THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
("Agreement"), dated as of the ____ day of August, 1996, by and between the undersigned members
(collectively, "Members").
In consideration of the covenants and mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties
hereto (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Members") agree as follows:
1. FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. The Members hereby form
a limited liability company (hereinafter referred to as the "Company") pursuant to the provisions of
the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act ("Act"). Articles of Organization have been filed with
the Georgia Secretary of State in accordance with the Act.
2. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
a. Name. The name of the Company shall be XXXX, LLC. The Company may also
conduct business under such trade name(s) as the Managers may determine.
THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN XXXX, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER EITHER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "FEDERAL ACT"), IN RELIANCE UPON THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CONTAINED IN SECTIONS 3(a)(11), 3(b) OR 4(2) THEREOF OR REGULATION D PROMULGATED THEREUNDER, OR THE GEORGIA SECURITIES ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED (THE "GEORGIA ACT"), IN RELIANCE UPON THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY O.C.G.A. 10-5-9(13) THEREOF, OR OTHER STATE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MUST BE ACQUIRED BY THE MEMBERS FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR RESALE IN CONNECTION WITH, A DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH INTERESTS, AND SUCH INTERESTS MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND (i) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE INTEREST UNDER THE FEDERAL ACT, THE GEORGIA ACT OR OTHER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR (ii) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH INTERESTS WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, OR HYPOTHECATED ONLY IN A TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT UNDER THE FEDERAL ACT, THE GEORGIA ACT OR OTHER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR WHICH IS OTHERWISE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH ACTS.
b. Purpose. The general purpose of the Company is to engage any lawful activities
permitted under the Act.
c. Principal Office. The principal office and place of business of the Company shall
be __________________________, or such place as the Managers may from time to time determine.
d. Term. The period of duration of the limited liability company shall be perpetual subject only to dissolution and termination of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of this Agreement.
3. MEMBERS.
a. Membership Units. The interests in the Company of each Member, including
the right to vote on, consent to, or otherwise participate in any decision or action of or by the
Members pursuant to this Agreement or the Act, shall initially be divided into units (the "Units").
The Members and their respective Units in the Company shall be as set forth on the Schedule of
Members, Capital and Units attached hereto as Schedule A. The Managers may issue certificates
of interest to the holders of the Units in such form as they may consider appropriate.
b. Authority of Members. No Member acting alone shall have any power or
authority to bind the Company unless the Member has been authorized by the Managers to act as an
agent of the Company.
c. Limitation on Liability. No Member shall have any personal liability for any
debts or losses of the Company beyond his respective capital contributions, except as provided by
law.
d. Actions by Managers with Respect to Sales of Units. The Managers shall, with
respect to any sale of Units, (i) make a notation in the appropriate records of the Company with
respect to such sale, and (ii) obtain a written representation from each purchaser of Units as to his
or her investment intent.
4. ASSIGNMENT OF INTERESTS IN COMPANY. The Units, and any interest in
the Units, may not be sold, conveyed, transferred, pledged or assigned, voluntarily or involuntarily
(including by operation of law or otherwise), except in accordance with the provisions of this
section. Any attempt to sell, convey, transfer, pledge or assign any interest in the Units in violation
of this Agreement or any applicable state or federal law shall be void and of no effect.
a. Units are Restricted Securities. Units have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 as amended ("Securities Act") or under the securities laws of any state, and
may not be offered, sold, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred unless and until registered
under the Securities Act or, in the opinion of counsel in form and substance satisfactory to the
Company, such offer, sale, pledge, hypothecation or transfer is in compliance therewith.
b. Right of First Refusal on Sale of Units. Any Member desiring to sell all or less than all of his or her
Units to a person or entity other than one of the other Members for any reason shall first notify the Company in writing of his or her intention to sell, stating the name and
address of the proposed purchaser, the number of Units proposed to be sold, the consideration
proposed to be received therefore, and the proposed terms of sale. The Company shall have the
exclusive right and privilege to purchase the Units proposed to be sold for the consideration and
upon the terms stated in such written notice at any time within 30 days of the later of (i) receipt of
such written notice, or (ii) appointment of Managers to act on the Company's behalf. If the Company
does not purchase the Units so offered, during the next succeeding 60-day period the Member
desiring to sell Units may then sell such Units to the person and at the price and terms stated in the
offer. If the Units are not so sold, they shall not be subsequently sold without first again offering
them to the Company as hereinabove provided. This Section 4.b. shall not be construed as limiting
in any way the authority and discretion of the Members either to give or withhold their consent to
any proposed assignment of Units by a Member under Section 4.c., even though the Company shall
not have exercised its right and privilege to purchase such Units.
