Exhibit
10.4
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
of
[LEASECO, LLC]
a Delaware Limited Liability
Company
Dated as of _______, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1.
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DEFINED
TERMS
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1
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2.
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ORGANIZATION
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12
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2.1
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Continuation
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12
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2.2
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Name and
Principal Place of Business.
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13
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2.3
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Term
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13
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2.4
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Registered
Agent and Registered Office
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13
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2.5
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Purpose of
Company.
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13
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2.6
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Members;
Membership Interests.
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13
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2.7
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Limitation on
Liability
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14
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2.8
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Title to
Company Property
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14
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3.
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CAPITAL
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14
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3.1
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Initial Capital
Contributions
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14
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3.2
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Additional
Capital Contributions.
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14
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3.3
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Return of
Capital; No Interest on Capital
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15
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3.4
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No Third-Party
Beneficiary
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15
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3.5
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Capital
Accounts.
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16
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4.
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MANAGEMENT OF
THE COMPANY
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17
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4.1
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Authority of
Managing Member.
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17
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4.2
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Restriction of
Managing Member’s Authority.
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19
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4.3
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Budgeting
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20
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4.4
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Managing
Member’s Time and Effort; Conflicts
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21
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4.5
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Indemnification.
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21
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4.6
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Certificates
and Instruments
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21
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4.7
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Management Cost
Reimbursement
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22
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4.8
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Property
Management.
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22
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5.
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DISTRIBUTIONS
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23
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5.1
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Distributions
Generally
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23
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5.2
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Distributions
of Net Cash Flow.
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23
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5.3
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Distributions
Upon Final Liquidation
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25
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5.4
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The Right to
Withhold
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25
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6.
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ALLOCATIONS
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26
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6.1
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In
General
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26
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6.2
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Allocations
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26
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6.3
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Limitation on
Allocation of Losses
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26
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6.4
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Additional
Allocation Provisions
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26
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7.
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BOOKS AND
RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX ELECTIONS
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28
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7.1
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Company
Books
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28
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7.2
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Records
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28
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7.3
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Company Tax
Elections; Tax Controversies
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29
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7.4
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Fiscal
Year
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30
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7.5
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Financial
Reports
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30
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8.
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TRANSFERS AND
ENCUMBRANCES OF COMPANY INTERESTS
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31
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8.1
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Restricted
Transfers and Encumbrances
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31
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8.2
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Substitution of
Approved Transferee for Member
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31
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8.3
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Possible
Amendment
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32
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9.
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ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS
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32
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9.1
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Admissions and
Withdrawals
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32
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9.2
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Cessation of
Managing Member
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32
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9.3
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New Managing
Member
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33
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10.
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DISSOLUTION AND
WINDING UP
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33
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10.1
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Dissolution and
Distributions of Property
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33
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10.2
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Dissolution
Events
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33
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10.3
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Liquidation and
Final Distribution Proceeds.
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34
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10.4
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Cancellation of
Certificate
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34
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10.5
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No Capital
Contribution Upon Dissolution
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34
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11.
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REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE
MEMBERS
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34
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11.1
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Authority
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35
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11.2
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Consents
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35
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11.3
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No
Conflict
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35
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11.4
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No
Broker
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35
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11.5
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Foreign
Partner
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35
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12.
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BUY-SELL
DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
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35
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12.2
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Closing
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36
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12.3
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Buy-Sell
Default
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37
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12.4
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Payment of
Debts
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38
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12.5
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Release of
Capital Contribution Obligations
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38
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12.6
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Operations in
Pre-Closing Period
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38
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13.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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39
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13.1
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Waiver of
Conflict of Interest
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39
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13.2
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Amendment by
Members
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39
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13.3
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Amendment by
Managing Member
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39
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13.4
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Waivers
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39
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13.5
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No Assignments;
Binding Effect
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39
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13.6
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Notices
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39
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13.7
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Certain
Waivers
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40
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13.8
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Preservation of
Intent
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40
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13.9
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Entire
Agreement
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40
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13.10
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Certain Rules
of Construction
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40
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13.11
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Counterparts
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41
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13.12
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Governing Law;
Venue
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41
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Exhibits
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Members,
Capital Contributions and Capital Sharing Ratios
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Membership
Interests and Owner Entities
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Description of
the Property
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Owner Entity
Operating Agreement
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Pre-Closing
Costs Reimbursable Amounts
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Initial
Operating Budget and Business Plan
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Index of Defined
Terms
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Act
