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Exhibit
10.18
BREA IV L.L.C.
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 31,
2007
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page |
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
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SECTION 1.1.
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Definitions
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1 |
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SECTION
1.2.
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Terms Generally
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10 |
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ARTICLE II GENERAL
PROVISIONS
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SECTION
2.1.
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Managing, Regular and Special
Members
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10 |
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SECTION
2.2.
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Formation; Name; Foreign
Jurisdictions
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10 |
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SECTION
2.3.
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Term
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10 |
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SECTION
2.4.
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Purpose; Powers
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10 |
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SECTION
2.5.
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Place of Business
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12 |
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ARTICLE III MANAGEMENT
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SECTION
3.1.
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Managing Member
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12 |
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SECTION
3.2.
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Member Voting, etc
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12 |
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SECTION
3.3.
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Management
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13 |
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SECTION
3.4.
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Responsibilities of Members
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15 |
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SECTION
3.5.
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Exculpation and
Indemnification
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16 |
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SECTION
3.6.
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Tax Representation
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17 |
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ARTICLE IV CAPITAL OF THE
COMPANY
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SECTION
4.1.
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Capital Contributions by
Members
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17 |
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SECTION
4.2.
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Interest
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23 |
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SECTION
4.3.
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Withdrawals of Capital
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23 |
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ARTICLE V PARTICIPATION IN PROFITS
AND LOSSES
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SECTION
5.1.
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General Accounting Matters
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23 |
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SECTION
5.2.
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Capital Accounts
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25 |
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SECTION
5.3.
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Profit Sharing Percentages
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25 |
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SECTION
5.4.
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Allocations of Net Income
(Loss)
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26 |
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SECTION
5.5.
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Liability of Members
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27 |
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SECTION
5.6.
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[Intentionally omitted.]
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27 |
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SECTION
5.7.
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Repurchase Rights, etc
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27 |
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SECTION
5.8.
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Distributions
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27 |
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SECTION
5.9.
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Business Expenses
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32 |
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ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL MEMBERS;
WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS; SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF COMPANY
INTERESTS; TERMINATION
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SECTION
6.1.
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Additional Members
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33 |
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SECTION
6.2.
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Withdrawal of Members
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33 |
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SECTION
6.3.
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Company Interests Not
Transferable
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34 |
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SECTION
6.4.
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Consequences upon Withdrawal of a
Member
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34 |
i
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SECTION 6.5.
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Satisfaction and Discharge of a
Withdrawn Member’s Interest
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35 |
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SECTION
6.6.
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Dissolution of the Company
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39 |
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SECTION
6.7.
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Certain Tax Matters
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39 |
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SECTION
6.8.
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Special Basis Adjustments
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40 |
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ARTICLE
VII MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION
7.1.
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Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of
Jury Trial
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41 |
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SECTION
7.2.
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Ownership and Use of the Company
Name
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42 |
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SECTION
7.3.
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Written Consent
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42 |
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SECTION
7.4.
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Letter Agreements; Schedules
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42 |
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SECTION
7.5.
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Governing Law; Separability of
Provisions
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42 |
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SECTION
7.6.
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Successors and Assigns
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42 |
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SECTION
7.7.
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Confidentiality
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43 |
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SECTION
7.8.
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Notices
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43 |
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SECTION
7.9.
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Counterparts
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43 |
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SECTION 7.10.
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Power of Attorney
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43 |
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SECTION
7.11.
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Member’s Will
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43 |
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SECTION
7.12.
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Cumulative Remedies
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44 |
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SECTION
7.13.
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Legal Fees
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44 |
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SECTION
7.14.
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Entire Agreement
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44 |
ii
BREA IV
L.L.C.
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of BREA IV L.L.C. (the “
Company ”), dated as of May 31, 2007, by and
among Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(the “ Managing Member ” or “
Holdings ”), the other members of the Company as
provided on the signature pages hereto, and such other persons that
are admitted to the Company as members after the date hereof in
accordance herewith.
W I T N E S S E T
H
WHEREAS, the Company was
formed under the LLC Act (defined below) pursuant to a certificate
of formation filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware on August 5, 2002;
WHEREAS, the original limited
liability company agreement of the Company was executed as of
August 5, 2002 (the “ Original Operating
Agreement ”);
WHEREAS, the Original
Operating Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by the
Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as
of September 9, 2002, of the Company (as amended to date, the
“ First Amended and Restated Operating Agreement
”); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto
now wish to amend and restate the First Amended and Restated
Operating Agreement in its entirety as of the date hereof and as
more fully set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1. Definitions .
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall
have the following meanings for purposes of this
Agreement:
“ Affiliate
” when used with reference to another person means any person
(other than the Company), directly or indirectly, through one or
more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with, such other person.
“ Agreement
” means this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement, as it may be further amended, supplemented,
restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ Alternative
Vehicle ” means any investment vehicle or structure
formed pursuant to paragraph 2.7.1 of the BREP IV Partnership
Agreement or any other “Alternative Investment Vehicle”
(as defined in any other BREP IV Agreements).
“ Applicable
Collateral Percentage ” shall have the meaning with
respect to any Firm Collateral and any Special Firm Collateral, in
each case, as set forth on the books and records of the Company
with respect thereto.
“ BCP ”
means Blackstone Capital Partners L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and any investment vehicle established in accordance
with the terms of Blackstone Capital Partners L.P.’s
partnership agreement to invest in lieu of Blackstone Capital
Partners L.P. on behalf of one or more of the partners
thereof".
1
“ BCP II ”
means Blackstone Capital Partners II Merchant Banking Fund L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership formerly known as Blackstone Domestic
Capital Partners II L.P., Blackstone Offshore Capital Partners
II L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and any
investment vehicle established pursuant to paragraph 2.7 of
the respective partnership agreement of either of such
partnerships.
“ BCP III
” means Blackstone Capital Partners III Merchant Banking Fund
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Blackstone Offshore Capital
Partners III L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership,
and any other investment vehicle or structure formed to invest in
lieu thereof (in whole or in part).
“ BCP IV ”
is the collective reference to Blackstone Capital Partners IV L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership, and any other investment vehicle or
structure formed to invest in lieu thereof (in whole or in
part).
“ BFREP IV
” means Blackstone Family Real Estate Partnership IV L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership.
“ Blackstone Capital
Commitment ” has the meaning set forth in the BREP IV
Partnership Agreement.
“ Blackstone
Co-Investment Rights ” has the meaning set forth in the
BREP IV Partnership Agreement.
“ BREA IV
” means Blackstone Real Estate Associates IV L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership.
“ BRECA IV
” means Blackstone Real Estate Capital Associates IV L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership, and any other partnership or other
entity with terms substantially similar to the terms of that
partnership and formed after the date hereof in connection with the
indirect participation by one or more partners thereof who receive
Carried Interest.
“ BRECA IV
Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Blackstone Real Estate Capital
Associates IV L.P., dated as of the date hereof, as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and any other
BRECA IV partnership agreement.
