EX-99.(K)(9) AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF TRIANGLE MEZZANINE FUND LLLP
Published on February 13, 2007
EXHIBIT (K)(9)
THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER ANY FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS
AND CANNOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED UNLESS THEY ARE
REGISTERED THEREUNDER OR EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE, AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THIS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ARE SATISFIED.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF
TRIANGLE MEZZANINE FUND LLLP
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF
TRIANGLE MEZZANINE FUND LLLP
Dated
as of February ___, 2007
TRIANGLE MEZZANINE FUND LLLP
Table of Contents
Page | ||||
ARTICLE 1. |
2 | |||
General Provisions |
2 | |||
Section 1.01 Definitions |
2 | |||
Section 1.02 LLLP Registration; Name |
9 | |||
Section 1.03 Principal Office; Registered Office; and Qualification |
10 | |||
Section 1.04 Commencement and Duration |
10 | |||
Section 1.05 Admission of Partners |
10 | |||
Section 1.06 Representations of Partners |
11 | |||
Section 1.07 Notices With Respect to Representations by Limited Partners |
12 | |||
Section 1.08 Liability of Partners |
13 | |||
Section 1.09 Repayment of Capital Contributions of Partners |
13 | |||
Section 1.10 No Priorities of Limited Partners |
13 | |||
ARTICLE 2 |
13 | |||
Purpose and Powers |
13 | |||
Section 2.01 Purpose and Powers |
13 | |||
Section 2.02 Restrictions on Powers |
14 | |||
Section 2.03 ERISA Limitation |
14 | |||
ARTICLE 3 |
15 | |||
Management |
15 | |||
Section 3.01 Authority of General Partner |
15 | |||
Section 3.02 Authority of the Limited Partners |
16 | |||
Section 3.03 The Investment Adviser/Manager |
16 | |||
Section 3.04 Restrictions on Other Activities of the General Partner and its Affiliates |
17 | |||
Section 3.05 Management Compensation |
17 | |||
Section 3.06 Payment of Management Compensation |
18 | |||
Section 3.07 Partnership Expenses |
18 | |||
Section 3.08 Valuation of Assets |
19 | |||
Section 3.09 Standard of Care |
20 | |||
Section 3.10 Indemnification |
20 | |||
Section 3.11 [reserved] |
22 | |||
Section 3.12 Media Company Provisions |
22 | |||
ARTICLE 4 |
23 | |||
Small Business Investment Company Matters |
23 | |||
Section 4.01 SBIC Act |
23 | |||
Section 4.02 Consent or Approval of, and Notice to, SBA |
23 | |||
Section 4.03 Provisions Required by the SBIC Act for Issuers of Debentures |
24 | |||
Section 4.04 Effective Date of Incorporated SBIC Act Provisions |
24 | |||
Section 4.05 SBA as Third Party Beneficiary |
25 | |||
Section 4.06 Interest of the General Partner After Withdrawal |
25 |
i
ARTICLE 5 |
25 | |||
Partners Capital Contributions |
25 | |||
Section 5.01 Capital Contributions |
25 | |||
Section 5.02 [reserved] |
25 | |||
Section 5.03 [reserved] |
25 | |||
Section 5.04 Additional Limited Partners and Additional Capital Contributions |
25 | |||
Section 5.05 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.06 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.07 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.08 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.09 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.10 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.11 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.12 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.13 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.14 Withholding and Application of a Partners Distributions |
26 | |||
Section 5.15 [reserved] |
26 | |||
Section 5.16 [reserved] |
26 | |||
ARTICLE 6 |
27 | |||
Adjustment of Capital Accounts |
27 | |||
Section 6.01 Establishment of Capital Accounts |
27 | |||
Section 6.02 General Allocations |
27 | |||
Section 6.03 Special Allocations |
28 | |||
Section 6.04 Other Allocation Rules |
30 | |||
Section 6.05 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c) |
30 | |||
Section 6.06 Tax Matters |
31 | |||
ARTICLE 7 |
31 | |||
Distributions |
31 | |||
Section 7.01 Distributions to Partners |
31 | |||
Section 7.02 Distributions of Noncash Assets in Kind |
32 | |||
Section 7.03 Payments on Behalf of Partners |
32 | |||
Section 7.04 Distributions Violative of the Act Prohibited |
32 | |||
Section 7.05 Distributions in Respect of Interests Transferred |
32 | |||
ARTICLE 8 |
33 | |||
Dissolution, Liquidation, Winding Up and Withdrawal; Merger and Conversion |
33 | |||
Section 8.01 Dissolution |
33 | |||
Section 8.02 Winding Up |
33 | |||
Section 8.03 Removal and Withdrawal of the General Partner |
34 | |||
Section 8.04 Continuation of the Partnership After the Withdrawal of the General Partner |
35 | |||
Section 8.05 Withdrawals of Capital |
35 | |||
Section 8.06 [reserved] |
36 | |||
Section 8.07 [reserved] |
36 | |||
Section 8.08 [reserved] |
36 | |||
Section 8.09 [reserved] |
36 | |||
Section 8.10 [reserved] |
36 | |||
Section 8.11 [reserved] |
36 | |||
Section 8.12 [reserved] |
36 | |||
Section 8.13 Conversion of General Partners Interest |
36 | |||
Section 8.14 Conversion and Merger |
36 |
ii
ARTICLE 9 |
37 | |||
Accounts, Reports and Auditors |
37 | |||
Section 9.01 Books of Account |
37 | |||
Section 9.02 Audit and Reports |
37 | |||
Section 9.03 Fiscal Year |
38 | |||
Section 9.04 Banking and Portfolio Securities |
38 | |||
ARTICLE 10 |
38 | |||
Miscellaneous |
38 | |||
Section 10.01 Assignability |
38 | |||
Section 10.02 Binding Agreement |
40 | |||
Section 10.03 Gender |
41 | |||
Section 10.04 Notices |
41 | |||
Section 10.05 Consents and Approvals |
41 | |||
Section 10.06 Counterparts |
41 | |||
Section 10.07 Amendments |
42 | |||
Section 10.08 Limited Partner Consents |
42 | |||
Section 10.09 Power of Attorney |
42 | |||
Section 10.10 Applicable Law |
44 | |||
Section 10.11 Severability |
44 | |||
Section 10.12 Entire Agreement |
44 | |||
Section 10.13 Miscellaneous |
44 |
Schedule A Partners, Capital Contributions and Percentage Interest
Exhibit I Valuation Guidelines
iii
TRIANGLE MEZZANINE FUND LLLP
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP is dated and effective as of
_________, 2007, among New Triangle GP, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company
(the New General Partner) in its capacity as the sole general partner of the Partnership,
Triangle Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation, in its capacity as the sole limited partner
of the Partnership (TCC), and the individuals and entities whose names hereafter appear on
Schedule A as Limited Partners as amended from time to time (collectively, the Limited
Partners), and such other individuals and entities as shall become parties as hereinafter
provided.
WHEREAS, Triangle Mezzanine LLC, as the general partner of the Partnership (the Old General
Partner), and the limited partners of the Partnership named therein entered into that certain
Agreement of Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated as of January 3, 2003, as
amended (the Original Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Partnership, TCC, and TCC Merger Sub, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability
company (Merger Sub), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 2, 2006
(the Fund Merger Agreement), pursuant to which Merger Sub is merging with and into the
Partnership, with the Partnership being the surviving entity, and the partnership interests held by
the limited partners of the Partnership are being converted into shares of common stock of TCC; and
WHEREAS, the New General Partner, TCC and Old General Partner entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated as of November 2, 2006 (the GP Merger Agreement), pursuant to which the Old
General Partner is merging with and into the New General Partner, with the New General Partner
being the surviving entity, and the ownership interests held by the members of the Old General
Partner are being converted into shares of common stock of TCC; and
WHEREAS, upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Fund Merger Agreement and
the GP Merger Agreement, TCC will be the sole limited partner of the Partnership, and the New
General Partner will be the sole general partner of the Partnership; and
WHEREAS, immediately following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Fund Merger
Agreement and GP Merger Agreement, the New General Partner and TCC desire to amend and restate the
Original Agreement in its entirety by entering into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, in consideration of their mutual agreements stated in this
Agreement, agree to become partners and to form a limited partnership under the Act.
ARTICLE 1.
General Provisions
Section 1.01 Definitions.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
Act means the North Carolina Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
Additional Limited Partners has the meaning stated in Section 5.04.
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall mean with respect to any Partner, the deficit
balance, if any, in such Partners Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year, after
giving effect to the following adjustments:
(i) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts which such Partner is obligated to
restore or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of
Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(i) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and
(ii) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulations Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), and
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).
The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the
provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
Affiliate has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
Affiliated Venture Capital Fund means any entity commonly referred to as a venture capital
or private equity fund managed or controlled by the General Partner to the extent that management
or control is not contrary to the SBIC Act, or in which any Principal participates as a general
partner or as a general partner, officer, director, manager, or employee of a general partner or
investment manager of any such venture capital or private equity fund. TCC is an Affiliated
Venture Fund.
Agreement means this agreement of limited partnership, as amended from time to time.
References to this Agreement will be deemed to include all provisions incorporated in this
Agreement by reference.
Assets means common and preferred stock (including warrants, rights and other options
relating to such stock), notes, bonds, debentures, trust receipts and other obligations,
instruments or evidences of indebtedness, and other properties or interests commonly regarded as
securities, and in addition, interests in real property, whether improved or unimproved, and
interests in personal property of all kinds (tangible or intangible), choses in action, and cash,
bank deposits and so-called money market instruments.
2
Assets Under Management means, as of any specified date, the value of all Assets owned by
the Partnership (the value to be determined as provided in this Agreement) less the amount of any
liabilities of the Partnership, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied.
Associate has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
Assumed Leverage means an amount equal to the maximum amount of Leverage that an SBIC is
eligible to obtain, but not exceeding two (2) times the amount of Unreduced Regulatory Capital.
Capital Account shall mean with respect to any Partner, the Capital Account maintained in
accordance with the following provisions:
(i) To each Partners Capital Account there shall be credited such Partners Capital
Contributions, such Partners distributive share of Profits and any items in the nature of
income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 6.02(b) or 6.03, and the
amount of any Partnership liabilities assumed by such Partner or which are secured by any
Partnership Assets distributed to such Partner.
(ii) To each Partners Capital Account there shall be debited the amount of cash and
the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership Assets distributed to such Partner pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement, such Partners distributive share of Losses and any items in
the nature of expenses or losses which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 6.02(b)
or 6.03, and the amount of any liabilities of such Partner assumed by the Partnership or
which are secured by any property contributed by such Partner to the Partnership.
(iii) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii)
above, there shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable
provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations.
The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Sections
1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such
Treasury Regulations. The General Partner shall (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or
appropriate to maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Partners and the amount of
Partnership capital reflected on the Partnerships balance sheet, as computed for book purposes in
accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), and (ii) make any
appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement
not to comply with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) or 1.704-2.
Capital Contribution in respect of any Partner means the amount of cash and the Gross Asset
Value of any other property contributed by such Partner, as such, to the capital of the
Partnership.
3
Certificate of Limited Partnership means the certificate of limited partnership with respect
to the Partnership filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as in effect from time to time.
Combined Capital has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
Commencement Date means February 14, 2003.
Control Person has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
Debentures has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
Depreciation shall mean for each Fiscal Year an amount equal to the depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to any Noncash Asset for such
year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of a Noncash Asset differs from its
adjusted basis for Federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other period,
Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as
the Federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year
or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the adjusted
basis for Federal income tax purposes of a Noncash Asset at the beginning of such year or other
period is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value
using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.
Designated Party means any of the General Partner, any Investment Adviser/Manager, and any
partner, manager, stockholder, director, officer, employee, member of the Investment Committee of
the New General Partner or Affiliate of any of the foregoing.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the
regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof promulgated by the Department of Labor, as in
effect from time to time.
Fiscal Year shall mean the Partnerships taxable year for federal income tax purposes or, if
the context requires, any portion of such year for which the Partnership is required to allocate
Profits, Losses, and other items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Article
6.
General Partner means the general partner or general partners of the Partnership, as set
forth in this Agreement.
