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$XE
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10-Q
X-Energy, Inc. · Jun 4, 6:06 AM ET
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X-Energy, Inc. 10-Q
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Contents
111
Article I.DEFINITIONS
Article II.ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
Section 2.01 Formation of the Company. The Company was formed on December 14, 2018 pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act.
Section 2.02 Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement. The Members execute this Agreement for the purpose of amending, restating and superseding the Seventh A&R LLC Agreement in its entirety and otherwise establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Act. During the term of the Company set forth in Section 2.06, the Members agree that the rights and obligations of the Members with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Delaware Act. No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the Delaware Act. To the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the Delaware Act, such provision shall be void and of no effect to the extent of such violation without affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement. Neither any Member nor the Manager nor any other Person shall have appraisal rights with respect to any Units.
Section 2.03 Name. The name of the Company is “X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC.” The Manager in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such change shall be given to all of the Members. The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Manager.
Section 2.04 Purpose; Powers. The primary business and purpose of the Company shall be to engage in such lawful acts or activities as are permitted under the Delaware Act and determined from time to time by the Manager in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Company shall have the power and authority to take (directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries) all actions and engage in all activities necessary, appropriate, desirable, advisable, ancillary or incidental to accomplish the foregoing purpose.
Section 2.05 Principal Office; Registered Office. The principal office of the Company shall be located at such place or places as the Manager may from time to time designate, each of which may be within or outside the State of Delaware. The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 19808. The registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent and registered office in the State of Delaware.
Section 2.06 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in perpetuity unless dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV.
Section 2.07 No State-Law Partnership. The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.07. Neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Member relating to the subject matter of this Agreement shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and, if applicable, state or local income tax purposes, and that each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.
Section 2.08 Liability. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware 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. No Member shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Member.
Article III.MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION
Section 3.01 Members.
Section 3.02 Units.
Section 3.03 Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units and Common Warrants.
Section 3.04 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units and Warrants.
Section 3.05 Repurchase or Redemption.
Section 3.06 Certificates. The Units shall be uncertificated unless otherwise determined by the Manager.
Section 3.07 Negative Capital Accounts. No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance that may exist from time to time in such Member’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company).
Section 3.08 No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
Section 3.09 Loans From Members. Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(c), the amount of any such advances shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.
Section 3.10 Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating an Equity Plan or from issuing shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to any such plans. The Corporation may implement such Equity Plans and any actions taken under such Equity Plans (such as the grant or exercise of options to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock), whether taken with respect to or by an employee or other service provider of the Corporation, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries. In its sole discretion, the Corporation may amend this Agreement as necessary or advisable in connection with the adoption, implementation, modification or termination of an Equity Plan. In the event of such an amendment by the Corporation, the Company will provide notice of such amendment to the Members. The Company
is expressly authorized to issue Units (i) in accordance with the terms of any such Equity Plan, or (ii) in an amount equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to any such Equity Plan, without any further act, approval or vote of any Member or any other Persons.
Section 3.11 Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan or Other Plan. Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III, all amounts received or deemed received by the Corporation in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, or other subscription plan or agreement, either (a) shall be utilized by the Corporation to effect open market purchases of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if the Corporation elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the Corporation to the Company in exchange for additional Common Units. Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.
Article IV.DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.01 Distributions.
Article V.CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS
Section 5.01 Capital Accounts.
Section 5.02 Allocations. After giving effect to the allocations in Section 5.03, Net Profit and Net Loss (and, to the extent the Manager determines necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit) of the Company for each applicable Allocation Period shall be allocated among the Members during such Allocation Period. Such allocation shall be in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Member, immediately after making such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal to (i) the distributions that would be made to such Member pursuant to Section 14.02(c) if the Company were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Book Value, all Company liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Book Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Company were distributed, in accordance with Section 14.02(c), to the Members immediately after making such allocation, minus (ii) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale
of assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager (acting reasonably and in good faith) may make allocations it deems necessary to give economic effect to the provisions in Article V, Article XIV and the other relevant provisions of this Agreement and to properly reflect each Member’s “interest in the partnership” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(3).
Section 5.03 Special Allocations.
Section 5.04 Tax Allocations.
Section 5.05 Tax Withholding.
Article VI.MANAGEMENT
Section 6.01 Authority of the Manager; Officer Delegation.
Section 6.02 Actions of the Manager. The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.01(b).
