considered an amount upon which the Company shall pay a preferred
return to the Member of such group holding Preferred Units (the
“ Tax Shortfall Member ”) until such shortfall
has been repaid to the Company by the Members of the other group
(the “ Tax Target Group ”), which repayment
shall be made out of distributions to which the Tax Target Members
would otherwise be subsequently entitled unless the Members agree
to settle the outstanding amounts through payments. The preferred
return payable under this Section 6.4(d) shall be seven
and one-half percent (7.5%) per annum, accruing from and after the
date on which such shortfall tax distribution is created.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
7.1
Management Committee .
(a) The
Company shall be managed by a Management Committee consisting of
individuals (the “ Managers ”), a majority of
whom shall be appointed by Vestar Refinancing. Of the Managers
serving on the Management Committee, (i) at least four
Managers shall be appointed by Vestar Refinancing, (ii) two
Managers shall be appointed by Franklin, and (iii) one Manager
shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Vestar
Refinancing and Franklin shall have the right to remove and replace
those Managers appointed by them at any time effective immediately
upon written notice. Vestar Refinancing may designate one of the
Vestar Refinancing Managers as the Chairman of the Management
Committee, and such Manager will preside (when present) at all
meetings of the Management Committee. The Management Committee may
be expanded in size from time to time to add
“independent” Managers or, at the request of Vestar
Refinancing, B. Joseph Rokus. For each independent Manager added,
or if B. Joseph Rokus is added to the Management Committee, Vestar
Refinancing shall be entitled to appoint such additional Managers
as may be necessary to ensure that Vestar Refinancing is able to
designate a majority in number of the Managers. As of the date of
this Agreement, the Management Committee shall be comprised of nine
Managers: (i) the Vestar Refinancing Managers are Ronald V.
Davis, Leonard Lieberman, James P. Kelley and John R. Woodard, (ii)
the Franklin Managers are Richard Robinson and Ronald H. Klein,
(iii) Stephen E Macadam, the Chief Executive Officer, is
serving on the Management Committee, (iv) B. Joseph Rokus is
serving on the Management Committee at the request of Vestar
Refinancing, and (v) William G. Bell is serving on the Management
Committee as an “independent” member.
(b)
Subject to the rights expressly granted to the Members or to
particular Members hereunder, the Management Committee shall have
general powers of
25
supervision,
direction and control over the business of the Company. The
Management Committee shall have the general powers and duties
typically vested in the board of directors of a corporation and all
other powers and duties over the Company and its business, except
as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement.
(c) The
presence of Managers entitled to cast at least a majority of votes
shall be necessary to constitute a quorum at any meeting of the
Management Committee. Except as expressly provided with respect to
Major Decisions in Section 7.3 , any matter submitted
to a vote or consent of the Management Committee at which a quorum
is present may be approved by a majority of the votes represented
at such meeting. No Member or Manager, acting solely in its
capacity as a Member or Manager, shall have the power and authority
to act for and bind the Company with respect to any matter unless
such matter has been approved by the Management Committee as set
forth herein.
(d) Any
Manager may participate in a meeting through use of a conference
telephone, video conference or similar communication equipment, so
long as all Managers participating in the meeting can hear one
another, and any Manager participating in such manner will be
considered “present” at such meeting. Accurate minutes
of each meeting of the Management Committee shall be maintained by
a Manager or officer designated by the Management Committee for
that purpose.
(e)
Meetings of the Management Committee for any purpose may be called
at any time by any Manager. Unless waived as set forth below, at
least two Business Days notice of the time, place and general
subject matter of each meeting of the Management Committee shall be
delivered personally to each of the Managers or personally
communicated to them by another Manager or an officer of the
Company, and confirmed in writing by facsimile, or communicated by
FedEx or other comparable overnight courier service (receipt
requested). Notice shall be transmitted to the last known facsimile
number or address of the Manager as shown on the records of the
Company. Such notice as above provided shall be considered due,
legal and personal notice to such Manager. With respect to any
meeting not duly called or noticed in accordance with the foregoing
provisions, any transactions carried out at such meeting will be as
valid as if they had occurred at a meeting duly called and noticed
if: (i) all Managers are present at the meeting; or
(ii) those Managers not present at the meeting sign a waiver
of notice of such meeting, whether before or after the
meeting.