Gross Asset Value shall mean with respect to any Noncash Asset the Noncash Assets adjusted
basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(i) The initial Gross Asset Value of any Noncash Asset contributed by a Partner to the
Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such Noncash Asset, as
4
specified in this Agreement or (if not so specified) as determined by the General
Partner consistent with Section 3.08;
(ii) The Gross Asset Values of all Noncash Assets shall be adjusted to equal their
respective gross fair market values, as of the following times: (A) the issuance of a
partnership interest in the Partnership to any new or existing Partner other than pursuant
to clause (i) of the first sentence of Section 5.04, (B) the distribution by the Partnership
to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of Assets as consideration for an interest in
the Partnership, (C) the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), and (D) as provided in Section 8.13;
provided, however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) above shall be made only
if the General Partner determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to
reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership;
(iii) The Gross Asset Value of any Noncash Asset distributed to any Partner shall be
adjusted to equal the gross fair market value of such Noncash Asset on the date of
distribution; and
(iv) The Gross Asset Values of Noncash Assets shall be increased (or decreased) to
reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such Noncash Assets pursuant to Code
Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are
taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (vi) of the definition of Profit or Loss and Section
6.03(g); provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this
clause (iv) to the extent the General Partner determines that an adjustment pursuant to
clause (ii) above is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would
otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (iv).
For purposes of the foregoing, except as provided in clause (i) the gross fair market value of
a Noncash Asset shall be the value established at the then most recent valuation of the Noncash
Asset under this Agreement (or such other valuation date as is required under the SBIC Act). If
the Gross Asset Value of a Noncash Asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii), or (iv) above, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken
into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
Indemnifiable Costs means all costs, expenses, damages, claims, liabilities, fines and
judgments (including the reasonable cost of the defense, and any sums which may be paid with the
consent of the Partnership in settlement), incurred in connection with or arising from a claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, by or before any court or administrative or legislative
body or authority.
Investment Adviser/Manager has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act, and for the Partnership
shall initially be TCC.
5
Investment Advisers Act means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the
regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as in effect from time to time.
Investment Company Act means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as in effect from time to time.
Leverage has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
Limited Partners mean the limited partners of the Partnership, including but not limited to
any Limited Partners who are Affiliates of the General Partner and/or the Investment
Adviser/Manager, other than the initial limited partner who has withdrawn as of the date of this
Agreement.
Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners means Limited Partners whose Partnership
Percentage aggregates in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Partnership Percentage of all Limited
Partners.
Management Compensation means the amounts payable by the Partnership to TCC or the
Investment Adviser/Manager, as provided in Section 3.05.
Management Compensation Determination Time has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05(b).
Management Expenses has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).
Management Fee Base means the sum of Unreduced Regulatory Capital and Assumed SBA Leverage.
Management Fee Rate means:
(i) 2.5%, if the Management Fee Base is equal to or less than $60 million, or
(ii) if the Management Fee Base is greater than $60 million but less than $120 million, such
percentage that is equal to the difference between (A) 2.5%, and (B) 0.5% multiplied by (the
difference between the Management Fee Base and $60 million, divided by $60 million), or
(iii) 2.0%, if the Management Fee Base is greater or equal to $120 million.
Media Company means an entity that, directly or indirectly, owns controls or operates or has
an attributable interest in (a) a U.S. broadcast radio or television station or a U.S. cable
televisions system, (b) a daily newspaper, (as such term is defined in Section 73.3555 of the
rules and regulations of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)), (c) any U.S. communications
facility operated pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and subject to the provisions of Section
310(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or (d) any other business that is subject to
FCC regulations under which the ownership of the Partnership in such
6
entity may be attributed to a Limited Partner or under which the ownership of a Limited
Partner in another business may be subject to limitation or restriction as a result of the
ownership of the Partnership in such entity.
Noncash Asset means any Asset of the Partnership other than cash.
Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the meaning provided in, and shall be determined in
accordance with, Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2.
Nonrecourse Liability shall have the meaning provided in, and shall be determined in
accordance with, Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).
Organization Expenses means the fees, costs and expenses of and incidental to the formation
of the Partnership and the General Partner and the licensing of the Partnership as an SBIC.
Outstanding Leverage means the total amount of outstanding securities (including, but not
limited to, Debentures) issued by the Partnership, which qualify as Leverage and have not been
redeemed or repaid as provided in the SBIC Act.
Partner Nonrecourse Debt shall have the meaning provided in Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-2.
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall have the meaning provided in, and shall be
determined in accordance with, Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2.
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the meaning provided in, and shall be determined
in accordance with, Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2.
Partners means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
Partnership means the limited partnership established by this Agreement.
Partnership Minimum Gain shall have the meaning provided in, and shall be determined in
accordance with, Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2.
Partnership Percentage in respect of any Partner means that the percentage of the total
ownership interest in the Partnership held by such Partner based upon its Capital Contributions, as
set forth on Exhibit A as revised from time to time.
___percent (___%) in Interest of the Limited Partners means Limited Partners whose
Partnership Percentage represents such percentage of the Partnership Percentages of all Limited
Partners as of the time of determination.
Portfolio Companies means the issuers of Assets acquired by the Partnership, other than
issuers of certificates of deposits, shares or other participations in mutual funds or similar
money market type instruments, direct obligations of or obligations guaranteed as to principal and
interest by the United States and repurchase agreements with federally insured institutions
7
with respect to such obligations. Reference to a Portfolio Company is to any one of the
Portfolio Companies.
Portfolio Securities means the Assets of the Portfolio Companies acquired by the
Partnership. Reference to a Portfolio Security is to any one of the Portfolio Securities.
Principal means Tarlton H. Long, David F. Parker, Garland S. Tucker, III, Brent P. W.
Burgess and Steven C. Lilly so long as in each case that individual is an employee of the
Investment Adviser/Manager of the Partnership, and any other individual who the General Partner and
a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners designate as a Principal, so long as that individual
is an employee of the Investment Adviser/Manager.
Profit or Loss shall mean for each Fiscal Year an amount equal to the Partnerships
taxable income or loss for the Fiscal Year, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for
this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately
pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following
adjustments:
(i) Any income of the Partnership that is exempt from Federal income tax and not
otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition
shall be added to such taxable income or loss;
(ii) Any expenditures of the Partnership described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or
treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses
pursuant to this definition, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
(iii) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Noncash Asset is adjusted pursuant to
clauses (ii) or (iii) of the definition of Gross Asset Value the amount of such adjustment
shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such Noncash Asset for
purposes of computing Profits and Losses;
(iv) Gain or loss resulting from disposition of any Noncash Asset with respect to which
gain or loss is recognized for Federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to
the Gross Asset Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax
basis of such Noncash Asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;
(v) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken
into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account
Depreciation for such Fiscal Year computed in accordance with the definition thereof;
(vi) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Noncash Asset
pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required pursuant to Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a
Partners interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an
item of
8
gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the Noncash Asset) or loss (if the
adjustment decreases the basis of the Noncash Asset) from the disposition of the Noncash
Asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits and Losses; and
(vii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this definition, any items which are
allocated pursuant to Sections 6.02(b) or 6.03 shall not be taken into account in computing
Profits and Losses.
The amounts of the items of Partnership income, gain, loss, or deduction to be allocated
pursuant to Sections 6.02(b) or 6.03 shall be determined by applying rules analogous to clauses (i)
through (vi) above.
Regulatory Capital has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
Retained Earnings Available for Distribution has the meaning stated in the SBIC Act.
SBA means the United States Small Business Administration.
SBA Agreements has the meaning stated in Section 10.12.
SBIC means a small business investment company licensed under the SBIC Act.
SBIC Act means the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder and interpretations thereof promulgated by SBA, as in effect from time to
time.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations thereunder
and interpretations thereof promulgated by the SEC, as in effect from time to time.
Treasury Regulations shall mean the Income Tax Regulations (including Temporary Regulations)
promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
Unreduced Regulatory Capital means Regulatory Capital plus any Partnership distributions
which reduce Regulatory Capital previously made (i) under 13 C.F.R. §107.585, (ii) under 13 C.F.R.
§107.1570(b), or (iii) which SBA otherwise approves for inclusion in the Management Compensation
calculation.
Section 1.02 LLLP Registration; Name.
(a) The General Partner has caused the Partnership to register as a limited liability limited
partnership under the Act. The Partnership shall continue such registration as a limited liability
limited partnership for so long as the General Partner determines, provided that any change of such
registration requires SBA prior written approval.
(b) The name of the Partnership is Triangle Mezzanine Fund LLLP.
9
(c) Subject to the prior approval of SBA, the General Partner has the power at any time to:
(i) change the name of the Partnership; and
(ii) qualify the Partnership to do business under any name when the Partnerships name is
unavailable for use, or may not be used, in a particular jurisdiction.
(d) The General Partner will give prompt notice of any action taken under Section 1.02(c) to
each Partner and SBA.
Section 1.03 Principal Office; Registered Office; and Qualification.
(a) The principal office of the Partnership will be at 3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 104,
Raleigh, NC 27612, or such other place as may from time to time be designated by the General
Partner, subject to the approval of SBA.
(b) The registered office of the Partnership in the State of North Carolina will be located at
3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 104, Raleigh, North Carolina 27612. The name of the registered agent
for the Partnership will be Garland S. Tucker, III. The General Partner may from time to time
change the registered agent and registered office of the Partnership.
(c) The General Partner will qualify the Partnership to do business in each jurisdiction where
the activities of the Partnership make such qualification necessary.
(d) The General Partner will give prompt notice of any action taken under this Section to each
Partner and SBA.
Section 1.04 Commencement and Duration.
(a) The Partnership will commence upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in
the office of the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina.
(b) The Partnership will be dissolved and wound up at the time and in the manner provided for
in Article 8.
Section 1.05 Admission of Partners.
(a) No person may be admitted as a General Partner or a Limited Partner without subscribing
and delivering to the Partnership a counterpart of this Agreement, or other written instrument,
which sets forth:
(i) the name and address of the Partner,
(ii) the Capital Contribution of the Partner, and
(iii) the agreement of the Partner to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and such other
agreements and instruments as the General Partner requests.
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(b) Without the prior approval of SBA, no person may be admitted as:
(i) a General Partner, or
(ii) a Limited Partner with an ownership interest of ten percent (10%) or more of the
Partnerships capital.
(c) The General Partner will compile, and amend from time to time as necessary, Schedule
A attached to this Agreement, which will list:
(i) the name and address of the General Partner and each Limited Partner,
(ii) the Capital Contribution of the General Partner and each Limited Partner to the
Partnership, and
(iii) the Partnership Percentage of the General Partner and each Limited Partner in the
Partnership.
(d) The addition to the Partnership at any time of one or more Partners will not be a cause
for dissolution of the Partnership, and all the Partners will continue to be subject to the
provisions of this Agreement in all respects.
Section 1.06 Representations of Partners.
(a) General Partner. This Agreement is made with the General Partner in reliance upon
the General Partners representation to the Partnership, the Limited Partners and SBA, that:
(i) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
North Carolina, and is qualified to do business under the laws of each state where such
qualification is required to carry on the business of the Partnership;
(ii) it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to act as
General Partner under this Agreement;
(iii) this Agreement has been authorized by all necessary actions by it, has been duly
executed and delivered by it, and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable
according to its terms; and
(iv) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement will not conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default under, any
provision of any governing instrument applicable to it, or any agreement or other instrument to
which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties are bound, or any provision of law,
statute, rule or regulation, or any ruling, writ, order, injunction or decree of any court,
administrative agency or governmental body applicable to it.
(b) Limited Partners. This Agreement is made with each Limited Partner in reliance
upon each Limited Partners representation to the General Partner, the Partnership and SBA, that:
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(i) it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to act as a
Limited Partner under this Agreement; this Agreement has been authorized by all necessary actions
by it; this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it; and this Agreement is a legal,
valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable against it according to its terms;
(ii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement do not require the consent of any third party not previously obtained, and will not
conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default under, any provision of any governing
instrument applicable to it, or any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or by
which it or any of its properties are bound, or any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation,
or any ruling, writ, order, injunction or decree of any court, administrative agency or
governmental body applicable to it;
(iii) all representations made by it in any subscription agreement, investor qualification
questionnaire or other similar document relating to its purchase of Limited Partner interests are
true, complete and correct as of the date it became a party hereto; and if the Limited Partner is a
bank (as the term is used in the SBIC Act, at 15 U.S.C. § 682(b)), the total amount of such Limited
Partners investments in SBICs, including such Limited Partners interest in the Partnership, does
not exceed five percent (5%) of such Limited Partners capital and surplus;
(iv) unless otherwise disclosed to the Partnership in writing, the Partner is a citizen or
resident of the United States, an entity organized under the laws of the United States or a state
within the United States or an entity engaged in a trade or business within the United States; and
(v) unless otherwise disclosed to the Partnership in writing, the Partner is not subject to
Title I of ERISA.
