Exhibit 10.18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CREDITRUST SPV98-2, LLC
---------------------------
Dated as of December 29, 1998
---------------------------
THE UNITS OF LLC INTEREST DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT") OR UNDER THE
SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION (THE "STATE
ACTS"). CONSEQUENTLY, UNITS IN THE COMPANY MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED,
ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1933 ACT, THE STATE ACTS AND THIS AGREEMENT.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CREDITRUST SPV98-2, LLC
================================================================================
THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as
of December 29, 1998, is made and executed by CREDITRUST CORPORATION, a Maryland
corporation ("Creditrust"), and GSS HOLDINGS II, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Global"), as members (the "Members").
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:
The Members have caused Creditrust SPV98-2, LLC (the "Company") to be
formed as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware
for the purposes set forth herein. The Members now desire to enter into this
Agreement in order to establish the manner in which the business and affairs of
the Company shall be managed and to determine the respective rights, duties and
obligations of the members of the Company.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree that the Limited
Liability Company Agreement of the Company shall be as follows:
ARTICLE I
FORMATION; NAME; REGISTERED OFFICE;
PURPOSE; TERM
Section 1.1 Formation.
The Members have caused Creditrust SPV98-2, LLC to be formed as a
limited liability company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6
DEL. C. (S)18-101, et seq. (the "LLC Act").
Section 1.2 Registered Office and Registered Agent; Principal Office and
Principal Executive Office.
A. The initial address of the registered office of the Company in the
State of Delaware and the name and address of the initial resident agent of the
Company in the State of Delaware are as set forth in the Certificate of
Formation (as defined below).
B. The principal office and principal executive office of the Company
shall, at all times during the term of the Indenture (as such term is defined in
Section 4.2) be maintained in
-2-
the State of Maryland. The present address of the principal office and principal
executive office of the Company in the State of Maryland is 0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
Section 1.3 Purpose.
The purposes for which the Company is formed and the business and
objects to be carried on and promoted by it are limited solely to the following:
(1) To acquire, own, hold, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise
dispose of, interests in consumer loan receivables generated on credit
card accounts and installment accounts ("Receivables") acquired by
Creditrust and/or any Affiliate (as hereinafter defined), and any other
property related thereto, pursuant to the terms of a Receivables
Contribution Agreement by and between the Company and Creditrust
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
---------
"Receivables Contribution Agreement"), and to enter into, comply and
perform under such Receivables Contribution Agreement;
(2) To authorize, issue, hold, retain an interest (including a
subordinated or ownership interest) in, sell, deliver or otherwise deal
with notes or other obligations secured by the Receivables
("Receivables-Backed Notes") and, in connection therewith, to pledge or
otherwise grant security interests in the Receivables, and any other
assets as determined by the Company's Board of Managers;
(3) To maintain, enforce, protect and service (or arrange for
an agent to so maintain, enforce, protect and service) the Receivables;
(4) To finance the acquisition of the Receivables by selling
interests in the Receivables to, and/or borrower from, one or more
trusts, banks, financial institutions, commercial paper issuers,
insurance companies or similar entities, and in connection with any
such financing arrangement, to pledge as security all or substantially
all of its assets, including, without limitation, all of its right,
title and interest in and to the Receivables;
(5) To loan or otherwise invest, or to distribute to its
Members, the proceeds derived from the sale, pledge or ownership of the
Receivables as determined by the Company's Board of Managers; and
(6) To engage in any lawful act or activity and to exercise
any powers permitted to limited liability companies organized under the
LLC Act that, in either case, are incidental to and necessary or
convenient for the accomplishment of the above mentioned purposes.
Section 1.4 Certificate of Formation.
The Members have caused a certificate of formation of the Company (the
"Certificate of Formation") to be executed by an authorized person and filed for
record with the Delaware
-3-
Secretary of State as of the date of this Agreement, a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit B. The Officers and Managers shall take all necessary action
to maintain the Company in good standing as a limited liability company under
the LLC Act, including (without limitation) the filing of any certificates of
correction, articles of amendment and such other applications and certificates
as may be necessary to protect the limited liability of the Members and to cause
the Company to comply with the applicable laws of any jurisdiction in which the
Company owns property or does business.
Section 1.5 Term.
The term of the Company commenced on the date that the Certificate of
Formation was filed and received by the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware. The Company shall have perpetual existence; provided, however, that
the Company may be dissolved in accordance with Section 6.1 of this Agreement.
Section 1.6 Tax Characterization.
