Exhibit 10.2
Portions of this document have
been omitted and separately filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission with a request for confidential treatment. The location
of these omissions is marked by [
]. Confidential treatment requested by WQN, Inc.
SEAVIEW MEZZANINE FUND LP
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Dated as of December 8, 2004
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
SEAVIEW MEZZANINE FUND LP
Table of Contents
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Article I General Provisions
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1
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Section 1.01.
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Definitions
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1
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Section 1.02.
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Name
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5
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Section 1.03.
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Principal
Office; Registered Office; and Qualification
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5
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Section 1.04.
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Commencement
and Duration
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6
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Section 1.05.
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Admission of
Partners
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6
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Section 1.06.
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Representations
of Partners
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6
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Section 1.07.
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Notices With
Respect to Representations of Private Limited Partners
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8
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Section 1.08.
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Liability of
Partners
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9
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Article II Purpose and
Powers
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9
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Section 2.01.
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Purpose and
Powers
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9
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Section 2.02.
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Venture Capital
Operating Company
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10
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Article III Management
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10
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Section 3.01.
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Authority of
General Partner
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10
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Section 3.02.
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Authority of
the Private Limited Partners
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11
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Section 3.03.
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The Investment
Adviser/Manager
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11
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Section 3.04.
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Restrictions on
Other Activities of the General Partner and its
Affiliates
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11
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Section 3.05.
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Management
Compensation
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12
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Section 3.06.
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Partnership
Expenses
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12
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Section 3.07.
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Valuation of
Assets
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14
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Section 3.08.
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Standard of
Care
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14
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Section 3.09.
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Indemnification
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15
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Section 3.10.
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Advisory
Board
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17
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Article IV Small Business Investment
Company Matters
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17
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Section 4.01.
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SBIC
Act
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17
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Section 4.02.
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Consent or
Approval of, and Notice to, SBA
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17
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Section 4.03.
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Provisions
Required by the SBIC Act for Issuers of Debentures
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18
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Section 4.04.
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Effective Date
of Incorporated SBIC Act Provisions
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18
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Section 4.05.
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SBA as Third
Party Beneficiary
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18
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Section 4.06.
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Interest of the
General Partner After Withdrawal
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18
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Article V Partners’ Capital
Contributions
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19
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Section 5.01.
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Capital
Commitments
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19
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Section 5.02.
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Capital
Contributions by Private Limited Partners
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19
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Section 5.03.
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Capital
Contributions by the General Partner
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19
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Section 5.04.
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Additional
Private Limited Partners and Increased Commitments
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20
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i
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
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Section 5.05.
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Conditions to
the Commitments of the General Partner and the Private Limited
Partners
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20
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Section 5.06.
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Termination of
the Obligation to Contribute Capital
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21
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Section 5.07.
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Notice and
Opinion of Counsel
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21
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Section 5.08.
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Cure,
Termination of Capital Contributions and Withdrawal
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21
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Section 5.09.
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Failure to Make
Required Capital Contributions
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22
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Section 5.10.
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Notice and
Consent of SBA with respect to Capital Contribution
Defaults
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22
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Section 5.11.
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Partnership’s Remedies upon Contribution
Defaults
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23
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Article VI Adjustment of Capital
Accounts
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26
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Section 6.01.
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Establishment
of Capital Accounts
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26
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Section 6.02.
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Time of
Adjustment of Capital Accounts
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26
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Section 6.03.
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Adjustments to
Capital Accounts
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26
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Section 6.04.
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Tax
Matters
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28
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Article VII Distributions
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29
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Section 7.01.
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Distributions
to Partners
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29
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Section 7.02.
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Distributions
of Non-cash Assets in Kind
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29
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Section 7.03.
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Distributions
for Payment of Tax
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29
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Section 7.04.
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Distributions
Violative of the Act Prohibited
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30
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Article VIII Dissolution, Liquidation,
Winding Up and Withdrawal
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30
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Section 8.01.
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Dissolution
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30
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Section 8.02.
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Winding
Up
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31
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Section 8.03.
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Withdrawal of
the General Partner
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31
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Section 8.04.
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Continuation of
the Partnership After the Withdrawal of the General
Partner
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32
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Section 8.05.
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Withdrawals of
Capital
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32
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Section 8.06.
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Withdrawal by
ERISA Regulated Pension Plans
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32
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Section 8.07.
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Withdrawal by
Government Plans Complying with State and Local Law
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32
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Section 8.08.
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Withdrawal by
Government Plans Complying with ERISA
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33
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Section 8.09.
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Withdrawal by
Tax Exempt Private Limited Partners
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33
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Section 8.10.
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Withdrawal by
Registered Investment Companies
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33
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Section 8.11.
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Distributions
on Withdrawal
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33
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Article IX Accounts, Reports and
Auditors
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34
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Section 9.01.