(c) Tax Information. Each Partner who has disclosed to the Partnership in writing
that it is not a person described in Section 1.06(b)(iv), agrees to provide the Partnership with
any information or documentation necessary to permit the Partnership to fulfill any tax withholding
or other obligation relating to the Partner, including but not limited to any documentation
necessary to establish the Partners eligibility for benefits under any applicable tax treaty.
Section 1.07 Notices With Respect to Representations by Limited Partners.
(a) If any representation made by a Limited Partner in Section 1.06(b)(i), Section
1.06(b)(ii), or Section 1.06(b)(iii) ceases to be true, then the Limited Partner will promptly
provide the Partnership with a correct separate written representation as provided in each such
Section.
(b) The Partnership will give SBA prompt notice of any corrected representation received from
any Limited Partner under Section 1.07(a).
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Section 1.08 Liability of Partners.
(a) The General Partner does not have liability for the liabilities of the Partnership except
to the extent required by the Act and the SBIC Act. The General Partner will not:
(i) be obligated to restore by way of Capital Contribution or otherwise any deficits in the
respective Capital Accounts of the Partners should such deficits occur, or
(ii) have any greater obligation with respect to any Outstanding Leverage than is required by
the SBIC Act or by SBA.
(b) Except as otherwise provided under the Act and the SBIC Act, no Limited Partner will be
liable for any loss, liability or expense whatsoever of the Partnership.
(c) If a Limited Partner is required to return to the Partnership, for the benefit of
creditors of the Partnership, amounts previously distributed to the Limited Partner, the obligation
of the Limited Partner to return any such amount to the Partnership will be the obligation of the
Limited Partner and not the obligation of the General Partner. No Limited Partner will be liable
under this Agreement for the obligations under this Agreement of any other Partner.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement limits any liability of any Partner under any agreement between
the Partner and SBA.
Section 1.09 Repayment of Capital Contributions of Partners.
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no specific time has been agreed upon for the
repayment of the Capital Contributions of the Partners, and no Partner, or any
successor-in-interest, shall have a right to withdraw any capital contributed to the Partnership.
Section 1.10 No Priorities of Limited Partners.
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the SBIC Act, no Limited Partner shall have
the right to demand or receive property other than cash in return for its Capital Contribution, nor
shall any Limited Partner have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of its
Capital Contribution or as to profits, losses or distributions.
ARTICLE 2.
Purpose and Powers
Section 2.01 Purpose and Powers.
(a) The Partnership is being organized solely for the purpose of operating as a mezzanine
investment fund. The Partnership has received from the SBA a license to operate as an SBIC under
the SBIC Act. The Partnership shall (i) conduct only the activities described under Title III of
the SBIC Act, (ii) have the powers and responsibilities, and be subject to the limitations,
provided in the SBIC Act, and (iii) conduct all operations and take all actions in compliance with
the SBIC Act.
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(b) Subject to Section 2.01(a), the Partnership may make, manage, own and supervise
investments of every kind and character in conducting its business as a small business investment
company.
(c) Subject to the provisions of the SBIC Act, the Partnership has all powers necessary,
suitable or convenient for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Section 2.01(a) and
Section 2.01(b), alone or with others, as principal or agent, and can engage in any lawful act or
activity for which limited partnerships may be organized under the Act.
Section 2.02 Restrictions on Powers.
Notwithstanding any provision of Section 2.01(b) or Section 2.01(c), the Partnership will not:
(i) lend any Assets of the Partnership to or guarantee any obligations of the General Partner,
the Investment Adviser/Manager, or any director, officer, member, manager, partner, stockholder,
employee or Affiliate of the General Partner or the Investment Adviser/Manager (excluding any
Portfolio Company);
(ii) allow any Assets of the Partnership to become commingled with the assets of the General
Partner or the Investment Adviser/Manager, or any director, officer, member, manager, partner,
stockholder, employee or Affiliate of the General Partner or the Investment Adviser/Manager;
(iii) if the Partnership is an SBIC, invest at any time in Portfolio Securities if at the time
of such investment the aggregate cost of (A) the investments of the Partnership in a Portfolio
Company and its Affiliates plus (B) such additional investment would exceed: the greater of (x)
twenty percent (20%) of the Partnerships Regulatory Capital or (y) such other amount as the SBA
shall permit in order to protect the Partnerships investment;
(iv) if the Partnership is an SBIC, invest at any time in Portfolio Securities issued by any
company in which an SBIC is prohibited from investing by the SBIC Act;
(v) borrow, guarantee the obligations of others or otherwise incur indebtedness if any such
borrowings, guarantees or other indebtedness shall create Limited Partner liability, except as
otherwise set forth in the SBIC Act or in an agreement with SBA in connection with issuance of
Leverage; or
(vi) if the Partnership is an SBIC, have outstanding any debt in an amount in excess of the
maximum amount of debt permitted under the SBIC Act.
Section 2.03 ERISA Limitation.
At any time that a Limited Partner is subject to Title I of ERISA and 25% or more in interest
of all Limited Partners (as measured by their aggregate Capital Accounts) are benefit plan
investors (within the meaning of Department of Labor Regulation § 2510.3-101(f)(2), 51 Fed. Reg.
41,282 (November 13, 1986) or any amendment or successor regulation), the Partnership will use its
reasonable efforts to ensure that the Partnership qualifies as a venture
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capital operating company (within the meaning of Department of Labor Regulation §
2510.3-101(d), 51 Fed. Reg. 41,281 (November 13, 1986) or any amendment or successor regulation).
Subject to SBA approval if and to the extent required, the General Partner shall have the authority
to take any action it deems necessary in order to implement this Section 2.03. Such authority
shall include, but shall not be limited to, the authority to prevent any Limited Partner from
acquiring or disposing of interests in the Partnership so as to prevent the Assets of the
Partnership from being deemed to be assets of a benefit plan investor, whether by limiting equity
interests of benefit plan investors so that their participation is not significant within the
meaning of the regulations, or otherwise.
ARTICLE 3.
Management
Section 3.01 Authority of General Partner.
(a) The management and operation of the Partnership and the formulation of investment policy
is vested exclusively in the General Partner, whose sole purpose shall be to serve as the general
partner of the Partnership and who shall have the rights and powers which may be possessed by a
general partner under the Act, and such rights and powers as are otherwise conferred by law and are
necessary, advisable or convenient to the discharge of its duties under this Agreement and to the
management of the operations and affairs of the Partnership.
(b) The act of the General Partner in carrying on the business of the Partnership will bind
the Partnership.
(c) In the case of any General Partner other than a natural person, at any time that the
Partnership is licensed as an SBIC, the General Partner will not allow any person to serve as a
general partner, director, officer or manager of the General Partner, unless such person has been
approved by SBA.
(d) So long as the General Partner remains the general partner of the Partnership and so long
as the Partnership either (i) has an SBIC license application pending or (ii) is licensed as an
SBIC:
(i) the General Partner will comply with the requirements of the SBIC Act, including, without
limitation, 13 C.F.R. § 107.160(a) and (b), as in effect from time to time; and
(ii) in the case of any General Partner other than a natural person, except as set forth in
Section 3.01(d)(iii), it will devote all of its activities to the conduct of the business of the
Partnership and will not engage actively in any other business, unless its engagement is related to
and in furtherance of the affairs of the Partnership.
(iii) The General Partner may, however:
(A) subject to Section 3.04, act as the general partner or Investment Adviser/Manager for one
or more other SBICs, and
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(B) receive, hold, manage and sell Assets received by it from the Partnership (or other SBIC
for which it acts as general partner or Investment Adviser/Manager), or through the exercise or
exchange of Assets received by it from the Partnership (or other SBIC for which it acts as general
partner or Investment Adviser/Manager).
Section 3.02 Authority of the Limited Partners.
The Limited Partners shall take no part in the control or management of the business or
affairs of the Partnership, and the Limited Partners shall not have any authority to act for or on
behalf of the Partnership or to vote on any matter relative to the Partnership and its affairs
except as is specifically permitted by this Agreement. No Limited Partner that is subject to the
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, will have the right to vote on any matter for so long
as such right to vote, in the opinion of counsel to such Limited Partner, would be inconsistent
with the requirements of such act, or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. A Limited
Partner or an employee, agent, member, manager, partner, director or officer of a Limited Partner
also may be an employee, agent, member, manager, partner, director or officer of the Partnership,
the General Partner or the Investment Adviser/Manager. For purposes of the Act, the existence of
these relationships and acting in such capacities will not result in a Limited Partners being
deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Partnership or otherwise affect
the liability under the Act of the Limited Partner or the person so acting.
Section 3.03 The Investment Adviser/Manager.
(a) Subject to the SBIC Act, the General Partner may delegate any part of its authority to an
Investment Adviser/Manager, including but not limited to entering into an agreement on behalf of
the Partnership with an Investment Adviser/Manager for the provision of management services.
(b) Any agreement delegating any part of the authority of the General Partner to an Investment
Adviser/Manager will:
(i) be in writing, executed by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership and by the
Investment Adviser/Manager,
(ii) specify the authority so delegated, and
(iii) expressly require that such delegated authority will be exercised by the Investment
Adviser/Manager in conformity with the terms and conditions of such agreement, this Agreement and
the SBIC Act.
(c) Each agreement with an Investment Adviser/Manager, and any material amendment to any such
agreement, is subject to the prior approval of SBA.
(d) TCC is the initial Investment Adviser/Manager.
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Section 3.04 Restrictions on Other Activities of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) Except as provided in the SBIC Act and as otherwise specifically provided in this
Agreement, no provision of this Agreement will be construed to preclude any (i) Limited Partner,
(ii) Investment Adviser/Manager, or (iii) Affiliate, general partner, member, manager or
stockholder of any Partner or Investment Adviser/Manager, from engaging in any activity whatsoever
or from receiving compensation therefor or profit from any such activity. Such activities may
include, without limitation, (A) receiving compensation from issuers of securities for investment
banking services, (B) managing investments, (C) participating in investments, brokerage or
consulting arrangements or (D) acting as an adviser to or participant in any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business person.
(b) Except as provided in the SBIC Act, the General Partners Affiliates, each for its own
account or for others (other than any Affiliated Venture Capital Fund), may not purchase
participations of any amount in Portfolio Companies so long as the General Partner is the general
partner of the Partnership; provided, however, that, subject to the SBIC Act, the General Partners
Affiliates each may make purchases and sales for its own account of publicly-held securities in the
open market and may invest in or finance a Portfolio Company if the Partnership is securing or has
previously secured its desired investment position in that company and the General Partner
determines that such investment or financing would not materially and adversely affect the
Partnerships investment. Except as set forth in this Section 3.04, the General Partners
Affiliates each may, subject to the SBIC Act, make other investments of every type and nature for
itself or for the account of others without offering the Partnership a participation in such
investments and without the Partnership or any Partner becoming entitled by virtue of this
Agreement to any interest therein or to the profits or income derived therefrom. Subject to the
limitations contained herein, all the foregoing shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the
General Partner and without liability to the Partnership or the Limited Partners.
Section 3.05 Management Compensation.
(a) (i) As compensation (Management Compensation) for services rendered in the management of
the Partnership, during the term of the Partnership, beginning on the Commencement Date, the
Partnership will pay an annual management fee computed on a daily basis equal to the Management Fee
Rate multiplied by the Management Fee Base, except as provided in paragraph (ii).
(ii) If the Partnership does not meet the criteria for activity set forth in the SBIC Act
(13 CFR 107.590) for two consecutive fiscal quarters, beginning on the first day of the next fiscal
quarter, the Partnership shall pay an annual management fee equal to the Management Fee Rate
multiplied by the cost of loans and investments for all portfolio companies in which the
Partnership has not written off its investment and which are going concerns. Following any fiscal
quarter in which the Partnership meets the criteria for activity, the Partnership shall resume
paying Management Compensation in accordance with paragraph (a)(i).