Section 6.03 Resignation; No Removal. The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members. Any such resignation shall be subject to the appointment of a new Manager in accordance with Section 6.04. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation
shall take effect upon receipt of such notice by the Members (subject to the appointment of a new Manager in accordance with Section 6.04), and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.03, no replacement or termination of the Corporation as the Manager shall be effective unless proper provision is made, in compliance with this Agreement, so that the obligations of the Corporation, its successor or assign (if applicable) and any new Manager and the rights of all Members under this Agreement and applicable Law remain in full force and effect. No appointment of a Person other than the Corporation (or its successor or assign, as applicable) as the Manager shall be effective unless: (a) the new Manager executes a Joinder to this Agreement and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions in this Agreement; and (b) the Corporation (or its successor or assign, as applicable) and the new Manager (as applicable) provide all other Members with contractual rights, directly enforceable by such other Members against the Corporation (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Manager (as applicable), to cause (i) the Corporation to comply with all of the Corporation’s obligations under this Agreement (in its capacity as a Member) and (ii) the new Manager to comply with all of the Manager’s obligations under this Agreement.
Section 6.04 Vacancies. Vacancies in the position of Manager occurring for any reason shall be filled by the Corporation. If the Corporation has ceased to exist without any successor or assign, then any such Manager vacancy shall be filled by the holders of a majority in interest of the voting capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such cessation. The Members (other than the Corporation) have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager.
Section 6.05 Transactions Between the Company and the Manager. The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager. With the exception of contracts and dealings between the Company and its Subsidiaries, any contracts between the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager and the Company shall be: (i) on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing at arm’s length; (ii) approved by the Members (other than the Manager) holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Members (other than the Manager); or (iii) approved by the Disinterested Majority. Any contracts between the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager and the Company approved pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) in the preceding sentence must also be otherwise permitted by the Credit Agreements. The limitations set forth in the foregoing sentence shall in no way, however, limit the Manager’s rights under Section 3.02, Section 3.04, Section 3.05 or Section 3.10. The Members approve each of the contracts or agreements between or among the Manager or its Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and the Company or its Affiliates (other than the Manager and any of the Company’s Subsidiaries), on the other hand, entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement in accordance with the Seventh A&R LLC Agreement or that the board of managers of the Company or the Corporate Board has approved in connection with the IPO, including the Recapitalization, as of the date of this Agreement, including the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Section 6.06 Reimbursement for Expenses. Except as provided in this Section 6.06, the Manager shall not be compensated for its services as the Manager of the Company. The Members acknowledge and agree that the Manager’s Class A Common Stock is publicly traded and,
therefore, the Manager has access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company and all Members. Accordingly, the Manager shall be reimbursed by the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company. Such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company shall apply to, among others, all fees, expenses and costs associated with being a public company (including public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, Trading Market fees (or fees associated with the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading), transfer agent fees, legal fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees, offering expenses and excise taxes (including any excise taxes imposed pursuant to Section 4501 of the Code) incurred in connection with the redemption of any shares of Equity Securities of the Manager) and maintaining its corporate existence. In the event that shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to underwriters in any subsequent public offering at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to the public in such subsequent public offering, after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (such difference, the “Discount”): (i) the Manager shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company in exchange for newly issued Common Units the full amount for which such shares of Class A Common Stock were sold to the public; and (ii) the Company shall be deemed to have paid the Discount as an expense. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company. To the extent any reimbursements to the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.06 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code (unless otherwise required by the Code and Treasury Regulations) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not bear any obligations with respect to income tax of the Manager or any payments made pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement other than in a manner that is expressly contemplated under this Agreement.
Section 6.07 Limitation of Liability of Manager.
Section 6.08 Investment Company Act. The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.
Article VII.RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND THE MANAGER
Section 7.01 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members.
Section 7.02 Lack of Authority. No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company. The Members consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on it by Law and this Agreement.
Section 7.03 No Right of Partition. No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any property of the Company, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.
Section 7.04 Indemnification.
Article VIII.BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Section 8.01 Records and Accounting. The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required pursuant to applicable Laws. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Article IV and Article V and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager. Any such determination by the Manager shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error or common law fraud.
Section 8.02 Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on December 31 of each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.
Section 8.03 Inspection Rights. The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives to examine the books and records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Such examination shall occur at the principal office of the Company or such other location as the Manager shall reasonably approve during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s Units. Any such inspection by a Member shall be a the Member’s sole cost and expense, The inspection rights provided in this Section 8.03 shall not interfere, however, with the Manager’s right to keep confidential from the Members certain information in accordance with Section 18-305 of the Delaware Act.