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Books of
Account
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34
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Section 9.02.
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Audit and
Report
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34
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Section 9.03.
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Fiscal
Year
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35
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Article X Miscellaneous
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35
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Section 10.01.
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Assignability
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35
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Section 10.02.
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Binding
Agreement
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36
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Section 10.03.
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Gender
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37
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ii
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
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Section 10.04.
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Notices
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37
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Section 10.05.
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Consents and
Approvals
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37
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Section 10.06.
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Counterparts
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37
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Section 10.07.
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Amendments
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38
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Section 10.08.
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Power of
Attorney
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38
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Section 10.09.
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Applicable
Law
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39
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Section 10.10.
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Severability
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39
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Section 10.11.
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Confidentiality
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39
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Section 10.12.
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Entire
Agreement
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40
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Schedule A – Partners and
Commitments
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Exhibit I – Valuation Guidelines
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iii
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
SEAVIEW MEZZANINE FUND LP
AGREEMENT OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, dated and effective as of December 8,
2004, among SeaView GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership) and the
Private Limited Partners named in Schedule A attached to this
Agreement, as amended from time to time. The parties, in
consideration of their mutual agreements stated in this Agreement,
agree to become partners and to form a limited partnership under
the Act. The purpose of the Partnership is to operate as a small
business investment company under the SBIC Act, licensed by SBA for
the period and upon the terms and conditions stated in this
Agreement. The parties further agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1.01.
Definitions.
For
the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) “Act”
means the Delaware Limited Partnership Act, as may be amended from
time to time and as set forth in Del. Code. Ann. tit. 6, chapter 17
(or any successor to such statute).
(b) “Additional
Private Limited Partners” has the meaning stated in
Section 5.04.
(c) “Advisory
Board” has the meaning stated in
Section 3.11.
(d) “Affiliate”
has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
(e) “Agreement”
means this agreement of limited partnership, as amended from time
to time. References to this Agreement will be deemed to include all
provisions incorporated in this Agreement by reference.
(f) “Assets”
means common and preferred stock (including warrants, rights and
other options relating to such stock), notes, bonds, debentures,
trust receipts and other obligations, instruments or evidences of
indebtedness, and other properties or interests commonly regarded
as securities, and in addition, interests in real property, whether
improved or unimproved, and interests in personal property of all
kinds (tangible or intangible), chooses in action, and cash, bank
deposits and so-called “money market
instruments”.
(g) “Assets
Under Management” means, as of any specified date, the value
of all Assets owned by the Partnership (the value to be determined
as provided in this Agreement), including contributions requested
and due from Partners and uncalled amounts of Commitments that are
included in the Partnership’s Regulatory Capital (as such
term is used in the SBIC Act), less the amount of any liabilities
of the Partnership, determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
(h) “Associate”
has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
1
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
(i) “Capital
Account” means the account of each Partner that reflects its
interest in the Partnership determined in accordance with
Section 6.03.
(j) “Certificate
of Limited Partnership” means the certificate of limited
partnership with respect to the Partnership filed for record in the
office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware.
(k) “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof promulgated by
the Internal Revenue Service, as in effect from time to
time.
(l) “Combined
Capital” has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
(m) “Commitments”
means the capital contributions to the Partnership that the
Partners have made or are obligated to make to the Partnership. The
amounts and terms of the Commitments of the General Partner and the
Private Limited Partners will be as stated in this
Agreement.
(n) “Commitment
Period” means the period commencing on the date on which the
Private Limited Partners first make initial contributions to the
Partnership, and ending on the fifth anniversary of such
date.
(o) “Control
Person” has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
(p) “Cumulative
Capital Contribution” means the cumulative contributions to
the capital of the Partnership from time to time made by a Private
Limited Partner (in no event, exceeding such Private Limited
Partner’s Commitment).
(q) “Debentures”
has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
(r) “Designated
Party” means any of the General Partner, any Investment
Adviser/ Manager, and any partner, member, manager, stockholder,
director, officer, employee or Affiliate of the General Partner and
any Investment Adviser/ Manager.
(s) “Distributable
Security” has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
(t) “ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof
promulgated by the Department of Labor, as in effect from time to
time.
(u) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as in effect
from time to time.
(v) “Final
Admission Date” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.04.
(w) “Fiscal
Year” has the meaning stated in Section 9.03.
2
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
(x) “General
Partner” means the general partner or general partners of the
Partnership, as set forth in this Agreement, which initially shall
be SeaView GP, LLC.
(y) “Indemnifiable
Costs” means all costs, expenses, damages, claims,
liabilities, fines and judgments (including the reasonable cost of
the defense, and any sums which may be paid with the consent of the
Partnership in settlement), incurred in connection with or arising
from a claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, by or
before any court or administrative or legislative body or
authority.