“ BREH IV
” means Blackstone Real Estate Holdings IV L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership.
“ BREMA IV
” means Blackstone Real Estate Management Associates IV L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership, whose general partner is the
Company. BREMA IV is the general partner of Blackstone Real Estate
Associates IV L.P.
“ BREMA IV
Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Blackstone Real Estate
Management Associates IV L.P., dated as of the date hereof, as it
may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.
2
“ BREP IV”
means (i) Blackstone Real Estate Partners IV L.P., Blackstone
Real Estate Partners IV.TE.1 L.P. and Blackstone Real Estate
Partners IV.F L.P., each a Delaware limited partnership,
(ii) any other Parallel Funds or other Supplemental Capital
Vehicles (each as defined in the BREP IV Partnership Agreement), or
(iii) any other investment vehicle established pursuant to
Article 2 of the respective partnership agreements for any of the
partnerships referred to in clause (i) above.
“ BREP IV
Agreements ” means the BREP IV Partnership Agreement and
any other BREP IV partnership agreements.
“ BREP IV
Investment ” means the Company's indirect interest in a
specific BREP IV investment pursuant to the BREP IV Partnership
Agreement in its capacity as an indirect partner of BREP
IV.
“ BREP IV
Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated
Agreements of Limited Partnership, each dated as of the date
hereof, of the partnerships referred to in clause (i) of the
definition of “BREP IV” in this Article I, as each of
such agreements may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time.
“ Carried
Interest ” shall mean (i) distributions to the
general partner of BREP IV pursuant to paragraphs 4.2.1(c) and (d),
paragraphs 4.2.2(c) and (d) and paragraph 4.2.7 of the BREP IV
Partnership Agreement (or similar provisions of investment vehicles
formed after the date hereof) and (ii) any other carried
interest payable pursuant to the BREP IV Partnership Agreement. In
the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, except as
determined by the Managing Member, the amount shall not be less any
costs, fees and expenses of the Company with respect thereto and
less reasonable reserves for payment of costs, fees and expenses of
the Company that are anticipated with respect thereto (in each case
which the Managing Member may allocate among all or any portion of
the Investments as it determines in good faith is
appropriate).
“ Carried Interest
Give Back Percentage ” shall mean, for any Member or
Withdrawn Member, subject to Section 5.8, the percentage
determined by dividing (A) the aggregate amount of
distributions received by such Member or Withdrawn Member from the
Company, any Other Fund GPs or their Affiliates, excluding
Holdings, in respect of Carried Interest by (B) the aggregate
amount of distributions made to all Members, Withdrawn Members or
any other person by the Company, any Other Fund GP or their
Affiliates (in any capacity), excluding Holdings, in respect of
Carried Interest. For purposes of determining “Carried
Interest Give Back Percentage” hereunder, all Trust Amounts
contributed to the Trust by the Company, Other Fund GPs or their
Affiliates on behalf of a Member or Withdrawn Member (but not the
Trust Income thereon) shall be deemed to have been initially
distributed or paid to the Members and Withdrawn Members as members
or partners of the Company, any of the Other Fund GPs or their
Affiliates.
“ Carried Interest
Sharing Percentage ” means, with respect to each
Investment, the percentage interest of a Member in Carried Interest
from such Investment set forth in the books and records of the
Company.
“ Cause ”
means the occurrence or existence of any of the following with
respect to any Member, as determined fairly, reasonably, on an
informed basis and in good faith by the Managing Member: (i)
(w) any breach by any Member of any provision of any
non-competition agreement, (x) any material breach of this
Agreement or any rules or regulations applicable to such Member
that are established by the Managing Member, (y) such
Member’s deliberate failure to perform his or her duties to
the Company, or (z) such Member’s committing to or
engaging in
3
any conduct or behavior that
is or may be harmful to the Company in a material way as determined
by the Managing Member; provided, that in the case of any of
the foregoing clauses (w), (x), (y) and (z), the Managing
Member has given such Member written notice (a “Notice of
Breach”) within fifteen days after the Managing Member
becomes aware of such action and such Member fails to cure such
breach, failure to perform or conduct or behavior within fifteen
days after receipt of such Notice of Breach from the Managing
Member (or such longer period, not to exceed an additional fifteen
days, as shall be reasonably required for such cure, provided that
such Member is diligently pursuing such cure); (ii) any act of
fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty, embezzlement or similar
conduct against the Company; or (iii) conviction (on the basis
of a trial or by an accepted plea of guilty or nolo
contendere ) of a felony or crime (including any misdemeanor
charge involving moral turpitude, false statements or misleading
omissions, forgery, wrongful taking, embezzlement, extortion or
bribery), or a determination by a court of competent jurisdiction,
by a regulatory body or by a self-regulatory body having authority
with respect to securities laws, rules or regulations of the
applicable securities industry, that such Member individually has
violated any applicable securities laws or any rules or regulations
thereunder, or any rules of any such self-regulatory body
(including, without limitation, any licensing requirement), if such
conviction or determination has a material adverse effect on
(A) such Member’s ability to function as a Member of the
Company, taking into account the services required of such Member
and the nature of the Company’s business, or (B) the
business of the Company.
“ Charitable
Organization ” means an organization described in
Section 170(c) of the Code (without regard to
Section 17(c)(2)(A) thereof).
“ Class A
Interest ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8.
“ Class B
Interest ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8.
“ Clawback
Adjustment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(e)(ii)(C).
“ Clawback
Amount ” shall mean the “Clawback Amount” and
the “Interim Clawback Amount”, both as set forth in
Article One of the BREP IV Partnership Agreement and any other
clawback amount payable to the limited partners of BREP IV pursuant
to any BREP IV Partnership Agreement, as applicable.
“ Clawback
Provisions ” shall mean paragraphs 4.2.9 and 9.2.8 of the
BREP IV Partnership Agreement and any other similar provisions in
any other BREP IV Agreement existing heretofore or hereafter
entered into.
“ Code ”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor statute. Any reference herein to a
particular provision of the Code shall mean, where appropriate, the
corresponding provision in any successor statute.
“ Commitment
”, with respect to any Member, has the meaning set forth in
such Member’s Commitment Agreement or SMD
Agreement.
“ Commitment
Agreements ” means a commitment agreement by which a
Member has committed to fund certain amounts with respect to the
BREP IV Investments and certain expenses of BREP IV.
“ Company
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
4
“ Contingent
” means subject to repurchase rights and/or other
requirements.
“ Deceased
Member ” shall mean any Member or Withdrawn Member who
has died or who suffers from Incompetence. For purposes hereof,
references to a Deceased Member shall refer collectively to the
Deceased Member and the estate and heirs or legal representative of
such Deceased Member, as the case may be, that have received such
Deceased Member’s interest in the Company.
“ Defaulting
Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(d)(ii)(A).
