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National Beef, Inc.
|
S-1/A
Dec 2, 6:08 AM ET
National Beef, Inc. S-1/A
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Contents
95
1. DEFINITIONS
(a) the property was accepted by the Company as a contribution to capital at a value different from its adjusted basis, in which event the initial Asset Value for such property shall mean the gross fair market value of the property agreed to by the Company and the contributing Member; or
(b) as a consequence of the issuance of additional Units or the redemption of all or part of the Interest of a Member, the property of the Company is revalued in accordance with Section 4.3.
2. FORMATION AND PURPOSE
(a) To conduct its business, carry on its operations and exercise the powers granted to a limited liability company by the Act in any country, state, territory, district or other jurisdiction, whether domestic or foreign;
(b) To acquire by purchase, lease, contribution of property or otherwise, own, hold, operate, maintain, finance, improve, lease, sell, convey, mortgage, transfer, demolish or dispose of any real or personal property;
(c) To negotiate, enter into, renegotiate, extend, renew, terminate, modify, amend, waive, execute, perform and carry out and take any other action with respect to contracts or agreements of any kind, and any leases, licenses, guarantees and other contracts for the benefit of or with any Member or any Affiliate of any Member, without regard to whether such contracts may be deemed necessary, convenient or incidental to the accomplishment of the purpose of the Company;
(d) To purchase, take, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with, shares or other interests in or obligations of domestic or foreign corporations, associations, general or limited partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies, individuals or other Persons, or direct or indirect obligations of the United States or any government, state, territory, governmental district or municipality or any instrumentality of any of them;
(e) To lend money, to invest and reinvest its funds, and to accept real and personal property for the payment of funds so loaned or invested;
(f) To borrow money and issue evidence of indebtedness, and to secure the same by a mortgage, pledge, security interest or other lien on the assets of the Company;
(g) To pay, collect, compromise, litigate, arbitrate or otherwise adjust or settle any other claims or demands of or against the Company or to hold such proceeds against the payment of contingent liabilities;
(h) To sue and be sued, defend and participate in administrative or other proceedings in its name;
(i) To appoint employees, officers, agents, consultants and representatives of the Company, and define their duties and fix their compensation;
(j) To indemnify any Person in accordance with the Act and this Agreement;
(k) To cease its activities and cancel its Certificate of Formation; and
(l) To make, execute, acknowledge and file any documents or instruments necessary, convenient or incidental to the accomplishment of the purpose of the Company.
3. MEMBERSHIP, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND UNITS
4. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
(a) shall be increased by (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any other property contributed by such Member to the Company as a Capital Contribution (net of liabilities secured by such property or that the Company assumes or takes the property subject to) and (ii) such Member’s share of the Net Profit (or items of income or gain) of the Company, and
(b) shall be reduced by (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any other property distributed to such Member (net of liabilities secured by such property or that the Member assumes or takes the property subject to) and (ii) such Member’s share of the Net Loss (or items of deductions or loss) of the Company.
5. DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS OF PROFIT AND LOSS
5.1.1 Unless the Manager determines that a Tax Distribution made under Section 5.2.1 will cause the Company to violate a covenant of the Company’s then-existing financing agreements, the Manager shall make a Tax Distribution not later than the dates specified in Section 5.2.1.
5.1.2 Unless the Manager determines that a Distribution made under Section 5.2 will cause the Company to violate a covenant of the Company’s then existing financing agreements, the Manager may make any additional Distributions under Section 5.2 to the Members in such aggregate amounts and on such occasions as the Manager may determine:
5.2.1 Tax Distributions. Subject to Section 5.1, the Company shall distribute to all Members prior to the tenth (10th) day after the end of each calendar quarter an aggregate amount equal to the Base Tax Rate times the allocations of taxable income made or expected to be made pursuant to this Article 5 for such quarter (the “Tax Distribution”). This percentage shall be increased as appropriate to reflect any increase in highest marginal income tax rates following the Effective Date. The Manager shall determine the amount to be distributed to the Members pursuant to this Section 5.2.1 in its reasonable discretion based on such reasonable assumptions as the Manager determines in good faith to be appropriate. Tax Distributions shall be divided among the Members pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Interests. The “Base Tax Rate” shall be equal to forty-eight percent (48%), provided however if the Alternative Tax Rate is higher than 48%, the Alternative Tax Rate shall be the Base Tax Rate. The
“Alternative Tax Rate” shall be the sum of (i) the Spread and (ii) the highest aggregate income tax rate that would be applicable to either an individual or corporate member computed assuming that (w) the individual or corporate member was taxed at the highest marginal Federal and highest marginal applicable state income tax rates, (x) state income taxes are not deductible, (y) taking into account the allocation of the Company’s income for the prior year among the states in which such income would be subject to tax (irrespective of the member’s domicile), and (z) the domicile of such person is in the Specified State that would result in the highest effective income tax rate. The Specified States include California, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Arkansas and Texas. The “Spread” shall be percentage points. For purposes of computing taxable income under this Section 5.2.1, taxable income shall be determined without taking account the effect of any benefit to a Member under Section 743(b) or 734(b) of the Code.
