Exhibit 3.1
EXECUTION COPY
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
BOND SECURITIZATION, L.L.C.
This Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement
(together with the schedules attached hereto, this "Agreement") of Bond
Securitization, L.L.C. (the "Company") which amends and restates that certain
Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Bond
Securitization, L.L.C., dated as of August 31, 2001, is entered into by Bank
One Financial Corporation, as the sole equity member (the "Member"), and Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, as the Special Members (as defined on
Schedule A hereto). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
have the meanings set forth on Schedule A hereto.
The Member, by execution of this Agreement, hereby continues the Company
as a limited liability company pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware
Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del. C. ss. 18-101 et seq.), as amended from
time to time (the "Act"), and this Agreement, and hereby desires that this
Agreement be, and hereby is, the sole governing document of the Company,
superseding all prior agreements. The Special Members and Member, hereby agree
as follows:
Section 1. Name.
The name of the limited liability company formed and continued hereby is
Bond Securitization, L.L.C.
Section 2. Principal Business Office.
The principal business office of the Company shall be located at 0 Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, or such other location as may hereafter be
determined by the Member.
Section 3. Registered Office.
The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of
Delaware is The Corporation Trust Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Trust
Center, in the City of Wilmington, County of Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
Section 4. Registered Agent.
The name and address of the registered agent of the Company for service
of process on the Company in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust
Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Trust Center, in the City of
Wilmington, County of Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
Section 5. Members.
(a) The mailing address of the Member is set forth on Schedule B
attached hereto.
(b) Subject to Section 9(j), the Member may act by written consent.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the Member to cease to
be a member of the Company (other than (i) upon an assignment by the Member of
all of its limited liability company interest in the Company and the admission
of the transferee pursuant to Sections 22 and 24, or (ii) the resignation of
the Member and the admission of an additional member of the Company pursuant
to Sections 23 and 24), each person acting as an Independent Director pursuant
to Section 10 shall, without any action of any Person and simultaneously with
the Member ceasing to be a member of the Company, automatically be admitted to
the Company as a Special Member and shall continue the Company without
dissolution. No Special Member may resign from the Company or transfer its
rights as Special Member unless (i) a successor Special Member has been
admitted to the Company as Special Member by executing a counterpart to this
Agreement, and (ii) such successor has also accepted its appointment as
Independent Director pursuant to Section 10; provided, however, the Special
Members shall automatically cease to be members of the Company upon the
admission to the Company of a substitute Member. Each Special Member shall be
a member of the Company that has no interest in the profits, losses and
capital of the Company and has no right to receive any distributions of
Company assets. Pursuant to Section 18-301 of the Act, a Special Member shall
not be required to make any capital contributions to the Company and shall not
receive a limited liability company interest in the Company. A Special Member,
in its capacity as Special Member, may not bind the Company. Except as
required by any mandatory provision of the Act, each Special Member, in its
capacity as Special Member, shall have no right to vote on, approve or
otherwise consent to any action by, or matter relating to, the Company,
including, without limitation, the merger, consolidation or conversion of the
Company. In order to implement the admission to the Company of each Special
Member, each person acting as an Independent Director pursuant to Section 10
shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement. Prior to its admission to the
Company as Special Member, each person acting as an Independent Director
pursuant to Section 10 shall not be a member of the Company.
Section 6. Certificates.
Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx is hereby designated as an "authorized person" within the
meaning of the Act, and has executed, delivered and filed the Certificate of
Formation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
Upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, his powers as an "authorized person" ceased, and the
Member thereupon became the designated "authorized person" and shall continue
as the designated "authorized person" within the meaning of the Act. The
Member or an Officer shall execute, deliver and file any other certificates
(and any amendments and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to
qualify to do business in New York, Illinois and in any other jurisdiction in
which the Company may wish to conduct business.
The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue
until cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Act.