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if the Management Compensation
is payable to an Investment Adviser/Manager, the Partnership will not pay any Management
Compensation to the Investor Adviser/Manager until such time that the SEC has
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granted exemptive relief with respect to the payment of such compensation or the Investment
Advisor/Manager otherwise determines that such compensation is permissible under the Investment
Company Act (the Management Compensation Determination Time). Prior to the Management
Compensation Determination Time, Management Compensation shall accrue, and such accrued Management
Compensation shall be payable in full by the Partnership to the Investment Advisor/Manager at the
Management Compensation Determination Time.
(c) The Management Compensation will be paid by the Partnership to TCC or, at TCCs direction,
in whole or in part to an Investment Adviser/Manager.
(d) As long as the Partnership remains an SBIC, it will not pay any Management Compensation
with respect to any fiscal year in excess of the amount of Management Compensation approved by SBA.
Section 3.06 Payment of Management Compensation.
(a) Management Compensation will be paid in advance on the first day of each fiscal quarter or
a portion thereof in cash. If the Management Compensation payable for a fiscal quarter or other
period calculated as provided in Section 3.05 is greater than the amount paid at the beginning of
that fiscal quarter or period, then the additional Management Compensation owed shall be paid at
the beginning of the next fiscal quarter. If the Management Compensation payable for a fiscal
quarter or other period calculated as provided in Section 3.05 is less than the amount paid at the
beginning of that fiscal quarter or period, then Management Compensation payable for the following
fiscal quarter or period shall be reduced by the amount of the overpayment or, if the Partnership
will be wound up and liquidated by the end of such fiscal quarter or other period, the overpayment
shall be repaid by the recipient to the Partnership.
(b) Within sixty (60) days after (i) the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, (ii) the
date of its dissolution and (iii) the date a person ceases to be Investment Adviser/Manager,
appropriate adjustment (by way of payment or refund) will be made so that the Management
Compensation paid with respect to the fiscal year then ended or the period from the end of the last
fiscal year to the date set forth in clause (ii) or (iii) of this Section 3.06(b) will be equal to
the management fee calculated on a daily basis under Section 3.05 for such period.
Section 3.07 Partnership Expenses.
(a) The entity entitled to receive Management Compensation will be responsible for the payment
of the following expenses (Management Expenses): the Partnerships normal operating expenses,
including compensation and fringe benefits of its officers and directors, services, rent, utilities
and other overhead charges; expenses for business development, travel and entertainment incurred in
connection with the affairs of the Partnership; insurance premiums and fees (excluding directors
and officers liability insurance); telephone, telegram, cablegram, telegraph, facsimile, Internet
and similar charges; postage expenses; dues, subscriptions, office supplies, equipment rental and
similar expenses; fees for bookkeeping and other similar services relating to the affairs of the
Partnership, the General Partner and the Investment Adviser/Manager, and other routine expenses
incurred in connection with their affairs. Management Expenses shall not include the expenses
borne by the Partnership and described in
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Section 3.07(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the entity entitled to receive Management
Compensation will not be responsible for the payment of Management Expenses until the Management
Compensation Determination Time. Prior to the Management Compensation Determination Time, the
Management Expenses will accrue, and such accrued Management Expenses will be offset against the
accrued Management Compensation payable to the Investment Adviser/Manager at the Management
Compensation Determination Time pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3.05(b).
(b) The Partnership will pay the following Partnership expenses: the accounting fees, costs
and expenses of the Partnership, including without limitation, the annual audit of the Partnership,
the preparation of the annual and any interim financial statements of the Partnership and the
Federal and state tax returns of the Partnership; examination fees payable to SBA; taxes payable by
the Partnership; Management Compensation; costs and expenses associated with meetings of the
Limited Partners of the Partnership, communications with Limited Partners and preparation of
Partnership status reports; costs and expenses associated with informal meetings of Limited
Partners with the General Partner and of committees of the Partnership; the legal fees, cost and
expenses of counsel for the Partnership in any legal action or proceeding, including threatened
action, proceeding or investigation, and the amount of any judgments or settlements paid in
connection with such action, proceeding or investigation; the legal and other fees, costs and
expenses of and incidental to the purchase and sale (including qualification and registration) of
Portfolio Securities to the extent that such fees, costs and expenses are not paid by Portfolio
Companies or others; all other legal fees, costs and expenses incident to the Partnership, its
formation, its management and activities; interest and other expenses relating to any Partnership
indebtedness; dues payable to trade associations including the National Association of Small
Business Investment Companies; bonding expenses; premiums for insurance protecting the Partnership,
Designated Parties, and other persons entitled to indemnification from the Partnership from
liabilities to third parties for activities on behalf of the Partnership; fees incurred by the
Partnership for special advisory or consulting services; securities filing fees; SBA commitment,
reservation, custodian and other fees; fees and expenses incurred in connection with reserving,
using or repaying SBA Leverage; and all extraordinary fees, costs and expenses.
(c) All Partnership expenses paid by the Partnership will be made against appropriate
supporting documentation. The payment by the Partnership of Partnership expenses will be due and
payable as billed.
Section 3.08 Valuation of Assets.
(a) The Partnership will adopt written guidelines for determining the value of its Assets.
Assets held by the Partnership will be valued by the General Partner in a manner consistent with
the Partnerships written guidelines and the SBIC Act. The Valuation Guidelines attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit I are the Partnerships written guidelines for valuation.
(b) To the extent that the SBIC Act requires any Asset held by the Partnership to be valued
other than as provided in this Agreement, the General Partner will value the Asset in such manner
as it determines to be consistent with the SBIC Act.
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(c) Assets held by the Partnership will be valued at least annually (or more often, as SBA may
require or as required by this Agreement or the Act), and will be valued at least semi-annually (or
more often, as SBA may require) at any time that the Partnership has Outstanding Leverage. Assets
distributed in kind will be valued as of the date distributed.
(d) In determining the value of the interest of any Partner in the Partnership, or in any
accounting among the Partners or any of them, no value shall be placed on the goodwill or name of
the Partnership. No tax reserves shall be set up for unrealized gains or profits unless the tax
obligations of the Partnership are established by law.
Section 3.09 Standard of Care.
(a) No Designated Party will be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any action taken
or omitted to be taken by it or any other Partner or other person in good faith and in a manner it
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was
unlawful.
(b) Neither any Limited Partner, nor any member of any Partnership committee or board who is
not an Affiliate of the General Partner, will be liable to the Partnership or any Partner as the
result of any decision made in good faith by the Limited Partner or member, in its capacity as
such.
(c) Any Designated Party, any Limited Partner and any member of a Partnership committee or
board, may consult with independent legal counsel selected by it and will be fully protected, and
will incur no liability to the Partnership or any Partner, in acting or refraining to act in good
faith in reliance upon the opinion or advice of such counsel.
(d) This Section does not constitute a modification, limitation or waiver of Section 314(b) of
the SBIC Act, or a waiver by SBA of any of its rights under Section 314(b).
(e) In addition to the standards of care stated in this Section, this Agreement may also
provide for additional (but not alternative) standards of care.
Section 3.10 Indemnification.
(a) The Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless, but only to the extent of Assets Under
Management (less any Outstanding Leverage not included as a liability in the computation of Assets
Under Management), any Designated Party, from any and all Indemnifiable Costs which may be incurred
by or asserted against such person or entity, by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken
on behalf of the Partnership and in furtherance of its interests.
(b) The Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless, but only to the extent of Assets Under
Management (less any Outstanding Leverage not included as a liability in the computation of Assets
Under Management), the Limited Partners, and members of any Partnership committee or board who are
not Affiliates of the General Partner or any Investment Adviser/Manager from any and all
Indemnifiable Costs which may be incurred by or asserted against such person or entity, by any
third party on account of any matter or transaction of the Partnership, which matter
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or transaction occurred during the time that such person has been a Limited Partner or member
of any Partnership committee or board.
(c) The Partnership has power, in the discretion of the General Partner, to agree to indemnify
on the same terms and conditions applicable to persons indemnified under Section 3.10(b), any
person who is or was serving, under a prior written request from the Partnership, as a consultant
to, agent for or representative of the Partnership as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent
of or consultant to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by the
person in any such capacity, or arising out of the persons status as such.
(d) No person may be entitled to claim any indemnity or reimbursement under Section 3.10(a),
(b) or (c) in respect of any Indemnifiable Cost that may be incurred by such person which results
from the failure of the person to act in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the
applicable standard of care stated in Section 3.09. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, will not, of itself, preclude a determination that such person acted in accordance with
the applicable standard of care stated in Section 3.09.
(e) To the extent that a person claiming indemnification under Section 3.10(a), (b) or (c) has
been successful on the merits in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section
3.10(a), (b) or (c) or in defense of any claim, issue or matter in any such action, suit or
proceeding, such person must be indemnified with respect to such matter as provided in such
Section. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence and as provided in Section 3.10(h) with
respect to advance payments, any indemnification under this Section will be paid only upon
determination that the person to be indemnified has met the applicable standard of conduct stated
in Section 3.09(a) or Section 3.09(b).
(f) A determination that a person to be indemnified under this Section has met the applicable
standard stated in Section 3.09(a) or Section 3.09(b) may be made by (i) the General Partner, with
respect to the indemnification of any person other than a person claiming indemnification under
Section 3.10(a), (ii) a committee of the Partnership whose members are not affiliated with the
General Partner or any Investment Adviser/Manager with respect to indemnification of any person
indemnified under Section 3.10(a) or (iii) at the election of the General Partner, independent
legal counsel selected by the General Partner, with respect to the indemnification of any person
indemnified under this Section, in a written opinion.
(g) In making any determination with respect to indemnification under Section 3.10(f), the
General Partner, a committee of the Partnership whose members are not affiliated with the General
Partner or any Investment Adviser/Manager, or independent legal counsel, as the case may be, is
authorized to make the determination on the basis of its evaluation of the records of the General
Partner, the Partnership or any Investment Adviser/Manager to the Partnership and of the statements
of the party seeking indemnification with respect to the matter in question and is not required to
perform any independent investigation in connection with any determination. Any party making any
such determination is authorized, however, in its sole discretion, to take such other actions
(including engaging counsel) as it deems advisable in making the determination.
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(h) Expenses incurred by any person in respect of any Indemnifiable Cost may be paid by the
Partnership before the final disposition of any such claim or action upon receipt of an undertaking
by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount unless it is ultimately determined as provided
in Section 3.10(e) or (f) that the person is entitled to be indemnified by the Partnership as
authorized in this Section.
(i) The rights provided by this Section will inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors,
administrators, successors, and assigns of each person eligible for indemnification under this
Agreement.
(j) The rights to indemnification provided in this Section are the exclusive rights of all
Partners to indemnification by the Partnership. No Partner may have any other rights to
indemnification from the Partnership or enter into, or make any claim under, any other agreement
with the Partnership (whether direct or indirect) providing for indemnification.
(k) The Partnership may not enter into any agreement with any person (including, without
limitation, any Investment Adviser/Manager, Partner or any person that is an employee, officer,
director, member, manager, partner or shareholder, or an Affiliate, Associate or Control Person of
any Partner) providing for indemnification of any such person (i) except as provided for under this
Section, and (ii) unless such agreement provides for a determination with respect to the
indemnification as provided under Section 3.10(f).
(l) The provisions of this Section do not apply to indemnification of any person that is not
at the expense (whether in whole or in part) of the Partnership.
(m) The Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf, or on behalf of any
person or entity, with respect to liabilities of the types described in this Section. The
Partnership may purchase such insurance regardless of whether the person is acting in a capacity
described in this Section or whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify the person
against such liability under the provisions of this Section.
Section 3.11 [reserved]
Section 3.12 Media Company Provisions.
In addition to any other restrictions applicable to Limited Partners set forth in this
Agreement and notwithstanding any other provisions thereof, for so long as the Partnership has an
investment in a Media Company, no Limited Partner (and no officer, director, partner or equivalent
non-corporate official of a Limited Partner that is not an individual) shall:
(i) act as an employee of the Partnership if his or her functions, directly or indirectly,
relate to the media business of the Partnership or any Media Company in which the Partnership has
an investment;
(ii) serve, in any material capacity, as an independent contractor or agent with respect to
the media business of the Partnership or any Media Company in which the Partnership has an
investment;
22
(iii) communicate on matters pertaining to the day-to-day media operations of the Partnership
or a Media Company with (i) an officer, director, partner, agent, representative or employee of
such Media Company, or (ii) the General Partner;
(iv) perform any services for the Partnership materially relating to the media activities of
the Partnership or any Media Company in which the Partnership has an investment, except that any
Limited Partner may make loans to, or act as a surety for, the Partnership or any such Media
Company;
(v) vote on the admission of any new General Partner to the Partnership unless such admission
is approved by the General Partner;
(vi) become actively involved in the management or operation of media businesses of the
Partnership; or
(vii) vote for the removal of the General Partner except where the General Partner is subject
to bankruptcy proceedings, is adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is
removed for any cause which is determined by an independent party to constitute malfeasance,
criminal conduct, or want or willful neglect, or other such extraordinary conduct with respect to
which a prudent investor would require the right to remove to General Partner.