5.2.2 Other Distributions. Next, to the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests.
5.6 Net Profit or Net Loss.
5.6.1 The “Net Profit” or “Net Loss” of the Company for each Fiscal Year or relevant part thereof shall mean the Company’s taxable income or loss for federal income tax purposes for such period (including all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code) with the following adjustments:
(a) Gain or loss attributable to the disposition of property of the Company with an Asset Value different than the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes shall be computed with respect to the Asset Value of such property, and any tax gain or loss not included in Net Profit or Net Loss shall be taken into account and allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Members pursuant to Section 5.8.
(b) Depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to any property with an Asset Value that differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes shall be computed in accordance with Asset Value, and any depreciation allowable for federal income tax purposes shall be allocated in accordance with Section 5.8.
(c) Any items that are required to be allocated pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be taken into account in determining Net Profit or Net Loss.
(d) No Section 754 adjustments allocable to any Member shall be taken into account in the computation of Net Profit and Net Loss.
5.6.2 Allocations of Net Profit and Net Loss. The Net Profit and Net Loss of the Company for any relevant fiscal period shall be allocated and credited to the Capital Accounts of the Members in proportion with their Percentage Interests.
5.6.3 Interpretation. The Members intend for the allocation provisions set forth in this Agreement to comply with Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder and to appropriately reflect the Members’ rights to Distributions as set forth in Sections 5.2 and 13.3, and the Company shall interpret the provisions in accordance with such intent and make such adjustments as may be necessary to effect such intent; provided, however, that any such interpretation or adjustment shall affect only Capital Accounts and allocations and shall not affect any Member’s rights to Distributions as set forth in this Agreement.
5.8 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c) and Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation.
5.8.1 Contributed Assets. In accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the Company with an adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes different from the initial Asset Value at which such property was accepted by the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take into account such difference in the manner required by Section 704(c) of the Code and the applicable Regulations.
5.8.2 Revalued Assets. If upon the acquisition of additional Units in the Company by a new or existing Member the Asset Value of any the assets of the Company is adjusted pursuant to Section 4.3, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such assets shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take into account such adjustment in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the Code and the applicable Regulations.
5.8.3 Elections and Limitations. The allocations required by this Section 5.8 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local income taxes and shall not affect the allocation of Net Profits or Net Losses as between Members or any Member’s Capital Account. All tax allocations required by this Section 5.8 shall be made using the so called “traditional method” described in Regulation 1.704-3(b).
5.8.4 Allocations. Except as noted above, all items of income, deduction and loss shall be allocated for federal, state and local income tax purposes in the same manner such items are allocated for purposes of calculating Net Profits and Net Losses.
6. STATUS, RIGHTS AND POWERS OF MEMBERS AND CERTAIN MEMBER AGREEMENTS
(a) Without limitation of Section 17.1, any amendment, modification, supplement or restatement of or to this Agreement, other than an amendment, modification, supplement or restatement (i) being executed solely to reflect any dilution in such Member’s Interest resulting from the issuance of Units as contemplated by
Article 3, (ii) being executed solely to reflect the acceptance of a new Member pursuant to Article 11 or (iii) being executed in conjunction with an acquisition (including acquisition by merger) by the Company solely to the extent necessary to consummate the acquisition; provided that any such amendment, modification, supplement or restatement treats all Members ratably based on their Percentage Interests.
(b) Any amendment to the Management Services Agreement.
(a) Certain Activities of USPB Prohibited. For so long as USPB and its Affiliates own or Control any Units of the Company, USPB and its Affiliates shall not, directly or indirectly, singularly or in the aggregate, own or Control more than five percent (5.0%) of the Ownership Interests of, or otherwise run, manage, operate, direct or Control, any Competing Business or any Competing Facility.
(b) Certain Activities of NBPCo Holdings Prohibited.