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Section 7. Purposes. The purpose to be conducted or promoted by the Company is
to engage in the following activities:
(a)
(i) To authorize, issue, sell, deliver, purchase and invest in (and
enter into agreements in connection with), and/or to engage in
the establishment of one or more trusts (each, a "Trust") which
will issue and sell, bonds, notes debt or equity securities,
obligations, and other securities and instruments (in one or
more series, each of which series may consist of one or more
classes) ("Securities"), which Securities will be
collateralized or otherwise secured or backed by, or otherwise
represent interests in, among other things (A) one or more
pools of Receivables; (B) pass-through certificates (the
"Pass-Through Certificates") evidencing a fractional undivided
ownership interest in one or more grantor trusts that own or
hold, among other things, one or more pools of Receivables, or
participations or certificates of participation or beneficial
ownership in one or more pools of Receivables ("Participation
Certificates"); or (C) other collateral (the Receivables, the
Pass-Through Certificates, Participation Certificates and other
collateral pledged as security for or otherwise supporting the
Securities and the proceeds thereof are collectively referred
to herein as the "Collateral"); in each case the Securities of
a series which are distributed through one or more public
offerings (with the exception of the Subordinated Securities of
such series, which may or may not be rated) shall, when issued,
be rated in one of the four highest rating categories by any
one or more nationally recognized rating agencies;
(ii) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities or
otherwise, to purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold,
transfer, convey, pledge, assign, sell (or otherwise dispose
of), service, finance, refinance or otherwise deal in or with
the Pass-Through Certificates, the Participation Certificates
and the Receivables (and any assets to which such Receivables
relate) and related Collateral and to enter into contractual
arrangements, transactions and agreements with respect to the
Receivables and with the providers or obligors respecting such
Collateral, including agreements with originators of
Receivables, sellers or servicers of Receivables or dealers in
any assets to which the Receivables relate; for purposes of
this Agreement, the term "Receivables" means the right to
payment under, and other rights of a holder with respect to,
various promissory notes, leases, loan agreements, installment
sales contracts, drafts (including bank and commercial drafts),
trade documents, certificates of participation, accounts
receivable, accounts, account balances, certificates of
beneficial ownership, bankers' acceptance and other agreements
and instruments evidencing indebtedness or payment obligations,
any or all of which may be secured or unsecured, that arise in
connection with one or more of the following: (i) the sale or
lease of automobiles, recreational vehicles, boats, trucks or
other motor vehicles, equipment, merchandise, home improvement
and other personal
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property and financings or re-financings secured thereby, (ii)
credit card purchases or cash advances, (iii) the sale,
licensing or other commercial provision of services, rights,
intellectual properties and other intangibles, (iv) trade
financing, with or without whole or partial guarantees of
payment by the Export-Import Bank of the United States or any
comparable domestic, foreign or international authority, (v)
loans secured by first or junior mortgages on real estate or
manufactured housing, (vi) loans to employee stock ownership
plans, and (vii) any and all other commercial transactions and
commercial, sovereign, student and consumer loans and
indebtedness;
(iii) to arrange or otherwise provide for support any series of
Securities to be issued by the Company or any Trust by various
forms of credit enhancement including collections and/or
distributions on the Receivables which are to be remitted to
certain accounts to be established under the indenture or
participation, pooling or other similar agreement relating to
such series, cash deposits, insurance policies, guaranteed
investment contracts, investment agreements, letters of credit,
minimum payment agreements, guarantees and other forms of
credit enhancement including arrangements whereby, for a given
series, payments on one or more classes of Securities
("Subordinated Securities") are subordinated to, and constitute
additional security for payments due on one or more other
classes of Securities in such series;
(iv) to enter into any interest rate or basis swap, cap, floor or
collar agreements, currency exchange agreements or similar
hedging transactions relating to any Collateral or for the
benefit of any series of Securities issued by the Company or
any Trust;
(v) to invest certain proceeds from Receivables and related
Collateral as determined by the Company's Board of Directors;
(vi) to authorize, issue, sell and deliver instruments evidencing
the Company's indebtedness which is completely subordinated to
any Securities, and to enter into agreements by which the
Company incurs such indebtedness; and
(vii) to engage in any lawful act or activity and to exercise any
powers permitted to limited liability companies organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware that are related or
incidental to and necessary, convenient or advisable for the
accomplishment of the above-mentioned purposes.
(b) The Company, by or through the Member, or any Director or Officer on
behalf of the Company, may enter into and perform the Transaction Documents
and all documents, agreements, certificates, or financing statements
contemplated thereby or related thereto, all without any further act, vote or
approval of any other Person notwithstanding any other provision
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of this Agreement, the Act or applicable law, rule or regulation. The
foregoing authorization shall not be deemed a restriction on the powers of the
Member or any Director or Officer to enter into other agreements on behalf of
the Company.
Section 8. Powers.
Subject to Section 9(j), the Company, and the Board of Directors and the
Officers of the Company on behalf of the Company, (i) shall have and exercise
all powers necessary, convenient or incidental to accomplish its purposes as
set forth in Section 7 and (ii) shall have and exercise all of the powers and
rights conferred upon limited liability companies formed pursuant to the Act;
provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Board of Directors or
officers of the Company on behalf of the Company shall have or exercise any
powers not permitted of "Qualifying SPEs" (within the meaning of the Statement
of Financial Accounting Standard No. 140 ("FAS 140")) under FAS 140 or any
successor accounting standard thereto.
Section 9. Management.
(a) Board of Directors. Subject to Section 9(j), the business and affairs
of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of one or
more Directors designated by the Member. Subject to Section 10, the Member may
determine at any time in its sole and absolute discretion the number of
Directors to constitute the Board. The authorized number of Directors may be
increased or decreased by the Member at any time in its sole and absolute
discretion, upon notice to all Directors, and subject in all cases to Section
10. The initial number of Directors shall be three, two of which shall be
Independent Directors pursuant to Section 10. Each Director elected,
designated or appointed by the Member shall hold office until a successor is
elected and qualified or until such Director's earlier death, resignation,
expulsion or removal. Each Director shall execute and deliver the Director
Agreement. Directors need not be a Member. The initial Directors designated by
the Member are listed on Schedule D hereto.