Prior to the Partnership investing in a Media Company, the Partnership shall have received
advice from counsel to the effect that such investment in a Media Company does not appear to be
attributable to any Limited Partner under the attribution rules of the FCC or appear to cause any
Limited Partner or the Partnership to be in violation of the FCCs cross-ownership or
multiple-ownership rules.
ARTICLE 4.
Small Business Investment Company Matters
Section 4.01 SBIC Act.
The provisions of this Agreement must be interpreted to the fullest extent possible in a
manner consistent with the SBIC Act. If any provision of this Agreement conflicts with any
provision of the SBIC Act (including, without limitation, any conflict with respect to the rights
of SBA or the respective Partners under this Agreement), the provisions of the SBIC Act will
control.
Section 4.02 Consent or Approval of, and Notice to, SBA.
(a) The requirements of the prior consent or approval of, and notice to, SBA in this Agreement
will be in effect at any time that the Partnership is licensed as an SBIC or has Outstanding
Leverage. These requirements will not be in effect if the Partnership is not licensed as an SBIC
and does not have any Outstanding Leverage.
23
(b) Except as provided in the SBIC Act, a consent or approval required to be given by SBA
under this Agreement will be deemed given and effective for purposes of this Agreement only if the
consent or approval is:
(i) given by SBA in writing, and
(ii) delivered by SBA to the party requesting the consent or approval in the manner provided
for notices to such party under Section 10.04.
Section 4.03 Provisions Required by the SBIC Act for Issuers of Debentures.
(a) The provisions of 13 C.F.R. § 107.1810(i) are incorporated by reference in this Agreement
as if fully stated in this Agreement.
(b) The Partnership and the Partners consent to the exercise by SBA of all of the rights of
SBA under 13 C.F.R. § 107.1810(i), and agree to take all actions that SBA may require in accordance
with 13 C.F.R. § 107.1810(i).
(c) This Section will be in effect at any time that the Partnership has outstanding
Debentures, and will not be in effect at any time that the Partnership does not have outstanding
Debentures.
(d) Nothing in this Section may be construed to limit the ability or authority of SBA to
exercise its regulatory authority over the Partnership as a licensed small business investment
company under the SBIC Act.
Section 4.04 Effective Date of Incorporated SBIC Act Provisions.
(a) Any section of this Agreement which relates to Debentures issued by the Partnership and
incorporates or refers to the SBIC Act or any provision of the SBIC Act (including, without
limitation, 13 C.F.R. §§ 107.1810(i), 107.1820, and 107.1830 107.1850) will, with respect to each
Debenture, be deemed to refer to the SBIC Act or such SBIC Act provision as in effect on the date
on which the Debenture was purchased from the Partnership.
(b) Section 4.04(a) will not be construed to apply to:
(i) the provisions of the SBIC Act which relate to the regulatory authority of SBA under the
SBIC Act over the Partnership as a licensed small business investment company; or
(ii) the rights of SBA under any other agreement between the Partnership and SBA.
(c) The parties acknowledge that references in this Agreement to the provisions of the SBIC
Act relating to SBAs regulatory authority refer to the provisions as in effect from time to time.
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Section 4.05 SBA as Third Party Beneficiary.
SBA will be deemed an express third party beneficiary of the provisions of this Agreement to
the extent of the rights of SBA under this Agreement and under the Act. SBA will be entitled to
enforce the provisions for its benefit, as if SBA were a party to this Agreement.
Section 4.06 Interest of the General Partner After Withdrawal.
If the General Partner withdraws as a general partner of the Partnership (including upon
notice from SBA as provided in the SBIC Act), then the entire interest of the General Partner in
the Partnership will be converted into an interest as a non-voting Limited Partner on the terms
provided in Section 8.03(c) and Section 8.13.
ARTICLE 5.
Partners Capital Contributions
Section 5.01 Capital Contributions.
As of the date hereof, the Limited Partners and the General Partner have made Capital
Contributions to the Partnership in the amounts set forth by their respective names on Schedule A.
Schedule A will be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 1.05(c).
Section 5.02 [reserved]
Section 5.03 [reserved]
Section 5.04 Additional Limited Partners and Additional Capital Contributions.
The General Partner may, with the consent of a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners,
admit one or more new Limited Partners (Additional Limited Partners) or permit any Limited
Partner to make an additional Capital Contribution under the following terms and conditions:
(a) Each such Additional Limited Partner (and Limited Partner making an additional Capital
Contribution) must execute and deliver to the Partnership the documentation required in this
Section 5.04, thereby evidencing its agreement to be bound by and comply with the terms and
provisions hereof as if it were a signatory to this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement, and
Schedule A attached to this Agreement will be amended to reflect such Additional Limited Partners
name, address and Capital Contribution (or the additional Capital Contribution made by such Limited
Partner, as the case may be).
(b) Each such Additional Limited Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as of the date
that (i) an executed subscription agreement in form and substance acceptable to the General Partner
has been accepted by the Partnership, (ii) an executed counterpart of this Agreement has been
delivered to and accepted by the Partnership and (iii) such Additional Limited Partner shall have
paid by way of a Capital Contribution to the Partnership, cash in an amount determined by the
General Partner.
25
(c) In the case of each Limited Partner that makes an additional Capital Contribution, such
additional Capital Contribution shall be effective as of the date such Limited Partner shall have
paid by way of Capital Contribution to the Partnership, cash in an amount equal to that additional
Capital Contribution, and has executed any other documentation requested to be executed by the
General Partner.
(d) [reserved]
Section 5.05 [reserved]
Section 5.06 [reserved]
Section 5.07 [reserved]
Section 5.08 [reserved]
Section 5.09 [reserved]
Section 5.10 [reserved]
Section 5.11 [reserved]
Section 5.12 [reserved]
Section 5.13 [reserved]
Section 5.14 Withholding and Application of a Partners Distributions.
No part of any distribution shall be paid to any Partner from which there is then due and
owing to the Partnership, at the time of such distribution, any amount required to be paid to the
Partnership. At the election of the General Partner, which it may make in its sole discretion, the
Partnership may either (i) apply all or part of any such withheld distribution in satisfaction of
the amount then due to the Partnership from such Partner or (ii) withhold such distribution until
all amounts then due are paid to the Partnership by such Partner. Upon payment of all amounts due
to the Partnership (by application of withheld distributions or otherwise), the General Partner
shall distribute any unapplied balance of any such withheld distribution to such Partner. No
interest shall be payable on the amount of any distribution withheld by the Partnership pursuant to
this Section.
Section 5.15 [reserved]
Section 5.16 [reserved]
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ARTICLE 6.
Adjustment of Capital Accounts
Section 6.01 Establishment of Capital Accounts.
A separate Capital Account shall be maintained for each Partner in accordance with the
definition thereof.
Section 6.02 General Allocations.
(a) Profit or Loss. At the end of each Fiscal Year of the Partnership, the Profit or
Loss of the Partnership for such Fiscal Year shall be determined. After giving effect to any
special allocations pursuant to Sections 6.02(b) and 6.03, the Profit or Loss for the Fiscal Year
shall be allocated among the Partners so that to the extent possible, the net amounts of Profits
and Losses and items specially allocated pursuant to Sections 6.02(b) and 6.03, allocated for such
Fiscal Year and all preceding Fiscal Years to the General Partner as a class, and to the Limited
Partners as a class, respectively, is equal in the case of each class to the amount that would be
allocated to the class if the Profits and Losses and items so specially allocated for such Fiscal
Year and all previous Fiscal Years were aggregated and the net result (the Cumulative Profit or
Cumulative Loss) were allocated as follows:
(1) if there is a Cumulative Profit,
(i) | First, to the Partners who received an allocation of Cumulative Loss pursuant to the last sentence of Section 6.02(b) hereof (i.e., which would have been allocated to another Partner but for the creation of an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for that Partner), an amount of Cumulative Profit equal to the allocations of Cumulative Loss previously made pursuant to such last sentence of Section 6.02(b) hereof (without duplication) in reverse order to which such prior Cumulative Losses were allocated; and | ||
(ii) | Second, to all Partners in proportion to their respective Partnership Percentages. |
(2) if there is a Cumulative Loss, among the Partners in proportion to their Partnership
Percentages.
(b) Loss Allocation Limitations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no allocation of
Cumulative Loss shall be allocated to any Partner if such allocation would cause such Partner to
have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The amount of the allocation of Cumulative Loss which
would otherwise have caused a Partner to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall instead be
allocated to those Partners who would not have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as a result of
the allocation in proportion to their respective Partnership Percentages.
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Section 6.03 Special Allocations.
The following special allocations shall be made in the following order:
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-2(f), notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if there is a net
decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Partner shall be specially
allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent
Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to such Partners share of the net decrease in Partnership Minimum
Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the
previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to
each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with
Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Section 6.03(a) is intended to
comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(b) Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if there
is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse
Debt during any Fiscal Year, each Partner who has a share of the Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum
Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and
gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to such
Partners share of the net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such
Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4).
Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective
amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated
shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and
1.704-2(j)(2). This Section 6.03(b) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback
requirement in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
(c) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any
adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be
specially allocated to each such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the
extent required by the Treasury Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such Partner
as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.03(c) shall be made
only if and to the extent that such Partner would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after
all other allocations provided for in this Agreement have been tentatively made as if this Section
6.03(c) were not in this Agreement.
(d) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Partner has a deficit Capital Account
balance at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner
is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such
Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury
28
Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), to the extent the General Partner
determines each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in
the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this
Section 6.03(d) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit
Capital Account balance in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this
Agreement have been made as if Section 6.03(c) and this Section 6.03(d) were not in this Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be
allocated among the Partners in accordance with Section 6.02(a).
(f) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal
Year shall be specially allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect
to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in
accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(g) Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of
any Noncash Asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to
Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts
as the result of a distribution to a Partner in complete liquidation of such Partners interest in
the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item
of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases
such basis) and such gain or loss shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with Section
6.02(a) in the event that Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2)
applies, or to the Partner to whom such distribution was made in the event that Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.
(h) Discretionary Authority for Compliance. The General Partner is authorized in its
discretion to allocate items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit for any Fiscal Year
differently than otherwise provided for in this Agreement to the extent that allocation in the
manner provided for in this Agreement, in the opinion of the professional tax advisor to the
Partnership (tax counsel or accountants), would cause the determinations and allocations of each
Partners distributive share of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit (or item thereof) not to
be permitted by Code Section 704(b) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(i) Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Section 6.02(b) and in Section
6.03(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) (the Regulatory Allocations) are intended to comply with
certain requirements of the Treasury Regulations. It is the intent of the Partners that, to the
extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory
Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Partnership income, gain, loss, or
deduction pursuant to this Section 6.03(i). Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the General Partner shall make such offsetting
special allocations of Partnership income, gain, loss, or deduction in whatever manner it
determines appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Partners Capital
Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Partner would
have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of this Agreement and all Partnership items
were allocated pursuant to the other provisions of this Agreement. In
29
exercising its discretion under this Section 6.03(i), the General Partner shall take into
account future Regulatory Allocations under Sections 6.03(a) and (b) that, although not yet made,
are likely to offset other Regulatory Allocations previously made under that Section 6.03(e) and
(f).
Section 6.04 Other Allocation Rules
(a) For purposes of determining the Profits, Losses, or any other items allocable to any
period, Profits, Losses, and any such other items shall be determined on a daily, monthly, or other
basis, as determined by the General Partner using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and
the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(b) The Partners are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this
Agreement and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement in reporting their
shares of the items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit for income tax
purposes.
(c) To the extent permitted by Section 1.704-2(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations, the General
Partner shall endeavor to treat cash distributions as having been made from the proceeds of a
Nonrecourse Liability or a Partner Nonrecourse Debt only to the extent that such distributions
would cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Partner.
