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EXHIBIT 3.2
OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
US XCHANGE, L.L.C.
(a Michigan limited liability company)
Effective as of August 1, 1996
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS...........................................................................1
ARTICLE II FORMATION OF COMPANY..................................................................2
Section 2.1 Formation of Company........................................................................2
Section 2.2 Effective Date of Operating Agreement.......................................................2
Section 2.3 Name........................................................................................2
Section 2.4 Principal Place of Business.................................................................3
Section 2.5 Registered Office and Resident Agent........................................................3
Section 2.6 Maximum Duration............................................................................3
Section 2.7 Purposes....................................................................................3
ARTICLE III BOOKS, RECORDS AND ACCOUNTING.........................................................3
Section 3.1 Records.....................................................................................3
Section 3.2 Fiscal Year; Accounting.....................................................................4
Section 3.3 Reports.....................................................................................4
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS.................................................................4
Section 4.1 Initial Capital Contributions...............................................................4
Section 4.2 Additional Capital Contributions............................................................4
Section 4.3 Failure to Contribute.......................................................................4
ARTICLE V LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION..............................................5
Section 5.1 No Liability to Third Parties...............................................................5
Section 5.2 No Liability to Company.....................................................................5
Section 5.3 Indemnification.............................................................................6
ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.........................................................7
Section 6.1 Member's Accounts...........................................................................7
Section 6.2 Allocations.................................................................................7
Section 6.3 Distributions...............................................................................7
Section 6.4 Profit and Loss.............................................................................7
Section 6.5 Income Accounts.............................................................................7
Section 6.6 Salaries....................................................................................8
ARTICLE VII DISPOSITION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS...................................................8
Section 7.1 Restrictions on Transfers...................................................................8
Section 7.2 Assignee Rights.............................................................................8
Section 7.3 Withdrawal; No Right to Receive Fair Value..................................................8
Section 7.4 Options to Purchase Upon Withdrawal.........................................................8
Section 7.5 Options to Purchase Upon Death..............................................................9
Section 7.6 Estate's Right to Require Purchase Upon Death...............................................9
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Section 7.7 Valuation of Assets.........................................................................9
Section 7.8 Purchase Price.............................................................................10
Section 7.9 Terms of Payment...........................................................................10
Section 7.10 Insurance Proceeds........................................................................11
Section 7.11 Closing...................................................................................11
Section 7.12 Seller's Participation in Profits and Losses..............................................11
Section 7.13 Membership Interest Held by Grantor Trust.................................................11
ARTICLE VIII ADDITIONAL MEMBERS...........................................................................12
ARTICLE IX MANAGEMENT...........................................................................12
Section 9.1 Management by Members......................................................................12
Section 9.2 Company Decision; Voting...................................................................12
Section 9.3 Delegation of Authority....................................................................12
Section 9.4 Authority of Members.......................................................................13
Section 9.5 Time Devoted to Company Business; Other Business
Interests of Members.........................................................................13
ARTICLE X MEETINGS AND CONSENTS OF MEMBERS.....................................................13
Section 10.1 Meetings..................................................................................13
Section 10.2 Conference Call Meetings..................................................................13
Section 10.3 Written Consent...........................................................................13
ARTICLE XI DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP...........................................................14
Section 11.1 Dissolution...............................................................................14
Section 11.2 Winding Up................................................................................14
ARTICLE XII GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................................14
Section 12.1 Entire Agreement and Amendment............................................................14
Section 12.2 Severability..............................................................................14
Section 12.3 Notices...................................................................................15
Section 12.4 Binding Effect............................................................................15
Section 12.5 Governing Law.............................................................................15
Section 12.6 Investment Representations................................................................15
Section 12.7 Review by Legal Counsel...................................................................15
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall apply to the terms in this
Operating Agreement unless otherwise expressly stated:
(a) "Act" shall mean the Michigan limited liability
company act, as may be amended.
(b) "Articles" shall mean the Articles of
Organization of the Company as filed with the Department of Consumer
and Industry Services, Corporation, Securities and Land Development
Bureau, as may be amended or restated.
(c) "Capital Account" as of any given date shall mean
the Capital Contribution to the Company by a Member as adjusted under
this Agreement.