(b) Powers. Subject to Section 9(j), the Board of Directors shall have
the power to do any and all acts necessary, convenient or incidental to or for
the furtherance of the purposes described herein, including all powers,
statutory or otherwise. Subject to Section 7, the Board of Directors has the
authority to bind the Company.
(c) Meeting of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the
Company may hold meetings, both regular and special, within or outside the
State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at
such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the
Board. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President on not
less than one day's notice to each Director by telephone, facsimile, mail,
telegram or any other means of communication, and special meetings shall be
called by the President or Secretary in like manner and with like notice upon
the written request of any one or more of the Directors.
(d) Quorum: Acts of the Board. At all meetings of the Board, a majority
of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
and, except as otherwise provided in any other provision of this Agreement,
the act of a majority of the Directors present
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at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board. If a
quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the Directors present
at such meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice
other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board
or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing
or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or
committee, as the case may be.
(e) Electronic Communications. Members of the Board, or any committee
designated by the Board, may participate in meetings of the Board, or any
committee, by means of telephone conference or similar communications
equipment that allows all Persons participating in the meeting to hear each
other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in Person
at the meeting. If all the participants are participating by telephone
conference or similar communications equipment, the meeting shall be deemed to
be held at the principal place of business of the Company.
(f) Committees of Directors.
(i) The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole
Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to
consist of one or more of the Directors of the Company. The
Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members
of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee.
(ii) In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee,
the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not such members
constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of
the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent
or disqualified member.
(iii) Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution
of the Board, and subject to, in all cases, Sections 9(j) and
10, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of
the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the
Company. Such committee or committees shall have such name or
names as may be determined from time to time by resolution
adopted by the Board. Each committee shall keep regular minutes
of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
(g) Compensation of Directors; Expenses. The Board shall have the
authority to fix the compensation of Directors. The Directors may be paid
their expenses, if any, of attendance at meetings of the Board, which may be a
fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as
Director. No such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the Company
in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special
or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending
committee meetings.
(h) Removal of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by law, any
Director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed or expelled, with or
without cause, at any time by the
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Member, and, subject to Section 10, any vacancy caused by any such removal or
expulsion may be filled by action of the Member.
(i) Directors as Agents. To the extent of their powers set forth in this
Agreement and subject to Section 9(j), the Directors are agents of the Company
for the purpose of the Company's business, and the actions of the Directors
taken in accordance with such powers set forth in this Agreement shall bind
the Company. Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 18-402 of the Act,
except as provided in this Agreement or in a resolution of the Directors, a
Director may not bind the Company.
(j) Limitations on the Company's Activities.
(i) This Section 9(j) is being adopted in order to comply with
certain provisions required in order to qualify the Company as
a "special purpose" entity.
(ii) The Member shall not, so long as any Obligation is outstanding,
amend, alter, change or repeal the definition of "Independent
Director" or Sections 5(c), 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 31 or 32 or Schedule A of this Agreement without
the unanimous written consent of the Board (including all
Independent Directors). Subject to this Section 9(j), the
Member reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any
provisions contained in this Agreement in accordance with
Section 32.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and any
provision of law that otherwise so empowers the Company, the
Member, the Board, any Officer or any other Person, neither the
Member nor the Board nor any Officer nor any other Person shall
be authorized or empowered, nor shall they permit the Company,
without the prior unanimous written consent of the Member and
the Board (including all Independent Directors), to take any
Material Action, provided, however, that the Board may not vote
on, or authorize the taking of, any Material Action, unless
there are at least two Independent Directors then serving in
such capacity.
(iv) The Board and the Member shall cause the Company to do or cause
to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full
force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory)
and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be required to preserve any such right or franchise if: (1) the
Board shall determine that the preservation thereof is no
longer desirable for the conduct of its business and that the
loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to
the Company and (2) the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied.