c. Consent Required for Substitution of New Member. Subject to Sections 4.a.
and 4.b., an assignee of any Units may become a Member only upon (i) execution and delivery by
the assignee of a written acceptance and adoption of this Agreement, as the same may be amended,
together with such other documents, if any, as the Managers may require; (ii) the payment to the
Company by the Member selling his or her Units of all reasonable expenses incurred by the
Company in connection with such assignment; and (iii) with the unanimous written consent of the
Members, which consent may, in each case, be given or denied in the absolute discretion of each
Member. Upon such execution and consent, when applicable, but not otherwise, the assignee shall,
with respect to the Units assigned, be admitted to the Company and become a substituted Member
therein. This Section 4 shall not apply to initial admission of Members pursuant to Section 3 of this
Agreement or to transfers of Units between existing Members of the Company.
5. CAPITAL.
a. Capital Contributions of Members. In exchange for his or her Units in the
Company, each Member agrees to contribute to the Company an initial capital contribution in the
amount set forth opposite his or her name on Schedule A attached to this Agreement and
incorporated herein by this reference.
b. No Right to Withdraw Capital. No interest shall accrue on any contribution to
the capital of the Company, and no Member shall have the right to withdraw from the Company or
be repaid any contribution of capital except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
c. Capital Accounts. A separate capital account shall be maintained for each
Member. There shall be credited to each Member's capital account: 1) the amount of cash and the
fair market value of any property contributed by the Member, and 2) the Member's share of the
profits of the Company; and there shall be charged against each Member's capital account: 1) the
amount of all distributions to the Member, and 2) the Member's share of losses of the Company. No
Member shall be liable for any deficit or negative balance in his capital account.
6. DISTRIBUTIONS.
a. Distributions of Cash Flow. The "cash flow" of the Company may be distributed
among the Members pro rata based on the number of all Units. Such distributions shall occur at least
annually within ninety (90) days after the end of each calendar year and with such greater frequency
as the Managers shall determine is consistent with the orderly administration of the business of the
Company. No distribution shall be made to any Member if such distribution is prohibited by Section
14-11-407 of the Act. The "cash flow" of the Company shall be equal to the taxable income of the
Company, increased by the amount allowable as depreciation on the Company's assets, the amount
of any amortization deduction and the amount of any other items deductible for federal income tax
purposes in excess of actual cash payments with respect thereto, and decreased by the amount of any
repayment of the principal portion of any debt of the Company, all cash expenditures not deductible
for federal income tax purposes or the amount thereof in excess of the amount deductible for federal
income tax purposes, and the amount of all other expenses and all reserves set aside by the Managers
as they shall determine are necessary or desirable to provide for actual or contingent liabilities,
working capital requirements of the Company, and for other purposes necessary or incidental to the
proper management function of the business of the Company.
b. No Liability for Distributions. Upon any such distribution made in good faith,
the Managers shall incur no liability even though such distribution results in the Company retaining
insufficient funds for the operation of its business, which insufficiency results in loss to the
Company or necessitates requesting any additional capital contributions from the Members or the
borrowing of funds by the Company.
7. PROFITS AND LOSSES. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, taxable
income, gain, loss, deduction or credit shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner
as distributions are made or, if no distributions are made during the period, pro rata based on the
number of all Units. If any Units have been transferred or assigned during any taxable year,
allocation of the interest represented thereby shall be prorated between the transferor and the
transferee based upon the time the transferor and transferee held the Units during the year.