(z) “Initial
Closing” shall mean the closing which shall take place, or
which has taken place, on December 8, 2004.
(aa) “Investment
Advisers Act” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, and the regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as in effect
from time to time.
(bb) “Investment
Adviser/Manager” has the meaning stated in the SBIC
Act.
(cc) “Investment
Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as in effect
from time to time.
(dd) “Leverage”
has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
(ee) “Leverageable
Capital” has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
(ff) “Net
Losses” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the excess,
if any, of:
(i) all expenses
and losses incurred during the fiscal period by the Partnership
from all sources over
(ii) the aggregate
revenue, income and gains realized during the fiscal period by the
Partnership from all sources.
For purposes of
determining Net Losses:
(A) items will be
taken into account to the extent that (1) they are includable
as items of income, credit, loss or deduction for Federal income
tax purposes (including items described in
Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, or treated as so described
in Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i)) or, (2) in
the case of items of income, they constitute income that is exempt
from Federal income tax; and
(B) if any
Non-cash Asset is distributed in kind, it will be deemed sold at
the value established at the most recent valuation of the Non-cash
Asset under this Agreement (or such other valuation date as is
required under the SBIC Act) and any unrealized appreciation or
depreciation with respect to the Non-cash Asset will be deemed
realized and included in the determination of Net
Losses.
3
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
(gg) “Net
Profits” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the
excess, if any, of:
(i) the aggregate
revenue, income and gains realized during the fiscal period by the
Partnership from all sources over
(ii) all expenses
and losses incurred during the fiscal period by the Partnership
from all sources.
For purposes of
determining Net Profits:
(A) items will be
taken into account to the extent that (1) they are includable
as items of income, credit, loss or deduction for Federal income
tax purposes (including items described in
Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, or treated as so described
in Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i)) or, (2) in
the case of items of income, constitute income that is exempt from
Federal income tax; and
(B) if any
Non-cash Asset is distributed in kind, it will be deemed sold at
the value established at the most recent valuation of the Non-cash
Asset under this Agreement (or such other valuation date as is
required under the SBIC Act) and any unrealized appreciation or
depreciation with respect to the Non-cash Asset will be deemed
realized and included in the determination of Net
Profits.
(hh) “Non-cash
Asset” means any Asset of the Partnership other than
cash.
(ii) “Optionor”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(b)(ii).
(jj) “Optionees”
has the meaning set forth Section 5.11(b)(ii).
(kk) “Optioned
Partnership Interest” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.11(b)(ii).
(ll) “Option
Price” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.11(b)(ii)(A).
(mm) “Outstanding
Leverage” means the total amount of outstanding securities
(including, but not limited to, Debentures) issued by the
Partnership, which qualify as Leverage and have not been redeemed
or repaid as provided in the SBIC Act.
(nn) “Partners”
means the General Partner and the Private Limited
Partners.
(oo) “Partnership”
means the limited partnership established by this
Agreement.
(pp) “
percent (___%) in interest of the Private Limited Partners”
means Private Limited Partners whose Capital Accounts represent
such percentage of the Capital Accounts of all Private Limited
Partners as of the time of determination.
(qq) “Priority
Return” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.03(a)(iii)(B).
(rr) “Private
Limited Partners” means any limited partners of the
Partnership.
(ss) “ Regulatory Capital” has the meaning
stated in the SBIC Act.
4
Confidential treatment requested
by WQN, Inc.
(tt) “Remaining
Portion” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.11(b)(ii)(B).
(uu) “SBA”
means the United States Small Business Administration.
(vv) “SBA
Agreements” has the meaning stated in
Section 10.12.
(ww) “SBIC”
means a small business investment company licensed under the SBIC
Act.
(xx) “SBIC
Act” means the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder and
interpretations thereof promulgated by SBA, as in effect from time
to time.
(yy) “SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(zz) “Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof promulgated by
the SEC, as in effect from time to time.
(aaa)
“Special Private Limited Partner” has the meaning
stated in Section 4.06 and Section 8.03(c).
Section 1.02.
Name.
(a) The name
of the Partnership will be “SeaView Mezzanine Fund
LP.”
(b) Subject
to the prior approval of SBA, the General Partner has the power at
any time to:
(i) change the
name of the Partnership; and
(ii) qualify the
Partnership to do business under any name when the
Partnership’s name is unavailable for use, or may not be
used, in a particular jurisdiction.
(c) The
General Partner will give prompt notice of any action taken under
this Section to each Partner and SBA.
Section 1.03. Principal
Office; Registered Office; and Qualification.
(a) The
principal office of the Partnership will be at 30 Kennedy Plaza,
Suite 400, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, or such other place
as may from time to time be designated by the General Partner,
subject to the approval of SBA.