“ Default Interest
Rate ” shall mean the lower of (i) the sum of
(a) the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from
time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, a New York banking
corporation, as its prime rate and (b) 5%, or (ii) the
highest rate of interest permitted under applicable law.
“ Deficiency
Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(d)(ii)(A).
“ Disposable
Investment ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(a).
“ Estate Planning
Vehicle ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.3.
“ Excess
Holdback ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(v)(A).
“ Excess Holdback
Percentage ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(v)(A).
“ Excess Tax-Related
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(e).
“ Existing
Member ” shall mean any Member who is neither a Retaining
Withdrawn Member nor a Deceased Member.
“ Firm
Collateral ” shall mean a Member’s or Withdrawn
Member’s interest in one or more partnerships or limited
liability companies, in either case affiliated with the Company,
and certain other assets of such Member or Withdrawn Member, in
each case that has been pledged or made available to the Trustee(s)
to satisfy all or any portion of the Excess Holdback of such Member
or Withdrawn Member as more fully described in the Company’s
books and records; provided , that for all purposes hereof
(and any other agreement ( e.g. , the Trust Agreement) that
incorporates the meaning of the term “Firm Collateral”
by reference), references to “Firm Collateral” shall
include “Special Firm Collateral”, excluding references
to “Firm Collateral” in Section 4.1(d)(v) and
Section 4.1(d)(viii).
“ Firm Collateral
Realization ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(v)(B) with respect to Firm Collateral, and
Section 4.1(d)(viii)(B) with respect to Special Firm
Collateral.
“ Fiscal Year
” shall mean a calendar year, or any other period chosen by
the Managing Member.
“ Fund GP
” means the Company and the Other Fund GPs.
“ GAAP ”
has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(b).
“ Giveback
” shall mean an “Investment - Specific Giveback”,
as such term is defined in the BREP IV Partnership
Agreement.
5
“ Giveback
Amount ” shall mean an “Investment - Specific
Giveback Amount”, as such term is defined in the BREP IV
Partnership Agreement.
“ Giveback
Provisions ” shall mean paragraph 3.4.3 of the BREP IV
Partnership Agreement and any other similar provisions in any other
BREP IV Agreement existing heretofore or hereafter entered
into.
“ Holdback
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(i).
“ Holdback
Percentage ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(i).
“ Holdback Vote
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(iv)(A).
“ Holdings
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
“ Incompetence
” means, with respect to any Member, determination by the
Managing Member in its sole discretion, after consultation with a
qualified medical doctor, that such Member is incompetent to manage
his person or his property.
“ Inflation
Index ” means (i) the GNP deflator, which is the
fixed-weighted price index representing the average change in the
United States gross national product as published in the Survey of
Current Business by the National Income and Wealth Division of the
Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce, or
(ii) such other index measuring changes in economic prices in
the United States as shall be selected by the Managing
Member.
“ Initial Holdback
Percentages ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(i).
“ Interest
” means a limited liability company interest (as defined in
§ 18-101(8) of the LLC Act) in the Company, including those
that are held by a Retaining Withdrawn Member.
“ Investment
” means any investment (direct or indirect) of the Company
designated by the Managing Member from time to time as an
investment in which the Members’ respective interests shall
be established and accounted for on a basis separate from the
Company’s other businesses, activities and investments,
including BREP IV Investments.
“ Investor Special
Member ” means any Special Member so designated at the
time of its admission by the Managing Member as a Member of the
Company.
“ L/C ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(d)(vi).
“ L/C Member
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(vi).
“ LLC Act
” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6
Del.C. § 18-101, et seq. , as it may
be amended from time to time, and any successor to such
Act.
“ Loss Amount
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(e)(i)(A).
“ Loss
Investment ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(e)(i).
“ Majority in
Interest of the Members ” on any date (a “ vote
date ”) means one or more persons who are Members
(including the Managing Member but excluding Nonvoting Special
Members) on the vote date and who, as of the last day of the most
recent accounting period
6
ending on or prior to the
vote date (or as of such later date on or prior to the vote date
selected by the Managing Member as of which the Members’
capital account balances can be determined), have aggregate capital
account balances representing at least a majority in amount of the
total capital account balances of all the persons who are Members
(including the Managing Member but excluding Nonvoting Special
Members) on the vote date.
“ Managing
Member ” has the meaning specified in the preamble
hereto.
“ Member ”
means any person who is a member of the Company, including the
Regular Members, the Managing Member and the Special Members.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, no group of
Members, including the Special Members and any group of Members in
the same Member Category, shall have any right to vote as a class
on any matter relating to the Company, including, but not limited
to, any merger, reorganization, dissolution or
liquidation.
“ Member
Category ” shall mean the Managing Member, Existing
Members, Retaining Withdrawn Members or Deceased Members, each
referred to as a group for purposes hereof.
“ Moody’s
” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc., or any
successor thereto.
“ Net Carried
Interest Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(d)(i)(C).
“ Net Carried
Interest Distribution Recontribution Amount ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 5.8(e)(i).
“ Net Income
(Loss) ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.1(b).
“ Net Recontribution
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(d)(i)(A).
“ Non-Carried
Interest ” means, with respect to each Investment, all
amounts of distributions, other than Carried Interest, received by
the Company with respect to such Investment, less any costs, fees
and expenses of the Company with respect thereto and less
reasonable reserves for payment of costs, fees and expenses of the
Company that are anticipated with respect thereto, in each case
which the Managing Member may allocate to all or any portion of the
Investments as it may determine in good faith is appropriate.
!
“ Non-Carried
Interest Sharing Percentage ” means, with respect to each
Investment, the percentage interest of a Member in Non-Carried
Interest from such Investment set forth in the books and records of
the Company.
“ Non-Contingent
” means generally not subject to repurchase rights or other
requirements.
“ Nonvoting Special
Member ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.1(a).
“ Other Fund GPs
” means BREMA IV, BREA IV, BRECA IV, and any other entity
(other than the Company) through which any Member, Withdrawn Member
or any other person directly receives any amounts of Carried
Interest, and any successor thereto; provided , that this
includes any other entity which has in its organizational documents
a provision which indicates that it is a “Fund GP” or
an “Other Fund GP”; provided further ,
that notwithstanding any of the foregoing, none of Holdings, any
estate planning vehicle established for the benefit of
family
7
members of any Member or any
member or partner of any Other Fund GP shall be considered an
“Other Fund GP” for purposes hereof; provided
further , that the foregoing exclusion of such estate
planning vehicles shall in no way limit such Members' obligations
pursuant to Section 5.8(d).
“ Parallel Fund
” means any additional collective investment vehicles (or
other similar arrangements) formed pursuant to paragraph 2.8 of the
BREP IV Partnership Agreement.