8. MANAGEMENT.
a. Appointment of Managers. _______________ and ________________ are
appointed Managers of the Company, and shall serve until his or her resignation, removal or until
his or her successor has been appointed and has undertaken his or her duties.
b. Authority of the Managers. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
decisions respecting any matter set forth in this Agreement or otherwise affecting or arising out of
conduct of the business of the Company shall be made by the Managers. The Managers shall have
the exclusive right and full authority to manage, conduct and operate the Company business and to
make all decisions regarding the operation of the Company business and to perform any and all other
acts or activities customary or incident to the management of the Company business. Specifically,
but not by way of limitation, the Managers shall be authorized to: (i) employ such agents,
employees, managers, accountants, attorneys, consultants and other persons necessary or appropriate
to carry out the business and affairs of the Company and to pay as an expense of the Company such
reasonable fees, expenses, salaries, wages and other compensation to such persons as the Managers
shall determine; (ii) cause to be paid all amounts due and payable by the Company to any person or
entity; (iii) pay, expend, renew, modify, adjust, submit to arbitration, prosecute, defend or
compromise upon such terms as the Managers may determine and upon such evidence as it may
deem sufficient any obligation, suit, liability, cause of action or claim, including taxes, either in favor
of or against the Company; (iv) make any and all expenditures or investments of excess funds in
obligations which the Managers, in their sole discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in connection
with the management of the affairs of the company and the carrying out of its obligations and
responsibilities under this Agreement; (v) lease Company property on such terms and conditions as
the Managers shall determine to be in the interest of the Company; (vi) incur such indebtedness on
behalf of the Company as the Managers deem necessary to carry out business and affairs of the
Company; (vii) purchase insurance insuring the Managers and/or employees of the Company from
personal liability for actions taken in good faith on behalf of the Company; (viii) execute on behalf
of the Company all instruments and documents; (ix) hold and own any Company real and/or
personal properties in the name of the Company; (x) enter into other agreements on behalf of the
Company; and (xi) all other acts as may be necessary or appropriate to the conduct of the Company
business. With respect to all of their obligations, powers and responsibilities under Agreement, the
Managers are authorized to execute and deliver for and on behalf of the Company such deeds, leases,
notes, contracts, agreements, assignments, bills of sale, security agreements, deeds to secure debt
and other documents in such form such terms and conditions as they shall deem proper.
c. Liability of Managers. The Managers shall not be liable, responsible or
accountable in damages or otherwise to the Company or any Member for, and the Company shall
indemnify and save harmless the Managers from as set forth below, any loss or damage incurred by
reason of breach of duty of care or other duty as Managers, provided that the Managers were not
guilty of intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law or receipt of a personal benefit
in violation or breach of any provision of this Agreement. The satisfaction of any indemnification
and any saving harmless shall be from and limited to Company assets, no Managers or employee or
representative of Managers having any personal liability on account thereof. The Managers, their
agents and employees shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements,
including without limitation financial statements or other financial data prepared or presented in
accordance with O.C.G.A. 14-11-305.
d. Limitations on Authority of Managers. Notwithstanding any provision of the
Agreement to the contrary, unless having first obtained the consent of Members representing a
majority of the total Units in the Company, the Managers shall not authorize the substitution of a
new Manager, or incur any indebtedness on behalf of the Company for which the Members (other
than the Managers) would be personally liable. The Members agree that any other approval or
dissenters' rights of the Members provided in the Act, including without limitation Sections 14-11-308 and 14-11-1002 of the Act, shall not apply unless specifically provided in this Agreement.
e. Removal of Managers. The Members may from time to time remove any
Manager only for "cause" (as defined herein), and only upon the affirmative vote of Members
holding a majority of the total Units in the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
"cause" is defined as: (i) fraud, defalcation, misappropriation, criminal activity, or (ii) the failure of
any Manager to cure any material breach of this Agreement by such Manager within thirty (30) days
of written notice from the other Members specifying the nature of such breach.
f. Action by Managers. The Managers shall act jointly on all matters, except that
either Manager may separately authorize Company expenditures or indebtedness not to exceed
$10,000.00 per transaction.
g. Appointment and Substitution of New Manager. Within ninety (90) days of
any event resulting in the withdrawal of all Managers, the Members holding a majority of the total
Units in the Company shall appoint a new Manager, and the person so elected shall become a
substitute Manager upon the execution and delivery of a written acceptance and adoption of this
Agreement, as the same may have been amended, together with such other documents, if any, as
counsel for the Company may require. Failure of the Members to appoint a new Manager within the
time period specified in this Section 8.g. shall result in the dissolution of the Company.