(b) The
registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware will
be located at c/o United Corporate Services, Inc., 15 East North
Street, in the city of Dover, County of Kent, State of Delaware
19901. The name of the initial registered agent for the Partnership
will be United Corporate Services, Inc. The General Partner may
from time to time change the registered agent and registered office
of the Partnership.
(c) The
General Partner will qualify the Partnership to do business in each
jurisdiction where the activities of the Partnership make such
qualification necessary.
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(d) The
General Partner will give prompt notice of any action taken under
this Section to each Partner and SBA.
Section 1.04.
Commencement and Duration.
(a) The
Partnership will commence upon the filing for record of the
Certificate of Limited Partnership in the office of the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware.
(b) The
Partnership will be dissolved and wound up at the time and in the
manner provided for in Section 8.01 hereof.
Section 1.05. Admission
of Partners.
(a) No person
may be admitted as a General Partner or a Private Limited Partner
without subscribing and delivering to the Partnership a counterpart
of this Agreement, or other written instrument, which sets
forth:
(i) the name and
address of the Partner,
(ii) the
Commitment of the Partner, and
(iii) the
agreement of the Partner to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement.
(b) Without
the prior approval of SBA, no person may be admitted as:
(i) a General
Partner, or
(ii) a Private
Limited Partner with an ownership interest of ten percent (10%) or
more of the Partnership’s capital.
(c) The
General Partner will compile, and amend from time to time as
necessary, Schedule A attached to this Agreement, which will
list:
(i) the name and
address of the General and each Private Limited Partner,
and
(ii) the
Commitment of the General Partner and each Private Limited Partner
to the Partnership.
(d) The
addition to the Partnership at any time of one or more Partners
will not be a cause for dissolution of the Partnership, and all the
Partners will continue to be subject to the provisions of this
Agreement in all respects.
Section 1.06.
Representations of Partners.
(a) This
Agreement is made with the General Partner in reliance upon the
General Partner’s representation to the Partnership and SBA,
that:
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(i) it is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Delaware, and is qualified to do business under the
laws of each state where such qualification is required to carry on
the business of the Partnership;
(ii) it has full
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
act as General Partner under this Agreement;
(iii) this
Agreement has been authorized by all necessary actions by it, has
been duly executed and delivered by it, and is a legal, valid and
binding obligation of it, enforceable according to its terms;
and
(iv) the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement will not conflict with, or result
in any violation of, or default under, any provision of any
governing instrument applicable to it, or any agreement or other
instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties is bound, or any provision of law, statute, rule or
regulation, or any ruling, writ, order, injunction or decree of any
court, administrative agency or governmental body applicable to
it.
(b) This
Agreement is made with each Private Limited Partner in reliance
upon each Private Limited Partner’s representation to the
General Partner, the Partnership and SBA, that:
(i) it has full
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
act as a Private Limited Partner under this Agreement; this
Agreement has been authorized by all necessary actions by it; this
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it; and this
Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of it,
enforceable against it according to its terms;
(ii) the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement do not require the consent of any
third party not previously obtained, and will not conflict with, or
result in any violation of, or default under, any provision of any
governing instrument applicable to it, or any agreement or other
instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
properties is bound, or any provision of law, statute, rule or
regulation, or any ruling, writ, order, injunction or decree of any
court, administrative agency or governmental body applicable to
it;
(iii) if the
Private Limited Partner is a bank (as the term is used in the SBIC
Act, at 15 U.S.C. § 682(b)), the total amount of such Private
Limited Partner’s investments in SBICs, including such
Private Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership, does
not exceed five percent (5%) of such Private Limited
Partner’s capital and surplus;
(iv) unless
otherwise disclosed to the Partnership in writing, the Private
Limited Partner is a citizen or resident of the United States, an
entity organized under the laws of the United States or a state
within the United States or an entity engaged in a trade or
business within the United States;
(v) unless
otherwise disclosed to the Partnership in writing, the Private
Limited Partner is not subject to Title I of ERISA;
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(vi) it is
investing in the Partnership for its own account for investment,
not for the interest of any other person, not for resale of any
such equity interest in the Partnership to any other person and not
with a view to or in connection with a sale or distribution, as
such term is defined in the Securities Act;
(vii) it is an
“accredited investor” (as such term is defined in
Regulation D under the Securities Act), is knowledgeable and
experienced in businesses of the sort conducted by the Partnership,
and acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to make inquiry of
the General Partner and the Investment Adviser concerning the
business, investment strategies, prospects, and financial condition
of the Partnership and has received answers to its inquiries that
it considers fully responsive and satisfactory. Further, it has not
relied on the SBA’s review of the Partnership, the General
Partner or the Investment Adviser/Manager in deciding whether to
invest;
(viii) it
understands that the equity interests in the Partnership have not
been registered under the Securities Act and are being sold and
transferred to it in a transaction exempt from such registration
requirements; that there is no public market for such equity
interests; and that such Private Limited Partner may be required to
hold such equity interests indefinitely;
(ix) its overall
commitment to investments which are not readily marketable is not
disproportionate to its net worth and the investment in equity
interests of the Partnership will not cause such overall commitment
to become excessive; and
(x) it understands
that an investment in the Partnership involves significant risks,
and it has carefully reviewed and is aware of all of the risk
factors related to such investment.