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1
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Member Loan
Interest Rate
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8
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Adjusted
Capital Account
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1
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Member Minimum
Gain
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8
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Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit
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2
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Member
Nonrecourse Debt
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8
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Affiliate
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2
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Member
Nonrecourse Deductions
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8
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Agreement
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1
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Members
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1, 8
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Agreement
Date
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1
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Membership
Interest
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8
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Business
Day
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2
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Mystic
Member
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1, 8
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Buy-Sell
Closing Date
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36
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Net Cash
Flow
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8
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Buy-Sell
Option
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35
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Net Operating
Income
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8
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Capital
Account
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15
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Non-Discretionary Expenses
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9
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Capital
Contribution
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2
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Non-Managing
Member
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9
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Capital
Contribution Default
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14
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Nonrecourse
Deductions
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9
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Capital
Proceeds
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2
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Offeree
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35
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Capital Sharing
Ratio
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2
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Offeror
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35
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Capital
Transaction
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2
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Old
Plan
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20
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Cause
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3
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Operating
Account
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22
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Certificate of
Formation
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1
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Operating
Budget
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20
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Change in
Control
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3
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Operating
Expenses
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9
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Code
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3
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Operating
Revenues
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9
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Company
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1
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Owner
Entity
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9
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Company Minimum
Gain
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3
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Patriot
Act
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18
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Conflicting
Activity
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20
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Permitted
Expense
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7
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Contribution
Account
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3
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Person
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10
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Control
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3
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Preferred
Return
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10
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Defaulted
Acquirer
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37
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Preferred
Return Account
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10
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Defaulted
Amount
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14
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Profits
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10
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Depreciation
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3
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Properties
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1
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Development
Asset
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4
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Property
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1
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Development
Assets
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4
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Property
Manager
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22
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Dissolution
Event
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4
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Regulatory
Allocations
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27
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Distributable
Funds
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23
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Removal
Event
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32
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Effective
Date
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39
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Replacement
Acquirer
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37
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Encumbrance
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4
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Residual
Sharing Ratios
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11
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Entity
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4
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Stabilized
Asset Property
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11
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Event of
Bankruptcy
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4
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Stabilized
Assets
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11
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Gross Asset
Value
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5
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Tax
Contest
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11
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Gross
Revenue
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6
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Tax
Correspondence
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11
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Hartford
Hilton
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4
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Tax Liability
Distribution
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25
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Hartford
Marriott
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4
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Tax Matters
Member
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28
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Initiating
Notice
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35
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Tax Matters
Partner
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28
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Lease
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6
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Transfer
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11
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Lessee
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6
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Transferred
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11
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Losses
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10
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TRS Class A
Member
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12
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Major
Decision
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6
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TRS Class A
Membership Interest
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12
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Major
Dispute
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8
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TRS Class B
Member
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12
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Major Dispute
Notice
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19
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TRS Class B
Membership Interest
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12
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Management
Agreements
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22
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TRS
Member
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1, 12
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Management
Fee
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22
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Valuation
Amount
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35
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Managing
Member
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8
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Working
Capital
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23
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Member
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1
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Written
Submission
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29
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Member
Loan
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15
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LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
OPERATING AGREEMENT
of
LEASECO, LLC
THIS
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
(this “ Agreement
”) of [LEASECO], LLC (the “ Company ”) is
made and entered into as of ____________, 2005 (the “
Agreement Date ”) by and among [HERSHA TRS, LLC], a
Virginia limited partnership, having an address at 510 Walnut
Street, 9 th fl., Philadelphia PA 19106 (“ TRS
Member ”), and [MYSTIC LEASE AFFILIATE], LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company having an address at 914 Hartford
Turnpike, P.O. Box 715, Waterford, CT 06385 (collectively, “
Mystic Member ”). TRS Member and Mystic Member are
sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “
Members ” and individually as a “ Member
”.
W I T N
E S S E
T H :
WHEREAS:
Affiliates of
the Members own all of the membership interests in Mystic Partners,
LLC; and
Mystic
Partners, LLC owns all of the membership interests in each of the
Owner Entities; and
The Owner
Entities collectively own or have a leasehold interest in the
respective land, and the hotel and other improvements located
thereon (each, individually, a “ Property ” and
collectively, the “ Properties ”), all as more
particularly described on Exhibit 1.1 ; and
The parties
hereto desire to form a limited liability company to own membership
interests in the Lessee subsidiaries that will lease the respective
Properties from the Owner Entities and to operate the Properties as
hotels in accordance with the Lease (as defined below);
and
The Company was
formed pursuant to a Certificate of Formation (the “
Certificate of Formation ”) filed with the Delaware
Secretary of State on ___________, 2005.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained
herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
In addition to
the defined terms set forth above and elsewhere in this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the definitions hereinafter
indicated whenever used in this Agreement with initial capital
letters:
“
Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company
Act, as previously or hereafter amended.
“
Adjusted Capital Account ” means, with respect to any
Member, the balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account
as of the end of the relevant taxable year, after: (i) crediting to
such Capital Account any amounts that such Member is obligated to
restore pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is
deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate
sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5))
and (ii) debiting from such Capital Account the items described in
Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and
(6).
“
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means, with respect
to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s
Adjusted Capital Account.
The foregoing
definitions of Adjusted Capital Account and of Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit are intended to comply with the provisions of
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
“
Affiliate ” means a Person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, has Control of or
is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, the Person
specified. “Affiliate” shall also include the spouse,
ancestors, descendents and siblings of any Person that is an
individual, Affiliates of such family members and trusts for the
benefit of an Affiliate of the relevant Person.
“
Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York are
authorized or required to close under the laws of the State of New
York.