At all times during which all of the outstanding Units (as defined
below) or other equity interests in the Company are held by a single person, the
Company shall, for federal and state income tax purposes, be disregarded as a
separate entity such that all the assets and liabilities of the Company shall be
treated as the assets and liabilities of the holder of all its Units. At all
times during which two or more persons hold Units in the Company, the Company
shall, for federal and state income tax purposes, be classified as a partnership
rather than an association taxable as a corporation. Each Member, by its
execution or acceptance of this Agreement, covenants and agrees that it will
file its own federal and state income and other tax returns in a manner that its
consistent with the Company being classified as a partnership and will not take
any action which is inconsistent with the classification of the Company as a
partnership.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERS; INTERESTS IN THE COMPANY; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Section 2.1 Members and Initial Capital Contributions
A. The Members shall be divided into Class A Members and Class B
Members. Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary,
(i) Creditrust and each subsequent holder of one or more Units who has been
admitted to the Company as a Member shall be referred to herein as a "Class A
Member" and Global, and any successor thereto, shall be referred to as the
"Class B Member" and (ii) any reference to "Members" or a "Member" shall include
the Class A Members and the Class B Member. The Members, their respective Class
designations, capital contributions, addresses and number of Units (if any) are
set forth on Schedule A hereto. Schedule A shall be amended from time to time to
---------- ----------
reflect any changes to the information set forth thereon.
-4-
B. Pursuant to the terms of the Receivables Contribution Agreement,
Creditrust shall make an initial capital contribution to the Company by
assigning and transferring to the Company those certain Receivables which are
identified on the Schedule of Receivables. In exchange for such transfer and
contribution, the Company shall issue to Creditrust 100 Units of ownership
interest in the Company, which, as of the date such Units are issued, shall
represent all the issued and outstanding Units in the Company.
C. The Company shall have at all times one Class B Member. The Class
B Member shall be a special class of Member the sole rights of which are limited
to voting on certain actions and decisions by the Company as provided herein.
The Class B Member (i) shall have no obligation to make any capital
contributions to the Company, (ii) will not be issued any Units in the Company,
(iii) will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Company and
(iv) will not be entitled to participate in the business and affairs of the
Company or vote on any matters requiring the consent or approval of the Members,
except as expressly provided herein. The Class B Member shall at all times be a
corporation which shall have at least one Independent Director and shall at all
times be an Independent Member.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Affiliate" shall mean, (i) Creditrust,
(ii) any stockholder, partner, director, manager, officer, agent or employee of
Creditrust or (iii) other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with Creditrust or the Company, and
the term "Independent Director" shall mean an individual
(a) who is not (i) a stockholder (whether direct, indirect or
beneficial, other than indirect stock ownership in Creditrust or any
Affiliate by any person through a mutual fund or similar diversified
investment pool), customer, advisor or supplier of Creditrust or any
Affiliate; (ii) a director, officer or employee of Creditrust or any
Affiliate (other than as an Independent Director of any Affiliates)
(Creditrust and Affiliates, other than the Company, being hereinafter
referred to as the "Parent Group"); (iii) a person related to any
person referred to in clauses (i) and (ii); and (iv) a trustee,
conservator or receiver for any member of the Parent Group; and
(b) who has (i) prior experience as an independent director
for a corporation or similar entity whose organic documents require the
unanimous written consent of all independent directors or managers
thereof before such entity could consent to the institution of
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it or could file a
petition seeking relief under any applicable federal or state law
relating to bankruptcy, and (ii) at least three years of employment
experience with one or more entities that provide, in the ordinary
course of their respective businesses, advisory, management or
placement services to issuers of securitization or structured finance
instruments, agreements or securities.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in addition to any
requirements under the charter and by-laws of the Class B Member, the
affirmative vote of the Independent Director shall be required for the Class B
Member to authorize (i) any of the matters specified in Section 4.1.E hereof,
(ii) any amendment of this Agreement for which the consent of the Class B Member
is required or (iii) any other actions or decisions under this Agreement for
which the
-5-
consent of the Class B Member is required. In the event that the Independent
Director resigns as a director of the Class B Member, or such position is
otherwise vacated, no action requiring the affirmative vote of the Class B
Member shall be taken until a successor Independent Director is elected to the
board of directors of the Class B Member and such Independent Director approves
such action. No Independent Director shall be a trustee in bankruptcy for the
Company or any Affiliate of the Company or any significant customer of or
supplier to the Company.
Section 2.2 Additional Capital Contributions.
A. Other than the initial contribution of Receivables by Creditrust
to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1, no Member shall be required to make any
capital contributions to the Company or to lend any funds to the Company.
B. [Reserved].
C. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Board of
Managers, on behalf of the Company, may from time to time seek and accept from
one or more Class A Members selected by the Board of Managers additional capital
contributions of cash or in-kind contributions of property on such terms and
subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Board of Managers in its
sole discretion.
Section 2.3 Additional Members.
A. Except as provided in Sections 5.1.B and 5.3.B, no individual,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association,
joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof (or any other person) may be admitted to
the Company as an additional or substitute Member without the prior approval of
the Board of Managers.