“ Profit Sharing
Percentage ” means the “Carried Interest Sharing
Percentage” and “Non-Carried Interest Sharing
Percentage” of each Member; provided , that any
references in this Agreement to Profit Sharing Percentages made
(a) in connection with voting or voting rights or
(b) capital contributions with respect to Investments shall
mean the “Non-Carried Interest Sharing Percentage” of
each Member; provided further , that any reference in
this Agreement to Profit Sharing Percentages that specifically
refers to Net Income unrelated to BREP IV shall continue to refer
to the amount of each Member’s percentage interest in a
category of Net Income (Loss) established by the Managing Member
from time to time pursuant to Section 5.3.
“ Qualifying
Fund ” means any fund designated by the Managing Member
as a “Qualifying Fund”.
“ Recontribution
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(d)(i)(A).
“ Regular Member
” shall mean any Member, but excluding the Managing Member
and any Special Member.
“ Repurchase
Period ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(c).
“ Required
Rating ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(vi).
“ Retaining
Withdrawn Member ” shall mean a Withdrawn Member who has
retained an Interest, pursuant to Section 6.5(f) or otherwise.
A Retaining Withdrawn Member shall be considered a Nonvoting
Special Member for all purposes hereof.
“ Securities
” means any debt or equity securities of an Issuer and its
subsidiaries and other Controlled Entities constituting part of an
Investment, including without limitation common and preferred stock
and interests in limited partnerships or limited liability
companies (including warrants, rights, put and call options and
other options relating thereto or any combination thereof), notes,
bonds, debentures, trust receipts and other obligations,
instruments or evidences of indebtedness, choses in action, other
property or interests commonly regarded as securities, interests in
real property, whether improved or unimproved, interests in oil and
gas properties and mineral properties, short-term investments
commonly regarded as money-market investments, bank deposits and
interests in personal property of all kinds, whether tangible or
intangible.
“ Settlement
Date ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.5(a)(ii).
“ SMD Agreements
” means the agreements between the Company and/or one or more
of its affiliates and the Members, pursuant to which each Member
undertakes certain obligations with respect to the Company and/or
its affiliates. The SMD Agreements are hereby incorporated by
reference as between the Company and the relevant
Member.
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“ Special Firm
Collateral ” means interests in a Qualifying Fund or
other assets that have been pledged to the Trustee(s) to satisfy
all or any portion of a Member’s or Withdrawn Member’s
Holdback (excluding any Excess Holdback) as more fully described in
the Company’s books and records.
“ Special Firm
Collateral Realization ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(viii)(B).
“ Special Member
” means any person shown on the books and records of the
Company as a Special Member of the Company, including any Nonvoting
Special Member, and any Investor Special Member.
“ S&P
” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, and
any successor thereto.
“ Subject
Investment ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(e).
“ Subject Member
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1(d)(iv)(A).
“ Total
Disability ” means the inability of a Member
substantially to perform the services required of a Regular Member
for a period of six consecutive months by reason of physical or
mental illness or incapacity and whether arising out of sickness,
accident or otherwise.
“ Trust Account
” has the meaning set forth in the Trust
Agreement.
“ Trust
Agreement ” means the Trust Agreement, dated as of
September 9, 2002, as amended to date, among the Members, the
Trustee(s) and certain other persons that may receive distributions
in respect of or relating to Carried Interest from time to
time.
“ Trust Amount
” has the meaning set forth in the Trust
Agreement.
“ Trust Income
” has the meaning set forth in the Trust
Agreement.
“ Trustee(s)
” has the meaning set forth in the Trust
Agreement.
“ Unadjusted Carried
Interest Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.8(e)(i)(B).
“ Unallocated
Percentage ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.3(b).
“ Unrealized Net
Income (Loss) ” attributable to any BREP IV Investment as
of any date means the Net Income (Loss) that would be realized by
the Company with respect to such BREP IV Investment if BREP
IV’s entire portfolio of investments were sold on such date
for cash in an amount equal to their aggregate value on such date
(determined in accordance with Section 5.1(e)) and all
distributions payable by BREP IV to the Company (indirectly)
pursuant to the BREP IV Partnership Agreement with respect to such
BREP IV Investment were made on such date. “Unrealized Net
Income (Loss)” attributable to any other Investment as of any
date means the Net Income (Loss) that would be realized by the
Company with respect to such Investment if such Investment were
sold on such date for cash in an amount equal to its value on such
date (determined in accordance with
Section 5.1(e)).
“ Withdraw
” or “ Withdrawal ” with respect to a
Member means a Member ceasing to be a member of the Company (except
as a Retaining Withdrawn Member) for any reason
(including
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death, disability, removal,
resignation or retirement, whether such is voluntary or
involuntary), unless the context shall limit the type of withdrawal
to a specific reason, and “Withdrawn” with respect to a
Member means, as aforesaid, a Member who has ceased to be a member
of the Company.
“ Withdrawal
Date ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.5(a)(ii).
“ Withdrawn
Member ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.5(a)(i).
SECTION 1.2. Terms
Generally . The definitions in Section 1.1 shall apply
equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.
Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The term
“person” includes individuals, partnerships (including
limited liability partnerships), companies (including limited
liability companies), joint ventures, corporations, trusts,
governments (or agencies or political subdivisions thereof) and
other associations and entities. The words “include”,
“includes” and “including” shall be deemed
to be followed by the phrase “without
limitation”.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2.1. Managing,
Regular and Special Members . The Members may be Managing
Members, Regular Members or Special Members (including Nonvoting
Special Members and Investor Special Members). The Managing Member
as of the date hereof is Holdings. The Regular Members as of the
date hereof are those persons shown as Regular Members on the
signature pages hereof, and the Special Members as of the date
hereof are persons shown as Special Members on the signature pages
hereof.
SECTION 2.2. Formation;
Name; Foreign Jurisdictions . The Company was formed and is
hereby continued as a limited liability company pursuant to the LLC
Act and shall continue to conduct its activities under the name of
BREA IV L.L.C. The certificate of formation of the Company may be
amended and/or restated from time to time by the Managing Member,
as an “authorized person” (within the meaning of the
LLC Act). The Managing Member is further authorized to execute and
deliver and file any other certificates (and any amendments and/or
restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to do
business in a jurisdiction in which the Company may wish to conduct
business.
SECTION 2.3. Term .
The term of the Company shall continue until December 31,
2052, unless earlier dissolved and its affairs wound up in
accordance with this Agreement.
SECTION 2.4. Purpose;
Powers . (a) The purpose of the Company shall be, directly
or indirectly through subsidiaries or affiliates, (i) to serve
as a general partner of BREMA IV and BRECA IV and perform the
functions of the general partner specified in the BREMA IV
Partnership Agreement and a general partner specified in the BRECA
IV Partnership Agreement, (ii) to serve as a general partner
or limited partner of other partnerships and perform the functions
of a general partner or limited partner, as the case may be,
specified in the partnership agreement of each such other
partnership, (iii) to carry on such other businesses, perform
such other services and make such other investments as are deemed
desirable by the Managing Member and as are permitted under the LLC
Act and the BREMA IV Partnership Agreement, the BRECA IV
Partnership Agreement and any other partnership agreement referred
to in clause (ii) above, (iv) any other lawful purpose,
and (v) to do all things necessary, desirable, convenient or
incidental thereto.