(d) If during a Fiscal Year, any event occurs which results in a change during the Fiscal Year
in any Partners interest in the Partnership within the meaning of Code Section 706(d), the
allocations of Profit, Loss, and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the
Partnership for such Fiscal Year shall take into account such change using any method permitted by
Code Section 706(d) that is selected by the General Partner in its discretion.
Section 6.05 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c).
In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, income, gain,
loss, and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership
shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Partners so as to take account of any
variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Partnership for Federal income tax
purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value.
In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Noncash Asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (ii) of
the definition of Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss, and deduction
with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such
asset for Federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under Code
Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
The General Partner shall have the maximum discretion and flexibility permitted by Code
Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, including without limitation making
curative allocations over a reasonable period of time as permitted by Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-3(c)(3)(ii), disregarding the general limitation on character as permitted by Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-3(c)(3)(iii)(B), using the remedial allocation method permitted by
Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d), and disregarding the application of
30
Section 704(c) or using one of the other options permitted by Regulations Section
1.704-3(e)(1) in the case of a small disparity.
Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.05 are solely for purposes of Federal, state, and local
taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Partners Capital
Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items, or distributions pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement.
Section 6.06 Tax Matters.
(a) Tax Controversies. The General Partner is the tax matters partner, as the term
is used in the Code, and to the extent authorized or permitted under applicable law, the General
Partner is authorized and required to represent the Partnership and each Limited Partner in
connection with all examinations of the Partnerships affairs by tax authorities, including
resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional
services and costs connected therewith. Each Limited Partner agrees to cooperate with the General
Partner and to do or refrain from doing any and all such things reasonably required by the General
Partner to conduct such proceedings.
(b) Classification. The Partnership initially shall be classified as partnership for
income tax purposes at all times it has more than one owner for income tax purposes. With the
consent of seventy-five percent (75%) in Interest of the Limited Partners and SBAs prior written
approval, the General Partner may elect a different classification for income tax purposes from
time to time. The provisions of this Section 6.06(b) shall not limit the authorization of the
Partnership to convert or merge as provided in Section 8.14.
(c) Proceedings. The General Partner must keep the Partners informed of all
administrative and judicial proceedings with respect to Partnership tax returns or the adjustment
of Partnership items. Any Partner who enters into a settlement agreement with respect to
Partnership items must promptly give the General Partner notice of the settlement agreement and
terms that relate to Partnership items.
(d) Other Tax Elections. Subject to Section 6.06(b) the General Partner shall have the
discretion to make or not make all elections with respect to the Partnership permitted under the
Code, Treasury Regulations, or other tax laws or regulations, including but not limited to
elections under Code Section 754.
ARTICLE 7.
Distributions
Section 7.01 Distributions to Partners.
(a) The Partnership may make distributions of cash and/or property, if any, at such times as
the SBIC Act permits (if the Partnership is then licensed as an SBIC or has an application to be
licensed pending with the SBA) and as are determined under this Agreement. If the Partnership is
then licensed as an SBIC or has an application to be licensed pending with the SBA, distributions
shall be made from Retained Earnings Available for Distribution or
31
otherwise as permitted by the SBIC Act. The General Partner may elect to invest or reinvest
all or any part of such cash and/or property in lieu of distribution to the Partners.
(b) All distributions shall be made to the Partners in proportion to their Partnership
Percentages.
Section 7.02 Distributions of Noncash Assets in Kind.
(a) Subject to the provisions of the SBIC Act and the provisions of this Section, the
Partnership at any time may distribute Noncash Assets in kind.
(b) Any distribution of Noncash Assets will be made pro rata among the Partners (based upon
the respective amounts which each Partner would be entitled to receive if the distribution were
made in cash) with respect to the distribution of each Noncash Asset.
(c) Subject to the SBIC Act, Noncash Assets distributed in kind under this Section 7.02 will
be subject to such conditions and restrictions as are legally required, including, without
limitation, such conditions and restrictions required to assure compliance by the Partners and/or
the Partnership with the aggregation rules and volume limitations under Rule 144 promulgated under
the Securities Act.
Section 7.03 Payments on Behalf of Partners.
(a) Subject to the SBIC Act, the Partnership will at all times be entitled to make payments
with respect to any Partner in amounts required to discharge any legal obligation of the
Partnership and/or the General Partner to withhold or make payments to any governmental authority
with respect to any Federal, state or local tax liability of the Partner arising as a result of the
Partners interest in the Partnership. Each such payment shall be treated for purposes of this
Agreement as a distribution made pursuant to Section 7.01(b).
Section 7.04 Distributions Violative of the Act Prohibited.
Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no distribution may be
made by the Partnership if and to the extent that such distribution would violate the Act.
Section 7.05 Distributions in Respect of Interests Transferred.
Distributions of Partnership assets in respect of interests in the Partnership shall be made
only to persons who, according to the books and records of the Partnership, are the owners of
record of the interests in the Partnership in respect of which such distributions are made on the
date determined by the General Partner as of which owners of interests in the Partnership are
entitled to such distributions. The General Partner and the Partnership shall incur no liability
for making distributions in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.05, whether or not the
General Partner or the Partnership has knowledge or notice of any transfer of ownership of any
interests in the Partnership.
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ARTICLE 8.
Dissolution, Liquidation, Winding Up and Withdrawal; Merger and Conversion
Section 8.01 Dissolution.
(a) The Partnership will be dissolved upon the first to occur of the following:
(i) subject to Section 8.04 of this Agreement, the withdrawal, dissolution or bankruptcy of
the General Partner or the occurrence of any other event that causes the General Partner to cease
to be a general partner of the Partnership, including but not limited to an event of withdrawal (as
defined in the Act) of the General Partner; or
(ii) the occurrence of any other event resulting in dissolution under the Act.
(b) Except as provided in the Act, the Partnership will not dissolve upon the withdrawal,
dissolution, bankruptcy, death or adjudication of incompetence or insanity of any Limited Partner.
(c) The General Partner may elect to dissolve the Partnership by giving notice to each Limited
Partner and SBA of the election. If the Partnership is licensed as an SBIC, any notice of an
election to dissolve the Partnership may only be given:
(i) if all Outstanding Leverage has been repaid or redeemed; and
(ii) if all amounts due SBA, its agent or trustee have been paid.
Any election to dissolve the Partnership given under this Section 8.01(c) will not be effective
until the later of: (A) thirty (30) days from the date the notice is given to all parties or (B)
the effective date of dissolution stated in the notice.
Section 8.02 Winding Up.
(a) Subject to the SBIC Act and Section 8.03, when the Partnership is dissolved, the property
and business of the Partnership will be liquidated by the General Partner or if there is no General
Partner or the General Partner is unable to act, a person designated by the holders of a Majority
in Interest of the Limited Partners (the Liquidator).
(b) Within a reasonable period (and subject to the requirements of Treasury Regulation
Sections 1.704-1(b)(ii)(g) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2)) after the effective
date of dissolution of the Partnership, the affairs of the Partnership will be wound up and the
Partnerships assets will be distributed as provided in the SBIC Act and the Act. The liquidation
shall be carried out as promptly as practicable with obtaining the fair value of the Partnerships
Assets. The General Partner or Liquidator shall take full account of the Partnerships assets and
liabilities and shall determine which assets shall be distributed in kind and which assets shall be
liquidated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner or Liquidator shall notify any
Limited Partner that is a banking or other financial institution prior to making any distributions
of Portfolio Securities in kind to such Limited Partner and, upon written direction from such
33
Limited Partner, shall sell such Portfolio Securities and distribute the net proceeds from
such sale to such Limited Partner. Assets of the Partnership or the proceeds therefrom, if the
General Partner or the Liquidator elects to liquidate the same, to the extent sufficient therefor,
shall be applied and distributed in the following order:
(i) To the payment and discharge of all the Partnerships debts and liabilities.
(ii) To the setting up of such reserves as the General Partner or the Liquidator, as
applicable, may deem reasonably necessary for any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or
obligations of the Partnership arising out of or in connection with the Partnerships business,
provided that any such reserve will be held by the General Partner or the Liquidator, as
applicable, for the purpose of disbursing such reserves in payment of any such liabilities or
obligations and at the expiration of such period as the General Partner or Liquidator, as
applicable, shall deem advisable (but in no event to exceed eighteen months from the date of
liquidation, unless an extension of the time is consented to by a Majority in Interest of the
Limited Partners), to distribute the balance remaining as provided in this Section 8.02(b).
(iii) The balance of such assets or proceeds shall be distributed to the General Partner and
Limited Partners in accordance with their respective positive Capital Account balances.
Distributions pursuant to this Section 8.02 may be distributed to a trust established for the
benefit of the Partners for the purposes of liquidating Partnership Assets, collecting amounts owed
to the Partnership, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the
Partnership arising out of or in connection with the Partnership. The assets of any such trust
shall be distributed to the Partners from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the General
Partner or the Liquidator, as applicable, in the same proportions as the amount distributed to such
trust by the Partnership would otherwise have been distributed to the Partners pursuant to this
Agreement. Except as otherwise may be required by the Act, an individual or entity that is a
creditor of the Partnership by reason of its withdrawal or termination as a Limited Partner shall
be entitled to receive distributions pursuant to this Section 8.02 only at the time of and from
funds available for distribution to the Limited Partners and shall not have any priority in receipt
of such funds senior to that of the Partners.
Section 8.03 Removal and Withdrawal of the General Partner.
(a) Subject to SBA approval, the General Partner may at any time be removed by the consent of
seventy-five percent (75%) in Interest of the Limited Partners. Except as provided in Section
4.03, the General Partner may not voluntarily withdraw as the general partner of the Partnership
without the approval of seventy-five percent (75%) in Interest of the Limited Partners. If the
General Partner is removed or withdraws as a general partner of the Partnership (including upon
notice from SBA as provided in the SBIC Act), then the entire interest of the General Partner in
the Partnership will be converted into an interest of a non-voting Limited Partner on the terms
provided in Section 8.13, and the interest of the non-voting Limited Partner shall be disregarded
with respect to calculating any required percentage of Limited Partners necessary to approve any
action under this Agreement.
34
(b) To the extent required by the SBIC Act, no transfer of the interest of the General
Partner, or any portion of such interest, will be effective without the consent of SBA.
(c) Except as provided in Section 8.03(a), Section 8.03(b), Section 10.01(b), Section
10.01(c), or Section 10.01(d), any person who acquires the interest of the General Partner, or any
portion of such interest, in the Partnership, will not be a General Partner but will become a
non-voting Limited Partner on the terms provided in Section 8.13 applied as if the acquiring person
constitutes a withdrawing General Partner, upon his written acceptance and adoption of all the
terms and provisions of this Agreement. No such person will have any right to participate in the
management of the affairs of the Partnership or to vote with the Limited Partners, and the interest
acquired by such person will be disregarded in determining whether any action has been taken by any
percentage of the Limited Partner interests.
(d) Upon an event of withdrawal of the General Partner without continuation of the Partnership
as provided in Section 8.04, the affairs of the Partnership will be wound up in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8.02.
(e) In the event of the death, disablement, incapacity, bankruptcy, removal, or withdrawal of
an individual member of the General Partner or the dissolution, bankruptcy or withdrawal of any
entity member of the General Partner, the Partnership will continue as provided in this Agreement
to the full extent permitted by the Act.
Section 8.04 Continuation of the Partnership After the Withdrawal of the General Partner.
Upon the occurrence of an event of withdrawal (as defined in the Act) of the General Partner,
the Partnership will not be dissolved, if, within ninety (90) days after the event of withdrawal, a
Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners agree in writing to continue the business of the
Partnership and to the appointment of one or more additional general partners (subject to the
approval of SBA), effective as of the date of withdrawal of the General Partner. If the Limited
Partners so agree to continue the Partnership, the interest of the former General Partner will be
converted into the interest of a non-voting Limited Partner on the terms provided in Section
8.03(a) and Section 8.13.
Section 8.05 Withdrawals of Capital.
Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, withdrawals by a Partner of any amount of
its Capital Account are not permitted.
35
Section 8.06 [reserved]
Section 8.07 [reserved]
Section 8.08 [reserved]
Section 8.09 [reserved]
Section 8.10 [reserved]
Section 8.11 [reserved]
Section 8.12 [reserved]
Section 8.13 Conversion of General Partners Interest.