(d) "Capital Contribution" shall mean any
contribution to the capital of the Company in cash or property by a
Member whenever made, including initial capital contributions as
described on Exhibit A and additional capital contributions, if any.
(e) "Capital Interest" shall mean the proportion that
a Member's positive Capital Account bears to the aggregate positive
Capital Accounts of all Members whose Capital Accounts have positive
balances as may be adjusted from time to time.
(f) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 or corresponding provisions of superseding federal revenue laws.
(g) "Company" shall refer to US Xchange, L.L.C., a
Michigan limited liability company.
(h) "Distributable Cash" means all cash, revenues and
funds received by the Company from whatever source, less the sum of the
following to the extent paid or set aside by the Company: (i) all
principal and interest payments on indebtedness and all other sums paid
to lenders; (ii) all cash expenditures incurred incident to the normal
operation of the Company's business; and (iii) such reserves as the
Company deems reasonably necessary to the proper operation of the
Company's business.
(i) "Economic Interest" shall mean a Member's or
Economic Interest Owner's share of the Company's Net Profits, Net
Losses and distributions of the Company's assets pursuant to this
Operating Agreement and the Act, but
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shall not include any right to participate in the management or
affairs of the Company.
(j) "Economic Interest Owner" shall mean the owner of
an Economic Interest who is not a Member.
(k) "Initial Members" shall mean Richard Postma and
Ronald VanderPol.
(l) "Member" shall mean each of the Initial Members
and each of the parties who may be admitted as a Member after the
effective date of this Operating Agreement.
(m) "Membership Interest" shall mean a Member's
rights in the Company, including, but not limited to, the right to
receive distributions of the Company's assets and any right to vote or
participate in management.
(n) "Net Profits" and "Net Losses" shall mean the
income, gain, loss, deductions and credits of the Company in the
aggregate or separately stated, as appropriate, determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied.
(o) "Operating Agreement" shall mean this Operating
Agreement as originally executed and as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
FORMATION OF COMPANY
Section 2.1 Formation of Company. The Initial Members
acknowledge that the Company was formed by filing the Articles.
Section 2.2 Effective Date of Operating Agreement. This
Operating Agreement shall be effective as of the date on which the last Initial
Member signs this Operating Agreement.
Section 2.3 Name. The name of the Company is US Xchange,
L.L.C.
Section 2.4 Principal Place of Business. The principal place
of business of the Company within the State of Michigan shall be 250 Monroe,
N.W., Suite 800, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Company may locate its places of
business and registered office at any other place or places as the Members may
from time to time determine.
Section 2.5 Registered Office and Resident Agent. The
Company's initial registered office and resident agent shall be as designated in
the Articles. The registered office
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and resident agent may be changed from time to time by filing the change with
the Department of Consumer and Industry Services, Corporation, Securities and
Land Development Bureau.
Section 2.6 Maximum Duration. The maximum duration of the
Company shall be until December 31, 2030, unless the Company is earlier
dissolved in accordance with either the provisions of this Operating Agreement
or the Act.
Section 2.7 Purposes. The purposes of the Company are to
engage in any activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under
the Act. The Company shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to effect
any purpose for which it is formed, including all powers granted by the Act.
ARTICLE III
BOOKS, RECORDS AND ACCOUNTING
Section 3.1 Records. The Company shall maintain records of the
Company's business as required by the Act or deemed appropriate by the Members.
As required by the Act, the Company shall keep at its registered office all of
the following:
(a) A current list of the full name and last known
address of each Member.
(b) A copy of the Articles.
(c) Copies of the Company's federal, state, and local
tax returns and reports, if any, for the three (3) most recent years.
(d) Copies of any financial statements of the Company
for the three (3) most recent years.
(e) Copies of this Operating Agreement and any
amendments.
(f) Copies of records that would enable a Member to
determine each Member's relative shares of the Company's distributions
and their relative voting rights.
Upon reasonable written request and during ordinary business
hours, a Member (or designated representative) may inspect and copy, at the
Member's expense, any of the above records.
Section 3.2 Fiscal Year; Accounting. The Company's fiscal year
shall be the calendar year. The particular accounting methods and principles to
be followed by the Company shall be selected by the Members from time to time.