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(b) In furtherance of its
purpose, the Company shall have all powers necessary, suitable or
convenient for the accomplishment of its purposes, alone or with
others, as principal or agent, including the following:
(i) to buy, sell and
otherwise acquire investments, whether such investments are readily
marketable or not;
(ii) to invest and reinvest
the cash assets of the Company in money-market or other short-term
investments;
(iii) to hold, receive,
mortgage, pledge, lease, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose
of, grant options with respect to, and otherwise deal in and
exercise all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of
ownership or possession with respect to, all property held or owned
by the Company;
(iv) to borrow or raise money
from time to time and to issue promissory notes, drafts, bills of
exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures and other negotiable and
non-negotiable instruments and evidences of indebtedness, to secure
payment of the principal of any such indebtedness and the interest
thereon by mortgage, pledge, conveyance or assignment in trust of,
or the granting of a security interest in, the whole or any part of
the property of the Company, whether at the time owned or
thereafter acquired, to guarantee the obligations of others and to
buy, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any such instrument or
evidence of indebtedness;
(v) to lend any of its
property or funds, either with or without security, at any legal
rate of interest or without interest;
(vi) to have and maintain one
or more offices within or without the State of Delaware, and in
connection therewith, to rent or acquire office space, engage
personnel and compensate them and do such other acts and things as
may be advisable or necessary in connection with the maintenance of
such office or offices;
(vii) to open, maintain and
close accounts, including margin accounts, with brokers;
(viii) to open, maintain and
close bank accounts and draw checks and other orders for the
payment of moneys;
(ix) to engage accountants,
auditors, custodians, investment advisers, attorneys and any and
all other agents and assistants, both professional and
nonprofessional, and to compensate any of them as may be necessary
or advisable;
(x) to form or cause to be
formed and to own the stock of one or more corporations, whether
foreign or domestic, to form or cause to be formed and to
participate in partnerships and joint ventures, whether foreign or
domestic and to form or cause to be formed and be a member or
manager or both of one or more limited liability
companies;
(xi) to enter into, make and
perform all contracts, agreements and other undertakings as may be
necessary, convenient, advisable or incident to carrying out its
purposes;
(xii) to sue and be sued, to
prosecute, settle or compromise all claims against third parties,
to compromise, settle or accept judgment to claims against the
Company, and to execute all documents and make all representations,
admissions and waivers in connection therewith;
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(xiii) to distribute, subject
to the terms of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time
to the Members cash or investments or other property of the
Company, or any combination thereof; and
(xiv) to take such other
actions necessary, desirable, convenient or incidental thereto and
to engage in such other businesses as may be permitted under
Delaware law.
SECTION 2.5. Place of
Business . The Company shall maintain an office and principal
place of business at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154 or
such other place or places as the Managing Member may designate
from time to time. The Company shall maintain a registered office
at The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, New Castle
County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The name and address of the
Company's registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company, 1209
Orange Street, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The
Managing Member may from time to time change the registered agent
or office by an amendment to the certificate of formation of the
Company.
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
SECTION 3.1. Managing
Member . (a) Holdings shall be an original managing member
(the “ Managing Member ”). The Managing Member
shall cease to be the Managing Member only if it (i) Withdraws
from the Company for any reason, (ii) consents in its sole
discretion to resign as the Managing Member, or (iii) becomes
the subject of a Final Event. The Managing Member may not be
removed without its consent. There may be one or more Managing
Members. In the event that one or more other Managing Members is
admitted to the Company as such, all references herein to the
“Managing Member” in the singular form shall be deemed
to also refer to such other Managing Members as may be appropriate.
The relative rights and responsibilities of such Managing Members
will be as agreed upon from time to time between them.
(b) Upon the Withdrawal from
the Company or voluntary resignation of the remaining Managing
Member, all of the powers formerly vested therein pursuant to this
Agreement and the LLC Act shall be exercised by a Majority in
Interest of the Members.
SECTION 3.2. Member
Voting, etc . (a) Meetings of the Members may be called
only by the Managing Member.
(b) Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein and except as may be expressly required
by the LLC Act, Special Members as such shall have no right to, and
shall not, take part in the management or control of the
Company’s business or act for or bind the Company, and shall
have only the rights and powers granted to Special Members
herein.
(c) To the extent a Member is
entitled to vote with respect to any matter relating to the
Company, such Member shall not be obligated to abstain from voting
on any matter (or vote in any particular manner) because of any
interest (or conflict of interest) of such Member (or any affiliate
thereof) in such matter.
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SECTION 3.3.
Management . (a) The management, control and operation
of the Company and the formulation and execution of business and
investment policy shall be vested in the Managing Member. The
Managing Member shall, in its discretion, exercise all powers
necessary and convenient for the purposes of the Company, including
those enumerated in Section 2.4, on behalf and in the name of
the Company. All decisions and determinations (howsoever described
herein) to be made by the Managing Member pursuant to this
Agreement shall be made in its sole discretion, subject only to the
express terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) The Managing Member and
any other person designated by the Managing Member, each acting
individually, is hereby authorized and empowered, as an authorized
person of the Company or an authorized person of the Managing
Member, in each case within the meaning of the LLC Act, or
otherwise (the Managing Member hereby authorizing and ratifying any
of the following actions):
(i) to execute and deliver
and/or file (including any such action, directly or indirectly
through one or more other entities, in the name and on behalf of
the Company and/or in the name and on behalf of the Company as
general partner of each Partnership (as hereinafter defined)) any
agreement of the Company (including, without limitation, any
Partnership Agreement (as hereinafter defined)) or of any
Partnership (and any amendments, restatements and/or supplements
thereof), the certificate of formation of the Company (and any
amendments, restatements and/or supplements thereof), the
certificate of limited partnership of each Partnership (and any
amendments, restatements and/or supplements thereof) and any other
certificates, notices, applications and other documents (and any
amendments, restatements and/or supplements thereof) to be filed
with any government or governmental or regulatory body, including,
without limitation, any such document that may be necessary for the
Company or any Partnership to qualify to do business in a
jurisdiction in which the Company or such Partnership desires to do
business;
(ii) to execute and deliver
and/or file (including any such action, directly or indirectly
through one or more other entities, in the name and on behalf of
the Company and/or in the name and on behalf of Company as general
partner of BREMA IV in its capacity as general partner of each
Blackstone Partnership (as hereinafter defined)) any agreement of
BREMA IV (including, without limitation, each Blackstone
Partnership Agreement (as hereinafter defined)) or of any
Blackstone Partnership (and any amendments, restatements and/or
supplements thereof), the certificate of limited partnership of
each Blackstone Partnership (and any amendments, restatements