(c) Each
Partner who has disclosed to the Partnership in writing that it is
not a person described in Section 1.06(b)(iv), agrees to
provide the Partnership with any information or documentation
necessary to permit the Partnership to fulfill any tax withholding
or other obligation relating to the Partner, including but not
limited to any documentation necessary to establish the
Partner’s eligibility for benefits under any applicable tax
treaty.
Section 1.07. Notices
With Respect to Representations of Private Limited
Partners.
(a) If any
representation made by a Private Limited Partner in
Section 1.06(b)(i), (ii) or (iii) ceases to be true,
then the Private Limited Partner will promptly provide the
Partnership with a correct separate written representation covering
the same matters as each such Section.
(b) The
Partnership will give SBA prompt notice of any corrected
representation received from any Private Limited Partner under
Section 1.07(a).
Section 1.08. Liability
of Partners.
(a) Losses,
liabilities and expenses incurred by the Partnership during any
fiscal year will be allocated among the Partners in accordance with
the procedures for allocating Net Losses as provided in
Section 6.03.
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(b) The
General Partner has the liability for the liabilities of the
Partnership provided for in the Act and the SBIC Act. The General
Partner will not:
(i) be obligated
to restore by way of capital contribution or otherwise any deficits
in the respective Capital Accounts of the Private Limited Partners
should such deficits occur, or
(ii) have any
greater obligation with respect to any Outstanding Leverage than is
required by the SBIC Act or by SBA.
(c) Except as
otherwise provided under the Act and the SBIC Act, no Private
Limited Partner will be liable for any loss, liability or expense
whatsoever of the Partnership. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, a Private Limited Partner will remain liable for any
portion of such Private Limited Partner’s Commitment not paid
to the Partnership only through the Commitment Period.
(d) If a
Private Limited Partner is required to return to the Partnership,
for the benefit of creditors of the Partnership, amounts previously
distributed to the Private Limited Partner, the obligation of the
Private Limited Partner to return any such amount to the
Partnership will be the obligation of the Private Limited Partner
and not the obligation of the General Partner. No Private Limited
Partner will be liable under this Agreement for the obligations
under this Agreement of any other Partner.
(e) Nothing
in this Agreement limits any liability of any Partner under any
agreement between the Partner and SBA.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE AND POWERS
Section 2.01. Purpose and
Powers.
(a) The
Partnership is organized solely for the purpose of operating as a
small business investment company under the SBIC Act and conducting
the activities described under Title III of the SBIC Act. The
Partnership has the powers and responsibilities, and is subject to
the limitations, provided in the SBIC Act. The operations of the
Partnership and the actions taken by the Partnership and the
Partners will be conducted and taken in compliance with the SBIC
Act.
(b) Subject
to Section 2.01(a), the Partnership may make, manage, own and
supervise investments of every kind and character in conducting its
business as a small business investment company.
(c) Subject
to the provisions of the SBIC Act, the Partnership shall have all
powers necessary, suitable or convenient for the accomplishment of
the purposes set forth in Section 2.01(a) and Section 2.01(b),
alone or with others, as principal or agent, including without
limitation the following:
(i) to engage in
any lawful act or activity for which limited partnerships may be
organized under the Act.
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Section 2.01. Venture
Capital Operating Company.
At
any time that a Private Limited Partner is subject to Title I of
ERISA and 25% or more in interest of all Private Limited Partners
(as measured by their aggregate Capital Accounts) are
“benefit plan investors” (within the meaning of
Department of Labor Regulation Section 2510.3101(f)(2), 51
Fed. Reg. 41,282 (November 13, 1986) or any amendment or
successor regulation), the Partnership will use its best efforts to
ensure that the Partnership qualifies as a “venture capital
operating company” (within the meaning of Department of Labor
Regulation § 2510.3101(d), 51 Fed. Reg. 41,281
(November 13, 1986) or any amendment or successor
regulation).
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
Section 3.01. Authority
of General Partner.
(a) The
management and operation of the Partnership and the formulation of
investment policy is vested exclusively in the General
Partner.
(b) The acts
of the General Partner in carrying on the business of the
Partnership will bind the Partnership.
(c) In the
case of any General Partner other than a natural person, at any
time that the Partnership is licensed as an SBIC, the General
Partner will not allow any person to serve as a general partner,
director, officer or manager of the General Partner, unless such
person has been approved by SBA.