(i) For so long as NBPCo Holdings or its Affiliates owns or Controls any Units of the Company, NBPCo Holdings and its Affiliates shall not, directly or indirectly, singularly or in the aggregate, own or Control more than five percent (5%) of the Ownership Interests of, or otherwise run, manage, operate, direct, or Control, any Competing Business or any Competing Facility.
(ii) The members acknowledge and agree that NBPCo Holdings and its Affiliates directly and indirectly compete with the Company in segments of the beef market not constituting a Competing Business or a Competing Facility and nothing in this Agreement shall in any way limit NBPCo Holdings or its Affiliates ability to compete with the Company, subject to clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) of this Section 6.7(b).
(iii) For so long as NBPCo Holdings or its Affiliates owns or Controls any Units of the Company, if at any time NBPCo Holdings or its Affiliates commences a venture on its own that directly or indirectly competes with the Company in a segment of the beef market, then NBPCo Holdings will offer the Company an opportunity to supply beef as a raw material to such business activity, on arms length terms and conditions.
(iv) For so long as NBPCo Holdings or its Affiliates owns or Controls any Units of the Company, if at any time NBPCo Holdings or its Affiliates commences a venture in conjunction with a Competitor of the Company, or a Competing Business or Competing Facility that directly or indirectly competes with the Company in a segment of the beef market, then NBPCo Holdings or its Affiliates will offer the Company in writing an opportunity to participate in a comparable venture on terms and conditions that are at least as favorable as the terms and conditions offered to and agreed with such Competitor. If the Company
fails, within thirty (30) days after being so presented with such opportunity, to accept such opportunity or otherwise fails to pursue such opportunity with reasonable diligence, the Company will waive its right to require NBPCo Holdings to continue such offer and shall likewise waive any claim that NBPCo Holdings’ engagement in such activity with a Competitor violates this Section 6.7(b).
(v) NBPCo Holdings will not use its Ownership Interest in the Company, to gather Confidential Information from the Company or inappropriately block competitive projects of the Company, and NBPCo Holdings agrees not to use any such Confidential Information for any purpose not related to the Company’s conduct of its business or otherwise in a manner detrimental to the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if NBPCo Holdings seeks to, or does acquire, engage in, or operate a venture of the type described above or otherwise competes with the Company, the Manager may restrict NBPCo Holdings’ access to Confidential Information in its sole discretion.
(c) Severability. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Section 6.7 is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability will have the power to reduce the scope, duration or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement will be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within which the judgment may be appealed.
6.10 Member Compensation; Expenses; Loans.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Management Services Agreement, no Member shall receive any salary, fee, or draw for services rendered to or on behalf of the Company. Except as otherwise approved, permitted or contemplated by or pursuant to a
policy approved by the Manager, no Member shall be reimbursed for any expenses incurred by such Member on behalf of the Company.
(b) Any Member or Affiliate may, to the extent approved by the Manager, lend or advance money to the Company (it being understood that no such loan or advance shall be deemed to take place in the ordinary course of business). If any Member or Affiliate shall make any such permitted loan or loans to the Company or advance money on its behalf, the amount of any such loan or advance shall not be treated as a contribution to the capital of the Company but shall be a debt due from the Company. Unless otherwise agreed by the lending Member or Affiliate and the Company and approved by the Manager, the amount of any such loan or advance by a lending Member or Affiliate shall be repayable out of the Company’s cash and shall bear interest at a rate not in excess of the prime rate established, from time to time, by any major bank selected by the Manager for loans to its most creditworthy commercial borrowers, plus up to six percent (6%) per annum as agreed upon by the Manager and the Member, and on such other terms and conditions no less favorable to the Company than if the lender had been an independent third party. None of the Members or their Affiliates shall be obligated to make any loan or advance to the Company.
7. DESIGNATION, RIGHTS, AUTHORITIES, POWERS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGER
8. DESIGNATION, RIGHTS, AUTHORITIES, POWERS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND AGENTS
9. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
(a) A current list of the full name and last known business or residential address of each Member and the Manager;
(b) information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services contributed by each Member and
which each Member has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each Member became a Member of the Company;
(c) A copy of the Certificate and this Agreement, including any amendments to either thereof, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate, this Agreement or any amendments have been executed;
(d) Copies of the Company’s federal, state and local income tax or information returns and reports;
(e) The financial statements of the Company; and
(f) The Company’s books and records.
9.4 Reports.
(a) In General. The Chief Financial Officer or any other officer of the Company designated by the Manager shall be responsible for causing the preparation of financial reports of the Company and the coordination of financial matters of the Company with the Company’s accountants.