If, upon occurrence of the removal, resignation, dissolution or bankruptcy of the General
Partner, or any other event that causes the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the
Partnership, the Partnership continues under a successor General Partner, the assets of the
Partnership shall be valued in accordance with Section 3.08 (except that for all purposes
determinations to be made by the withdrawing General Partner shall be made by the successor General
Partner) as of the date of the removal, resignation, dissolution, bankruptcy, acquisition or other
event. The Partners Capital Accounts shall be adjusted as provided in the definitions of Gross
Asset Value and Profit or Loss as if all Noncash Assets had been sold at their Gross Asset Values
as of the applicable date and the Partnerships Fiscal Year had ended as of such date. The
withdrawing General Partners interest in the Partnership, including its Capital Account as so
adjusted, shall be converted to and treated going forward as the interest of a non-voting Limited
Partner as provided in Section 8.03(a). No allocations shall be made with respect to such
non-voting Limited Partner except as may be required pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Regulatory
Allocations, and Section 6.03(i). All amounts thereafter becoming available for distribution to
the General Partner pursuant to Section 7.01(b), (A) shall instead be paid to such non-voting
Limited Partner to the extent of the then positive balance in its Capital Account, if any, if such
non-voting Limited Partner ceased to be a general partner of the Partnership as a result of removal
by consent of the Limited Partners pursuant to the first sentence of Section 8.03(a), or (B) shall
be shared between such non-voting Limited Partner and the General Partner in accordance with their
then positive Capital Account balances if the non-voting Limited Partner otherwise ceased to be a
general partner. No other distributions shall be made with respect to such non-voting Limited
Partner.
Section 8.14 Conversion and Merger.
Subject to the SBIC Act, the Partnership may convert into an entity of any other type
(including but not limited to a corporation or limited liability company, or a limited partnership
(including a limited liability limited partnership) formed under the laws of another state or other
jurisdiction) formed under the laws of the United States, the State of North Carolina, or any other
state or jurisdiction, or merge with any one or more entities of any type (including but not
limited to a corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership including but not
limited to another limited liability limited partnership) with either the Partnership or any such
other entity
36
being the surviving entity in the merger. Except as otherwise required by the Act or the SBIC
Act and subject to SBAs prior written approval, any such conversion or merger shall require only
the prior written approval of the General Partner and seventy-five percent (75%) in Interest of the
Limited Partners.
ARTICLE 9.
Accounts, Reports and Auditors
Section 9.01 Books of Account.
(a) SBIC Requirements. The Partnership must maintain books and records in accordance
with the provisions of the SBIC Act regarding financial accounts and reporting and, except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, generally accepted accounting principles.
(b) Records and Inspection. The General Partner shall keep, at the Partnerships
principal office, the Partnerships books and records, including (i) a current list of the full
name and last known business or residence address of each Partner set forth in alphabetical order
together with the contribution and the share in Profits and Losses of each Partner, (ii) a copy of
the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all certificates of amendment thereto, together with
executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which any certificate has been executed,
(iii) copies of the Partnerships federal, state and local income tax or information returns and
reports, if any, for the six most recent years, (iv) copies of the original of this Agreement and
any amendments thereto, (v) financial statements of the Partnership for the six most recent fiscal
years, and (vi) the Partnerships books and records for at least the current and past three fiscal
years. Each Partner has the right, upon reasonable request, to inspect and copy during normal
business hours any such Partnership records.
(c) Confidential Information. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement,
unless otherwise required by law, the Partnership shall not be required to disclose any
confidential or proprietary information received by the Partnership in connection with its
investment operations and Portfolio Companies, except for any disclosure to the SBA required by the
SBIC Act. Each Partner acknowledges that Limited Partners may be subject to laws, regulations or
policies which require such Partners to disclose to federal, state or local government bodies,
agencies or instrumentalities, or to the public information received by the Partner from the
Partnership; however, that Partner shall take reasonable steps to exclude such information from
disclosure, if an exclusion is reasonably available and shall give the Partnership prompt notice of
any request for disclosure.
Section 9.02 Audit and Reports.
(a) Audit. The financial statements of the Partnership must be audited and certified
as of the end of each fiscal year by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by
the General Partner.
(b) Financial Statements. The General Partner shall cause an annual report of the
operations of the Partnership to be prepared within ninety days following the end of the fiscal
year. Said annual report shall include a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year and an
37
income statement and statement of cash flows for the fiscal year, audited by a firm of
independent public accountants selected by the General Partner, and a statement showing the amounts
allocated to such Partner pursuant to this Agreement during or in respect of such year, and any
item of income, deduction, credit or loss allocated to the Partner for purposes of the Code
pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Income Tax Information. The General Partner shall provide each Partner within
ninety days after the end of each taxable year (i) the information necessary for the Partner to
complete its Federal and state income tax returns, and (ii) if requested by a Limited Partner, a
copy of the Partnerships Federal, state and local income tax or information returns for the year.
The General Partner shall cause to have prepared and filed all required income tax returns for the
Partnership.
(d) Valuation Reports. The General Partner shall transmit to the Limited Partners a
copy of each valuation report of the Partnerships Portfolio Securities prepared in accordance with
Section 3.08.
Section 9.03 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Partnership will be a twelve-month year (except for the first and last
partial years, if any) ending on December 31.
Section 9.04 Banking and Portfolio Securities.
All funds of the Partnership shall be deposited in such separate bank account or accounts as
shall be determined by the General Partner, which funds shall be maintained separately from other
bank accounts of the General Partner, or any other person or entity. All withdrawals therefrom
shall be made by the General Partner or by any person authorized to do so by the General Partner.
All Portfolio Securities of the Partnership shall be held by the General Partner separately from
other securities held by the General Partner for its own account or the account of others.
ARTICLE 10.
Miscellaneous
Section 10.01 Assignability.
(a) Limited Partner Transfer. No Limited Partner may assign, pledge or otherwise
grant a security interest in the Limited Partners interest in the Partnership or in this
Agreement, except:
(i) by operation of law;
(ii) to a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy for that Partner; or
(iii) with the prior written consent of the General Partner (which consent may be withheld in
the reasonable discretion of the General Partner);
38
provided in each instance: (A) the proposed transferee assumes all the obligations of the original
Limited Partner; (B) the General Partner has no reasonable belief that admitting the proposed
transferee as a Limited Partner would be harmful to the Partnership or any Partner; (C) the
proposed transfer would not, in the opinion of the Partnerships counsel, create a material risk of
subjecting the Partnership or any Partner to any governmental regulation or require any
registration which the General Partner believes to be significant; (D) each transferee agrees to
become and assume the obligations of a Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement on terms and
conditions acceptable to the SBA and the General Partner; and (E) SBA shall have given its consent
if such consent is required by the SBIC Act.
(b) SBA Approval. No General Partner or Limited Partner may transfer any interest of
ten percent (10%) or more in the capital of the Partnership without the prior approval of SBA.
(c) General Partner Transfer. The General Partner may not assign, pledge or otherwise
grant a security interest in its interest in the Partnership or in this Agreement, except with the
prior consent of SBA and the prior approval of seventy-five percent (75%) in Interest of the
Limited Partners. In those instances where such Limited Partner and SBA approvals have been
obtained: (i) a transferee of all or a part of the interest of a General Partner shall be admitted
to the Partnership as a general partner of the Partnership only if seventy-five percent 75% or more
in Interest of the Limited Partners approves in writing the admission of such transferee; (ii) the
admission shall be effective upon the filing of an amendment to the Certificate of Limited
Partnership with the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina that indicates such
transferee has been admitted to the Partnership as a general partner of the Partnership; and (iii)
in the case of a successor General Partner, for all purposes the admission shall be deemed to have
occurred immediately prior to the time the transferor General Partner ceases to be a general
partner of the Partnership. Such additional or successor General Partner is hereby authorized to
and shall continue the Partnership without dissolution. Upon the filing of an amendment to the
Certificate of Limited Partnership with the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina that
indicates that a General Partner is no longer a general partner of the Partnership, such General
Partner shall at that time cease to be a general partner of the Partnership. Unless and until the
transferee is admitted as a successor or additional General Partner with SBA approval and otherwise
in accordance with the foregoing, the provisions of Section 8.03(c) shall apply.
(d) Conditions of Transfer. No transfer of any interest in the Partnership will be
allowed if such transfer or the actions to be taken in connection with that transfer would:
(i) result in any violation of the SBIC Act;
(ii) result in a violation of any law, rule or regulation by the Partnership;
(iii) cause the termination or dissolution of the Partnership;
(iv) cause the Partnership to be classified other than as a partnership for Federal income tax
purposes;
(v) result in the transfer of a Limited Partner interest with a cost of less than $50,000 or
cause the Partnership to be classified as a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of
Section 7704 of the Code;
39
(vi) result in a violation of the Securities Act;
(vii) [reserved]
(viii) require the Partnership, the General Partner or the Investment Adviser/Manager to
register as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act;
(ix) cause the Assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of an employee benefit plan
under regulations adopted pursuant to ERISA; or
(x) result in a termination of the Partnership for Federal or state income tax purposes.
The Limited Partner transferring its interest shall bear all reasonable costs of the
Partnership in effecting such transfer. The transferor and transferee shall execute such documents
and instruments and supply such opinions of counsel as the General Partner reasonably requests.
(e) Substituted Limited Partners. Notwithstanding a transfer pursuant to Section
10.01, no transferee of a Limited Partner shall become a substituted Limited Partner within the
meaning of the Act unless the General Partner expressly and in writing consents to the
substitution, and such transferee:
(i) elects to become a substituted Limited Partner by delivering a written notice of such
election to the General Partner;
(ii) executes and acknowledges such other agreements and instruments as the General Partner
may deem necessary or advisable to effect the admission of such person as a substituted Limited
Partner, including without limitation the written acceptance and adoption by such person of the
provisions of this Agreement and the execution of a subscription agreement; and
(iii) pays a reasonable transfer fee to the Partnership which is sufficient to cover all
reasonable expenses connected with the admission of such person as a substituted Limited Partner
within the meaning of the Act; and if all steps shall be taken which, in the opinion of the General
Partner, are reasonably necessary to admit such person under the Act and this Agreement as a
substituted Limited Partner, then such person shall thereupon become a substituted Limited Partner
within the meaning of the Act.
Section 10.02 Binding Agreement.
Subject to the provisions of Section 10.01, this Agreement is binding upon, and inures to the
benefit of, the heir, successor, assign, executor, administrator, committee, guardian, conservator
or trustee of any Partner.
40
Section 10.03 Gender.
As used in this Agreement, masculine, feminine and neuter pronouns include the masculine,
feminine and neuter; and the singular includes the plural.
Section 10.04 Notices.
(a) All notices under this Agreement must be in writing and may be given by personal delivery,
telegram, private courier service, facsimile, or registered or certified mail.
(b) A notice is deemed to have been given:
(i) by personal delivery, telegram, or private courier service, as of the day of delivery of
the notice to the addressee;
(ii) by facsimile, as of the first business day following receipt of notice of transmission by
sender; and
(iii) by mail, as of the fifth (5th) day after the notice is mailed.
(c) Notices must be sent to:
(i) the Partnership or the General Partner, at the address of the General Partner in the
Certificate of Limited Partnership, or such other address or addresses as to which the Partners
have been given notice;
(ii) a Limited Partner, at its address in Schedule A attached to this Agreement (as
Schedule A may be amended from time to time) or such other address as to which the
Partnership has been given notice by the Limited Partner; and
(iii) SBA, at the address of the Investment Division of SBA and, if so required under any
section of this Agreement, in duplicate at the address of the Office of the General Counsel of SBA.
Section 10.05 Consents and Approvals.
A consent or approval required to be given by any party under this Agreement will be deemed
given and effective for purposes of this Agreement only if the consent or approval is:
(i) given by such party in writing, and
(ii) delivered by such party to the party requesting the consent or approval in the manner
provided for notices to such party under Section 10.04.
Section 10.06 Counterparts.
This Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but all of which together constitute one and the same instrument.
41
Section 10.07 Amendments.
(a) General Amendments. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement,
this Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing executed by the holders of a
Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners who have not withdrawn as of the effective date of
that amendment and the General Partner. Any amendment must be approved by SBA. In addition, any
amendment that: (i) may cause a Limited Partner to become liable as a general partner of the
Partnership requires the written consent of that Partner; (ii) would change the percentage in
Interest of the Limited Partners whose consent is required for a matter requires the consent of
such percentage in Interest of the Limited Partners (as in effect before the change); and (iii)
amends this sentence requires the consent of all Partners.