(d) So long
as the General Partner remains the general partner of the
Partnership:
(i) it will comply
with the requirements of the SBIC Act, including, without
limitation, 13 C.F.R. § 107.160(a) and (b), as in effect from
time to time; and
(ii) in the case
of any General Partner other than a natural person, except as set
forth in Section 3.01(d)(iii), it will devote all of its
activities to the conduct of the business of the Partnership and
will not engage actively in any other business, unless its
engagement is related to and in furtherance of the affairs of the
Partnership.
(iii) The General
Partner may, however:
(A) act as the
general partner or Investment Adviser/Manager for one or more other
SBICs, and
(B) receive, hold,
manage and sell Assets received by it from the Partnership (or
other SBIC for which it acts as general partner or Investment
Adviser/Manager), or through the exercise or exchange of Assets
received by it from the Partnership (or other SBIC for which it
acts as general partner or Investment Adviser/Manager).
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Section 3.02. Authority
of the Private Limited Partners.
The
Private Limited Partners will take no part in the control of the
business of the Partnership, and the Private Limited Partners will
not have any authority to act for or on behalf of the Partnership,
except as is specifically permitted by this Agreement.
Section 3.03 The
Investment Adviser/Manager.
(a) Subject
to the SBIC Act, the General Partner may delegate any part of its
authority to an Investment Adviser/Manager.
(b) Any
agreement delegating any part of the authority of the General
Partner to an Investment Adviser/Manager will:
(i) be in writing,
executed by the General Partner, the Partnership and the Investment
Adviser/Manager,
(ii) specify the
authority so delegated, and
(iii) expressly
require that such delegated authority will be exercised by the
Investment Adviser/Manager in conformity with the terms and
conditions of such agreement, this Agreement and the SBIC
Act.
(c) Each
agreement with an Investment Adviser/Manager under
Section 3.03(a) will be binding in accordance with its terms
upon the General Partner and any succeeding General
Partner.
(d) Each
agreement with an Investment Adviser/Manager, and any material
amendment to any such agreement, is subject to the prior approval
of SBA.
(e) The
initial Investment Advisor/Manager shall be SeaView Mezzanine
Capital Advisers, LLC.
Section 3.04.
Restrictions on Other Activities of the General Partner and its
Affiliates.
(a) Except as
provided in the SBIC Act and as otherwise specifically provided in
this Agreement, no provision of this Agreement will be construed to
preclude any (i) Partner, (ii) Investment Adviser/Manager, or
(iii) Affiliate, general partner, member, manager or
stockholder of any Partner or Investment Adviser/Manager, from
engaging in any activity whatsoever or from receiving compensation
therefore or profit from any such activity. Such activities may
include, without limitation, (A) receiving compensation from
issuers of securities for investment banking services,
(B) managing investments, (C) participating in
investments, brokerage or consulting arrangements or
(D) acting as an adviser to or participant in any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business
person..
Section 3.05. Management
Compensation.
(a) During
the five-year period commencing on the Initial Closing, Management
Compensation with respect to each year during such period shall be
[
] of the sum of (i)
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the Partnership’s
Regulatory Capital, (ii) any previous permitted distributions
under Section 7 hereof, and (iii) an assumed two tiers of
Outstanding Leverage on the amounts described in clauses
(i) and (ii).
(b) During
the subsequent period following the five-year period described in
subsection (a) above, Management Compensation with respect to each
year during such subsequent period shall be [
] of the Partnership’s Combined Capital as of the start of
business on the first day of each such year.
(c) The
Management Compensation shall not be modified in any respect except
(i) upon the written approval of 67 2/3% in Interest of the
Private Limited Partners and the General Partner, and
(ii) with the prior written approval of SBA.
(d) If the
Partnership fails to pay any Management Compensation provided
herein, for any reason, the unpaid amount shall continue to be due
and payable, or shall become due and payable, at the earliest date
on which the payment of such amount or any portion thereof could be
made without violation of the SBIC Act. Until paid, the unpaid
amount shall accrue interest compounded on a monthly basis at the
highest prime rate reported in The Wall Street Journal, from time
to time, during the period of non-payment.
(e) Management
Compensation shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of
any fees or other amounts paid to the General Partner or Investment
Adviser/Manager, as the case may be, which the SBIC Act requires to
be deducted from Management Compensation.
The
Partnership will not pay any Management Compensation with respect
to any fiscal year in excess of the amount of Management
Compensation approved by SBA.
Section 3.06. Payment of
Management Compensation
(a) The
Management Compensation may be paid by the Partnership to the
General Partner or, at the General Partner’s direction, in
whole or in part to an Investment Adviser/Manager.
