LLC OPERATING AGREEMENT
Long Form[JV1]
Upon valuable consideration, the persons named below as "Members"
hereby covenant and agree to be bound to the following as their LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT dated this ___ day of _________________, 2004
(this "Agreement" or this "Operating Agreement") for
______________, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of
the State of _______________ (hereinafter known as "the LLC"):
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used in this Operating Agreement, the following terms are to have the
meanings as stated below:
"LLC" means "Limited Liability Company" and "the
LLC" means _____________________[JV2]
llc.
"LLC Units" or "Units" means measures of ownership
in the LLC. The capital structure of the LLC shall consist of Units all of the
same class with equal rights for all purposes under this Operating Agreement.
"LLC Unit Percentage" means, with respect to an LLC member,
the percentage derived from the following fraction: number of LLC Units held by
such Member divided by the total number of LLC Units held by all Members and,
thereafter, multiplying said fraction by 100 to arrive at a percentage.
"State Law" means the laws of the State of ____________ .
"Vote in interest of LLC members" means a vote of the LLC
members in which each LLC member shall have one vote per LLC Unit possessed;
for example, a member possessing 150 LLC Units would have 150 votes in
interest.
"Supermajority vote in interest of LLC members" means a vote
of the LLC members in which each LLC member shall have one vote per LLC Unit
possessed and the number of affirmative votes for any resolution before the
members shall be more than 66% of the outstanding LLC Units. For example, if
there are 1000 outstanding LLC Units, 667 affirmative votes are required to
achieve a Supermajority vote in interest upon a resolution before the members.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 2.1 Formation. Articles of Organization either already
have been filed with the appropriate State office or shall shortly be done so[JV3].
The Members shall execute or cause to be executed all other instruments,
certificates, notices and documents as may now or hereafter be required for the
formation, valid existence and, when appropriate, termination of the LLC as a
limited liability company under the laws of the State of ___________.
Section 2.2 Company Name. The name of the LLC
is "______________ LLC" or such other name or names as may be
selected by the Members from time to time, and its business shall be carried on
in such name with such variations and changes as the Members deem prudent.
Section 2.3 Purpose of the LLC. The purpose of the LLC is to
engage in any lawful act or activity for which a limited liability company may
be organized under the laws of the State of ______________________ including,
but not limited to ___________________.
Section 2.4 Place of Business. The business address of the LLC
shall be determined by the Members. The LLC may from time to time have such
other place or places of business, within or without the State of
_____________________, as the Members may decide or may do business in other
states by properly registering to do business in said State(s) with the proper
consent of the membership .
Section 2.5 Registered Agent. The initial registered agent and
registered office of the LLC shall be as follows:
The Members may remove or replace the LLC registered agent at any time by
filing the appropriate form or forms with the State of _____________ and by
giving notice to the outgoing agent. Unless otherwise provided by State law in
the State of ______________, the LLC shall always have an agent for process of
service and other such functions as is legally performed by an agent in that
State.
Section 2.6 Business Transactions of a Member with the Company. A
Member may lend money to, borrow money from, act as surety, guarantor or
endorser for, guarantee or assume one or more obligations of, provide
collateral for, and transact other business with, the LLC and, subject to
applicable law, shall have the same rights and obligations with respect to any
such matter as a Person who is not a Member.
Section 2.7 Company Property. No real or other property of the
LLC shall be deemed to be owned by any Member individually, but shall be owned
by and title shall be vested solely in the LLC.
Section 2.8 No Term To Existence. The LLC's existence shall
commence on the date of the filing of the Article of Organization with the
appropriate state office and, thereafter, the LLC's existence shall be
perpetual without term or shall have a term certain as follows: The LLC
shall exist for_____________________. [JV4]
Section 2.9 Accounting Period. The close of the LLC's year for
financial statement and federal income tax purposes shall be as determined by
the Members.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERS
Section 3.1 Members. The name, initial capital contribution, LLC
Units and LLC Unit Percentage of the Members are set forth in the below table,
which shall be amended from time to time to reflect the admission of new Members.
The members shall issue certificates of ownership to the members as record of
their ownership interest in the LLC. Said certificates shall be issued at the
time members and/or new members pay in capital to the LLC.
|
Member Name |
Initial Capital Contribution |
LLC Units |
LLC Unit % |
|
|
$ |
|
% |
|
|
$ |
|
% |
Section 3.2 Admission of New Members. New members may be admitted
to the LLC by an affirmative Supermajority vote in interest of LLC members.