9. BOOKS, RECORDS AND MEETINGS.
a. Books and Records. The Managers shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the
principal office of the Company, full and true books and records of account for the Company, which
shall be available for reasonable inspection and examination by the Members or their duly authorized
representatives during normal business hours upon prior written request to the Managers. The
Managers shall not be required to deliver or mail copies of the articles of organization, or any
amendment or cancellation thereof to the Members.
b. Accounting Period, Annual Financial Statements. The accounting period of
the Company shall be the calendar year ending December 31. The Managers shall provide each
Member with a financial statement of the Company within a reasonable time after the end of the
calendar year.
c. Federal Income Taxes. The Managers shall cause the preparation and timely
filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Code and all other tax
returns deemed necessary and required in each jurisdiction in which the Company does business.
Within a reasonable time after the close of each Company year, the Managers shall furnish a report
to each Member of the net profits or losses of the Company to each Member, together with a
statement indicating the Member's share in profits or losses for such year. In addition, each Member
shall be provided with such additional information as may be reasonably required in preparing his
or her own state and federal income tax returns.
d. Meetings. The Managers shall hold regular annual meetings at times and places to be selected by the Managers. In addition, the Members holding a total of
twenty five percent (25%) of the Units in the Company may call a special meeting to be held at the
principal place of business of the Company at any time after the giving of ten (10) business days
prior notice to all of the Members. Any Member may waive notice of or attendance at any meeting
of the Members, and may attend by proxy, telephone or any other electronic communication device
or may execute a signed written consent. At such meeting, the Members shall transact such business
as may properly be brought before the meeting. The Managers shall keep minutes of all meetings
of the Members. The minutes shall be placed in the company records of the Company.
e. Action Without Meeting. Any action required by the Act or by this Agreement
to be taken by the Members may be taken without a meeting if written consents setting forth the
action so taken shall be signed by Members holding a majority of all Units entitled to vote and such
consents shall have the same force and effect as a vote of the Members. Any such signed consents
shall be placed in the minute book of the Company and forwarded to any Members who did not
consent to the particular action in accordance with Section 14-11-309 of the Act.
10. DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION.
a. Events of Dissolution. The Company is dissolved and its affairs shall be wound
up upon the first to occur of the following: (i) the written consent of all Members to dissolve; or (ii) ninety (90) days after any event of dissociation (as defined in Section 14-11-601(a) of the Act) with respect to any Member, unless within such ninety (90) day period the Company is continued by the written consent of all other Members.
b. No Right to Withdraw. No Member may withdraw from the Company by
voluntary action without the prior written consent of all remaining Members, which consent may be
given or denied in the absolute discretion of each Member.
c. Liquidation. The dissolution of the Company shall be effective as of the date on
which the event occurs giving rise to such dissolution, but the Company shall continue in existence
to wind up and liquidate its business and distribute any remaining assets as provided herein.
Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Company prior to the winding-up of the Company, the
business of Company and the rights of the Members shall continue to be governed by this
Agreement. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Managers, or (in the absence of Managers) a
liquidator appointed with the consent of Members holding a majority of the total Units, shall
liquidate the assets of the Company, apply and distribute the proceeds thereof as contemplated by
this Agreement and file the certificate of termination. The liquidation of the assets of the Company
and the discharge of the liabilities of the Company shall be completed within a reasonable time, as
determined by the Managers.