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Section 3.3 Reports. The Members shall receive reports
concerning the financial condition of the Company and their Capital Accounts in
the time, manner and form as they determine. These reports shall be provided at
least annually as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar year and
shall include a statement of each Member's share of profits and other items of
income, gain, loss, deduction and credit.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.1 Initial Capital Contributions. The Initial Members
agree to make the Capital Contributions set forth in the attached Exhibit A
within sixty (60) days after the effective date of this Operating Agreement. No
interest shall accrue on any Capital Contribution and no Member shall have any
right to be repaid any Capital Contribution except as provided in this Operating
Agreement.
Section 4.2 Additional Capital Contributions. Additional
Capital Contributions may be required in amounts and on terms agreed to by all
Members.
Section 4.3 Failure to Contribute. If any Member fails to make
a Capital Contribution when required, the Company or the non-defaulting Members
may, in addition to the other rights and remedies they may have under the Act or
applicable law, take whatever enforcement action against that Member that the
non-defaulting Members consider appropriate. Each of the non-defaulting Members
may elect to contribute a portion of the amount of that required capital. The
contributions by the electing Members shall be made pro rata according to the
Capital Accounts of those electing Members. The additional contributions shall
be treated by each contributing Member as either of the following:
(a) As a demand loan from the contributing Member to
the Company which shall bear interest at the rate of two percent (2%)
over the rate published from time to time by The Wall Street Journal as
the "prime" rate of interest in effect on the date of contribution. All
such loans shall be repaid in full, together with accrued interest (if
demand has not already been made), from the first available funds of
the Company and prior to the distribution of any income to Members; or
(b) As an additional Capital Contribution in which
event the Membership Interests of all Members shall be redetermined and
adjusted in proportion to the total Capital Contributions made by all
Members. Any such adjustment shall be effective as of the date of the
contribution of the contributing Member.
Each defaulting Member jointly and severally guarantees
repayment and grants to each Member who makes a contribution in the form of a
demand loan, a security interest in the
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defaulting Member's Membership Interest and agrees to execute whatever documents
are necessary to perfect that security interest.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1 No Liability to Third Parties. Unless otherwise
provided by law, a Member shall not be liable for acts, debts, or obligations of
the Company.
Section 5.2 No Liability to Company. A Member shall not have
any monetary liability to the Company or any of its Members for breach of any
duty under Section 404 of the Act (relating to Member duties and liabilities in
managing the Company) except for liability for any of the following:
(a) The receipt of a financial benefit to which the
Member is not entitled.
(b) Liability under Section 308 of the Act for voting
for or assenting to a distribution in violation of this Operating
Agreement or the Act.
(c) A knowing violation of the law.
(d) A breach of the duty of loyalty.
Section 5.3 Indemnification.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the
Company shall indemnify any Member and may indemnify any employee or
other agent of the Company who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative,
and whether formal or informal, other than an action by or in the right
of the Company, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a
Member, employee or agent of the Company, against expenses, including
attorney fees, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if the person acted in
good faith, with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like
position would exercise under similar circumstances, and in a manner
that the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
Company and, with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, if such
person had no reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct was
unlawful.
(b) To the extent that a Member of the Company has
been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of an action,
suit or proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or other matter in
the action, suit or proceeding, the
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Member shall be indemnified and held harmless from and against actual
and reasonable expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred by such
person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding and any
action, suit or proceeding brought to enforce the mandatory
indemnification provided herein.
(c) Any indemnification permitted under this Article,
unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the Company only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that the
indemnification is proper under the circumstances because the person to
be indemnified has met the applicable standard of conduct and upon an
evaluation of the reasonableness of expenses and amounts paid in
settlement. This determination and evaluation shall be made by a
majority vote of the Members who are not parties or threatened to be
made parties to the action, suit or proceeding.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, no
indemnification shall be provided to any Member, employee or agent of
the Company in connection with the receipt of a financial benefit to
which the person is not entitled, voting for or assenting to a
distribution to Members in violation of this Operating Agreement or the
Act, or a knowing violation of law.
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Member's Accounts. Separate Capital Accounts for
each Member shall be maintained by the Company. Each Member's Capital Account
shall reflect the Member's Capital Contributions and increases for the Member's
share of any net income or gain of the Company. Each Member's Capital Account
shall also reflect decreases for distributions made to the Member and the
Member's share of any losses and deductions of the Company.