(f) Any
action required or permitted to be taken by the Management
Committee may be taken without a meeting and will have the same
force and effect as if taken by a vote of the Managers at a meeting
properly called and noticed, if authorized by a writing signed
individually or collectively by all, but not less than all, of the
Managers.
7.2
Major Decisions . The term “ Major Decision
” means any decision by the Management Committee with respect
to any of the following matters (other than in connection with the
exercise by the Reid Members of their rights under
Section 11.5 or 11.6 ):
(a)
issuing any Units or Preferred Units or any security, including any
indebtedness, convertible into Units or Preferred Units, or any
other form of equity in the
26
Company, other
than (i) granting options to management employees of the
Company to purchase up to 9.0% of the total Units on a fully
diluted basis, taking into account, for the purpose of the
denominator only, the Units initially issued and the options rolled
over from Franklin, (ii) issuing Units pursuant to the
exercise of such options, (iii) issuing Units pursuant to the
options held by certain employees of Franklin that have been
converted into options to acquire Units pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, (iv) issuing Series A Preferred Units pursuant
to Section 12.1 , (v) issuing Units and/or
Series C Preferred Units upon the conversion of outstanding
Series A Preferred Units or Series B Convertible
Preferred Units pursuant to Section 12.2(f) and
Section 12.4(e) or 12.4(f) , respectively, and
(vi) issuing Units or Preferred Units or any security,
including any indebtedness, convertible into Units or Preferred
Units, or any other form of equity in the Company, in one or more
private offerings (excluding any issuances referred to in (i),
(ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above) where the aggregate
purchase price for all such issuances does not exceed
$50 million;
(b)
accepting or requiring any Member to make any additional Capital
Contribution to the Company;
(c)
incurring indebtedness or entering into guarantees for borrowed
money (excluding trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of
business or refinancing of indebtedness incurred in connection with
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or borrowing
after the Closing Date under the Tranche C term loan facility or
the revolving credit facility included in the senior bank financing
of the Company on the Closing Date and refinancings thereof) in
excess of $80 million;
(d)
selling, leasing, pledging or granting a security interest or
encumbrance in all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets, except in connection with the incurrence of indebtedness
for borrowed money that does not involve a Major Decision under the
preceding paragraph;
(e)
acquiring (whether through an asset purchase, merger, equity
purchase or otherwise) any Plastics Operations or other assets
(excluding acquisitions of raw materials and supplies in the
ordinary course of business) having a value, individually or in the
aggregate for any series of related transactions, in excess of
$80 million;
(f)
selling or otherwise disposing of any Plastics Operations or other
assets (excluding sales or other dispositions of inventory in the
ordinary course of business) having a value, individually or in the
aggregate for any series of related transactions, in excess of
$80 million;
(g)
except as otherwise permitted in Section 7.6(b) or
Section 7.8 , entering into or amending any transaction
or agreement between the Company and a Member or an Affiliate of a
Member, including any amendment to the VCP Management
Agreement;
(h)
making any material election or other decision pursuant to
Section 5.4(c) , which relates to Code
Section 704(c);
(i) any
change in the purpose or scope of the Company pursuant to
Article III ;
27
(j)
amending or granting a waiver with respect to this Agreement;
(k)
authorizing any consolidation, dissolution, or liquidation of the
Company or any merger in which the Company does not survive, other
than pursuant to an Initial Public Offering;
(l)
converting the Company into a corporation, other than pursuant to
an Initial Public Offering;
(m)
executing or delivering any assignment for the benefit of creditors
of the Company;
(n)
filing any voluntary petition in bankruptcy or receivership with
respect to the Company;
(o)
authorizing the payment in cash of distributions on the
Series A Preferred Units under Section 12.2(b)
;
(p)
authorizing the optional redemption of Series A Preferred
Units under Section 12.2(c) ; or
(q)
entering into any agreement with any Person that would afford such
Person priority over any of Suiza Foods, Franklin, any Reid Member
or any other person contemplated to be a party to the Registration
Rights Agreement with regard to the exercise of incidental
registration rights pursuant to Section 2.2(a) and 2.2(b) of
the Registration Rights Agreement, except as provided in the form
of registration rights agreement referenced in
Section 12.5(e) .