The Board also shall cause the Company to:
(A) maintain its own books and records and bank accounts
separate from the Member or any other person;
(B) at all times hold itself out to the public and all other
Persons as a
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legal entity separate from the Member and any other
Person;
(C) have a Board of Directors separate from that of the Member
and any other Person;
(D) file its own tax returns, if any, as may be required under
applicable law, to the extent (1) not part of a
consolidated group filing a consolidated return or returns
or (2) not treated as a division for tax purposes of
another taxpayer, and pay any taxes so required to be paid
under applicable law;
(E) except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, not
commingle its assets with assets of the Member or any
other Person;
(F) conduct its business in its own name and strictly comply
with all organizational formalities to maintain its
separate existence;
(G) maintain separate financial statements;
(H) pay its own liabilities only out of its own funds;
(I) maintain an arm's length relationship with its Affiliates
and the Member;
(J) pay the salaries of its own employees, if any;
(K) not hold out its credit or assets as being available to
satisfy the obligations of others;
(L) to the extent its office is located in the offices of any
Affiliate pay fair market rent for its office space
located therein, and otherwise allocate fairly and
reasonably any overhead expenses shared with any
Affiliate, and not engage in any business transaction with
any Affiliate unless on an arm's-length basis;
(M) use separate stationery, invoices and checks;
(N) except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, not
pledge its assets for the benefit of any other Person or
make any loans or advances to any other Person;
(O) correct any known misunderstanding regarding its separate
identity;
(P) maintain adequate capital in light of its contemplated
business purpose, transactions and liabilities;
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(Q) cause its Board of Directors to meet at least annually or
act pursuant to written consent and keep minutes of such
meetings and actions and observe all other Delaware
limited liability company formalities;
(R) not acquire any securities of the Member; and
(S) cause the Directors, Officers, agents and other
representatives of the Company to act at all times with
respect to the Company consistently and in furtherance of
the foregoing and in the best interests of the Company.
Failure of the Company, or the Member or Board on behalf of the
Company, to comply with any of the foregoing covenants or any other
covenants contained in this Agreement shall not affect the status of
the Company as a separate legal entity or the limited liability of
the Member or the Directors.
(v) So long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Board shall
not cause or permit the Company to:
(A) except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any
Person, including any Affiliate;
(B) engage, directly or indirectly, in any business other
than the actions required or permitted to be
performed under Section 7, the Transaction Documents
or this Section 9(j);
(C) incur, create or assume any indebtedness other than
as expressly permitted hereunder and under the
Transaction Documents;
(D) make or permit to remain outstanding any loan or
advance to, or own or acquire any stock or securities
of, any Person, except that the Company may invest in
those investments permitted under the Transaction
Documents and may make any advance required or
expressly permitted to be made pursuant to any
provisions of the Transaction Documents and permit
the same to remain outstanding in accordance with
such provisions;
(E) to the fullest extent permitted by law, engage in any
dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, merger,
asset sale or transfer of ownership interests other
than such activities as are expressly permitted
pursuant to any provision of the Transaction
Documents; or
(F) except as contemplated by Section 7(a), form, acquire
or hold any subsidiary (whether corporate,
partnership, limited liability company or other).
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Section 10. Independent Director.
As long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Member shall cause the
Company at all times to have at least two Independent Directors who will be
appointed by the Member. To the fullest extent permitted by law, including
Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, the Independent Directors shall consider only
the interests of the Company, including its respective creditors, in acting or
otherwise voting on the matters referred to in Section 9(j)(iii). No
resignation or removal of an Independent Director, and no appointment of a
successor Independent Director, shall be effective until such successor (i)
shall have accepted his or her appointment as an Independent Director by a
written instrument, which may be a counterpart signature page to the Director
Agreement, and (ii) shall have executed a counterpart to this Agreement as
required by Section 5(c). In the event of a vacancy in the position of
Independent Director, the Member shall, as soon as practicable, appoint a
successor Independent Director. All right, power and authority of the
Independent Directors shall be limited to the extent necessary to exercise
those rights and perform those duties specifically set forth in this
Agreement. Except as provided in the second sentence of this Section 10, in
exercising their rights and performing their duties under this Agreement, any
Independent Director shall have a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care similar
to that of a director of a business corporation organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. No Independent Director shall at any
time serve as trustee in bankruptcy for any Affiliate of the Company. The
independent directors of the Company as of the date of this amendment and
restatement are Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx.
Section 11. Officers.
(a) Officers. The initial Officers of the Company shall be designated by
the Member. The additional or successor Officers of the Company shall be
chosen by the Board and shall consist of at least a President, a Secretary and
a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also choose one or more Vice
Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Any number of
offices may be held by the same person. The Board shall choose a President, a
Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board may appoint such other Officers and
agents as it shall deem necessary or advisable who shall hold their offices
for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall
be determined from time to time by the Board. The salaries of all Officers and
agents of the Company shall be fixed by or in the manner prescribed by the
Board. The Officers of the Company shall hold office until their successors
are chosen and qualified. Any Officer may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. Any vacancy
occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board. The
initial Officers of the Company designated by the Member are listed on
Schedule E hereto.
(b) President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the
Company, shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall be responsible for
the general and active management of the business of the Company and shall see
that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The
President or any other Officer authorized by the President or the Board shall
execute all bonds, mortgages and other contracts, except: (i) where required
or permitted by law or this Agreement to be otherwise signed and executed,
including Section 7(b); (ii) where signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the
Company, and (iii) as otherwise permitted in Section 11(c).