Section 6.2 Allocations. Except as may be required by the Code
or this Operating Agreement, Net Profits, Net Losses, and other items of income,
gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company shall be allocated among the
Members in accordance with their Capital Accounts.
Section 6.3 Distributions. Distributions may be made to
Members only after the holders of a majority in interest of the Capital
Interests in the Company reasonably determine that the Company has sufficient
cash on hand which exceeds the current and anticipated needs of the Company to
fulfill its business purposes (including, needs for operating expenses, debt
service, acquisitions, reserves and mandatory distributions, if any). All
distributions shall be made to the Members in accordance with their Capital
Accounts. Distributions shall be in cash or property or partially in both, as
determined by the Members. No distribution shall be made if, after giving it
effect, the Company would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the
usual course of business or the Company's total assets would be less than the
sum of its total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed, if the
Company were to be dissolved at the time
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of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights of other Members upon
dissolution that are superior to the rights of the Members receiving the
distribution.
Section 6.4 Profit and Loss. The Net Profits and Net Losses of
the Company shall be allocated among the Members in the same proportions as
their Capital Accounts.
Section 6.5 Income Accounts. A separate income account shall
be maintained for each Member. The Net Profit or Net Loss of the Company shall
be determined as of the last day of each fiscal year. The income account of each
Member shall be credited or debited, as the case may be, with that Member's
share of the Net Profit or Net Loss. If a Member's income account has no credit
balance, losses shall be charged to that Member's Capital Account. No interest
shall be paid on any income account.
Section 6.6 Salaries. Salaries may be set for any or all of
the Members. The amount of the salaries shall be determined by the holders of a
majority in interest of the Capital Interests in the Company.
ARTICLE VII
DISPOSITION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 7.1 Restrictions on Transfers. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Operating Agreement, a Member shall not have the
right to sell, assign, pledge, create a security interest in, exchange or
otherwise transfer, with or without consideration, all or any part of its
Membership Interest without the prior written consent of all Members.
Section 7.2 Assignee Rights. An assignment, if permitted under
this Operating Agreement, entitles the assignee to an Economic Interest only,
and to receive, to the extent assigned, the distributions to which the assignor
would be entitled. In the absence of unanimous consent, an assignee is not
entitled to participate in the management and affairs of the Company or to
exercise any other rights of a Member. An assignee of a Membership Interest may
be admitted as a Member only as permitted under Article VIII.
Section 7.3 Withdrawal; No Right to Receive Fair Value. A
Member may withdraw from the Company by giving at least one hundred fifty (150)
days advance written notice to the Company and the other Members. The
withdrawing Member shall have no right to receive a distribution of the fair
value of that Member's Interest except as specifically provided otherwise under
this Operating Agreement.
Section 7.4 Options to Purchase Upon Withdrawal. If a Member
withdraws, the Company shall have a first option to purchase all, part or none
of the withdrawing Member's Membership Interest. This option may be exercised
only by delivering written notice of exercise to the withdrawing Member within
thirty (30) days after receiving notice of the final determination of the value
of the interest as set forth below. If the Company does not exercise its option,
the remaining Members shall have an option to purchase the withdrawing Member's
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Membership Interest. Those remaining Members exercising their option to purchase
the withdrawing Member's Membership Interest shall do so on a pro rata basis
based upon their respective Capital Interests (disregarding the withdrawing
Member's Capital Interest). These options must be exercised by delivering
written notice of exercise to the withdrawing Member within thirty (30) days
after the expiration of the Company's option to purchase. Any purchase under
this Section shall be at the price and terms set forth below.
Section 7.5 Options to Purchase Upon Death. If a Member dies,
the Company shall have a first option to purchase the deceased Member's
Membership Interest. This option must be exercised by delivering written notice
of exercise to the deceased Member's personal representative within thirty (30)
days after the final determination of the purchase price as set forth below. If
the Company does not exercise its option, the surviving Members shall each have
an option to purchase the deceased Member's Membership Interest. Those other
Members exercising their option to purchase the deceased Member's Membership
Interest shall do so on a pro rata basis based upon their respective Capital
Interests (disregarding the deceased Member's Capital Interest). These options
must be exercised by delivering written notice of exercise to the deceased
Member's personal representative within thirty (30) days after the expiration of
the Company's option to purchase. Any purchase under this Section shall be at
the price and terms set forth below.