7.3
Approval of Major Decisions . Notwithstanding any contrary
provisions of Section 7.1:
(a) Any
Major Decision must be approved by the affirmative vote of not less
than a majority of the Managers present and entitled to vote at a
meeting of the Management Committee at which a quorum is present.
Such affirmative vote shall include (i) the vote of the
Franklin Manager specifically designated by Suiza Foods from time
to time for approval of Major Decisions, who shall initially be
Richard Robinson, and (ii) the vote of the Vestar Refinancing
Manager specifically designated by Vestar Refinancing from time to
time for approval of Major Decisions, who shall initially be James
P. Kelley.
(b)
Section 7.2 and the requirement for the affirmative
vote of the Franklin Manager described in
Section 7.3(a)(i) shall not apply from and after the
date of the first to occur of the following events: (i) a
Change in Control of Suiza Foods, (ii) an Initial Public Offering
or (iii) Suiza Members, collectively, hold less than 10% of
the As-Converted Percentage Interests.
(c)
Section 7.2 and the requirement for the affirmative
vote of the Vestar Refinancing Manager described in
Section 7.3(a)(ii) shall not apply from and after the
date of the first to occur of the following events: (i) a
Change in Control of Vestar
28
Refinancing,
(ii) an Initial Public Offering or (iii) Reid Members,
collectively, hold less than 10% of the As-Converted Percentage
Interests.
7.4
Officers . The officers of the Company shall include a
President, a Secretary and such other officers as the Management
Committee in its discretion may appoint, and such officers will
have any powers delegated to them by the Management Committee
(subject to any limitations on the authority of the Management
Committee set forth in this Agreement).
7.5
Certificate of Formation . The President or another officer
of the Company shall cause to be filed at the Company’s
expense such certificates or documents (including, without
limitation, copies, renewals, amendments or restatements of the
Certificate) as may be determined by such officer to be reasonable
and necessary or appropriate for the formation or qualification and
operation of a limited liability company in the State of Delaware
and in any other state in which the Company may elect to do
business.
7.6
Compensation and Reimbursement of Member Expenses .
(a)
Except as provided in Section 7.6(b) , no Member, other
than the Individual Members, shall be compensated for any services
rendered to the Company by such Member or its designees on the
Management Committee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Agreement, each Member shall be reimbursed for out-of-pocket
expenses that such Member makes for or on behalf of the Company, to
the extent such expenses are authorized by the Management
Committee.
(b)
Vestar Entities or their Affiliates will perform certain advisory
services for the Company pursuant to the VCP Management
Agreement.
7.7
Outside Activities; Noncompetition .
(a)
Subject to Section 7.7(b) , (c) and (d) ,
a Member, any Affiliate of a Member, and any director, officer,
partner, or employee of a Member or any Affiliate thereof, may have
business interests and engage in business activities in addition to
those relating to the Company and may engage in any businesses and
activities for its own account and for the accounts of others
without having or incurring any obligation to offer any interest in
or funds from such properties, businesses or activities to the
Company or any Member, and no other provision of this Agreement
shall be deemed to prohibit the Members or any such other Person
from conducting such other businesses and activities. Neither the
Company nor any Member shall have any rights by virtue of this
Agreement or the limited liability company relationship created
hereby in any business ventures of any other Member or any
Affiliate of any such Member or any director, officer, partner, or
employee of any other Member or any Affiliate thereof.