B. In addition to any other requirements set forth in this Agreement,
no person shall be admitted to the Company as an additional or substitute Member
unless and until such person has accepted and agreed to all the provisions of
this Agreement by executing a counterpart signature page hereto or an amendment
to this Agreement.
Section 2.4 Issuance and Classification of Units.
Each Class A Member's ownership interest in the Company shall be
represented by units of membership interest ("Units"). An unlimited number of
Units are authorized. Units shall not be certificated. The Units shall be of a
single class.
Section 2.5 Capital Accounts.
An individual capital account (the "Capital Account") shall be
maintained for each Class A Member. The Capital Account of a Class A Member
shall be increased by (a) the amount of cash or the agreed fair market value of
any property contributed by such Class A Member (net of
-6-
any liabilities assumed by the Company and any liabilities to which such
property is subject) and (b) the amount of all Profits (and any item thereof)
allocated to such Class A Member, and decreased by (c) the amount of all
distributions to such Class A Member and (d) the amount of all Losses (and any
item thereof) allocated to such Class A Member. The Capital Accounts shall be
determined, maintained and adjusted in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder,
including the capital account maintenance rules in Treasury Regulations
(S)1.704-(1)(b)(2)(iv).
Section 2.6 General Rules Relating to Capital of the Company.
A. No Member shall be personally liable for the return of the capital
contributions of the Members, or any portion thereof, it being expressly
understood that any such return of contributions shall be made solely from the
Company assets.
B. Except as expressly provided herein, no Member shall have the
right to withdraw or receive a return of all or any part of such Member's
capital contributions. No Member shall have any right to demand or receive
property (other than cash) in return of capital contributions.
ARTICLE III
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 3.1 Distributions to Members.
A. The net cash proceeds from the issuance of the Receivables-Backed
Notes or any other sources of cash not required to be retained by the Company
under the Indenture or other documents and agreements entered into by the
Company in connection with the Receivables-Backed Notes, may be distributed to
the Class A Members at such times and in such amounts as may be determined by
the Board of Managers in its discretion. Other than such distributions, the
Company shall not make any distributions to its Members.
B. No distributions shall be made to the Class B Member.
Section 3.2 Allocations of Profits and Losses.
Profits and Losses for each fiscal year (or other portion thereof) of
the Company shall be allocated among the Class A Members in proportion to the
number of Units held by each. No Profits or Losses shall be allocated to the
Class B Member.
Section 3.3 Allocation of Taxable Income and Taxable Loss.
A. Except as otherwise provided herein, each item of taxable income,
gain, loss, deduction, preference or recapture entering into the computation of
Profits or Losses hereunder shall be allocated to each Class A Member in the
same proportion as Profits or Losses are
-7-
allocated and in accordance with the provisions of Section 704(b) of the Code
and the Treasury Regulations thereto.
B. In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury
Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any
property contributed to the capital of the Company or with respect to which the
value has been adjusted on the books of the Company shall, for tax purposes (but
not for purposes of maintaining the Members' respective Capital Accounts), be
allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between the
adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes
and its fair market value using such method as may be selected by the Board of
Managers.
C. Allocations pursuant to this Section 3.3 are for purposes of
federal, state, and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken
into account in computing, any Member's Capital Account or share of Profits,
Losses, other items, or distributions pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement.
Section 3.4 Distributions Upon Dissolution and Termination
Upon the dissolution and termination of the Company, the assets
remaining after satisfaction (whether by payment or by establishment of reserves
therefor) of creditors shall be distributed to the Class A Members in accordance
with the number of Units held by each.
ARTICLE IV
MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY
Section 4.1 Management of Business and Affairs of the Company.
A. Except as otherwise provided herein, the exclusive authority to
manage, control and operate the Company shall be vested in the Board of Managers
of the Company, consisting of individuals, who need not be members, elected by
the members as Managers in accordance with the Certificate of Formation and this
Agreement. The number of Managers of the Company shall be three (3), which
number may be increased or decreased in accordance with the By-Laws of the
Company and the terms of this Agreement. The names of the Managers who will
serve until the first annual meeting and until successor(s) are elected and
qualify are as follows:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
B. For purposes of carrying out the business of the Company, the
Members hereby adopt as the By-Laws of the Company the By-Laws attached hereto
as Exhibit C and incorporated by this reference as if set forth fully herein
---------
(the "By-Laws").