Section 3.3 No Liability of Members. All debts, obligations and
liabilities of the LLC, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall
be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the LLC, and no member
shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the
LLC solely by reason of being a member. This section does not prevent an LLC
member, should he or she so choose, from separately agreeing to guaranty or
otherwise become liable for a debt which is also one of the LLC.
Section 3.4 Access to Books and Records of LLC. Each LLC member
shall have the right to inspect the books and records of the LLC during normal
business hours after the giving of reasonable notice of this intent to the LLC
custodian of said documents and information; however, each member gaining
access to the books and records of the LLC shall hold this information
confidential and only use LLC information for the furtherance of LLC business
and interests or for making investment decisions regarding the member's LLC
interest. Upon withdrawal or departure as a member of an LLC, a member shall
deliver all LLC books and records in his or her possession to the remaining LLC
members or managers.
Section 3.5 Actions by the Members; Meetings; Quorum.
Section 3.6 Power to Bind the LLC. No LLC member or group of
members acting in their individual capacity--separate and apart from
action as LLC members pursuant to this operating agreement--shall have any
authority to bind the LLC to any third party with respect to any matter.
Section 3.7 Members who are not individuals. Each Member who is
an artificial entity or otherwise not an individual hereby represents and
warrants to the LLC and each Member that such Member is: (a) duly incorporated
or formed (as the case may be), (b) validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, and (c) has
full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform
its obligations hereunder.
Section 3.8 Tax Matters Partner. ____________[JV7]
is hereby designated as the LLC's "Tax Matters Partner" under Section
6231(a)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and shall have all the powers and responsibilities of such
position as provided in the Code and the Treasury Regulations there under. The
LLC members may remove or replace the Tax Matters Partner by a vote of the
majority in interest.
Section 3.9 Members Compensation. Members shall not be compensated as members for performing duties associated with formation of the LLC or other duties as members. Members may be compensated for services rendered in any other capacity, however. Members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the establishment of the LLC.
ARTICLE IV
MANAGEMENT
Section 4.1 Management of the LLC. The LLC shall be managed by
"managers" who are appointed by vote of the LLC members[JV8];
however, the LLC members reserve the right to revert to a "member
managed" LLC at a later date. The number of managers to be acting at any
given time shall be set by vote of the LLC members. Managers, absent another
length set by vote of the LLC members,[JV9]
shall serve for one-year terms subject to removal for cause as set forth in
Section 4.5. Other than for cause or at the end of a term, any manager maybe
removed by the affirmative vote in interest by LLC members of more than 66% of
the outstanding LLC Units. Subject to such matters as are expressly reserved
hereunder to the Members for decision under Section 4.3 of this Agreement, all
matters in the ordinary course of business of the LLC shall be determined by
the managers. The managers, and their terms of employment including
compensation, shall be approved by a majority vote in interest of LLC members.
The LLC members shall remain responsible for policy setting and approval of the
overall direction of the LLC. An LLC member may also be a "manager".
Section 4.2 Initial Managers. The initial managers of the LLC
shall be: ____________________________[JV10].
Section 4.3 Matters reserved for the Members. All business and
matters not within the ordinary course of business of the LLC shall be reserved
to the LLC members including, but not limited to, the following list of
reserved matters:
Section 4.4 Power to Bind Company. No Manager or group of
Managers (acting in his or their capacity as such) shall have any authority to
bind the LLC to any third party with respect to any matter except pursuant
to an affirmative vote of a majority in interest of the members.
Section 4.5 Removal of Managers. Any Manager may be removed without
cause at any time during his or her term by the affirmative Supermajority
vote in interest of LLC members. Managers who are not reappointed by the LLC
Members at the end of their term shall, also, be effectively removed from
office at the expiration of their term.
Section 4.6 Employees. Except as otherwise provided for in this
agreement or through a duly passed resolution by the LLC Members, the Managers
shall have the power to hire and fire employees of the LLC.
Section 4.7 No Liability of Managers. All debts, obligations and
liabilities of the LLC, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall
be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the LLC, and no Manager
shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the
LLC solely by reason of being a Manager.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Section 5.1 Capital Structure. The capital structure of the LLC
shall consist of one class of LLC Units each having equal rights under all
provisions of this operating agreement.
Section 5.2 LLC Units. 1000 LLC Units shall be issued to the
Members, as set forth in Section 3.1 hereof, as part of the initial funding of
the LLC; however, additional LLC units may be issued pursuant to a
Supermajority Vote in interest of LLC Members.
Section 5.3 Capital Contributions.
|
Member Name |
Initial Capital Contribution |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
Section 5.4 Additional Capital Contributions. Members may make
additional capital contributions but shall not be required to do so.