and/or supplements thereof) and any other certificates, notices,
applications and other documents (and any amendments, restatements
and/or supplements thereof) to be filed with any government or
governmental or regulatory body, including, without limitation, any
such document that may be necessary for any Blackstone Partnership
to qualify to do business in a jurisdiction in which such
Blackstone Partnership desires to do business;
(iii) to execute and deliver
and/or file (including any such action, directly or indirectly
through one or more other entities, in the name and on behalf of
the Company as general partner of BREMA IV in its capacity as
general partner of BREA IV in its capacity as general partner of
BREP IV) any agreement of BREA IV (including, without limitation,
any BREP IV Agreement) or of BREP IV (and any amendments,
restatements and/or supplements thereof), the certificates of
limited partnership of BREP IV (and any amendments, restatements
and/or supplements thereof) and any other certificates, notices,
applications and other documents (and any amendments, restatements
and/or supplements thereof) to be filed with any government or
governmental or regulatory body, including, without limitation, any
such document that may be necessary for BREP IV to qualify to do
business in a jurisdiction in which BREP IV desires to do
business;
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(iv) to execute and deliver
and/or file (including any such action, directly or indirectly
through one or more other entities, in the name and on behalf of
the Company as general partner of BREMA IV in its capacity as
general partner of BREA IV in its capacity as general partner of
each Blackstone Entity) any agreement of BREA IV (including,
without limitation, each Blackstone Entity Agreement) or of any
Blackstone Entity (and any amendments, restatements and/or
supplements thereof), the certificate of limited partnership of
each Blackstone Entity (and any amendments, restatements and/or
supplements thereof) and any other certificates, notices,
applications and other documents (and any amendments, restatements
and/or supplements thereof) to be filed with any government or
governmental or regulatory body, including, without limitation, any
such document that may be necessary for any Blackstone Entity to
qualify to do business in a jurisdiction in which such Blackstone
Entity desires to do business;
(v) to prepare or cause to be
prepared, and to sign, execute and deliver and/or file (including
any such action in the name and on behalf of the Company and/or in
the name and on behalf of the Company as general partner of each
Partnership) (A) such documents, instruments, certificates and
agreements as may be necessary or desirable in furtherance of the
Company’s or such Partnership’s purposes, (B) any
certificates, forms, notices, applications and other documents to
be filed with any government or governmental or regulatory body on
behalf of the Company and/or such Partnership, (C) any
certificates, forms, notices, applications and other documents that
may be necessary or advisable in connection with any bank account
of the Company or such Partnership, and all checks, notes, drafts
and other documents of the Company or such Partnership that may be
required in connection with any such bank account or any banking
facilities or services that may be utilized by the Company or such
Partnership, (D) resolutions with respect to any of the
foregoing matters (which resolutions, when executed by any person
authorized as provided in this Section 3.3(b), each acting
individually, shall be deemed to have been adopted by the Members
and the Managing Member, the Company and any Partnership, as
applicable, for all purposes), and (E) any amendments,
restatements and/or supplements of any of the foregoing;
(vi) to prepare or cause to
be prepared, and to sign, execute and deliver and/or file
(including any such action, directly or indirectly through one or
more other entities, in the name and on behalf of the Company
and/or in the name and on behalf of the Company as general partner
BREMA IV in its capacity as a general partner of each Blackstone
Partnership) (A) such documents, instruments, certificates and
agreements as may be necessary or desirable in furtherance of BREMA
IV’s or such Blackstone Partnership’s purposes,
(B) any certificates, forms, notices, applications and other
documents to be filed with any government or governmental or
regulatory body on behalf of BREMA IV and/or such Blackstone
Partnership, (C) any certificates, forms, notices,
applications and other documents that may be necessary or advisable
in connection with any bank account of BREMA IV or such Blackstone
Partnership, and all checks, notes, drafts and other documents of
BREMA IV or such Blackstone Partnership that may be required in
connection with any such bank account or any banking facilities or
services that may be utilized by BREMA IV or such Blackstone
Partnership, (D) resolutions with respect to any of the
foregoing matters (which resolutions, when executed by any person
authorized as provided in this Section 3.3(b), each acting
individually, shall be deemed to have been adopted by the Members
and the Managing Member, the Company, BREMA IV or any Blackstone
Partnership, as applicable, for all purposes), and (E) any
amendments, restatements and/or supplements of any of the
foregoing;
(vii) to prepare or cause to
be prepared, and to sign, execute and deliver and/or file
(including any such action, directly or indirectly through one or
more other entities, in the name and on behalf of the Company as
general partner of BREMA IV in its capacity as
14
general partner of BREA IV in
its capacity as general partner of BREP IV) (A) such
documents, instruments, certificates and agreements as may be
necessary or desirable in furtherance of BREA IV’s or BREP
IV’s purposes, (B) any certificates, forms, notices,
applications and other documents to be filed with any government or
governmental or regulatory body on behalf of BREA IV and/or BREP
IV, (C) any certificates, forms, notices, applications and
other documents that may be necessary or advisable in connection
with any bank account of BREA IV and/or BREP IV, and all checks,
notes, drafts and other documents of BREA IV and/or BREP IV that
may be required in connection with any such bank account or any
banking facilities or services that may be utilized by BREA IV
and/or BREP IV, (D) resolutions with respect to any of the
foregoing matters (which resolutions, when executed by any person
authorized as provided in this Section 3.3(b), each acting
individually, shall be deemed to have been adopted by the Members
and the Managing Member, the Company, BREMA IV, BREA IV or BREP IV,
as applicable, for all purposes), and (E) any amendments,
restatements and/or supplements of any of the foregoing;
and
(viii) to prepare or cause to
be prepared, and to sign, execute and deliver and/or file
(including any such action, directly or indirectly through one or
more other entities, in the name and on behalf of the Company as
general partner of BREMA IV in its capacity as general partner of
BREA IV in its capacity as general partner of each Blackstone
Entity) (A) such documents, instruments, certificates and
agreements as may be necessary or desirable in furtherance of any
Blackstone Entity’s purposes, (B) any certificates,
forms, notices, applications and other documents to be filed with
any government or governmental or regulatory body on behalf of any
Blackstone Entity, (C) any certificates, forms, notices,
applications and other documents that may be necessary or advisable
in connection with any bank account of any Blackstone Entity, and
all checks, notes, drafts and other documents of any Blackstone
Entity that may be required in connection with any such bank
account or any banking facilities or services that may be utilized
by any Blackstone Entity, (D) resolutions with respect to any
of the foregoing matters (which resolutions, when executed by any
person authorized as provided in this Section 3.3(b), each
acting individually, shall be deemed to have been adopted by the
Members and the Managing Member, the Company, BREMA IV, BREA IV or
any Blackstone Entity, as applicable, for all purposes, and
(E) any amendments, restatements and/or supplements of any of
the foregoing.
The authority granted to any
person (other than the Managing Member) in this Section 3.3(b)
may be revoked at any time by the Managing Member by an instrument
in writing signed by the Managing Member. As used in this
Section 3.3(b), the following terms have the following
meanings: “ Blackstone Entities ” means,
collectively, Blackstone Real Estate Capital Commitment Partners IV
L.P., BREH IV and any other limited partnership of which BREA IV is
the general partner. “ Blackstone Entity Agreements
” means, collectively, the limited partnership agreements, as
amended, restated and/or supplemented, of the Blackstone Entities.