(b)
Neither Suiza Foods, nor the Suiza Member, nor any Controlled
Affiliates of Suiza Foods or the Suiza Member (collectively, the
“ Suiza Affiliates ”) may, directly or
indirectly, operate or acquire any interest in a business or
operation that (i) manufactures or sells (A) plastic packaging
products that are substantially similar to the products then
manufactured or sold by any of the Suiza Companies or the Reid
Companies (prior to the Closing Date) and the Company and its
subsidiaries (after the Closing Date) (collectively,
29
the “
Principal Companies ”) or (B) plastic bottles for
dairy, water, juice or other beverages and (ii) sells such
products in a common geographic market as the substantially similar
products then sold by the Principal Companies or in any Proposed
Geographic Market (collectively, a “ Competing
Business ”); provided that:
(i)
nothing in this Section 7.7(b) shall restrict
(A) the continued ownership or operation in the ordinary
course of business of Neva Plastics, Inc. in Puerto Rico,
(B) the operations conducted by Controlled Affiliates of Suiza
Foods that manufacture plastic packaging products solely for their
own use, or (C) subject to the terms and conditions of the Supply
Agreement, the acquisition of a Competing Business which generated
50% or less of the revenues of the total enterprise being acquired
by the Suiza Affiliate for the twelve months preceding such
acquisition; provided that, for purposes of this subsection (c),
within six months of such acquisition the Suiza Affiliate offers to
sell to the Company the Competing Business and agrees to work in
good faith to establish a mutually acceptable purchase price for
the Competing Business, or if a mutually acceptable purchase price
is not agreed upon, the Suiza Affiliate transfers the Competing
Business to an unaffiliated third party within twelve months of the
acquisition; and
(ii)
this Section 7.7(b) shall be of no force or effect from
and after the later of the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date
and the date on which the Suiza Members and their Controlled
Affiliates, in the aggregate, cease to own 10% or more of the Units
both on a currently outstanding basis and on a fully diluted
basis.
(c)
Neither RPH nor any of its Affiliates (excluding the Company and
its subsidiaries) may, directly or indirectly, engage or
participate in any Plastics Operations in the United States, Mexico
and any other country in which any of the Principal Companies does
business; provided that this Section 7.7(c) shall be of
no force or effect from and after the later of the fifth
anniversary of the Closing Date and the date on which the Vestar
Entities and RPH and their Controlled Affiliates, in the aggregate,
cease to own 10% or more of the Units both on a currently
outstanding basis and on a fully diluted basis.
(d) Entities Controlled by Vestar Equity Partners, L.P. or VCP or
any merchant banking fund or other entity Controlled by Vestar
Equity Partners, L.P. or VCP or by the Controlling Persons of
Vestar Equity Partners, L.P. or VCP (collectively, the “
VCP Affiliates ”) shall not, directly or indirectly,
(x) acquire a Controlling interest in any Competing Business,
or (y) after the date hereof, make an equity investment valued
at the time of investment at $75 million or more in, any
Competing Business; provided that:
(i)
nothing in this Section 7.7(d) shall restrict
(A) the continued ownership or operation in the ordinary
course of business of Russell Stanley Holdings, Inc. and its
subsidiaries and their respective transferees and successors
(collectively, “ Russell-Stanley ”), or
(B) any action taken or transaction effected by
Russell-Stanley or by Russell-Stanley’s Affiliates in respect
of Russell-Stanley
30
if immediately
following such action or transaction Russell-Stanley is not
Controlled by the VCP Affiliates;
(ii)
nothing in this Section 7.7(d) shall restrict any
acquisition of a Competing Business that (A) generated less
than $25 million in revenues for the twelve months preceding
such acquisition; provided that in no event shall any VCP Affiliate
acquire any enterprise with respect to which a Competing Business
generated more than 50% of the revenues of the total enterprise
being acquired by the VCP Affiliate for the twelve months preceding
such acquisition, or (B) generated 50% or less of the revenues of
the total enterprise being acquired by the VCP Affiliate for the
twelve months preceding such acquisition; provided that within six
months of such acquisition the VCP Affiliate offers to sell to the
Company the Competing Business and agrees to work in good faith to
establish a mutually acceptable purchase price for the Competing
Business, or if a mutually acceptable purchase price is not agreed
upon, the VCP Affiliate transfers the Competing Business to an
unaffiliated third party within twelve
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