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(c) Vice President. In the absence of the President or in the event of
the President's inability to act, the Vice President, if any (or in the event
there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order
designated by the Directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the
order of their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and when
so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions
upon the President. The Vice Presidents, if any, shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time
prescribe.
(d) Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall be responsible
for filing legal documents and maintaining records for the Company. The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and record all the
proceedings of the meetings of the Company and of the Board in a book to be
kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees when required. The Secretary shall give, or shall cause to be
given, notice of all meetings of the Member, if any, and special meetings of
the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the
Board or the President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall serve. The
Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries
in the order determined by the Board (or if there be no such determination,
then in order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in
the event of the Secretary's inability to act, perform the duties and exercise
the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
(e) Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the
custody of the Company funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and
shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the
credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board.
The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the
Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the
President and to the Board, at its regular meetings or when the Board so
requires, an account of all of the Treasurer's transactions and of the
financial condition of the Company. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall
be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the
Board (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their
election), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the
Treasurer's inability to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers
as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
(f) Officers as Agents. The Officers, to the extent of their powers set
forth in this Agreement or otherwise vested in them by action of the Board not
inconsistent with this Agreement, are agents of the Company for the purpose of
the Company's business and, subject to Section 9(j), the actions of the
Officers taken in accordance with such powers shall bind the Company.
(g) Duties of Board and Officers. Except to the extent otherwise provided
herein, each Director and Officer shall have a fiduciary duty of loyalty and
care similar to that of directors and officers of business corporations
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
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Section 12. Limited Liability.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Act, the debts, obligations
and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or
otherwise, shall be the debts, obligations and liabilities solely of the
Company, and neither the Member nor the Special Members nor any Director shall
be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the
Company solely by reason of being a Member, Special Member or Director of the
Company.
Section 13. Capital Contributions.
The Member has contributed to the Company property of an agreed value as
listed on Schedule B attached hereto. In accordance with Section 5(c), the
Special Members shall not be required to make any capital contributions to the
Company.
Section 14. Additional Contributions.
The Member is not required to make any additional capital contribution to
the Company. However, the Member may make additional capital contributions to
the Company at any time. To the extent that the Member makes an additional
capital contribution to the Company, the Member shall revise Schedule B of
this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, including this Section 14,
are intended to benefit the Member and the Special Members and, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, shall not be construed as conferring any benefit upon
any creditor of the Company (and no such creditor of the Company shall be a
third-party beneficiary of this Agreement) and the Member and the Special
Members shall not have any duty or obligation to any creditor of the Company
to make any contribution to the Company or to issue any call for capital
pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 15. Allocation of Profits and Losses.
The Company's profits and losses shall be allocated to the Member.
Section 16. Distributions.
Distributions shall be made to the Member at the times and in the
aggregate amounts determined by the Board. Notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to
make a distribution to the Member on account of its interest in the Company if
such distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or any other
applicable law or any Transaction Document.
Section 17. Books and Records.
The Board shall keep or cause to be kept complete and accurate books of
account and records with respect to the Company's business. The books of the
Company shall at all times be maintained by the Board. The Member and its duly
authorized representatives shall have the right to examine the Company books,
records and documents during normal business hours. The Company, and the Board
on behalf of the Company, shall not have the right to keep confidential from
the Member any information that the Board would otherwise be permitted to keep
confidential from the Member pursuant to Section 18-305(c) of the Act. The
Company's books
12
of account shall be kept using the method of accounting determined by the
Member. The Company's independent auditor, if any, shall be an independent
public accounting firm selected by the Member.
Section 18. Reports.
(a) Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Board shall
cause to be prepared an unaudited report setting forth as of the end of such
fiscal quarter:
(i) unless such quarter is the last fiscal quarter, a balance sheet
of the Company; and
(ii) unless such quarter is the last fiscal quarter, an income
statement of the Company for such fiscal quarter.
(b) The Board shall use diligent efforts to cause to be prepared and
mailed to the Member, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an
audited or unaudited report setting forth as of the end of such fiscal year:
(i) a balance sheet of the Company;
(ii) an income statement of the Company for such fiscal year; and
(iii) a statement of the Member's capital account.
(c) The Board of Directors shall, after the end of each fiscal year, use
reasonable efforts to cause the Company's independent accountants, if any, to
prepare and transmit to the Member as promptly as possible any such tax
information as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Member to prepare its
federal, state and local income tax returns relating to such fiscal year
Nothing in this Section 18 shall limit the Company from hiring a person or
company to perform its bookkeeping, accounting or other related services.
Section 19. Tax Classification.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no member shall
take any action inconsistent with the classification as a disregarded entity
for purposes of Treasury Regulation 301.7701-3.
Section 20. Other Business.
The Member, the Special Members and any Affiliate of the Member or the
Special Members may engage in or possess an interest in other business
ventures (unconnected with the Company) of every kind and description,
independently or with others. The Company shall not have any rights in or to
such independent ventures or the income or profits therefrom by virtue of this
Agreement.