Article IX.TAX MATTERS
Section 9.01 Preparation of Tax Returns. The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. The Manager shall use reasonable efforts (taking into account applicable extensions of time to file tax returns) to furnish, within 215 days of the close of each Taxable Year, or as soon as reasonably possible, to each Member a completed IRS Schedule K-1 (and any comparable state and local income tax form) and such other information as is reasonably requested by such Member relating to the Company that is necessary for such Member to comply with its tax reporting obligations. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in its capacity as Company Representative, the Manager shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and
elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Units of its Members.
Section 9.02 Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.02, unless otherwise required by Section 706 of the Code. The Manager shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (or any similar provisions of applicable state, local or foreign tax Law) for the Taxable Year that includes the Effective Date and each subsequent Taxable Year in which an Exchange (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) occurs. The preceding sentence shall not apply, however, to any Company Subsidiary to the extent it is directly or indirectly held by or through any Company Subsidiary that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income tax purposes. The Manager shall take commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Person in which the Company owns a direct or indirect equity interest that is so treated as a partnership to have in effect such an election for the Taxable Year that includes the Effective Date and each subsequent Taxable Year in which an Exchange (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) occurs. The foregoing shall not apply to any such Person that is directly or indirectly held by or through an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income tax purposes. Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.
Section 9.03 Company Representative.
Article X.RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Section 10.01 Transfers by Members. No holder of Units shall Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers: (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.02 and Section 10.09; (b) approved in advance and in writing by the Manager, in the case of Transfers by any Member other than the Manager; or (c) in the case of Transfers by the Manager, to any Person who succeeds to the Manager in accordance with Section 6.04. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include any indirect Transfer of Units held by the Manager by virtue of any Transfer of Equity Securities in the Corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Member shall Transfer all or any part of its Units or any right or economic interest pertaining to such Units if such Transfer, nor shall the Company issue any Units if such issuance, in the reasonable discretion of the Manager, (x) would cause the Company to (1) be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” as that term is defined in Section 7704 of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or (2) fail to qualify for the safe harbor contained in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) or (y) would result in the Company having more than 100 partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) in any Fiscal Year that is not a Restricted Fiscal Year.
Section 10.02 Permitted Transfers. The restrictions contained in Section 10.01 shall not apply to any of the following (each, a “Permitted Transfer” and each transferee, a “Permitted
Transferee”): (i) a Transfer pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI; (ii) a Transfer by a Member to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) a Permitted Pledge; or (iv) to an Affiliate of such Member. In addition, the Manager shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its consent to any other Transfer by a Member so long as such Transfer would not, in the reasonable discretion of the Manager, have the consequence described in clauses (x) or (y) of the last sentence of Section 10.01. The restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units. In addition, in the case of any transfers pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 10.02: (i), the Permitted Transferees of the Units so Transferred shall at the time of the Permitted Transfer agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement; and (ii) prior to such Transfer the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed Permitted Transferee. If a Permitted Transfer pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 10.02 would result in a Change of Control, such Member must provide the Manager with written notice of any such proposed Permitted Transfer at least 60 calendar days prior to the consummation of such Permitted Transfer. In the case of a Permitted Transfer of any Common Units by any Member holding Class B Common Stock to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 10.02, such Member shall also transfer a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Common Units that were transferred by such Member in the transaction to such Permitted Transferee. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.07(b).
Section 10.03 Restricted Units Legend. The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act. Consequently, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, such Units cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or if an exemption from such registration is then available with respect to such sale. The book-entry statements representing the Units shall bear, and to the extent Units have been certificated in accordance with Section 3.06, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with, a legend in substantially the following form:
Section 10.04 Transfer. Prior to Transferring any Units, the Transferring holder of Units shall cause the prospective Permitted Transferee to be bound by this Agreement and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate to which the Transferring holder was a party (collectively, the “Other Agreements”). Any prospective Permitted Transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements.
Section 10.05 Assignee’s Rights.
Section 10.06 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations. Any Member who shall Transfer any Unit in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.06, duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest. The Members acknowledge and agree, however, that the applicable provisions of Section 6.07 and Section 7.04 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit. Unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with the provisions of Article XII (the “Admission Date”): (a) such Transferring holder shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units; and (b) in its sole discretion, the Manager may reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units in the Company: (i) from any liability to the Company with respect to such Units that may exist as of the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Delaware Act; (ii) for any liability to the Company or any other Person
for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such); or (iii) for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained in this Agreement or in the Other Agreements with the Company.