“
Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any
Member, the amount of money and the initial Gross Asset Value of
any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such
Member, less the amount of liabilities of such Member assumed by
the Company or that are secured by any property contributed by such
Member to the Company. The initial Capital Contributions of the
Members are as set forth on Exhibit A .
“
Capital Proceeds ” means the net proceeds of a Capital
Transaction distributed to the Company by a Lessee.
“
Capital Sharing Ratio ” means the percentages in which
the Members participate in, and bear, certain Company items. The
initial Capital Sharing Ratios of the Members are as
follows:
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TRS Class A
Member:
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66.7% with
respect to Stabilized Assets Properties and 0% with respect to
Development Assets Properties
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TRS Class B
Member:
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0% with respect
to Stabilized Assets Properties and 50% with respect to Development
Assets Properties
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Mystic
Member:
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33.3% with
respect to Stabilized Assets Properties and 50% with respect to
Development Assets Properties
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“
Capital Transaction ” means insurance proceeds or
other damages in respect of any Property are recovered by the
Company any other transaction that, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, is considered capital in
nature.
“
Cause ” means the existence or occurrence of any of
the following events or conditions with respect to (1) a Member,
(2) any Controlling Affiliate of a Member or (3) any Affiliate
of a Member regardless of whether Controlling, if such Affiliate or
its executive officers and employees have direct involvement in the
Company or any Property, as the case may be: (a) the indictment for
a felony involving a crime or crimes of moral turpitude or
dishonesty or for a Patriot Act (hereinafter defined) offense (in
each case, whether or not convicted), misapplication, conversion or
theft of any funds belonging to the Company; or (b) the
commission of fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to the Company or any Property. For the avoidance of doubt,
the indictment of a Member or any executive officer or employee of
them for a felony involving a crime or crimes of moral turpitude or
dishonesty (whether or not convicted), or the misapplication of
funds belonging to the Company or the commission of fraud, gross
negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any
Property shall not be curable and “Cause” shall be
deemed to exist upon the occurrence or existence of any such
event.
“
Change in Control ” means, with respect to any Person,
the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) the sale of
all or substantially all of that Person’s assets;
(ii) the merger,
reorganization, share exchange, recapitalization, restructuring or
consolidation of that Person, if such transaction would result in
the voting securities of that Person outstanding immediately prior
thereto no longer representing (either by remaining outstanding or
by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity)
at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities
of that Person or such surviving entity outstanding immediately
after such transaction;
(iii)
the acquisition by any “Person” or
“Group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of an aggregate of
50% or more of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of the issued and
outstanding voting securities of that Person.
“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
previously or hereafter amended.
“
Company Minimum Gain ” means “partnership
minimum gain” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(d).
“
Contribution Account ” means, with respect to each
Member, an account maintained for such Member on the
Company’s books and records in the amount of that
Member’s Capital Contributions, but in no event less than
zero.
“
Control ” (including the terms
“controlling”, “controlled by” or
“under common control with”) means the possession,
directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
“
Depreciation ” means, for each fiscal year or other
period, an amount equal to the federal income tax depreciation,
amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable with
respect to an asset for such year or other period, except that if
the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis
for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or
other period, Depreciation shall be an amount that bears the same
ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for
such year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax
basis; provided, however, that if the federal income tax
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for
such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference
to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method
selected by Tax Matters Member.
“
Development Assets ” means the following Properties:
Hartford Hilton, Hartford, CT (the “ Hartford Hilton
”); and the Hartford Marriott, Hartford, CT (the “
Hartford Marriott ”), but only, in the case of the
Hartford Marriott, from and after the date (if ever) that a Lessee
shall lease the Hartford Marriott Property.
“
Dissolution Event ” means any event specified in
Section 10.2 that results in the dissolution and winding up
of the Company.
“
Encumbrance ” means a pledge, alienation, mortgage,
hypothecation, encumbrance, lien or collateral assignment by any
other means, whether for value or no value and whether voluntary or
involuntary (including by operation of law or by judgment, levy,
attachment, garnishment, bankruptcy or other legal or equitable
proceedings).
“
Entity ” means any general partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust, business trust,
cooperative or association.
“
Event of Bankruptcy ” means, with respect to any
Person, the occurrence of:
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·
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an assignment
by the Person for the benefit of creditors;
|
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·
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the filing by
the Person of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy;
|
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·
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the entry of a
judgment by any court that the Person is bankrupt or insolvent, or
the entry against the Person of an order for relief in any
bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding;
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·
|
the filing of a
petition or answer by the Person seeking for itself any
reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment,
liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any statute, law
or regulation;
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·
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the filing by
the Person of an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to
contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in
any proceeding for reorganization or of a similar
nature;
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·
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the consent or
acquiescence of the Person to the appointment of a trustee,
receiver or liquidator of the Person or of all or any substantial
part of its properties; or
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·
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any event or
occurrence not included in the foregoing list that is referenced in
Section 18-304 of the Act.
|
“
Gross Asset Value ” means, with respect to any asset,
the asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes,
except as follows:
A.
The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member
to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset,
as determined by TRS Member and Mystic Member (acting together), or
pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, as applicable.