“ Blackstone Partnerships ” means, collectively,
BREA IV, Blackstone RE Capital Commitment Partners IV L.P.,
Blackstone Family Real Estate Partnership IV L.P. and any other
limited partnership of which BREMA IV is the general partner,
“ Blackstone Partnership Agreements ” means,
collectively, the limited partnership agreements, as amended,
restated and/or supplemented, of the Blackstone Partnerships.
“ Partnerships ” means, collectively, BREMA IV,
BRECA IV and any other limited partnership of which the Company is
the general partner. “ Partnership Agreements ”
means, collectively, the limited partnership agreements, as
amended, restated and/or supplemented, of the
Partnerships.
SECTION 3.4.
Responsibilities of Members . (a) Unless otherwise
determined by the Managing Member in a particular case, each
Regular Member shall devote substantially all his time and
attention to the businesses of the Company and its affiliates, and
each Special Member shall not be required to devote any time or
attention to the businesses of the Company or its
affiliates.
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(b) All outside business or
investment activities of the Members shall be subject to such rules
and regulations as are established by the Managing Member from time
to time.
(c) The Managing Member may
from time to time establish such other rules and regulations
applicable to Members or other employees as the Managing Member
deems appropriate, including rules governing the authority of
Members or other employees to bind the Company to financial
commitments or other obligations.
SECTION 3.5. Exculpation
and Indemnification . (a) Liability to Members .
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, whether
express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no
Member nor any of such Member’s representatives, agents or
advisors nor any partner, member, officer, employee,
representative, agent or advisor of the Company or any of its
Affiliates (individually, a “ Covered Person ”
and collectively, the “ Covered Persons ”) shall
be liable to the Company or any other Member for any act or
omission (in relation to the Company, this Agreement, any related
document or any transaction or investment contemplated hereby or
thereby) taken or omitted by a Covered Person (other than any act
or omission constituting Cause), unless there is a final and
non-appealable judicial determination and/or determination of an
arbitrator that such Covered Person did not act in good faith and
in what such Covered Person reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the Company and within the
authority granted to such Covered Person by this Agreement, and,
with respect to any criminal act or proceeding, had reasonable
cause to believe that such Covered Person’s conduct was
unlawful. Each Covered Person shall be entitled to rely in good
faith on the advice of legal counsel to the Company, accountants
and other experts or professional advisors, and no action taken by
any Covered Person in reliance on such advice shall in any event
subject such person to any liability to any Member or the Company.
To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Member has duties
(including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to
the Company or to another Member, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, such Member acting under this Agreement shall not be liable
to the Company or to any such other Member for its good faith
reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of
this Agreement, to the extent that they expand or restrict the
duties and liabilities of a Member otherwise existing at law or in
equity, are agreed by the Members, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, to modify to that extent such other duties and liabilities
of such Member.
(b) Indemnification .
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify
and hold harmless (but only to the extent of the Company’s
assets (including, without limitation, the remaining Commitments of
the Members) each Covered Person from and against any and all
claims, damages, losses, costs, expenses and liabilities
(including, without limitation, amounts paid in satisfaction of
judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties
and legal or other costs and reasonable expenses of investigating
or defending against any claim or alleged claim), joint and
several, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, liquidated or
unliquidated (collectively, “ Losses ”), arising
from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings,
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which the
Covered Person may be involved, or threatened to be involved, as a
party or otherwise, by reason of such Covered Person’s
management of the affairs of the Company or which relate to or
arise out of or in connection with the Company, its property, its
business or affairs (other than claims, demands, actions, suits or
proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
arising out of any act or omission of such Covered Person
constituting Cause); provided , that a Covered Person shall
not be entitled to indemnification under this Section with respect
to any claim, issue or matter if there is a final and
non-appealable judicial determination and/or determination of an
arbitrator that such Covered Person did not act in good faith and
in what such Covered Person reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interest of the Company and within the
authority granted to
16
such Covered Person by this Agreement,
and, with respect to any criminal act or proceeding, had reasonable
cause to believe that such Covered Person’s conduct was
unlawful; provided further , that if such Covered Person is
a Member or a Withdrawn Member, such Covered Person shall bear its
share of such Losses in accordance with such Covered Person’s
Profit Sharing Percentage in the Company as of the time of the
actions or omissions that gave rise to such Losses. To the fullest
extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees) incurred
by a Covered Person (including, without limitation, the Managing
Member) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding
may, with the approval of the Managing Member, from time to time,
be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such
claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the
Company of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered
Person to repay such amount to the extent that it shall be
subsequently determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to
be indemnified as authorized in this Section, and the Company and
its Affiliates shall have a continuing right of offset against such
Covered Person’s interests/investments in the Company and
such Affiliates and shall have the right to withhold amounts
otherwise distributable to such Covered Person to satisfy such
repayment obligation. If a Member institutes litigation against a
Covered Person which gives rise to an indemnity obligation
hereunder, such Member shall be responsible, up to the amount of
such Member’s Interests and remaining Commitment, for such
Member’s pro rata share of the Company’s expenses
related to such indemnity obligation, as determined by the Managing
Member. The Company may purchase insurance, to the extent available
at reasonable cost, to cover losses, claims, damages or liabilities
covered by the foregoing indemnification provisions. Members will
not be personally obligated with respect to indemnification
pursuant to this Section.
SECTION 3.6. Tax
Representation . Each Regular and Special Member certifies that
(A) if the Member is a United States person (as defined in the
Code) (x) (i) the Member’s name, social security
number (or, if applicable, employer identification number) and
address provided to the Company and its affiliates pursuant to an
IRS Form W-9, Payer’s Request for Taxpayer Identification
Number Certification (“ W-9 ”) or otherwise are
correct and (ii) the Member will complete and return a W-9,
and (y) (i) the Member is a United States person (as
defined in the Code) and (ii) the Member will notify the
Company within 60 days of a change to foreign (non-United States)
status or (B) if the Member is not a United States person (as
defined in the Code) (x) (i) the information on the
completed IRS Form W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of
Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding (“
W-8BEN ”) or other applicable form, including but not
limited to IRS Form W-8IMY, Certificate of Foreign Intermediary,
Foreign Partnership, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax
Withholding (“ W-8IMY ”), or otherwise is
correct and (ii) the Member will complete and return the
applicable IRS form, including but not limited to a W-8BEN or
W-8IMY, and (y) (i) the Member is not a United States
person (as defined in the Code) and (ii) the Member will
notify the Company within 60 days of any change of such status. The
Member agrees to properly execute and provide to the Company in a
timely manner any tax documentation that may be reasonably required
by the Managing Member.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL OF THE
COMPANY
SECTION 4.1. Capital
Contributions by Members . (a) Except as agreed by the
Managing Member and a Regular Member, such Regular Member shall not
be required to make capital contributions equal to the Required
Amounts as determined by the Managing Member from time to time;
provided , that (i) such additional capital
contributions may be made pro rata among the Regular Members
based upon the allocation of the Carried Interest in each BREP IV
Investment by the Managing Member and (ii) additional capital
contributions in excess of the Required Amounts which are to be
used for ongoing business operations (as distinct from financing,
legal or other specific liabilities of the Company (including those
specifically set forth in Sections 4.1(d) and 5.8(d)) shall be
determined by the Managing
17
Member in its sole discretion. Special
Members shall not be required to make additional capital
contributions to the Company except (i) as a condition of an
increase in such Special Member's Profit Sharing Percentage or
(ii) as specifically set forth in this Agreement or as
determined by the Managing Member; provided , that the
Managing Member and any Special Member may agree from time to time
that such Special Member shall make an additional capital
contribution to the Company; provided further , that each
Investor Special Member shall maintain its capital account at a
level equal to the product of (i) its Profit Sharing
Percentage from time to time and (ii) the total capital of the
Company.