13
Section 21. Exculpation and Indemnification.
(a) Neither the Member nor the Special Members nor any Officer, Director,
employee or agent of the Company nor any employee, representative, agent or
Affiliate of the Member or the Special Members (collectively, the "Covered
Persons") shall be liable to the Company or any other Person who has an
interest in or claim against the Company for any loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered
Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in a manner reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Covered
Person by this Agreement, except that a Covered Person shall be liable for any
such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Covered Person's gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, a Covered Person
shall be entitled to indemnification from the Company for any loss, damage or
claim incurred by such Covered Person by reason of any act or omission
performed or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the
Company and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of the
authority conferred on such Covered Person by this Agreement, except that no
Covered Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss,
damage or claim incurred by such Covered Person by reason of such Covered
Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or
omissions; provided, however, that any indemnity under this Section 20 by the
Company shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only, and
the Member and the Special Members shall not have personal liability on
account thereof; and provided further, that so long as any Obligation is
outstanding, no indemnity payment from funds of the Company (as distinct from
funds from other sources, such as insurance) of any indemnity under this
Section 21 shall be payable from amounts allocable to any other Person
pursuant to the Transaction Documents.
(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses
(including legal fees) incurred by a Covered Person defending any claim,
demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by
the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit
or proceeding upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of
the Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the
Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section
21.
(d) A Covered Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports
or statements presented to the Company by any Person as to matters the Covered
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or
expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on
behalf of the Company, including information, opinions, reports or statements
as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, or any other facts
pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which distributions to
the Member might properly be paid.
(e) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties
(including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company
or to any other Covered Person, a Covered Person acting under this Agreement
shall not be liable to the Company or to any other Covered Person for its good
faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement or any approval or
authorization granted by the Company or any other Covered Person. The
provisions of this
14
Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of a
Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the
Member and the Special Members to replace such other duties and liabilities of
such Covered Person.
(f) The foregoing provisions of this Section 21 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 22. Assignments.
Subject to Section 24, the Member may assign all of its limited liability
company interest in the Company. If the Member transfers all of its limited
liability company interest in the Company pursuant to this Section 22, the
transferee shall be admitted to the Company as a member of the Company upon
its execution of an instrument signifying its agreement to be bound by the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, which instrument may be a counterpart
signature page to this Agreement. Such admission shall be deemed effective
immediately prior to the transfer and, immediately following such admission,
the transferor Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any successor to
the Member by merger or consolidation in compliance with the Transaction
Documents shall, without further act, be the Member hereunder, and such merger
or consolidation shall not constitute an assignment for purposes of this
Agreement and the Company shall continue without dissolution.
Section 23. Resignation.
So long as any Obligation is outstanding, the Member may not resign,
except as permitted under the Transaction Documents and if the Rating Agency
Condition is satisfied. If the Member is permitted to resign pursuant to this
Section 23, an additional member of the Company shall be admitted to the
Company, subject to Section 24, upon its execution of an instrument signifying
its agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which
instrument may be a counterpart signature page to this Agreement. Such
admission shall be deemed effective immediately prior to the resignation and,
immediately following such admission, the resigning Member shall cease to be a
member of the Company.
Section 24. Admission of Additional Members.
One or more additional members of the Company may be admitted to the
Company with the written consent of the Member; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any Obligation remains outstanding,
no additional Member may be admitted to the Company unless the Rating Agency
Condition is satisfied.
Section 25. Dissolution.
(a) Subject to Section 9(j) and the following sentence, the Company shall
be dissolved, and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of the
following: (i) the termination of the legal existence of the last remaining
member of the Company or the occurrence of any other event which terminates
the continued membership of the last remaining member of the Company in the
Company unless the business of the Company is continued in a manner permitted
by this Agreement or the Act or (ii) the entry of a decree of judicial
dissolution
15
under Section 18-802 of the Act. Upon the occurrence of any event that causes
the last remaining member of the Company to cease to be a member of the
Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the personal representative
of such member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such
member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii)
to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as
the case may be, as a substitute member of the Company, effective as of the
occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of the last
remaining member of the Company in the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy
of the Member or a Special Member shall not cause the Member or Special
Member, respectively, to cease to be a member of the Company and upon the
occurrence of such an event, the business of the Company shall continue
without dissolution.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each of the
Member and the Special Members waives any right it might have to agree in
writing to dissolve the Company upon the Bankruptcy of the Member or a Special
Member, or the occurrence of an event that causes the Member or a Special
Member to cease to be a member of the Company.
(d) In the event of dissolution, the Company shall conduct only such
activities as are necessary to wind up its affairs (including the sale of the
assets of the Company in an orderly manner), and the assets of the Company
shall be applied in the manner, and in the order of priority, set forth in
Section 18-804 of the Act.