d. Distributions in Liquidation. Upon the dissolution of the Company and incident
to the winding-up of the Company's business and affairs, the Managers (or liquidator, as applicable)
shall pay or make provision for the payment of all liabilities and obligations of the Company, actual
or contingent, and all expenses of liquidation. Any amounts deemed necessary by the Managers (or
liquidator) to provide a reserve for any unforeseen liabilities and obligations may, in the Managers'
(or liquidator's) discretion, be deposited in a bank or trust company upon such terms and for such
period of time as the Managers (or liquidator) may determine. Following the payment of, or
provision for, the liabilities of the Company as aforesaid, the remaining assets of the Company shall
be distributed to the Members proportionately in accordance with the remaining positive balances
in their capital accounts. Such dissolution distributions may be in cash, in kind or evidences of
indebtedness or in any other form of property, or in any combination thereof, as determined in the
sole discretion of the Managers. Should evidences of indebtedness be included in any such
distribution, however, the Managers may, in their sole discretion, hold such evidences of
indebtedness in trust on behalf of the Members to collect the payments made thereon and to
distribute same to the Members in the proper proportions when payments are collected, it being
agreed that such an arrangement will facilitate payments to the Members on any such evidences of
indebtedness.
e. No Recourse. Upon dissolution, each Member shall look solely to the assets of
the Company for the return of his or her investment, and if the property remaining after payment or
discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Company is insufficient to return the capital contributions
of any Member, such Member shall have no recourse against any other Member or any Managers.
11. AMENDMENTS.
a. Amendments. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by any Member.
A proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment hereto if it receives the
affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of the total Units.
b. Restrictions on Amendments. Notwithstanding Section 11.a. hereof, this
Agreement shall not be amended without the consent of each Member adversely affected if such
amendment would (i) modify the limited liability of such Member; or (ii) alter the interest of such
Member in the profits, losses, or distributions of the Company.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. Notices. Any and all notices, elections, consent or demands permitted or required
to be made under this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Section 14-11-311 of the Act.
b. Successors and Assigns. Subject to the restrictions on transfers set forth herein,
this Agreement and each and every provision hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the Members, their respective successors, successors in title, heirs and assigns, and each
and every successor in interest to any Member, whether such successor acquires such an interest by
way of gift, purchase, foreclosure or by any other method, shall hold such interest subject to all the
terms and provisions of this Agreement.
c. Applicable Law. This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia.
d. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
all of which taken together shall be deemed one original instrument notwithstanding that all parties
are not signatory to the same counterpart.
e. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement among the
Members with respect to the subject matter hereof.
f. Captions and Pronouns. The captions in this Agreement and the particular
pronouns used herein, whether masculine, feminine, or neuter, are inserted for convenience and
identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent
or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof. Where the content demands, the singular shall
include the plural and the plural shall mean the singular.
g. Investment Representation and Indemnity Agreement. Each of the Members
(and its assignees and transferees) by execution of an agreement to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement represents to each of the other Members, to the Managers and to the Company that it is
acquiring the interest in the Company for the purpose of investment and not with a view to, or for
resale in connection with, any distribution of said interest. Furthermore, each of the Members (and
its assignees and transferees) agrees to indemnify the other Members, the Managers, the Company
and any agent, affiliate or legal counsel of such parties, from any and all loss, damage, liability,
claims and expenses incurred, suffered or sustained by any of them in any manner because of the
falsity of any representation contained in this paragraph, including, without limitation, liability for
violation of the securities laws of the United States or of any state which violation would not have
occurred had such representation been true.
h. Other Ventures. Any of the Members may engage in or possess an interest in
other business ventures of every nature and description, independently or with others, including, but
not limited to, the ownership, financing, leasing, operation, management, syndication, brokerage,
and development of real property; and neither the Company nor the Members shall have any right
by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures or to the income or profits derived
therefrom.
i. Income Tax Elections. All elections required or permitted to be made by the
Company under the Code shall be made by the Managers as determined in their sole discretion.
j. Severability. If any provision of this Operating Agreement or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable to any extent, the
remainder of this Operating Agreement and the application thereof shall not be affected and shall
be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by each of the Members as
of the day and year first above written.
MEMBERS:
_____________________ _____________________
Name and Address Capital Number of Units
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
These forms are made available for example purposes only. The forms must be tailored to the particular circumstances of each limited liability company. Consultation with competent corporate counsel is strongly recommended. Parties using these forms do so entirely at their own risk.
Please send any comments about this web site to wmo@mindspring.com, or contact Scott Withrow at 404-814-0200, fax 404-814-0009.
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Last updated by Scott Withrow on September 17, 1996