B.
The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be
adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as
determined by TRS Member and Mystic Member (acting together), as of
the following times:
i. immediately
prior to the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company
by a new or existing Member, if Managing Member reasonably
determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to
reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the
Company;
ii.
i
mmediately prior to 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 Managing Member reasonably determines that such
adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative
economic interests of the Members in the Company;
iii. immediately prior
to the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and
iv. at such other times
as Managing Member shall reasonably determine necessary or
advisable in order to comply with Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)
and 1.704-2.
C.
The Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed
to a Member shall be the gross fair market value of such asset on
the date of distribution as determined by TRS Member and Mystic
Member (acting together).
D.
The Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased
(or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of
such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b),
but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account
in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1 (b)(2)(iv)(m); provided, however , that Gross
Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this clause D to the
extent that Managing Member determines that an adjustment pursuant
to clause B is necessary or appropriate in connection with a
transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant
to this clause D.
E.
If the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset has been
determined or adjusted pursuant to clauses A, B or D of this
definition, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by
the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such Company
asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
“
Gross Revenue ” shall mean, as to any Year, all
revenues and receipts of every kind derived from the operation of
the Property and all departments and parts thereof, including, but
not limited to, receipts (from both cash and credit transactions),
before commissions and discounts for prompt or cash payments, from
the rental of guest rooms, meeting rooms, stores, offices, exhibit
or sales space of any kind, parking charges, license and concession
fees and rentals (but not including the gross receipts of any
licensees, lessees and concessionaires), booking fees, telephone
and television viewing charges, food and beverage sales, wholesale
and retail sales, proceeds, if any, from business interruption or
other loss of income insurance; provided, however, Gross Revenues
shall not included gratuities to Property employees or Federal,
State and Municipal excise, sales and use taxes or similar
impositions collected directly from patrons or guests or included
as part of the sales price of any goods or services.
“
Lease ” means a Lease Agreement with respect to the
Properties between a Lessee and each respective Owner Entity as
Lessor, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
1.2 .
“
Lessee ” means an entity in which the Company owns all
or part of the outstanding Membership Interests and that has
entered into a Lease with an Owner Entity.
“
Major Decision ” means any decision regarding each of
the matters described below:
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The financing
or refinancing of any Lease or the incurrence of any secured or
unsecured borrowings or other indebtedness by the Company, or any
Lessee including determination of the terms and conditions thereof,
and any amendments to such terms and conditions or the prepayment
in whole or in part of any loan or other type of financing with
respect to the Company or any Lessee;
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Any sale,
transfer, grant of option, exchange, mortgage, financing,
hypothecation or encumbrance or abandonment of all, or any part of
or any interest in the Company any Lessee or any Lease or other
material asset of the Company), and, in each such case, the
material terms and conditions thereof;
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Any acquisition
by the Company or any Lessee of any interest in any real property
or other material asset;
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The requirement
of any additional Capital Contributions;
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The approval or
adoption of an annual Operating Budget, and any material amendment,
modification or other change thereto or deviation
therefrom;
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The amendment
or replacement of any franchise agreement with respect to any
Property that is a hotel;
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The entering
into, amendment or replacement of a Lease;
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Other than as
provided in Section 4.8 , the selection of a Property
Manager, and any amendment of any Management Agreement;
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The incurring
of any cost or expense or incurring of any obligation or liability
by or for the Company or a Lessee that is not a Permitted Expense;
for such purposes, “ Permitted Expense ” shall
mean (i) Operating Expenses, capital expenditures, replacements and
debt service as set forth in the approved Operating Budget, (ii)
emergency expenses, (iii) with respect to each item in the
Operating Budget (other than Non-Discretionary Expenses), the
expenditure contemplated by such Operating Budget item plus 10% of
each such item, (iv) Non-Discretionary Expenses and (v) any
reasonable costs or expenses incurred in implementing a Major
Decision approved by all Members and not otherwise already included
in an Operating Budget;
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The selection
or replacement of the Company’s or any Lessee’s
accountants, legal counsel, or other material advisors;
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The taking,
initiation, prosecution, stipulation or settlement or any similar
action with respect to any legal action or dispute on behalf of the
Company or any Lessee, with any third party or government or
regulatory agency, except in the ordinary course of
business;
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The
commencement of any case, proceeding or other action seeking
protection for the Company or any Lessee as debtor under any
existing or future law of any jurisdiction or otherwise relating to
an Event of Bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of
debtors;
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Issuance of any
press release or other written materials regarding the Company, any
Lessee, any Property or any other Member;
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Changes in the
depreciation or accounting methods or other methods with respect to
the tax or accounting treatment of Company or Lessee
transactions;
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Extension of
the existence of the Company beyond the date set forth in
Section 2.3 ;
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Entering into,
amending, modifying or changing any contract or agreement by the
Company or any Lessee with an Affiliate of any Member, or employing
or paying any compensation to such Affiliate, except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement or the Lease or the Management
Agreement;
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Establishment
of and amounts to be held as operating reserves and contingency
reserves for the Company or any Lessee;
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Except in
accordance with Section 5.2 , the making of any
distributions of the Company;
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The appointment
of replacement or additional officers of the Company, it being
agreed by the Members that the initial officers of the Company
shall be Del Lauria, President, Mark Wolman, Vice President and
Glenn Jette, Treasurer, and it being further agreed that such
officers shall have the powers and duties as Managing Member shall
from time to time determine necessary or convenient for the conduct
of the Company’s business; and
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Matters set
forth in Section 4.2.1 .