(e) The Company shall terminate when (i) all of the assets of the
Company, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and
obligations of the Company (including all Obligations of the Company), (shall
have been distributed to the Member in the manner provided for in this
Agreement and (ii) the Certificate of Formation shall have been canceled in
the manner required by the Act.
Section 26. Waiver of Partition; Nature of Interest.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, each of the Member and the Special Members hereby
irrevocably waives any right or power that such Person might have to cause the
Company or any of its assets to be partitioned, to cause the appointment of a
receiver for all or any portion of the assets of the Company, to compel any
sale of all or any portion of the assets of the Company pursuant to any
applicable law or to file a complaint or to institute any proceeding at law or
in equity to cause the dissolution, liquidation, winding up or termination of
the Company. The Member shall not have any interest in any specific assets of
the Company, and the Member shall not have the status of a creditor with
respect to any distribution pursuant to Section 16 hereof. The interest of the
Member in the Company is personal property.
Section 27. Benefits of Agreement; No Third-Party Rights.
None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or
enforceable by any creditor of the Company or by any creditor of the Member or
a Special Member except for the provisions of Sections 5(c), 9(j), 10, 21(b),
24, 25(b) and 32(b) (such provisions the "Third Party
16
Benefit Provisions"). Nothing in this Agreement other than the Third Party
Benefit Provisions shall be deemed to create any right in any Person (other
than Covered Persons) not a party hereto, and this Agreement shall not be
construed in any respect to be a contract in whole or in part for the benefit
of any third Person (except as provided in Section 30 and except for the Third
Party Benefit provisions).
Section 28. Severability of Provisions.
Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered severable and if for
any reason any provision or provisions herein are determined to be invalid,
unenforceable or illegal under any existing or future law, such invalidity,
unenforceability or illegality shall not impair the operation of or affect
those portions of this Agreement which are valid, enforceable and legal.
Section 29. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 30. Binding Agreement.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Member agrees
that this Agreement, including, without limitation, Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 21,
22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and 32, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of the Member, and is enforceable against the Member by the
Independent Directors, in accordance with its terms. In addition, the
Independent Directors shall be intended beneficiaries of this Agreement.
Section 31. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the
State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws principles), all rights
and remedies being governed by said laws.
Section 32. Amendments.
Subject to Section 9(j), this Agreement may be modified, altered,
supplemented or amended pursuant to a written agreement executed and delivered
by the Member. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, so
long as any Obligation is outstanding, this Agreement may not be modified,
altered, supplemented or amended unless the Rating Agency Condition is
satisfied:
(a) unless the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied except: (i) to cure
any ambiguity or (ii) to convert or supplement any provision in a
manner consistent with the intent of this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents, and
(b) without the consent of a Majority in Interest except: (i) to cure
any ambiguity or (ii) to convert or supplement any provision in a
manner consistent with the intent of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents.
17
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may
amend Schedule B hereto without the prior written consent of any party.
Section 33. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original of this Agreement and all of which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Notices.
Any notices required to be delivered hereunder shall be in writing and
personally delivered, mailed or sent by telecopy, electronic mail or other
similar form of rapid transmission, and shall be deemed to have been duly
given upon receipt (a) in the case of the Company, to the Company at its
address in Section 2, (b) in the case of the Member, to the Member at its
address as listed on Schedule B attached hereto and (c) in the case of either
of the foregoing, at such other address as may be designated by written notice
to the other party.
Section 35. Effectiveness.
Pursuant to Section 18-201(d) of the Act, this Agreement shall be
effective as of the date hereof.
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound
hereby, has duly executed this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement as of the 26th day of April 2002.
MEMBER:
BANC ONE FINANCIAL
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
S-1
SPECIAL MEMBERS:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
S-2
SCHEDULE A
Definitions
A. Definitions
When used in this Agreement, the following terms not otherwise defined
herein have the following meanings:
"Act" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly
or indirectly Controlling or Controlled by or under direct or indirect common
Control with such Person.
"Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement of the Company, together with the schedules attached hereto, as
amended, restated or supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Bankruptcy" means, with respect to any Person, if such Person (i) makes
an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (ii) files a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy, (iii) is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against
it an order for relief, in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, (iv)
files a petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization, arrangement,
composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under any statute,
law or regulation, (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing
to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any
proceeding of this nature, (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the
appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Person or of all or
any substantial part of its properties, or (vii) if 120 days after the
commencement of any proceeding against the Person seeking reorganization,
arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation or similar relief under
any statute, law or regulation, if the proceeding has not been dismissed, or
if within 90 days after the appointment without such Person's consent or
acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or
any substantial part of its properties, the appointment is not vacated or
stayed, or within 90 days after the expiration of any such stay, the
appointment is not vacated. The foregoing definition of "Bankruptcy" is
intended to replace and shall supersede and replace the definition of
"Bankruptcy" set forth in Sections 18-101(1) and 18-304 of the Act.