Section 7.6 Estate's Right to Require Purchase Upon Death. If
a Member dies, the deceased Member's personal representative has the option to
require the Company to purchase the deceased Member's entire Membership
Interest. This option must be exercised by delivering written notice of exercise
to the Company within thirty (30) days after the final determination of the
purchase price set forth below. If the option is exercised, the surviving
Members shall be jointly and severally obligated to purchase the deceased
Member's Membership Interest to the extent that the Company is prohibited from
making a distribution to pay for the deceased Member's Membership Interest under
Section 307(1) of the Act. Any purchase under this Section shall be at the price
and terms set forth below.
Section 7.7 Valuation of Assets. Within thirty (30) days after
(a) receipt of the written notice of a Member's withdrawal, or (b) the death of
a Member, the remaining Members shall use their best efforts to reach an
agreement with the withdrawing or deceased Member's personal representative on
the value of the Company's assets. If no agreement is made within that time, the
Company shall determine the value of the assets of the Company in the following
manner within sixty (60) days after expiration of the time to reach agreement on
the value of the assets:
(a) The fair market value of any real estate owned by
the Company shall be determined by an independent appraisal made by a
licensed real estate appraiser selected jointly by the Company and the
withdrawing Member, or the deceased Member's personal representative,
whichever is applicable. If the parties are unable to agree upon the
selection of an appraiser within ten (10) days after the expiration of
the time to agree on the value of the assets, each party shall select
an independent appraiser and the fair market value shall be the average
of the parties' appraisals. This determination shall be final and
binding on all parties.
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(b) The fair market value of any items of tangible
personal property owned by the Company shall be determined by an
independent appraisal made by an appraiser selected jointly by the
Company and the withdrawing Member, or the deceased Member's personal
representative, whichever is applicable. If the parties are unable to
agree upon the selection of an appraiser within ten (10) days after the
expiration of the time to agree on the value of the assets, each party
shall select an independent appraiser and the fair market value shall
be the average of the parties' appraisals. This determination shall be
final and binding on all parties.
(c) All remaining assets shall be valued at book
value, using generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied. The determination shall be made by the independent accountant
customarily used by the Company or otherwise retained for this purpose.
This determination shall be final and binding on all parties.
(d) The valuation shall be made as of the last day of
the month preceding the death of the deceased Member or preceding the
notice of withdrawal described above, whichever is applicable.
Section 7.8 Purchase Price. The purchase price of a Member's
Membership Interest purchased in the case of withdrawal or death shall be the
Member's share, determined in accordance with that Member's Capital Interest, of
the "net assets" of the Company. The "net assets" shall be the total value of
the Company assets, as determined above, reduced by the amount of Company
liabilities as determined using generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied. No allowance shall be made for contingent liabilities,
except as otherwise provided under generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied. If the parties are unable to agree upon the determination
of the amount of Company liabilities within ten (10) days after the expiration
of the time to agree on the value of the assets, the determination shall be made
by the independent accountant customarily used by the Company or otherwise
retained for this purpose. This determination shall be made within sixty (60)
days after the expiration of the time to agree on the Company liabilities and
shall be final and binding on all parties. Notice of the determination shall be
given by the Company to all Members and any withdrawing Member or deceased
Member's personal representative promptly upon receipt of the determination from
the accountant. For purposes of determining the purchase price in the event of
the death of a Member, the "net assets" shall not include any life insurance
proceeds paid or payable to the Company as a result of the Member's death.
Section 7.9 Terms of Payment. The purchase price for a
Member's Membership Interest shall be paid as follows:
(a) A down payment of ten percent (10%) of the
purchase price shall be paid at closing. In the event of a purchase of
a deceased Member's Membership Interest, the down payment shall be not
less than one hundred
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percent (100%) of any net life insurance proceeds received by the
purchaser before the date of closing.
(b) The remaining balance of the purchase price shall
be paid over five (5) years in sixty (60) equal consecutive monthly
installments, including interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of
two percent (2%) over the rate published by The Wall Street Journal as
the "prime" rate of interest in effect on the date of closing. The
first installment shall be due on the first day of the second (2nd)
month after the month in which the down payment is made.