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“
Major Dispute ” means the failure of the Members to
agree upon or approve any Major Decision or other action requiring
the consent of all Members, in accordance with Section 4.2
.
“
Managing Member ” means Mystic Member, initially, or
any other Person who is hereafter appointed as a managing member of
the Company in accordance with this Agreement and applicable law,
until the date that such Person resigns or is removed from its role
as a managing member.
“
Member Loan Interest Rate ” means a simple rate of
interest equal to the prime rate of U.S. money center commercial
banks as published in The Wall Street Journal (or if more
than one such rate is published, the average of such rates), plus
two percent per annum.
“
Member Minimum Gain ” means minimum gain attributable
to “partner non-recourse debt” determined in accordance
with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i).
“
Member Nonrecourse Debt ” means “partner
nonrecourse debt” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(4).
“
Member Nonrecourse Deductions ” means “partner
nonrecourse deductions” as defined in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“
Members ” mean, collectively, TRS Member and Mystic
Member and/or any other Person hereafter admitted as a member of
the Company in accordance with this Agreement and applicable
law.
“
Membership Interest ” means the interest, as a Member,
of any Person in the Company.
“
Minority Interests ” means the ownership interest of
any Person (other than the Company) in an Owner Entity that owns
any Part Owned Property.
“
Minority Interest Holder ” means any Person that owns
a Minority Interest.
“
Mystic Member ” has the meaning set forth in the
Preamble hereto.
“ Net
Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any fiscal year or
other accounting period, Net Operating Income less (a) rents paid
to the Owner Entities, less (b) capital expenditures not paid from
(i) reserves, (ii) capital contributions to the Company by its
members or (iii) Capital Transactions, less (c) increases or
decreases in reserves for working capital, operating deficits and
capital items established by the Members or such other amount as
may be approved by the Members, less (d) Incentive Fees.
“ Net
Operating Income ” means, for any period, Operating
Revenues, less (i) Operating Expenses, less (ii) real property and
personal property taxes, income taxes, and other taxes other than
payroll taxes paid by the Company, less (iii) insurance premiums
and deductibles, less (iv) leases or purchase money financing of
FF&E or of real property and improvements, less (v) Base Fees
and fees payable to the asset manager, less (vi) Company-related
expenses, and less (vii) additions to any operating and replacement
reserves, in the amount of
for Stabilized
Assets: 4% of Gross Revenue, until the second anniversary of the
date hereof, and 5% of Gross Revenue thereafter,
for the
Hartford Hilton: 3% of Gross Revenue, until the second anniversary
of the date hereof, thereafter 4% of Gross Revenue until the fourth
anniversary of the date hereof, and 5% of Gross Revenue
thereafter,
for the
Hartford Marriott (if applicable): $0 until the first anniversary
of the date hereof, thereafter 3% of Gross Revenue until the fifth
anniversary of the date hereof, and 4% of Gross Revenue
thereafter,
or such higher
amount as may be required pursuant to the franchise agreement or
loan with respect to the applicable hotel.
[NOTE: INCOME
AND EXPENSE RELATED DEFINITIONS TO BE CONFORMED WITH THE FINAL
STRUCTURE OF COMPANY HOLDINGS, AS AGREED BY THE PARTIES IN GOOD
FAITH. RESERVE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE REFERENCED IN OWNER ENTITY
OPERATING AGREEMENTS]
“
Non-Discretionary Expenses ” shall mean third party
expenses over which Managing Member and the Property Manager have
no control (including, for example, and without limitation, items
that are budgeted for and/or approved by the Members, taxes, water
and sewer costs and assessments, union labor contract costs and
property-related expenses reasonably required to be incurred as a
result of force majeure ).
“
Non-Managing Member ” means any Member(s) other than
Managing Member.
“
Nonrecourse Deductions ” means deductions as described
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(c).
“
Operating Expenses ” means, for any period, the
current obligations of the Company for such period, determined in
accordance with sound accounting principles approved by the Company
and applicable to commercial real estate, consistently applied, for
operating expenses of the Property. Operating Expenses shall not
include any non-cash expenses such as depreciation or
amortization.
“
Operating Revenues ” means, for any period, the gross
revenues of the Company arising from the operations of the
Properties during such period, including proceeds of any business
interruption insurance, but specifically excluding the proceeds of
Capital Transactions or capital contributions made by
members.
“
Owner Entity ” means an Entity that owns a
Property.