"Board" or "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
"Certificate of Formation" means the Certificate of Formation of the
Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18,
2001, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.
"Collateral" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(i).
"Company" means Bond Securitization, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company.
A-1
"Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities or general partnership or
managing member interests, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and
"Controlled" shall have correlative meanings. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to Control any other Person in
which it owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the ownership interests.
"Covered Persons" has the meaning set forth in Section 20(a).
"Debt Obligation" means, as of any date of determination, debt securities
issued by and loans in respect of money borrowed by the Company, provided,
however, that "Debt Obligation" does not include debt securities held by or
loans from the Member or its Affiliates.
"Director Agreement" means the agreement of the Directors in the form
attached hereto as Schedule C. The Director Agreement shall be deemed
incorporated into, and a part of, this Agreement.
"Directors" means the Persons elected to the Board of Directors from time
to time by the Member, including the Independent Directors, in their capacity
as managers of the Company. A Director is hereby designated as a "manager" of
the Company within the meaning of Section 18-101(10) of the Act.
"Financed Vehicle" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(i).
"Independent Director" means a natural person who, for the five-year
period prior to his or her appointment as Independent Director has not been,
and during the continuation of his or her service as Independent Director is
not: (i) an employee, director, stockholder, partner or officer of the Company
or any of its Affiliates (other than his or her service as an Independent
Director of the Company or any Affiliate whose purposes are restricted to
those substantially similar to those in Section 7); (ii) a customer or
supplier of the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (iii) any member of the
immediate family of a person described in (i) or (ii).
"Issuer" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(iv).
"Majority in Interest" means the Holders of Debt Obligations evidencing
more than 50% by outstanding principal amount of all Debt Obligations.
"Material Action" means to consolidate or merge the Company with or into
any Person, or sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or
to institute proceedings to have the Company be adjudicated bankrupt or
insolvent, or consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings against the Company or file a petition seeking, or consent to,
reorganization or relief with respect to the Company under any applicable
federal or state law relating to bankruptcy, or consent to the appointment of
a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar
official) of the Company or a substantial part of its property, or make any
assignment for the benefit of creditors of the Company, or admit in writing
the Company's inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or take
action in furtherance of any such action, or, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, dissolve or liquidate the Company.
A-2
"Member" means Banc One Financial Corporation, as the initial member of
the Company, and includes any Person admitted as an additional member of the
Company or a substitute member of the Company pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement, each in its capacity as a member of the Company; provided,
however, the term "Member" shall not include the Special Members.
"Obligations" shall mean any Securities and the indebtedness, liabilities
and obligations of the Company under or in connection with this Agreement, the
other Transaction Documents or any related document in effect as of any date
of determination.
"Officer" means an officer of the Company described in Section 11.
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by any Officer of the
Company who is authorized to act for the Company in matters relating to the
Company.
"Participation Certificates" has the meaning set forth in Section
7(a)(i).
"Pass-Through Certificates" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(i).
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, joint
stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or other organization,
whether or not a legal entity, and any governmental authority.
"Rating Agency" means any nationally recognized statistical rating
organization currently rating any Security.
"Rating Agency Condition" means, with respect to any action, that each
Rating Agency shall have been given ten days prior notice thereof and that
each of the Rating Agencies shall have notified the Company in writing that
such action will not result in a reduction or withdrawal or qualification of
the then current rating by such Rating Agency of any of the Securities.
"Receivables" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(ii).
"Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(i).
"Securitization Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(vi).
"Special Member" means, upon such person's admission to the Company as a
member of the Company pursuant to Section 5(c), a person acting as Independent
Director, in such person's capacity as a member of the Company. A Special
Member shall only have the rights and duties expressly set forth in this
Agreement.
"Subordinated Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(iii).
"Transaction Documents" means this Agreement, the Director Agreement, any
Securitization Agreement and all documents and certificates contemplated
thereby or delivered in connection therewith.
A-3
"Trust" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)(i).
A-4
B. Rules of Construction
Definitions in this Agreement apply equally to both the singular and
plural forms of the defined terms. The words "include" and "including" shall
be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." The terms
"herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section, paragraph or
subdivision. The Section titles appear as a matter of convenience only and
shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. All Section, paragraph,
clause, Exhibit or Schedule references not attributed to a particular document
shall be references to such parts of this Agreement.
A-5
SCHEDULE B
Member
Agreed Value
of Capital Membership
Name Mailing Address Contribution Interest
---- --------------- ------------ --------
Banc One Financial 1 Bank One Plaza $100 100%
Corporation Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
B-1
SCHEDULE C
Director Agreement
C-1
SCHEDULE D
Directors
1. Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
2. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
3. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
D-1
SCHEDULE E
Officers
Officer Title
------- -----
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx President
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx Treasurer
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx Secretary
E-1