(c) The obligation on the remaining balance shall be
evidenced by a promissory note that shall permit prepayment without
penalty in whole or in part at any time.
(d) If, after closing, any purchaser receives life
insurance proceeds on any policy insuring the life of the deceased
Member whose Membership Interest is being sold, the purchaser shall pay
to the seller one hundred percent (100%) of any net life insurance
proceeds received as a mandatory prepayment of principal within thirty
(30) days after receiving the proceeds.
Section 7.10 Insurance Proceeds. If the Company is the
beneficiary of insurance proceeds on the life of a deceased Member, those
proceeds shall be applied toward payment of the purchase price to the extent
determined above. Any proceeds remaining shall be Company property.
Section 7.11 Closing. The closing shall occur not later than
thirty (30) days after the purchase price is determined and the time for
exercising any options has expired.
Section 7.12 Seller's Participation in Profits and Losses. The
interest of the withdrawing or deceased Member in the profits and losses of the
Company shall continue until the date of closing of the sale of that Member's
Membership Interest.
Section 7.13 Membership Interest Held by Grantor Trust. For
the purposes of this Operating Agreement, if a Membership Interest is held by a
grantor trust, the grantor of the trust shall be deemed to be the Member for
purposes of any Section referring to the death of a Member and any notices
required by this Operating Agreement shall be sent after the death of the
grantor to the trustee(s) of the grantor trust.
ARTICLE VIII
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
Any person or entity may be admitted as an additional Member
in the Company only with the unanimous consent of the then-current Members and
upon compliance with conditions imposed, if any, by unanimous consent of the
then-current Members. Admission may
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occur either by the issuance by the Company of additional Membership Interests
for consideration as the Members shall unanimously determine, or as a transferee
of a Member's Membership Interest or any portion thereof, subject to the terms
and conditions of this Operating Agreement. No new Members shall be entitled to
any retroactive allocation of losses, income or expense deductions incurred by
the Company.
ARTICLE IX
MANAGEMENT
Section 9.1 Management by Members. The business of the Company
shall be managed by the Members.
Section 9.2 Company Decision; Voting. In managing the business
of the Company and exercising its powers, the Members shall act collectively
through meetings or written consents as described in this Operating Agreement.
Members shall vote in proportion to their relative Capital Accounts. Decisions
of the Members shall be made by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority in interest of the Capital Interests in the Company except as
specifically provided otherwise in this Operating Agreement, the Articles, or by
applicable law.
Section 9.3 Delegation of Authority. The Members may, from
time to time, delegate to one or more Members specific authority to carry out
the decisions of the Members, as the Members may deem advisable. In addition,
the Members may assign titles (including, without limitation, president, vice
president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer) to
any Member with such authority the Members may designate. Any delegation under
this Section may be revoked at any time by the Members. Any delegation to a
Member under this Section shall be construed as a provision restricting or
enlarging the management rights and duties of a Member or group of Members under
Section 401 of the Act and shall not be effective to change the provision in
Section 401 that vests management of the Company in its Members.
Section 9.4 Authority of Members. Every Member is an agent of
the Company for the purpose of its business and the act of a Member, including
the execution in the name of the Company of any instrument, in apparently
carrying out the business of the Company in the usual way, binds the Company
unless the Member so acting does not have the authority to act for the Company
and the person with whom the Member is dealing has knowledge of the fact that
the Member has no such authority.
Section 9.5 Time Devoted to Company Business; Other Business
Interests of Members. Members shall not be required to devote their entire time
or attention to Company business, but only that time or attention necessary for
their proper management of the Company business. Each Member shall be allowed to
participate in any other activity, even though it competes with Company
business.
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ARTICLE X
MEETINGS AND CONSENTS OF MEMBERS
Section 10.1 Meetings. Annual meetings of Members shall be
held at the dates, times and places that the Members determine. Special meetings
of Members for any proper purpose may be called at any time by the holders of at
least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Capital Interests in the Company. Those
Members who call a special meeting shall give notice of the date, time, place
and purposes of the meeting to each Member. The notice shall be given not less
than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting. All
meetings of Members shall be run by the Member with the largest Capital Interest
in the Company or by such other person as the Members unanimously agree. Members
may attend each meeting in person or by written proxy. Proxy holders shall have
authority to vote only to the extent described in the written proxy.