Section 10.07 Overriding Provisions.
Section 10.08 Spousal Consent. In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Member will deliver to the Company an executed consent from such Member’s spouse (if any) in the form of Exhibit B-1 attached to this Agreement or a Member’s spouse confirmation of separate property in the form of Exhibit B-2 attached to this Agreement. If, at any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement such Member becomes legally married (whether in the first instance or to a different spouse), such Member shall cause such Member’s spouse to execute and deliver to the Company a consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 attached to this Agreement. Such Member’s non-delivery to the Company of an executed consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 at any time shall constitute such Member’s continuing representation and warranty that such Member is not legally married as of such date.
Section 10.09 Certain Transactions with respect to the Corporation.
Article XI.REDEMPTION AND DIRECT EXCHANGE RIGHTS
Section 11.01 Redemption Right of a Member.
Section 11.02 Election and Contribution of the Corporation. Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c), or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(d), subject to Section 11.03, on the Redemption Date: (i) the Corporation shall make a Capital Contribution to the Company (in the form of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as determined by the Corporation in accordance with Section 11.01(b)); and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of Redeemed Units surrendered by the Redeeming Member. Such Redemption shall be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 11.03, if the Corporation elects a Cash Settlement, the Corporation shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in respect of such Cash Settlement equal to the Redeemed Units Equivalent with respect to such Cash Settlement. In no event shall such amount exceed the amount actually paid by the Company to the Redeeming Member as the Cash Settlement. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Company’s and the Corporation’s rights and obligations under this Section 11.02 arising from the Redemption Notice.
Section 11.03 Direct Exchange Right of the Corporation.
Section 11.04 Reservation of shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation. At all times the Corporation shall reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange. Nothing contained in this Section 11.04 shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of purchased Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation) or by way of Cash Settlement. The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available with respect to such shares. Prior to such delivery, the Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange upon each national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A
Common Stock are listed at the time of such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws). The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with a Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The provisions of this Article XI shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with any corresponding provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (if any).
Section 11.05 Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Direct Exchange. This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange by a Member and all rights set forth herein shall continue in effect with respect to the remaining Members. To the extent the Redeeming Member has any remaining Units following such Redemption or Direct Exchange, the rights set forth in this Agreement shall continue to apply to the Units held by the Redeeming Member. No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve a Redeeming Member of any prior breach of this Agreement by such Redeeming Member.
Section 11.06 Tax Treatment.
Article XII.ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
Section 12.01 Substituted Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X, in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Unit under this Agreement, the Permitted Transferee shall become a Substituted Member on the effective date of such Transfer. Such effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer. Such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.
Section 12.02 Additional Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X, any Person that is not a Member as of the Effective Date may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “Additional Member”). Any such admission shall be condition upon furnishing to the Manager: (a) duly executed Joinder and counterparts to any applicable Other Agreements; and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as may reasonably be requested by the Manager). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its sole discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.
Article XIII.WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS
Section 13.01 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members. Except in the event of Transfers pursuant to Section 10.06, Redemptions and Direct Exchanges pursuant to Article XI and the Manager’s right to resign pursuant to Section 6.03, no Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV. Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV, but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article XIV, shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member. Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.06, such Member shall cease to be a Member.
Article XIV.DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 14.01 Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted withdrawal, removal, dissolution, bankruptcy or resignation of a Member. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon (a “Liquidating Event”):
Section 14.02 Winding Up. Subject to Section 14.05, on dissolution of the Company, the Manager (or in the event that there is no Manager or the Manager is in bankruptcy, any Person selected by the majority of Members) shall act as liquidating trustee or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidating trustee (each such Person, a “Liquidator”). The Liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided in this Agreement and in the Delaware Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as an expense of the Company. Until final distribution, the Liquidator shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, continue to operate the properties of the Company with all of the power and authority of the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall engage in no further business except as may be necessary to preserve the value of the Company’s assets during the period of dissolution and liquidation. The steps to be accomplished by the Liquidator are as follows:
Section 14.03 Deferment; Distribution in Kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.02, but subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.02, if upon dissolution of the Company the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the Liquidator may, in its sole discretion and the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets. The Liquidator shall not defer the liquidation of any assets necessary to satisfy the Company’s liabilities other than loans to the Company by any Member(s) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.02, the Liquidator may, in its sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either: (a) all or any portion of such remaining assets in-kind of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), undivided interests in all or any portion of such assets of the Company; or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in-kind shall be subject to: (y) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable; and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation of such assets or the holders of such assets) at such time. Any assets of the Company distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Net Profit or Net Loss (if any). Such Net Profit or Net Loss shall be allocated in accordance with Article V. The Liquidator shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property (other than cash) distributed.