(b) Periodic and Financial Reports. The Company shall maintain and provide to each Member upon request, the financial statements listed in clauses (i) and (ii) below, prepared, in each case (other than Capital Contributions, Profits and Losses an other allocations, distributions and Capital Accounts with respect to Member’s Capital
Accounts, which shall construed, determined and reported to Members in accordance with this Agreement) in accordance with GAAP.
(i) As soon as practicable following the end of each Fiscal Year (and in any event not later than ninety (90) days after the end of such Fiscal Year), a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related statements of operations, Members’ Capital Accounts and changes therein, and cash flows for such Fiscal Year, together with appropriate notes to such financial statements, and in each case, to the extent the Company was in existence, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year.
(ii) As soon as reasonably practicable following the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year and following the end of each of the first eleven (11) fiscal months of each Fiscal Year (and in any event not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of such fiscal quarter or fiscal month, as the case may be), an unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such fiscal quarter or fiscal month, as the case may be, and the related unaudited statements of operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarter or fiscal month, as the case may be, and for the Fiscal Year to date, in each case, to the extent the Company was in existence, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior Fiscal Year’s fiscal quarter or fiscal month, as the case may be, and the fiscal quarter or fiscal month, as the case may be, just completed.
(c) Other Reports. The Manager shall cause to be delivered promptly to Members such other information that is customarily provided to shareholders or members, such as reports of adverse developments, management letters, communications with Members or Managers, press releases and registration statements.
10. TAX MATTERS MEMBER
11. TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
12. TAKE-ALONG RIGHTS
12.1.1 Take-Along Right. Each Member hereby agrees, if requested by NBI (for purposes of this Section 12.1.1, the “Initiating Seller”), to Transfer for value (for purposes of this Section 12.1, a “Sale”) the same percentage of the Units of each Class held by the Member as is being sold by the Initiating Seller (for purposes of this Section 12.1, the “Sale Percentages”) then owned by the Member to a Person other than an Affiliate of the Initiating Seller (for purposes of this Section 12.1, the “Proposed Transferee”) in the manner and on the terms set forth in this Section 12.1 in connection with the Sale by the Initiating Seller of the Sale Percentage of Units by the Initiating Seller.
12.1.2 Take-Along Notice. If the Initiating Seller elects to exercise its rights under Section 12.1.1 (the “Take-Along Right”), a notice (a “Take-Along Notice”) shall be furnished by the Initiating Seller to the other Members (for purposes of this Section 12.1, the “Selling Members”). A Take-Along Notice shall set forth the principal terms of the proposed Sale insofar as it relates to the Interest to be purchased from the Initiating Seller, the Sale Percentage, the per Unit purchase price with respect to each Class and the name and address of the Proposed Transferee. If the Initiating Seller consummates the Sale referred to in the Take-Along Notice, the Selling Members shall be bound and obligated to sell the appropriate proportion of such Selling Members’ Units in the Sale on the same terms and conditions as the Initiating Seller shall sell its Units. If at the end of 120 days following the date of the effectiveness of the Take-Along Notice the Initiating Seller has not completed the Sale, the Selling Member shall be released from its obligation under the Take-Along Notice, and it shall be necessary for a new and separate Take-Along Notice to be furnished and the terms and provisions of this Section 12.1.2 to be separately complied with in order to consummate such Sale pursuant to this Section 12.1, unless the failure to complete such Sale resulted from any failure by the Selling Member to comply in any material respect with the terms of this Section 12.1.