“ Part
Owned Property ” means any Property that is not wholly
owned by the Company or by a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company. On the date hereof, the following Properties are a Part
Owned Property:
Residence Inn,
Danbury, CT;
[Hartford Marriott, Hartford, CT; to be included
only if and when the membership interests in the company owning the
Hartford Marriott are acquired by the Company]
;
Hartford
Hilton, Hartford, CT;
Dunkin Donuts,
790 West St., Southington, CT; and
Residence Inn
Southington, Southington, CT.
“
Person ” means and includes any individual or
Entity.
“
Preferred Return ” means, for each Member, an amount
that accrues on the average daily balance of such Member’s
Contribution Account at a per annum rate of eight and one-half
percent (8.5%) from the date such Member’s Capital
Contributions are made until the Preferred Return is paid to the
respective contributing Member as provided herein. The Preferred
Return of the Members shall not be compounded.
“
Preferred Return Account ” means for each Member an
account maintained for such Member to which shall be credited the
accrued Preferred Return of such Member and from which shall be
debited the amount of any distributions of the Preferred Return to
such Member pursuant to Sections 5.2.2.A or 5.2.2.B
hereof as well as any distribution of the “Preferred
Return” as defined in the Limited Liability Company Agreement
of Mystic Partners, LLC.
“
Profits ” and “ Losses ” means for
each fiscal year or other period an amount equal to the
Company’s taxable income or loss with respect to the relevant
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:
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Any 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 clause shall be added to such taxable income or
loss;
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Any
expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B)
or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken
into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this
clause, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or
loss;
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If the Gross
Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to clauses B
or C of the definition of Gross Asset Value, the amount of such
adjustment shall be taken into account in the taxable year of
adjustment as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for
purposes of computing Profits or Losses;
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Gain or loss
resulting from any disposition of Company property with respect to
which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes
shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the
property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis
of such property differs from its Gross Asset Value;
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In lieu of the
depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken
into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall
be taken into account Depreciation for such fiscal year or other
period, computed in accordance with the definition of
Depreciation;
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To the extent
an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset included in
Company assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section
743(b) is required pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining
Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in
liquidation of a Member’s interest, the amount of such
adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment
increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment
decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset
and shall be taken into account for the purposes of computing
Profits and Losses; and
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Notwithstanding
any other provision of this definition any items of income, gain,
loss or deduction that are specially allocated pursuant to
Article 6 shall not be taken into account in computing
Profits or Losses. The amount of items of income, gain, loss and
deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to
Article 6 shall be determined using rules analogous to those
set forth in this definition.
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“
Residual Sharing Ratios ” means the percentages in
which Members participate in distributions of Net Cash Flow and
Capital Proceeds pursuant to Section 5.2 . The Residual
Sharing Ratios of the Members are as follows:
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TRS Class A
Member:
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56.7% with
respect to Stabilized Assets and 0%
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with respect to
Development Assets;
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TRS Class B
Member:
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0% with respect
to Stabilized Assets and 35%
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with respect to
Development Assets;
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Mystic Class
Member:
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43.3% with
respect to Stabilized Assets and 65%
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with respect to
Development Assets.
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“
Stabilized Assets ” means the following Properties:
(1) Residence Inn by Marriott and Whitehall Mansion, Mystic, CT;
(2) Courtyard by Marriott, Warwick, RI; (3) Courtyard by Marriott
and Rosemont Suites, Norwich, CT; (4) SpringHill Suites by
Marriott, Waterford, CT; (5) Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa, Groton,
CT; (6) Residence Inn by Marriott, Southington, CT, and ancillary
Dunkin Donuts; (7) Residence Inn by Marriott, Danbury,
CT.
“ Tax
Contest ” means an audit, review, examination, or any
other administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose or
effect of redetermining any taxes (including any administrative or
judicial review of any claim for refund).
“ Tax
Correspondence ” means all written and oral
communications from the IRS (or other taxing authority) relating to
any item of income, gain, loss or deduction arising with respect to
any activities or assets of the Company, whether communicated with
respect to an audit or otherwise.
“
Transfer ” and “ Transferred ”
means a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, gift, bequest or
disposition by any other means, whether for value or no value and
whether voluntary or involuntary (including by realization upon any
Encumbrance or by operation of law or by judgment, levy,
attachment, garnishment, bankruptcy or other legal or equitable
proceedings).
“ TRS
Class A Member ” means the Member holding the interest so
designated on Exhibit A hereto. On the date hereof, Investor
Member is the TRS Class A Member.
“ TRS
Class A Membership Interest ” means the class of
Membership Interest issued to the TRS Class A Member.
“ TRS
Class B Member ” means the Member holding the interest so
designated on Exhibit A hereto. On the date hereof, Investor
Member is the TRS Class B Member.
“ TRS
Class B Membership Interest ” means the class of
Membership Interest issued to the TRS Class B Member.
“ TRS
Member ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble
hereto.