Section 14.04 Cancellation of Certificate. On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided in this Agreement, the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. The Company shall continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 14.04.
Section 14.05 Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time, but in no event more than one year, shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the
Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.
Section 14.06 Return of Capital. The Liquidator shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion of such Capital Contributions to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from assets of the Company).
Article XV.GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 15.01 Power of Attorney.
Section 15.02 Confidentiality.
Section 15.03 Amendments. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, this Agreement may be amended or modified (including by means of merger, consolidation or other business combination to which the Company is a party) upon the prior written consent of the Manager, together with the prior written consent of the holders of a majority of the Units then outstanding (excluding all Units held directly or indirectly by the Corporation). No alteration, modification or amendment shall be effective until written notice has been provided to the Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification:
Section 15.04 Title to Company Assets. Company assets shall be owned by the Company as an entity. No Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets of the Company or any portion of such assets. The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member. All assets of the Company shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such assets is held. The Company’s credit and assets shall be
used solely for the benefit of the Company. No asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.
Section 15.05 Addresses and Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered: (i) in person; (ii) by facsimile or other electronic means (including email), with affirmative confirmation of receipt; (iii) one Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service; or (iv) three Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, to the applicable party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
Section 15.06 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
Section 15.07 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates. No creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Net Profits and Net Losses, Distributions, capital or property of the Company other than as a secured creditor.
Section 15.08 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach of such covenant, duty, agreement or condition shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition. No waiver of any provision or default under, nor consent to any exception to, the terms of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound. Such waiver is effective only to the specific purpose, extent and instance so provided.
Section 15.09 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 15.10 Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of Law or conflict of Law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of another jurisdiction. Any suit, dispute, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement shall be heard in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The parties: (i) consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such suit, action or proceeding and (i) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or action; (ii) waive any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum; (iii) agree that all claims in respect of the proceeding or action shall be heard and determined only in any such court; and (iv) agree not to bring any proceeding or action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the matters contemplated by this Agreement in any other court. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE SERVED ON ANY PARTY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT) AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF SERVED UPON SUCH PARTY PERSONALLY WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS REFERRED TO IN Section 15.05 (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT), TOGETHER WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO SUCH PARTY, SHALL BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY.
Section 15.11 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained in this Agreement.
Section 15.12 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 15.13 Execution and Delivery by Electronic Signature and Electronic Transmission. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement, contemplated by this Agreement or entered into by the Company in accordance with this Agreement, and any amendments to this Agreement or to such agreement or instrument, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic signature or electronic transmission shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version of such agreement or instrument delivered in person. Such signature and delivery by electronic signature or electronic transmission includes by a facsimile machine or via email. At the request of any party to this Agreement or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party shall re-execute original forms of such agreement or instrument and deliver them to all other parties. No party to this Agreement or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic signature or electronic transmission to execute or deliver a document or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
Section 15.14 Right of Offset. Whenever the Company or the Corporation is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company or the Corporation that are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment. The distribution of Units to the Corporation shall not be subject to this Section 15.14.
Section 15.15 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to in this Agreement (including the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement), any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the Seventh A&R LLC Agreement with any member of the board of directors at that time and other documents of even date with this Agreement embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties.
This Agreement and such documents, indemnity agreements and other documents supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter of this Agreement in any way. The Seventh A&R LLC Agreement is superseded in its entirety by this Agreement as of the Effective Date and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter, except to the extent reference to the Seventh A&R LLC Agreement is contemplated in this Agreement, and only for such limited purposes as stated in this Agreement.
Section 15.16 Remedies. Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement, all rights and remedies that such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights that such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated by this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.
Section 15.17 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include all genders, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of such agreement, document or instrument, and if applicable of this Agreement. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect under this Agreement unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Whenever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion of such Fiscal Year. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. Each of the parties has been represented by independent counsel of its own choice during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the parties and their counsel have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties. No presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
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