-8-
C. The Board of Managers shall appoint Officers of the Company for
the purpose of managing the day-to-day operations of the Company, who shall be
elected and shall have the powers as set forth in the By-Laws. The names of the
initial Officers initially serving the Company and the capacities in which they
serve are as follows:
Name Office(s)
---- ---------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx President
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Vice President and Treasurer
Xxxx X. Xxxxx Secretary
D. Notwithstanding the general grant of authority to the Board of
Managers under the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.1, the Managers shall
cause the Company:
(1) To maintain books and records separate from its Affiliates
and from any other person or entity;
(2) To maintain its bank accounts separate from those of its
Affiliates and those of any other person or entity;
(3) Not to commingle its assets with those of any other person
or entity and to hold all of its assets in its own name;
(4) To conduct its own business in its own name;
(5) To maintain separate financial statements, showing its
assets and liabilities separate and apart from those of its Affiliates
and from those of any other person or entity and to cause such
financial statements to be prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
(6) To pay its own liabilities and expenses only out of its own
funds;
(7) To observe all corporate and other organizational
formalities;
(8) To maintain an arm's length relationship with its
Affiliates and to enter into transactions with Affiliates only on a
commercially reasonable basis;
(9) Not to assume, guarantee or become obligated for the debts of
any other entity or person;
(10) To allocate fairly and reasonably any overhead expenses that
are shared with any Affiliate, including paying for office space and
services performed by any employee of an Affiliate;
(11) To use separate stationery, invoices, and checks bearing its
own name;
-9-
(12) To hold itself out as a separate entity;
(13) To correct any known misunderstanding regarding its
separate identity;
(14) Not to guaranty or become obligated for the debts of any
other entity or hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the
obligations of others;
(15) Except in connection with the Receivables-Backed Notes,
not to pledge the Receivables or any of its other assets for its
benefit or the benefit of any other entity;
(16) Not to incur or assume any indebtedness except for such
indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company in connection with the
issuance of Receivables-Backed Notes;
(17) To cause any of the Company's financial statements which
are consolidated with those of Creditrust to contain footnotes or other
disclosures which describe the Company's business and otherwise inform
Creditrust's creditors that the Company is a separate entity whose
creditors have a claim on its assets prior to those assets becoming
available to its equity holders and therefore to any creditors of
Creditrust or any of its Affiliates; and
(18) Take such other actions to ensure that the factual
assumptions set forth in, and forming the basis of the legal opinions
of Piper & Marbury L.L.P., counsel to Creditrust, which have or are
expected to be issued in connection transactions contemplated by the
Indenture and relating to the issues of substantive consolidation and
true sale of the Receivables are true and correct at all times.
E. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the
Certificate of Formation or this Agreement, the unanimous consent of all of the
Members (including the Class B Member) shall be required for the Company to:
(1) (a) File or consent to a voluntary petition or otherwise
initiate proceedings for the Company to be adjudicated bankrupt or
insolvent or seeking an order for relief as a debtor under the
Bankruptcy Code; (b) file or consent to the filing of, or cause the
filing of, any petition seeking any composition, bankruptcy,
reorganization, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar
relief for the Company under any applicable state or federal bankruptcy
laws or any other present or future applicable federal, state or other
statue or law relative to bankruptcy, insolvency or other relief for
debtors; (c) seek or consent to the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
conservator, assignee, sequestrator, custodian, liquidator (or other
similar official) of the Company or of all or any substantial part of
the properties and assets of the Company; (d) make or consent to any
general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (e) admit in writing
its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or declare
or effect a moratorium on its debt; or (f) take any action in
furtherance of any of the actions set forth in the preceding clauses
(a) through (e) of this paragraph; or
-10-
(2) Dissolve or liquidate, in whole or in part, consolidate
or merge with or into any other entity or convey, sell or transfer all
or substantially all of its properties or assets substantially as an
entirety to any entity; or acquire all or substantially all of the
properties, assets or capital stock or other ownership interests of any
other entity; provided, that the foregoing shall not be construed as
limiting the ability of the Company to make distributions to its
members in accordance with this Agreement; or
(3) Incur or assume any indebtedness for borrowed money
except for the indebtedness which is represented by the Receivables-
Backed Notes and is incurred pursuant to the terms of the Indenture for
the purchase or other acquisition of the Receivables; or
(4) Acquire any Receivables, other than the Receivables
acquired in connection with the issuance of the Receivables-Backed
Notes and the transactions contemplated by the Indenture.
By its signature below, the Class B Member acknowledges that, when voting on
whether the Company will take any action described in this Section 4.1.E, the
Class B Member shall owe its primary obligation to the Company (including,
without limitation, the Company's creditors) and not to the Members (except to
the extent as may specifically be required by applicable law). Every Member of
the Company shall be deemed to have consented to the foregoing provisions of
this Section 4.1.E, specifically and without limitation, the waiver of his, her
or its right to cause a dissolution of the Company under applicable law by
virtue of such Member's acquisition of Units of the Company and admission to the
Company as a Member.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and so long as any Receivables-Backed Notes remain
outstanding and/or any Note Insurer Obligations (as such term is defined in the
Indenture) remain outstanding, the Managers shall have no authority to take any
action enumerated in this Section 4.1.E without the written consent of the
Controlling Party (as such term is defined in the Indenture).