(b) Management
Compensation shall be paid in advance in four (4) quarterly
installments on the first business day of each quarter of each
year. During the initial five-year period described in
Section 3.05 (a) above, Regulatory Capital shall be
calculated as of the start of business on the first day of each
quarter. For partial years (such as the final partial year of the
Partnership), Management Compensation shall be prorated based on
the number of days in such partial years.
Section 3.07 Partnership
Expenses.
(a) The
General Partner (or an Investment Adviser/Manager) will
pay:
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(i) the
compensation of all professional and other employees of the
Partnership, the General Partner or an Investment Adviser/Manager
who provide services to the Partnership;
(ii) the cost of
providing support, management and general services to the
Partnership (other than the costs paid by the Partnership as
provided in Section 3.07(b)), including, without
limitation:
(A) office
expenses,
(B)
travel,
(C) business
development,
(D) office and
equipment rental,
(E) bookkeeping,
and
(F) the
development, investigation and monitoring of investments;
and
(iii) all other
expenses of the Partnership not authorized to be paid by the
Partnership under Section 3.07(b).
(b) The
Partnership will pay the following Partnership expenses:
(i) all interest
and expenses payable by the Partnership on any indebtedness
incurred by the Partnership;
(ii) all amounts
payable to SBA under the SBIC Act, and all amounts payable in
connection with any Leverage commitment and any Outstanding
Leverage;
(iii) taxes
payable by the Partnership to Federal, state, local and other
governmental agencies;
(iv) Management
Compensation;
(v) expenses
incurred in the actual or proposed acquisition or disposition of
Assets, including without limitation, accounting fees, brokerage
fees, legal fees, transfer taxes and costs related to the
registration or qualification for sale of Assets;
(vi) legal,
insurance (including any insurance as contemplated in
Section 3.08 (m)), accounting and auditing
expenses;
(vii) all expenses
incurred by the Partnership in connection with commitments for or
issuance of Leverage;
(viii) fees or
dues in connection with the membership of the Partnership in any
trade association for small business investment companies or
related enterprises; and
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(ix) fees and
expenses incurred in connection with communication with the Private
Limited Partners such as printing and mailing costs, and costs
associated with periodic meetings of such Private Limited
Partners.
(c) All Partnership expenses paid by the Partnership
will be made against appropriate supporting documentation. The
payment by the Partnership of Partnership expenses will be due and
payable as billed.
Section 3.08. Valuation
of Assets.
(a) The
Partnership will adopt written guidelines for determining the value
of its Assets. Assets held by the Partnership will be valued by the
General Partner in a manner consistent with the Partnership’s
written guidelines and the SBIC Act. The Valuation Guidelines
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit I are the
Partnership’s written guidelines for valuation.
(b) To the
extent that the SBA or the SBIC Act requires any Asset held by the
Partnership to be valued other than as provided in this Agreement,
the General Partner will value the Asset in such manner as it
determines to be consistent with the SBA or the SBIC
Act.
(c) Assets
held by the Partnership will be valued at least annually (or more
often, as SBA may require), and will be valued at least
semiannually (or more often, as SBA may require) at any time that
the Partnership has Outstanding Leverage.
Section 3.09. Standard of
Care.
(a) No
Designated Party will be liable to the Partnership or any Partner
for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or any other
Partner or other person in good faith and in a manner it reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Partnership, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was
unlawful.
(b) Neither
any Private Limited Partner, nor any member of any Partnership
committee or board who is not an Affiliate of the General Partner,
will be liable to the Partnership or any Partner as the result of
any decision made in good faith by the Private Limited Partner or
member, in its capacity as such.
(c) Any
Designated Party, any Private Limited Partner and any member of a
Partnership committee or board, may consult with independent legal
counsel selected by it and will be fully protected, and will incur
no liability to the Partnership or any Partner, in acting or
refraining to act in good faith in reliance upon the opinion or
advice of such counsel.
(d) This
Section does not constitute a modification, limitation or waiver of
Section 314(b) of the SBIC Act, or a waiver by SBA of any of its
rights under Section 314(b).
(e) In
addition to the standards of care stated in this Section, this
Agreement may also provide for additional (but not alternative)
standards of care that must also be met.
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Section 3.10.
Indemnification.
(a) The
Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless, but only to the
extent of Assets Under Management (less any Outstanding Leverage
not included as a liability in the computation of Assets Under
Management), any Designated Party, from any and all Indemnifiable
Costs which may be incurred by or asserted against such person or
entity, by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken on
behalf of the Partnership and in furtherance of its
interests.
(b) The
Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless, but only to the
extent of Assets Under Management (less any Outstanding Leverage
not included as a liability in the computation of Assets Under
Management), the Private Limited Partners, and members of any
Partnership committee or board who are not Affiliates of the
General Partner or any Investment Adviser/Manager from any and all
Indemnifiable Costs which may be incurred by or asserted against
such person or entity, by any third party on account of any matter
or transaction of the Partnership, which matter or transaction
occurred during the time that such person has been a Private
Limited Partner or member of any Partnership committee or
board.