12.1.3 Consideration. In the event the consideration to be paid in exchange for the Units in the proposed Sale includes any securities and the receipt thereof by any Selling Member would require under applicable law (i) the registration or qualification of such securities or of any Person as a broker or dealer or agent with respect to such securities or (ii) the provision to any Selling Member of any information other than such information as a prudent issuer would generally furnish in an offering made solely to “accredited investors” as defined in Regulation D, the Initiating Seller shall be obligated
only to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such requirements to be complied with to the extent necessary to permit such Selling Member to receive such securities, it being understood and agreed that the Initiating Seller shall not be under any obligation to effect a registration of such securities under the Securities Act or similar statutes. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Section 12.1.3, if use of reasonable efforts by the Initiating Seller shall not have resulted in such requirements being complied with to the extent necessary to permit such Selling Member to receive such securities, or if regulatory restrictions prevent a Selling Member from holding such securities and the Initiating Seller, after using commercially reasonable efforts, is unable to structure the transaction in a way that meets such regulatory requirements, the Initiating Seller shall cause to be paid to such Selling Member in lieu thereof, against surrender of the Interest which would have otherwise been sold by such Selling Member to the Proposed Transferee in the Sale, an amount in cash equal to the fair market value (as determined by the Manager in good faith) of the securities which such Selling Member would otherwise receive as of the date of the issuance of such securities in exchange for Members’ Units. The obligation of the Initiating Seller to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such requirements to have been complied with to the extent necessary to permit a Selling Member to receive such securities shall be conditioned on such Selling Member executing such documents and instruments, and taking such other actions (including without limitation, if required by the Initiating Seller, agreeing to be represented during the course of such transaction by a “purchaser representative” (as defined in Regulation D) in connection with evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment and acknowledging that he was so represented), as the Initiating Seller shall reasonably request in order to permit such requirements to be complied with. Unless the Selling Member in question shall have taken all actions reasonably requested by the Initiating Seller in order to comply with the requirements under Regulation D, such Selling Member shall not have the right to require the payment of cash in lieu of securities under this Section 12.1.3.
12.1.4 Cooperation. Each Selling Member in a Sale, whether in its capacity as such or as a Member, Manager, officer or agent of the Company, or otherwise, shall to the fullest extent permitted by law take or cause to be taken all such actions as may be reasonably requested in order expeditiously to consummate each Sale pursuant to Section 12.1 hereof and any related transactions, including, without limitation, executing, acknowledging and delivering consents, assignments, waivers and other documents or instruments; furnishing information and copies of documents; filing applications, reports, returns, filings and other documents or instruments with governmental authorities; and otherwise cooperating with the Initiating Seller and the Proposed Transferee; provided, however, that the Selling Members shall be obligated to become liable (severally and not jointly) in respect of any representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities or otherwise to the Proposed Transferee solely to the extent provided in the immediately following sentence. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Selling Member agrees to execute and deliver such agreements as may be reasonably specified by the Initiating Seller to which the Initiating Seller will also be party, including, without limitation, agreements to (a) make individual representations as to the title to its Interest and the power, authority and legal right to transfer such Interest to the extent such agreements are also made by the Initiating Seller and (b) be liable in respect of any purchase price
escrow or adjustment provisions or reduction in purchase price as may apply to Members generally resulting from representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities in respect of the Company to the extent that the Initiating Seller is also liable; provided, however, that, (i) except with respect to individual representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and other agreements of holders of Units, the aggregate amount of such liability shall not exceed the lesser of (a) such Selling Member’s pro rata portion of any such liability, in accordance with such Selling Member’s portion of the total value of Interests included in the Sale or (b) the proceeds to such Selling Member as a result of such Sale and (ii) with respect to individual representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and other agreements of holders of Interests, the aggregate amount of such liability shall not exceed the proceeds to such Selling Member as a result of such Sale.
12.1.5 Closing. The closing of a Sale pursuant to this Section 12.1 shall take place at such time and place as the Initiating Seller shall specify by reasonable advance notice to each Selling Member. It is understood and agreed that the Initiating Seller shall not have any liability to any other Member arising from, relating to or in connection with any proposed transaction which has been the subject of a Take-Along Notice, whether or not such proposed transaction is consummated, other than liability for breach of the applicable provisions of this Agreement.
12.1.6 Remain Subject. Units transferred pursuant to Section 12.1 shall remain subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
13. DISSOLUTION OF COMPANY
14. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) The Manager shall have the benefit of the business judgment rule to the same extent as if the Manager were a director of a Delaware corporation.
(b) The Manager shall have the same duties of care and loyalty as such Person would have if such Person were directors of a Delaware corporation but in no event shall the Manager be liable for any action or inaction for which exculpation is provided under Section 14.2.
15. REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS BY THE MEMBERS
16. CREATION OF HOLDING COMPANY
17. AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT
18. GENERAL
(a) all certificates and other instruments (specifically including counterparts of this Agreement), and any amendment thereof, that the Manager deems appropriate to qualify or to continue the Company as a limited liability company in any jurisdiction in which the Company may conduct business or in which such qualification or continuation is, in the opinion of the Manager, necessary to protect the limited liability of the Members;
(b) all amendments to this Agreement adopted in accordance with the terms hereof and all instruments that the Member deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and
(c) all conveyances and other instruments that the Manager deems appropriate to reflect the dissolution of the Company.