“
Wholly Owned Property ” means any Property that is
wholly owned by an Owner Entity. On the date hereof, the following
Properties are Wholly Owned Properties:
Courtyard Hotel
Warwick, Warwick, RI
Residence Inn,
Mystic, CT
Springhill
Suites, Waterford, CT
A reference to
any agreement, budget, document or schedule shall include such
agreement, budget, document or schedule as revised, amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its
terms and the terms of this Agreement. The singular includes the
plural and the plural includes the singular. The words
“include”, “includes” and
“including” are not limiting. Reference to a particular
“Section” or “Articles” refers to that
section or articles of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
The words “herein”, “hereof”,
“hereunder” and words of like import shall refer to
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or
subdivision of this Agreement.
2.1
Continuation . The Company was formed as a
limited liability company under the Act by the filing of the
Certificate of Formation. The Members hereby agree to continue the
Company as a limited liability company under the Act, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. If
any terms of this Agreement are inconsistent with any terms of the
Act that are not mandatory, then the terms of this Agreement shall
control. Managing Member is hereby authorized to file and record
any amendments to the Certificate of Formation and such other
similar documents approved by the Members as may be required or
appropriate to be filed or recorded under the Act or the laws of
any other jurisdiction in which the Company may conduct business or
own property.
2.2 Name and Principal Place of Business
.
2.2.1 The name of the Company is
set forth on the cover page to this Agreement. The Members may
change the name of the Company or adopt such trade or fictitious
names for use by the Company as the Members may from time to time
determine. All business of the Company shall be conducted under
such name, and title to all Company property shall be held in such
name.
2.2.2 The principal place of business and office of
the Company shall be located at 914 Hartford Turnpike, Waterford,
CT 06385, or at such other place or places as TRS Member and Mystic
Member (acting together) may from time to time
designate.
2.3 Term . The term of the Company commenced
on ____________, 2005, the date of the filing of the Certificate of
Formation pursuant to the Act, and shall continue until December
31, 2055, unless sooner terminated or further extended pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement.
2.4 Registered Agent and Registered
Office . The
name of the Company’s registered agent for service of process
shall be CT Corporation Systems, and the address of the
Company’s registered agent in the State of Connecticut shall
be ____________________. Managing Member may, upon notice to all
Members, change such agent and such office from time to
time.
2.5.1 The purpose of the Company is to engage in the
following business activities in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement: own membership interests in the Lessee’s that will
lease and operate the Properties under the Leases, together with
such other activities as may be ancillary or related to, or
otherwise necessary or advisable in connection with the foregoing.
The Company, without the written consent of all Members, shall not
engage in any business unrelated to the Properties and shall not
own any assets other than those in furtherance of the purposes of
the Company.
2.5.2 Each Lessee shall enter into a Lease, as lessee,
with an Owner Entity, as lessor, to lease, operate and manage the
applicable Property.
2.5.3 Each Lessee shall be wholly owned by the Company
or owned by the Company and the Minority Interest Holders. Each
Lessee shall be operated under an agreement (each such agreement, a
“ Lessee Operating Agreement ”) the form of
which shall be agreed upon by the Parties thereto.
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2.6
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Members;
Membership Interests.
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2.6.1 The Company shall have three classes of
Membership Interests: TRS Class A, TRS Class B and Mystic Class,
each class having identical rights on all matters other than as
expressly provided herein.
2.6.2 Effective as of the Agreement Date, the Members
of the Company shall be TRS Member and Mystic Member. Except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement, no other Person shall be
admitted as a member of the Company and no additional membership
interests shall be issued.
2.6.3 The Company shall have a single class of
Membership Interests. Mystic Member shall be the initial Managing
Member of the Company, and shall bear responsibility and authority
for the affairs and management of the Company to the extent
contemplated hereby, except to the extent that this Agreement
contemplates that a Non-Managing Member, the Property Manager or
the Tax Matters Member shall have specific responsibility or
authority with respect thereto.
2.7 Limitation on Liability . Except as otherwise
expressly provided in the Act, the debts, obligations and
liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or
otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities
of the Company, and no Member shall be obligated personally for any
such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason
of being a Member of the Company. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in the Act and in Section 4.6 hereof, the liability
of each Member shall be limited to the amount of Capital
Contributions required to be made by such Member in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement, but only when and to the extent
the same shall become due pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement.
2.8 Title to Company Property
. All property
owned by the Company, whether real or personal, tangible or
intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an
entity, and no Member, individually, shall have any ownership of
such property.
3.1
Initial Capital
Contributions . The
Members acknowledge that on or prior to the date hereof, Mystic
Member and TRS Member have made Capital Contributions to the
Company as shown on Schedule A .
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3.2
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Additional
Capital Contributions .
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3.2.1 Except as otherwise required by law or pursuant
to this Section and Section 3.1 , no Member shall be
required to make any additional Capital Contributions to the
Company. At any time and from time to time following the making of
the initial Capital Contributions set forth in Section 3.1 ,
the Members may determine that the Company requires additional cash
Capital Contributions and the amount, terms and conditions thereof
(including for payment of Operating Expenses but subject, in the
case of the Part Owned Properties, to the approval rights of the
Minority Interest Holders in respect of additional Capital
Contributions and agreement to bear their ratable share of any
additional Capital Contributions). Any such additional Capital
Contributions shall be made in accordance with the Capital Sharing
Ratios for Capital Contributions.