(b) [reserved]
(c) Distribution. The General Partner shall distribute to each Limited Partner and
SBA distributed in the same manner as provided for notices in Section 10.04 a copy of: (i) any
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and (ii) any amendment to this
Agreement.
Section 10.08 Limited Partner Consents.
Each Limited Partner consents to:
(i) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and any additional Capital Contribution made
by a Limited Partner in accordance with Section 5.04;
(ii) the transfer of a Partners interest in accordance with Section 10.01 and the admission
of a substituted Partner under such transfer;
(iii) any amendment of this Agreement or the Certificate of Limited Partnership necessary to
effect such transfer or admission; and
(iv) any amendment of this Agreement or the Certificate of Limited Partnership to incorporate
such changes as may be required by the SBA or the SBIC Act and to otherwise comply with or conform
to any amendments of applicable laws governing the Partnership.
Section 10.09 Power of Attorney.
(a) Appointment. Each Limited Partner appoints the General Partner, and each other
person designated by the General Partner, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful
representative and attorney-in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead, to make, execute,
sign and file:
(i) any amendments of this Agreement necessary to reflect:
(A) the transfer of a Partners interest;
42
(B) the admission of a Limited Partner or a substituted Limited Partner;
(C) the admission of an Additional Limited Partner or the making of an additional Capital
Contribution by a Limited Partner;
(D) amendment of this Agreement adopted in accordance with Section 10.07; and
(E) the consents set forth in Section 10.08;
(ii) the exercise by the General Partner of any of the powers granted to it under this
Agreement;
(iii) the admission to the Partnership of any General Partner or Special Limited Partner or
the withdrawal of any Limited Partner or General Partner, in the manner prescribed in this
Agreement;
(iv) incorporation of such changes as are required by the SBA or the SBIC Act; and
(v) all instruments, documents and certificates which, from time to time, may be required by
the law of the United States of America, the State of North Carolina or any other state in which
the Partnership determines to do business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to
execute, implement and continue the valid and subsisting existence of the Partnership and in
conformance to the provisions of this Agreement.
(b) Further Authorization. Each Limited Partner authorizes each such attorney-in-fact
to take any further action which such attorney-in-fact shall consider necessary or advisable in
connection with any of the foregoing, hereby giving such attorney-in-fact full power and authority
to do and perform each and every act or thing whatsoever requisite or advisable to be done in and
about the foregoing as fully as such Limited Partner might or could do if personally present, and
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof. The authorization set forth in this power of attorney includes the right to
amend this Agreement to respond to comments from the SBA in connection with the Partnerships SBIC
license application.
(c) Attributes. The power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 10.09 hereof:
(i) is a special power of attorney coupled with an interest and is irrevocable except that
such power shall terminate with respect to any particular person so appointed at the time such
person ceases to be a principal or designee of the General Partner;
(ii) if allowed by applicable law, may be executed by such attorney-in-fact by listing all of
the Limited Partners executing any agreement, certificate, instrument or document with the single
signature of any such attorney-in-fact acting as attorney-in-fact for all of them; and
43
(iii) shall survive the delivery of an assignment by a Limited Partner of its interest in the
Partnership, except that where the purchaser, transferee or assignee thereof has the right to be,
or with the consent of the General Partner is admitted as, a substituted Limited Partner, the power
of attorney shall survive the delivery of such assignment for the sole purpose of enabling such
attorney-in-fact to execute, acknowledge and file any such agreement, certificate, instrument or
document necessary to effect such substitution.
Section 10.10 Applicable Law.
This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of North Carolina, without reference to its principles of conflict of laws, except that the SBIC
Act and other Federal laws shall be applicable as provided in this Agreement.
Section 10.11 Severability.
If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement, or any application of any
such provision, is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions contained in this Agreement and all other applications
of any such provision will not in any way be affected or impaired.
Section 10.12 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement, and all other written agreements executed by or on behalf of the General
Partner and/or the Limited Partners and executed or approved by SBA, up to and including the date
of this Agreement (such other written agreements, collectively, the SBA Agreements), state the
entire understanding among the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and the SBA
Agreements. Any and all prior conversations, correspondence, memoranda or other writings are
merged in, and replaced by this Agreement and the SBA Agreements, and are without further effect on
this Agreement and the SBA Agreements. No promises, covenants, representations or warranties of
any character or nature other than those expressly stated in this Agreement and the SBA Agreements
have been made to induce any party to enter into this Agreement or any SBA Agreement. This
Agreement amends and restates the Original Agreement in its entirety.
Section 10.13 Miscellaneous.
(a) Section Headings. Section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the
scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provisions hereof.
(b) Right to Rely upon the Authority of General Partner. No person dealing with the
General Partner shall be required to determine its authority to make any commitment or undertaking
on behalf of the Partnership, nor to determine any fact or circumstance bearing upon the existence
of its authority.
(c) Jurisdiction. Any action to enforce, arising out of, or relating in any way to
this Agreement may be brought and prosecuted in any Federal or state court or courts located in
Wake County, North Carolina, and each Partner (a) consents to the jurisdiction of any such state
44
court or any such federal court and to service of process by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, or by any other manner provided by law, and (b) agrees not to object to
venue of any such court.
(d) Description of Partnership. The terms of this Agreement supersede any description
of the Partnership appearing in any other document, including any offering documents.
(e) Written Consent. Any action to be taken by the Partners may be taken at any time
upon the written consent of such Partners holding at least the minimum interest in the Partnership
that would be necessary to authorize or take that action.
(f) Partition. Each Partner agrees that it shall not cause a partition of any of the
Partnerships property, whether by court action or otherwise, it being agreed that any such action
would cause a substantial hardship to the Partnership and would be in breach and contravention of
this Agreement.
(g) Legal Counsel. Each Partner hereby agrees and acknowledges that:
(i) Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P. and Pepper Hamilton LLP (collectively,
the Legal Counsel) have been retained by the General Partner in connection with the formation of
the Partnership and the offering of Limited Partner interests and in such capacity have provided
legal services to the General Partner and the Partnership.
(ii) The Legal Counsel will not represent the Limited Partners in connection with the
formation of the Partnership, the offering of Limited Partner interests, the management and
operation of the Partnership, or any dispute which may arise between the Limited Partners on one
hand and the General Partner and the Partnership on the other hand (each a Partnership Legal
Matter). Each Limited Partner will, if it wishes counsel on a Partnership Legal Matter, retain
its own independent counsel with respect thereto and will pay all fees and expenses of such
independent counsel.
(iii) Each Limited Partner hereby agrees that the Legal Counsel may represent the General
Partner and the Partnership in connection with any and all Partnership Legal Matters (including any
dispute between the General Partner and one or more Limited Partners) and waives any present or
future conflict of interest with the Legal Counsel regarding Partnership Legal Matters.
[Signature Pages Follow]
45
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement as of
_________, 2007.
General Partner: New Triangle GP, LLC |
||||
By: | Triangle Capital Corporation, its manager |
By: | ||||
Garland S. Tucker, III, Chairman of the | ||||
Board, Chief Executive Officer and President | ||||
Limited Partner: Triangle Capital Corporation |
||||
By: | ||||
Steven C. Lilly, Chief Financial Officer, | ||||
Secretary and Treasurer |
46
SCHEDULE A
Partners, Capital Contributions and Percentage Interest
Partners: | Capital Contributions: | Percentage Interest: | ||||||
Limited Partner: |
||||||||
Triangle Capital Corporation |
$ | ________________ | 99.9 | % | ||||
3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 104 |
||||||||
Raleigh, NC 27612 |
||||||||
General Partner: |
||||||||
New Triangle GP, LLC |
$ | ________________ | 0.1 | % | ||||
3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 104 |
||||||||
Raleigh, NC 27612 |
||||||||
TOTAL |
$ | ________________ | 100.0 | % |
47
EXHIBIT I
Valuation Guidelines
General
The General Partner has sole responsibility for determining the Asset Value of each of the
Loans and Investments and of the portfolio in the aggregate.
Loans and Investments shall be valued individually and in the aggregate at least semi-annually as of the end of the second quarter of the fiscal year and as of the end of the fiscal year.
Fiscal year-end valuations are audited as set forth in SBAs Accounting Standards and Financial
Reporting Requirements for Small Business Investment Companies.
This Valuation Policy is intended to provide a consistent, conservative basis for establishing
the Asset Value of the portfolio. The Policy presumes that Loans and Investments are acquired with
the intent that they are to be held until maturity or disposed of in the ordinary course of
business.
Interest-Bearing Securities
Loans shall be valued in an amount not greater than cost with Unrealized Depreciation being
recognized when value is impaired. The valuation of loans and associated interest receivables on
interest-bearing securities should reflect the portfolio concerns current and projected financial
condition and operating results, its payment history and its ability to generate sufficient cash
flow to make payments when due.
When a valuation relies more heavily on asset versus earnings approaches, additional criteria
should include the seniority of the debt, the nature of any pledged collateral, the extent to which
the security interest is perfected, the net liquidation value of tangible business assets, and the
personal integrity and overall financial standing of the owners of the business. In those
instances where a loan valuation is based on an analysis of certain collateralized assets of a
business or assets outside the business, the valuation should, at a minimum, consider the net
liquidation value of the collateral after reasonable selling expenses. Under no circumstances,
however, shall a valuation based on the underlying collateral be considered as justification for
any type of loan appreciation.
Appropriate unrealized depreciation on past due interest which is converted into a security
(or added to an existing security) should be recognized when collection is doubtful. Collection is
presumed to be in doubt when one or both of the following conditions occur: (i) interest payments
are more than 120 days past due; or (ii) the small concern is in bankruptcy, insolvent, or there is
substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
The carrying value of interest bearing securities shall not be adjusted for changes in
interest rates.
Valuation of convertible debt may be adjusted to reflect the value of the underlying equity
security net of the conversion price.
Equity Securities Private Companies
Investment cost is presumed to represent value except as indicated elsewhere in these
guidelines.
Valuation should be reduced if a companys performance and potential have significantly
deteriorated. If the factors which led to the reduction in valuation are overcome, the valuation
may be restored.
The anticipated pricing of a Small Concerns future equity financing should be considered as a
basis for recognizing Unrealized Depreciation, but not for Unrealized Appreciation. If it appears
likely that equity will be sold in the foreseeable future at a price below the Licensees current
valuation, then that prospective offering price should be weighed in the valuation process.
Valuation should be adjusted to a subsequent significant equity financing that includes a
meaningful portion of the financing by a sophisticated, unrelated new investor. A subsequent
significant equity financing that includes substantially the same group of investors as the prior
financing should generally not be the basis for an adjustment in valuation. A financing at a lower
price by a sophisticated new investor should cause a reduction in value of the prior securities.
If substantially all of a significant equity financing is invested by an investor whose
objectives are in large part strategic, or if the financing is led by such an investor, it is
generally presumed that no more than 50% of the increase in investment price compared to the prior
significant equity financing is attributable to an increased valuation of the company.
Where a company has been self-financing and has had positive cash flow from operations for at
least the past two fiscal years, Asset Value may be increased based on a very conservative
financial measure regarding P/E ratios or cash flow multiples, or other appropriate financial
measures of similar publicly-traded companies, discounted for illiquidity. Should the chosen
valuation cease to be meaningful, the valuation may be restored to a cost basis, or if of
significant deterioration in performance or potential, to a valuation below cost to reflect
impairment.
With respect to portfolio companies that are likely to face bankruptcy or discontinue
operations for some other reason, liquidating value may be employed. This value may be determined
by estimating the realizable value (often through professional appraisals or firm offers to
purchase) of all assets and then subtracting all liabilities and all associated liquidation costs.
Warrants should be valued at the excess of the value of the underlying security over the
exercise price.
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Equity Securities Public Companies
Public securities should be valued as follows: (a) For over-the-counter stocks, take the
average of the bid price at the close for the valuation date and the preceding two days, and (b)
for listed stocks, take the average of the close for the valuation date and the preceding two days.
The valuation of public securities that are restricted should be discounted appropriately
until the securities may be freely traded. Such discounts typically range from 10% to 40%, but the
discounts can be more or less, depending upon the resale restrictions under securities laws or
contractual agreements.
When the number of shares held is substantial in relation to the average daily trading volume,
the valuation should be discounted by at least 10%, and generally by more.
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