(c) The
Partnership has power, in the discretion of the General Partner, to
agree to indemnify on the same terms and conditions applicable to
persons indemnified under Section 3.10(b), any person who is
or was serving, under a prior written request from the Partnership,
as a consultant to, agent for or representative of the Partnership
as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent of or consultant
to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability
asserted against such person and incurred by the person in any such
capacity, or arising out of the person’s status as
such.
(d) No person
may be entitled to claim any indemnity or reimbursement under
Section 3.10(a), (b) or (c) in respect of any
Indemnifiable Cost that may be incurred by such person which
results from the failure of the person to act in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement and the applicable standard of
care stated in Section 3.09. The termination of any action,
suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not,
of itself, preclude a determination that such person acted in
accordance with the applicable standard of care stated in
Section 3.09.
(e) To the
extent that a person claiming indemnification under
Section 3.10(a), (b) or (c) has been successful on
the merits in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to
in Section 3.10(a), (b) or (c) or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter in any such action, suit or proceeding, such
person must be indemnified with respect to such matter as provided
in such Section. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence and
as provided in Section 3.10(h) with respect to advance
payments, any indemnification under this Section will be paid only
upon determination that the person to be indemnified has met the
applicable standard of conduct stated in Section 3.09(a) or
Section 3.09(b).
(f) A
determination that a person to be indemnified under this Section
has met the applicable standard stated in Section 3.09(a) or
Section 3.09(b) may be made by (i) the General Partner,
with respect to the indemnification of any person other than a
person claiming indemnification under Section 3.10(a),
(ii) a committee of the Partnership whose members are not
affiliated with the General Partner or any Investment
Adviser/Manager with respect to
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indemnification of any person
indemnified under Section 3.10(a) or (iii) at the
election of the General Partner, independent legal counsel selected
by the General Partner, with respect to the indemnification of any
person indemnified under this Section, in a written
opinion.
(g) In making
any determination with respect to indemnification under (f), the
General Partner, a committee of the Partnership whose members are
not affiliated with the General Partner or any Investment
Adviser/Manager or independent legal counsel, as the case may be,
is authorized to make the determination on the basis of its
evaluation of the records of the General Partner, the Partnership
or any Investment Adviser/Manager to the Partnership and of the
statements of the party seeking indemnification with respect to the
matter in question and is not required to perform any independent
investigation in connection with any determination. Any party
making any such determination is authorized, however, in its sole
discretion, to take such other actions (including engaging counsel)
as it deems advisable in making the determination.
(h) Expenses
incurred by any person in respect of any Indemnifiable Cost may be
paid by the Partnership before the final disposition of any such
claim or action upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of
such person to repay such amount unless it is ultimately determined
as provided in Section 3.10(e) or (f) that the person is
entitled to be indemnified by the Partnership as authorized in this
Section.
(i) The
rights provided by this Section will inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of each
person eligible for indemnification under this
Agreement.
(j) The
rights to indemnification provided in this Section are the
exclusive rights of all Partners to indemnification by the
Partnership. No Partner may have any other rights to
indemnification from the Partnership or enter into, or make any
claim under, any other agreement with the Partnership (whether
direct or indirect) providing for indemnification.
(k) The
Partnership may not enter into any agreement with any person
(including, without limitation, any Manager and/or Investment
Adviser, Partner or any person that is an employee, officer,
director, partner or shareholder, or an Affiliate, Associate or
Control Person of any Partner) providing for indemnification of any
such person (i) except as provided for under this Section, and
(ii) unless such agreement provides for a determination with
respect to the indemnification as provided under
Section 3.10(f).
(l) The
provisions of this Section do not apply to indemnification of any
person that is not at the expense (whether in whole or in part) of
the Partnership.
(m) The
Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf,
or on behalf of any person or entity, with respect to liabilities
of the types described in this Section. The Partnership may
purchase such insurance regardless of whether the person is acting
in a capacity described in this Section or whether the Partnership
would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability
under the provisions of this Section.
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Section 3.11. Advisory
Board.
The
advisory board (the “Advisory Board”) shall be
comprised of five (5) representatives, two
(2) representatives designated by the Private Limited Partners
and three (3) representatives designated by the General
Partner, and shall review the business and affairs of the
Partnership, including operational issues, ongoing SBA compliance,
assets acquired or sold by the Partnership, management of portfolio
investments and disposition, and prospective and ongoing
investments into portfolio companies (to ensure that such assets
and investments comply with the SBIC Act) (the “Partnership
Matters”), on an “as needed” basis, but no less
than on an annual basis. The Advisory Board shall make r