Section 4.2 Approval of Certain Agreements and Transactions
A. Each Member, by its execution or acceptance of this Agreement,
hereby ratifies and approves the execution and delivery by the Company of, and
the performance of the obligations of the Company under, the following documents
and agreements that are to be executed and delivered concurrently with the
closing of the transactions contemplated by the Receivables Contribution
Agreement:
(i) the Receivables Contribution Agreement;
(ii) the Indenture and Servicing Agreement by and among
the Company, as Issuer, Creditrust, as Servicer, Norwest Bank
Minnesota, National Association, as Trustee and as Backup Servicer, and
Asset Guaranty Insurance Company, as Note Insurer, substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the "Indenture"), relating to, among
other things, the grant of a security interest in the Receivables to
the trustee
-11-
named therein as security for the obligations of the Company under the
Receivables-Backed Notes and the Note Insurer Obligations and the
servicing of the Receivables by Creditrust;
(iii) separate purchase agreements with the purchasers of the
Receivables-Backed Notes on such terms as may be determined by the
Board of Managers and Officers of the Company;
(iv) an agreement with Asset Guaranty Insurance Company
relating to insurance for the Receivables-Backed Notes; and
(v) all other Transaction Documents (as defined in the
Indenture).
B. Each Member, by its execution or acceptance of this Agreement,
hereby authorizes and directs the Company to borrow money on the terms set forth
in the Indenture, to issue the Receivables-Backed Notes to evidence such
indebtedness and, in connection therewith, grant a security interest in the
Receivables to the trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
Section 4.3 No Participation of Members in Business and Affairs of the
Company.
A. No Member, in its capacity as such, shall have any authority or
right to act for or bind the Company or to participate in or have any control
over Company business, except for such rights to consent to or approve of the
actions and decisions of the Board of Managers as are expressly provided for in
this Agreement or the Certificate of Formation.
B. Except for such right and any other rights to consent to or
approve of actions and decisions of the Company expressly provided for in this
Agreement, the Class B Member shall not be entitled to vote on the election of
Managers of the Company or on any other matter submitted to a vote by the
Members.
Section 4.4 Other Businesses of Members; Covenants Regarding
Noncompetition and Nondisclosure.
A. Any Member and any Affiliate of any Member may engage in or
possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description
independently or with others, and neither the Company nor any Member shall have
any rights in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived
therefrom, and such activities shall not be construed as a breach of any duty of
loyalty or other duty to the other Members or the Company.
B. The Class B Member, by its execution or acceptance of this
Agreement, (i) acknowledges that it may obtain information relating to the
Company and Creditrust that is of a confidential and proprietary nature
("Proprietary Information"), including, but is not limited to, non-public trade
secrets, invention techniques, processes, programs, schematics, software source
documents, data, and financial information and (ii) agrees at all times, both
during the period in which it is a Member and for a period of three (3) years
after the complete termination of its
-12-
interest in the Company as a Class B Member for any reason (including the
dissolution and termination of the Company), keep in trust and confidence all
such Proprietary Information, and shall not use such Proprietary Information
other than in connection with the exercise of its rights under this Agreement,
nor shall any Class B Member disclose any such Proprietary Information of the
Company or Creditrust without the written consent of Creditrust unless legally
required to disclose such information. Each Class B Member further agrees to
immediately return all Proprietary Information of the Company and Creditrust
(including copies thereof) in its possession, custody, or control upon the
complete termination of its interest in the Company as a Class B Member for any
reason.
C. The Class B Member acknowledges and agrees that since a remedy at
law for any breach or attempted breach of the restrictive covenants of this
Section 4.4 shall be inadequate, the non-breaching party shall have the right to
enforce the provisions of this Section 4.4 by an action for specific performance
and injunctive or other equitable relief, filed in any court of competent
jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, without the necessity of proving actual
damages, in case of any such breach or attempted breach, in addition to whatever
other remedies may exist at law. The parties also waive any requirement for
securing or posting any bond in connection with obtaining any such injunctive or
other equitable relief. The parties hereto recognize that the laws and public
policies of the various states of the United States may differ as to the
validity and enforceability of agreements similar to those contained in Section
4.4. It is the intention of the parties that the provisions of this Section 4.4
shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public
policies of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction in which enforcement
may be sought. In the event that this Section 4.4 shall be determined to be
invalid or unenforceable, either in whole or in part, Section 4.4 shall be
deemed amended to delete or modify, as necessary, the offending provisions and
to alter the balance of this Section 4.4 in order to render the same valid and
enforceable to the fullest extent permissible as aforesaid.