(b) Each capital contribution
by a Member shall be credited to the appropriate capital account of
such Member in accordance with Section 5.2.
(c) The Managing Member may
elect on a case by case basis to (i) cause the Company to loan
any Member (including any additional Member admitted to the Company
pursuant to Section 6.1) the amount of any capital
contribution required to be made by such Member or (ii) permit
any Member (including any additional Member admitted to the Company
pursuant to Section 6.1 but excluding any Members that are
also executive officers of The Blackstone Group L.P.) to make a
required capital contribution to the Company in installments in
kind, in each case on terms (including valuation of contributed
property in the case of in kind contributions permitted by the
Managing Member) determined by the Managing Member.
(d) (i) The Members and the
Withdrawn Members have entered into the Trust Agreement, pursuant
to which certain amounts of the distributions relating to the
Carried Interest will be paid to the Trustee(s) for deposit in the
Trust Account (such amounts to be paid to the Trustee(s) for
deposit in the Trust Account constituting a “ Holdback
”). The Managing Member shall determine, as set forth below,
the percentage of each distribution of Carried Interest that shall
be withheld for each Member Category (such withheld percentage
constituting such Member Category's “ Holdback
Percentage ”). The applicable Holdback Percentages
initially shall be 0% for the Managing Member, 15% for Existing
Members, 21% for Retaining Withdrawn Members and 24% for Deceased
Members (the “ Initial Holdback Percentages
”).
(ii) The Holdback Percentage
may not be reduced for any individual Member as compared to the
other Members in his Member Category (except as provided in clause
(iv) below). The Managing Member may only reduce the Holdback
Percentages among the Member Categories on a proportionate basis.
For example, if the Holdback Percentage for Existing Members is
decreased to 12.5%, the Holdback Percentage for Retaining Withdrawn
Members and Deceased Members shall be reduced to 17.5% and 20%,
respectively. Any reduction in the Holdback Percentage for any
Member shall apply only to distributions relating to Carried
Interest made after the date of such reduction.
(iii) The Holdback Percentage
may not be increased for any individual Member as compared to the
other Members in his Member Category (except as provided in clause
(iv) below). The Managing Member may not increase the
Retaining Withdrawn Members’ Holdback Percentage beyond 21%
unless the Managing Member concurrently increases the Existing
Members’ Holdback Percentage to the Holdback Percentage of
the Retaining Withdrawn Members. The Managing Member may not
increase the Deceased Members’ Holdback Percentage beyond 24%
unless the Managing Member increases the Holdback Percentage for
both Existing Members and Retaining Withdrawn Members to 24%. The
Managing Member may not increase the Holdback Percentage of any
Member Category beyond 24% unless such increase applies equally to
all Member Categories. Any increase in the Holdback Percentage for
any Member shall apply only to distributions relating to Carried
Interest made after the date of such increase. The foregoing shall
in no way prevent the Managing Member from proportionately
increasing the Holdback Percentage of any Member Category
(following a reduction of the Holdback Percentages below the
Initial Holdback Percentages), if the resulting Holdback
18
Percentages are consistent with the
above. For example, if the Managing Member reduces the Holdback
Percentages for Existing Members, Retaining Withdrawn Members and
Deceased Members to 12.5%, 17.5% and 20%, respectively, the
Managing Member shall have the right to subsequently increase the
Holdback Percentages to the Initial Holdback
Percentages.
(iv) (A) Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company may increase
or decrease the Holdback Percentage for any Member in any Member
Category (in such capacity, the “ Subject Member
”) pursuant to a majority vote of the Regular Members (a
“ Holdback Vote ”); provided , that,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
Holdback Percentage applicable to the Managing Member shall not be
increased or decreased without its prior written consent;
provided further , that a Subject Member’s Holdback
Percentage shall not be (I) increased prior to such time as
such Subject Member (x) is notified by the Company of the
decision to increase such Subject Member’s Holdback
Percentage and (y) has, if requested by such Subject Member,
been given 30 days to gather and provide information to the Company
for consideration before a second Holdback Vote (requested by the
Subject Member) or (II) decreased unless such decrease occurs
subsequent to an increase in a Subject Member’s Holdback
Percentage pursuant to a Holdback Vote under this clause (iv);
provided further , that such decrease shall not exceed an
amount such that such Subject Member’s Holdback Percentage is
less than the prevailing Holdback Percentage for the Member
Category of such Subject Member; provided further , that a
Member shall not vote to increase a Subject Member’s Holdback
Percentage unless such voting Member determines, in his good faith
judgment, that the facts and circumstances indicate that it is
reasonably likely that such Subject Member, or any of his
successors or assigns (including his estate or heirs) who at the
time of such vote holds the Interest or otherwise has the right to
receive distributions relating thereto, will not be capable of
satisfying any Recontribution Amounts that may become due
.
(B) A Holdback Vote shall
take place at a Company meeting. Each Regular Member shall be
entitled to cast one vote with respect to the Holdback Vote
regardless of such Regular Member’s interest in the Company.
Such vote may be cast by any Regular Member in person or by
proxy.
(C) If the result of the
second Holdback Vote is an increase in a Subject Member’s
Holdback Percentage, such Subject Member may submit the decision to
an arbitrator, the identity of which is mutually agreed upon by
both the Subject Member and the Company; provided , that if
the Company and the Subject Member cannot agree upon a mutually
satisfactory arbitrator within 10 days of the second Holdback Vote,
each of the Company and the Subject Member shall request their
candidate for arbitrator to select a third arbitrator satisfactory
to such candidates; provided further , that if such
candidates fail to agree upon a mutually satisfactory arbitrator
within 30 days of such request, the then sitting President of the
American Arbitration Association shall unilaterally select the
arbitrator. Each Subject Member that submits the decision of the
Company pursuant to the second Holdback Vo
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