3.2.2 Upon a determination by the Members to require
additional Capital Contributions, Managing Member shall issue a
written notice of such determination and stating the amount of each
Member’s Capital Contribution. Each Member shall make payment
of its Capital Contribution within 15 Business Days after written
notice of the call therefor, in the case where the aggregate
Capital Contributions demanded of all Members are less than or
equal to $100,000, and within 20 Business Days, in the case where
the aggregate Capital Contributions demanded of all Members exceed
$100,000. Capital Contributions (other than the initial Capital
Contribution of Mystic Member as provided in Section 3.1 )
shall be made in cash unless otherwise agreed by each Member.
Failure to make a Capital Contribution when required hereunder
shall be a “ Capital Contribution Default ,”
following which:
A.
distributions made in accordance with clauses
5.2.2 or 5.2.3 , shall be amended to reflect the
following deemed changes to the Members’ Capital Accounts and
Capital Sharing Ratios:
i. the non-defaulting
Member shall be deemed to have made an additional Capital
Contribution equal to one-half of the portion of the capital call
that the defaulting Member failed to make (the “ Defaulted
Amount ”), and
ii. the non-defaulting
Member’s Capital Account shall similarly be increased by
one-half of the Defaulted Amount, and the Capital Sharing Ratio
shall be recalculated on the basis of the revised Capital Account
balances.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for the purpose of further Capital Contributions,
the defaulting Member shall nonetheless be required to make Capital
Contributions at the initial Capital Sharing Ratio that existed
prior to (and without giving effect to) any such deemed adjustment,
and
B.
the provisions of Section 9.2 shall also apply.
3.2.3 If a Member or the Managing Member believes that
there are insufficient Company resources available to meet the
emergency expenditures of the Company, occasioned on account of
imminent threats of property damage or personal injury or death, in
order to remedy such emergency or casualty, it shall notify the
other Members and provide details of the amounts required and the
reasons therefor. The Members may thereafter agree but shall have
no obligation to, contribute the additional capital as a Capital
Contribution pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.2.1 .
If, for any reason, any Member is unwilling or unable to contribute
its share of such additional capital, the other Member may loan to
the Company the required amount as an advance to the Company (a
“ Member Loan ”). Each such Member Loan shall be
evidenced by a note of the Company bearing interest at the Member
Loan Interest Rate. Repayment of a Member Loan shall not be a
distribution under Article 5 . All outstanding Member Loans
shall be repaid in full, together with all accrued interest, prior
to any distribution to the Members.
3.3 Return of
Capital; No Interest on Capital . Except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, no Member shall be entitled
to the return of any or all of its Capital Contribution. Neither a
Member’s Capital Account nor its Capital Contribution shall
earn interest.
3.4 No Third-Party
Beneficiary . No creditor or other third
party having dealings with the Company shall have the right to
enforce the right or obligation of any Member to make Capital
Contributions or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or
at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the
provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of,
and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns. None of the rights or
obligations of the Members herein set forth to make Capital
Contributions to the Company shall be deemed an asset of the
Company for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor
may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by
the Company or pledged or encumbered by the Company to secure any
debt or other obligation of the Company or of any of the
Members.
3.5.1
There shall be established for each Member on the books of the
Company, as of the date hereof, a Capital Account, which shall be
increased and decreased in the manner set forth herein.
3.5.2
“ Capital Account ” means, with respect to each
Member, an account maintained for such Member on the
Company’s books and records in accordance with the following
provisions:
A. To each
Member’s Capital Account there shall be added (a) the amount
of cash and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property
contributed by such Member to the capital of the company, (b) such
Member’s share of (i) Profits and (ii) any items in the
nature of income or gain that are specially allocated pursuant to
Article 6 and (c) the amount of any Company liabilities
assumed by such Member or that are secured by any Company property
distributed to such Member.
B. From each Member’s
Capital Account there shall be subtracted (a) the amount of (i)
cash and (ii) the Gross Asset Value of any Company property
distributed to such Member pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement (other than amounts paid as interest or in repayment of
principal on any loan by a Member to the Company), (b) such
Member’s share of (i) Losses and (ii) any items in the nature
of expenses or losses that are specially allocated pursuant to
Article 6 and (c) the amount of any liabilities of such
Member assumed by the Company or that are secured by any property
contributed by such Member to the Company.
C. In determining the
amount of any liability for purposes of Sections 3.5.2.A and
3.5.2.B , there shall be taken into account Code Section
752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and the
Regulations.
D. A Member who has more
than one interest in the Company shall have a single Capital
Account that reflects all such interests regardless of the class of
interests owned by such Member and regardless of the time or manner
in which such interests were acquired.
3.5.3 Adjustments
to Capital Accounts in respect to Company income, gain, loss,
deduction and non-deductible expenditures (or item thereof) shall
be made with reference to the federal tax treatment of such items
(and, in the case of book items, with reference to the federal tax
treatment of the corresponding tax items) at the Company level,
without regard to any requisite or elective tax treatment of such
items at the Member level.
3.5.4 The provisions of this
Section and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with
Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 and shall be
interprete