Section 4.5 Indemnification.
A. The Company shall indemnify (i) its Managers and Officers to the
fullest extent permitted or authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware now
or hereafter in force applied as if the Company were a Delaware corporation,
including (without limitation) the advance of expenses under the procedures,
(ii) the Class B Member and its directors, officers, employees, representatives
and agents to the fullest extent permitted or authorized by the laws of the
State of Delaware now or hereafter in force, including (without limitation) the
advance of expenses, and (iii) other employees and agents of the Company to such
extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Managers and is permitted by law.
The foregoing rights of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other
rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled. The Board of
Managers may take such action as is necessary to carry out these indemnification
provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to
time such resolutions or contracts implementing such provisions or such further
indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law. No amendment of the
Certificate of Formation or this Agreement or repeal of any of the provisions
thereof shall limit or eliminate the right to indemnification provided hereunder
with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
The
-13-
indemnification shall (x) be solely from the assets of the Company
and no Member shall have any personal or corporate liability therefor and (y) be
expressly subordinate to any obligations of the Company on or with respect to
the Receivables-Backed Notes and/or the Note Insurer Obligations (as such term
is defined in the Indenture) and the distributions to the Class B Member set
forth in Section 3.2 hereof.
B. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware statutory or
decisional law, as amended or interpreted, no Manager, Officer or Class B Member
of the Company shall be personally liable to the Company or any Members for
money damages. No amendment of the Certificate of Formation or this Agreement,
or repeal of any of their respective provisions shall limit or eliminate the
limitation on liability provided to Managers, Officers and Class B Members
hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment
or repeal.
ARTICLE V
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS OF UNITS AND
WITHDRAWALS BY MEMBERS
Section 5.1 Transfer of Units.
A. Except as provided in this Section 5.1, (i) no Class A Member
shall endorse, sell, give, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, voluntarily
or involuntarily or by operation of law (hereinafter referred to as "Transfer")
all or any part of such Class A Member's Units without the prior written consent
of the Board of Managers and (ii) prior to the date on which all Receivables-
Backed Notes and all Note Insurer Obligations (as such term is defined in the
Indenture) have been satisfied in full, without the prior written consent of the
Controlling Party (as such term is defined in the Indenture).
B. Any Class A Member may sell or assign (for any consideration or no
consideration) all of its Units to an Affiliate of the Class A Member that (i)
holds 100% of the ownership and effective control over the Class A Member, (ii)
100% of the ownership and effective control over which is held by the
transferring Class A Member or (iii) is under common 100% control with the
transferring Class A Member. A permitted transferee of a Class A Member under
this Section 5.1.B shall be admitted to the Company as a substitute Class A
Member with respect to the Units transferred to it upon the satisfaction of all
of the following conditions:
(i) an executed or authenticated copy of the written instrument
of assignment or Transfer is delivered to the Company;
(ii) the transferor Class A Member grants to the transferee the
right to be admitted to the Company as a substitute Class A Member;
-14-
(iii) the transferee agrees to be bound by all of the terms of
this Agreement by executing a counterpart signature page to this
Agreement; and
(iv) the Units acquired by the transferee consist of all the
Units of the transferor Class A Member in the Company.
C. No Class B Member shall have any right to assign or Transfer any
of its rights under this Agreement and any purported assignment or Transfer
shall be void ab initio.
Section 5.2 Additional Restrictions on Transfers
A. The Units described in this Agreement have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under the
securities laws of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction (the "State
Acts"). Consequently, in addition to any and all other restrictions on
transferability set forth herein, the Units may not be sold, assigned, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or Transferred, except in accordance with
the provisions of the 1933 Act and the State Acts.
B. In addition to any and all other restrictions on Transfers set
forth herein, no Units may be sold, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise
disposed of if such Transfer would cause or result in an Event of Default under
the Indenture.
Section 5.3 Withdrawal or Removal of Members.
A. No Class A Member shall have any right to withdraw from the
Company as a Member without the prior consent of the Board of Managers.
B. At any time after the date that is 90 days following the date on
which all Receivables-Backed Notes have been redeemed in full and all Note
Insurer Obligations (as such term is defined in the Indenture) have been
satisfied in full, the Class B Member may withdraw as a Member by delivery of
written notice to the Company, effective immediately upon delivery of such
written notice. At any time prior to such date, the Class B Member may only
withdraw upon the first to occur of (i) 90 days after the date on which written
notice of its withdrawal is delivered to the Company and the Note Insurer and
all Noteholders or (ii) the admission of a substitute Class B Member selected by
the Board of Managers with the consent of the Note Insurer and all Noteholders
(such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Upon the
withdrawal of the Class B Member hereunder, the Class B Member shall, except for
the indemnification provisions of Section 4.5 hereof, have no further rights
under this Agreement.