Section 10.2 Conference Call Meetings. A Member may
participate in a meeting of Members by a conference telephone or similar
communications equipment through which all participants in the meeting may
communicate with the other participants. Participation in a meeting under this
Section constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
Section 10.3 Written Consent. Any action required or permitted
to be taken by the Members may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice,
and without a vote, if written consents describing the action are signed by all
of the Members.
ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
Section 11.1 Dissolution. The Company shall dissolve and its
affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events:
(a) upon the happening of any event specified in the
Articles or this Operating Agreement;
(b) by the unanimous consent of all of the Members;
or
(c) upon the death, withdrawal, bankruptcy, or
dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that
terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company, unless
within ninety (90) days after the termination of membership, the
remaining Members unanimously consent to continue the business of the
Company and to the admission of one or more Members as necessary.
Section 11.2 Winding Up. Upon dissolution, the Company shall
cease carrying on its business and
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affairs and shall commence the winding up of the Company's business and affairs
and complete the winding up as soon as practicable. Upon the winding up of the
Company, the assets of the Company shall be distributed first to creditors to
the extent permitted by law, in satisfaction of Company debts, liabilities and
obligations and then to Members and former Members first, in satisfaction of
liabilities for distributions and then, in accordance with their Capital
Interests. The proceeds shall be paid to the Members within ninety (90) days
after the date of winding up.
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 12.1 Entire Agreement and Amendment. This Operating
Agreement contains the entire agreement among the parties with respect to its
subject matter and may be amended only in writing signed by the holders of a
majority in interest of the Capital Interests in the Company.
Section 12.2 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any term in this Operating Agreement shall not affect any other term in this
Operating Agreement.
Section 12.3 Notices. Any notice permitted or required under
this Operating Agreement will be deemed to have been given when delivered in
person or two (2) business days after being deposited in the United States mail,
postage paid, addressed to the party at its address on file in the Company's
registered office.
Section 12.4 Binding Effect. This Operating Agreement will be
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns.
Section 12.5 Governing Law. This Operating Agreement shall be
governed in all respects by Michigan law.
Section 12.6 Investment Representations. The undersigned
Members understand (1) that the Membership Interests have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, the Michigan Securities Act or any other
applicable securities laws (the "Securities Acts"), (2) that the Company has
relied upon the fact that the Membership Interests are to be held by each Member
for investment, (3) that exemption from registrations under the Securities Acts
would not be available if the Membership Interests were acquired by a Member
with a view to distribution, and (4) that the Company is under no obligation to
register the Membership Interests or to assist any Member in complying with any
exemption from registration under the Securities Acts if the Member should wish
to dispose of a Membership Interest.
Each Member agrees not to transfer, sell or offer for sale any
portion of a Membership Interest unless there is an effective registration or
other qualification under the Securities Acts or unless the holder of the
Membership Interest delivers to the Company an
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opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that registration or other
qualification is not required.
Each Member warrants and represents to the Company that (a)
the Member is acquiring a Membership Interest for the Member's own account, for
investment and not with a view to resale or distribution; (b) before acquiring a
Membership Interest, each Member has made an investigation of the Company and
its business and has had made available to the Member all information on the
Company that the Member deemed necessary to make an informed decision to acquire
the Membership Interest; and (c) each Member considers himself or herself to be
a person possessing sufficient experience and sophistication as an investor to
evaluate the merits and risks of the Member's investment in the Membership
Interest.
Section 12.7 Review by Legal Counsel. Each Member acknowledges
that this Operating Agreement and the Articles were prepared by legal counsel
for the Company; that conflicts may exist or arise between the individual
interests of the Members and that legal counsel for the Company is prohibited
from representing parties where a legal conflict exists; and that each Member is
advised to seek (and has had an adequate opportunity to seek) advice from
independent legal counsel with respect to investment in the Company and
execution of this Operating Agreement.
Dated: August 1, 1996 /s/ Richard Postma
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Richard Postma
Dated: August 1, 1996 /s/ Ronald VanderPol
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Ronald VanderPol
Attachments: Exhibit A
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EXHIBIT A
Member Initial Capital Contribution (to be made within the Capital
time described in Section 4.1) Interest
Richard Postma $ 1.00 1%
Ronald VanderPol $ 99.00 99%
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TOTAL $100.00 100%