C. At any time after the date that is 60 days following the date on
which all Receivables-Backed Notes have been redeemed in full and all Note
Insurer Obligations (as such term is defined in the Indenture) have been
satisfied in full, the Board of Managers may remove the Class B Member as a
member of the Company by delivery of written notice thereof to the Class B
Member. Upon the sending of such notice, the Class B Member shall automatically
and
-15-
without the requirement of any further action by the Company or any other
Member, be deemed to have withdrawn from the Company as a Member and, except for
the indemnification provisions of Section 4.5 hereof, shall have no further
rights under this Agreement.
Section 5.4 Effect of Bankruptcy, Dissolution, Liquidation or Termination
of a Member.
The bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or termination of a Member
shall not cause a termination or dissolution of the Company, and the business of
the Company shall continue. Upon any such occurrence with respect to a Class A
Member, the trustee, receiver, executor, administrator, committee or conservator
of such Class A Member shall have only the rights of an assignee of the Units of
the former Class A Member for the purpose of settling or managing the former
Class A Member's estate or property. The Transfer by such trustee, receiver,
executor, administrator, committee or conservator of any Unit shall be subject
to all of the restrictions hereunder to which such Transfer would have been
subject if such Transfer had been made by the bankrupt, dissolved, liquidated or
terminated Class A Member.
ARTICLE VI
DISSOLUTION OF THE COMPANY
Section 6.1 Dissolution
A. The Company shall not dissolve and terminate prior to the date
that is one year and one day after the date on which all Receivables-Backed
Notes have been redeemed in full and all Note Insurer Obligations (as such term
is defined in the Indenture) have been satisfied in full. At any time
thereafter, the Company may be dissolved by action of the Board of Managers.
B. The Company shall not be dissolved upon a person ceasing to be a
Member, including the occurrence, with respect to any Member, of any of the
events specified under Section 18-801(b) of the LLC Act.
Section 6.2 Liquidation and Termination.
A. Upon the dissolution of the Company, the Officers and Managers of
the Company shall cause the Company to liquidate by converting the assets of the
Company to cash or its equivalent and arranging for the affairs of the Company
to be wound up with reasonable speed but with a view towards obtaining fair
value for Company assets, and, after satisfaction (whether by payment or by
establishment of reserves therefor) of creditors shall distribute the remaining
assets to and among the Class A Members in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3.5 hereof.
B. Each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for all
distributions with respect to the Company and such Member's capital contribution
thereto and share of profits,
-16-
gains and Losses thereof and shall have no recourse therefor (upon dissolution
or otherwise) against any other Member.
ARTICLE VII
BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING,
TAX ELECTIONS, ETC.
Section 7.1 Books, Records and Reports.
A. The Company shall keep correct and complete books and records of
its accounts and transactions and minutes of the proceedings of its Members and
Board of Managers and of any executive or other committee when exercising any of
the powers of the Board of Managers. The books and records of the Company may be
in written form or in any other form which can be converted within a reasonable
time into written form for visual inspection. Minutes shall be recorded in
written form, but may be maintained in the form of a reproduction. The original
or a certified copy of this Agreement shall be kept at the principal office of
the Company. The books and records of the Company shall be maintained by the
Secretary of the Company and shall be available for examination by any Member,
or its duly authorized representatives, during regular business hours.
B. The President or chief financial officer shall prepare or cause to
be prepared and shall furnish to the Members within ninety (90) days of the end
of each fiscal year (i) a balance sheet and report of the receipts,
disbursements, Profits or Loss of the Company, and each Member's share of such
items for the fiscal year, and (ii) information sufficient for the Members to
report their respective shares of the profits and losses of the Company for
income tax purposes. The cost of such financial and tax reports shall be an
expense of the Company.
Section 7.2 Bank Accounts Checks, Drafts, Etc.
The bank accounts of the Company shall be maintained in accounts in the
name of and under the tax identification number for the Company in such banking
institutions as the Managers shall determine. All checks, drafts and orders for
the payment of money, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the
name of the Company, shall be signed by such Officers as may be authorized by
the Board of Managers from time to time.
Section 7.3 Fiscal Year; Methods of Accounting.
The fiscal year of the Company shall be the year ending December 31,
unless otherwise determined by the Board of Managers. The method of accounting
to be used in keeping the books of the Company shall be determined by the Board
of Managers in accordance with applicable law.
-17-
Section 7.4. Tax Matters Partner.
If, at any time, the Company has more than one Member and is required
to identify one of the Members as the "Tax Matters Partner" of the Company for
federal income tax purposes, Creditrust shall be designated as the Tax Matters
Partner. If the Company receives from the Internal Revenue Service a Final
Company Administration Adjustment pursuant to Section 6223 of Code, the Tax
Matters Partner agrees to notify the Members of such receipt within ten (10)
days thereof. If it is determined to seek judicial review of such IRS action
pursuant to Section 6226 of Code, then the Tax Matters Partner shall select the
judicial forum for such review in accordance with the recommendation of counsel.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 8.1 Binding Provisions.
The covenants and agreements contained herein shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the respective parties
hereto.
Section 8.2 Separability of Provisions.
Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered separable and if
for any reason any provision or provisions herein are determined to be invalid
and contrary to any existing or future law, such invalidity shall not impair the
operation of or affect any other provisions of this Agreement.
Section 8.3 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, the following
rules apply to the construction of this Agreement:
(i) References to the singular include the plural, and
references to the plural include the singular.
(ii) Words of the masculine gender include correlative words
of the feminine and neuter genders.
(iii) The headings or captions used in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement, nor affect its meaning, construction, or effect.
(iv) References to a person include any individual,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
-18-
(v) Any reference in this Agreement to a particular "Article,"
"Section" or other subdivision shall be to such Article, Section or
subdivision of this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise
require.
(vi) Any use of the word "including" in this Agreement shall
not be construed as limiting the phrase so modified to the particular
items or actions enumerated.
(vii) When any reference is made in this document or any of
the schedules or exhibits attached to the Agreement, it shall mean this
Agreement, together with all other schedules and exhibits attached
hereto, as though one document.
Section 8.4 Applicable Law.
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Section 8.5 Entire Agreement; Amendments.
A. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
B. This Agreement and the Certificate of Formation may be modified,
altered, changed, repealed or amended only pursuant to a written amendment
adopted by the Board of Managers and approved by Class A Members holding a
majority of the Units. Once an amendment to this Agreement and/or the
Certificate of Formation has been adopted as provided in this Section 8.5, the
proper Officers of the Company shall authorize the preparation and filing, if
necessary, of a written amendment to this Agreement and/or the Certificate of
Formation, as applicable.
C. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any Receivables-Backed
Notes are outstanding and/or any Note Insurer Obligations (as such term is
defined in the Indenture) remain outstanding, neither this Agreement nor the
Certificate of Formation may be modified, altered, changed, repealed or amended
without the prior consent of (i) the Class B Member and (ii) the Controlling
Party (as such term is defined in the Indenture). Each Member and Manager agrees
that it shall not cause or permit any action to be taken to amend this Agreement
or the Certificate of Formation in contravention of this Section 8.5.C.
Section 8.6 Covenant of Members Regarding Bankruptcy Petition.
Each Member hereby covenants and agrees, for itself and its Affiliates,
that prior to the date that is one year and one day after the date on which all
Receivables-Backed Notes and all Note Insurer Obligations (as such term is
defined in the Indenture) have been satisfied in full, the Member shall not,
directly or indirectly, file or consent to a voluntary petition or otherwise
initiate proceedings for the Company to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent or
seeking an order for relief as a debtor under the Bankruptcy Code or file or
consent to the filing of, or cause the
-19-
filing of, any petition seeking any composition, bankruptcy, reorganization,
readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief for the Company under
any applicable state or federal bankruptcy laws or any other present or future
applicable federal, state or other statue or law relative to bankruptcy,
insolvency or other relief for debtors.
Section 8.7 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts and all so
executed shall constitute one agreement binding on all parties hereto,
notwithstanding that all the parties have not signed the original or the same
counterpart. Any counterpart hereof signed by a party against whom enforcement
of this Agreement is sought shall be admissible into evidence as an original
hereof to prove the contents hereof.
[ signatures appear on next page ]
-20-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused this
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Creditrust SPV98-2, LLC to be executed on
this 29th day of December, 1998, but effective as of the year and date first
above written.
WITNESS: MEMBER:
-------- -------
CLASS A MEMBER:
--------------
CREDITRUST CORPORATION
/s/ By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------- ------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
CLASS B MEMBER:
--------------
GSS HOLDINGS II, INC.
/s/ By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------- ------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDENTIFICATION OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
----------------------------------------
Schedules
---------
A Names, Addresses, Units and Capital Contributions of Members
Exhibits
--------
A Receivables Contribution Agreement
B Certificate of Formation
C By-Laws
D Form of Indenture
-21-
================================================================================
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CREDITRUST SPV98-2, LLC
Names, Addresses, Units and Capital Contributions of Members
Schedule A
----------
================================================================================
Name and Address of Member Capital Contributions Units
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS A MEMBER
--------------
Creditrust Corporation Receivables pursuant to 100 Units
7000 Security Boulevard Receivables Contribution
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 Agreement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS B MEMBER NA None
--------------
GSS Holdings II, Inc.
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
================================================================================
-22-