Section 5.5 Raising Additional Capital. Additional capital may be
raised by the LLC through sales of new LLC Units pursuant to an affirmative
Supermajority Vote of LLC Members, see Section 5.2 above. Any Member resolution
authorizing the raising of additional capital through the sale of LLC Units
shall state, in reasonable detail, the purposes and uses of such additional
capital and the amounts of additional capital required.
Section 5.6 No Withdrawal Of Capital Contributions. Except upon
the dissolution and liquidation of the LLC as set forth herein, no Member shall
have the right to withdraw its capital contributions. Furthermore, no interest
shall be paid upon any member's capital account.
Section 5.7 Maintenance of Capital Accounts. An individual
capital account shall be maintained for each LLC Member consisting of the
member's capital contributions and (1) increased by that member's share of LLC
profits, (2) decreased by that member's share of LLC losses, and (3) further
adjusted as required or allowed by the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26 of the
United States Code) and / or all published Treasury Regulations (Title 26 of
the Code of Federal Regulations). In all cases, the capital accounts of the
members shall be accounted for in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code
(Title 26 of the United States Code) and or all published Treasury Regulations
(Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations).
Section 5.8 Maintenance of Bank Accounts: The membership of the LLC shall cause to be opened a bank account in the name of the LLC. Said account shall require ____________ signatories including, but not limited to at least _________ members of the LLC and the manager of said LLC, if said manager is not a member of the LLC. The account shall be audited by a designated member of the LLC a written report of said audit delivered to the membership of the LLC on a quarterly basis. In the alternative, each member of the LLC shall receive a copy of the monthly bank statement of the LLC.
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations to Capital Accounts. Except as may be
required by the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26 of the United States Code) or
the Treasury Regulations (Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations) or this
Operating Agreement, net profits, net losses, and other items of income, gain,
loss, deduction and credit of the LLC shall be allocated among the Members
ratably in proportion to each Member's LLC Unit Percentage. For example, if a
Member has an LLC Unit Percentage of 45%, he or she shall be allocated 45% of
all profits or losses (and other allocation items) for any given tax year.
Section 6.2 Tax Allocations. In the case of any special tax
allocations allowed under the Internal Revenue Code or Treasury Regulations,
the method of allocation and formula determined by the Tax Matters Partner
shall be followed so long as it complies with state law, the Internal Revenue
Code, the Treasury Regulations, and fairly treats each Member. The method of
tax allocation selected by the Tax Matters Partner shall be presumed to be
"fair to all the members" and any Member or party challenging said
allocation on these grounds shall bear the burden of proof. [JV11]
Section 6.3 Distributions. The LLC Members, by resolution issued
pursuant to this agreement, may make distributions to the Members from time to
time in amounts it deems appropriate; however, no distribution shall be
declared or made if, after giving it effect, the LLC would not be able to pay
its debts as they become due in the usual course of business or the LLC's total
assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities.
Section 6.4 Family Partnership Savings Provision. Notwithstanding
anything in this Operating Agreement to the contrary, should any provision of
this Operating Agreement, or any act of the parties, result in violation of the
family partnership provisions of Internal Revenue Code Sec. 704(e) (as amended)
or the regulations and cases thereunder, the Members may amend this Agreement,
or take any other actions reasonably necessary to prevent or correct such
violation.
ARTICLE VII
TRANSFERS OF UNITS; WITHDRAWAL, DEATH, REMOVAL OF MEMBER
Section 7.1 Transfer of LLC Units. No Member shall have the right
to sell, convey, assign, transfer, pledge, grant a security interest in or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of its LLC Units other than as follows:
Section 7.2 Withdrawal Of Member.
Section 7.3 Death Of Member.
Section 7.4 Removal Of Member.
ARTICLE
VIII
DISSOLUTION OF THE COMPANY
Section 8.1 Dissolution. The LLC shall be dissolved upon the
occurrence of the following event (hereinafter, a "Liquidation
Event"): a Supermajority vote in interest by the LLC Members to dissolve
the LLC. Despite any provision of state law to the contrary[JV17],
no other event--including (but not limited to) the withdrawal, removal,
death, insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, expulsion, bankruptcy, or physical
or mental incapacity of a Member--shall cause the existence of the LLC to
terminate or dissolve.
Section 8.2 Liquidation.
ARTICLE
IX
Exculpation Of Liability: Indemnification
Section 9.1 Exculpation of Liability. Unless otherwise provide by
law or expressly assumed, a person who is a Member or Manager, or both, shall
not be liable for the acts, debts or liabilities of the LLC to
third-parties--i.e., persons other than the LLC or LLC Members.
Section 9.2 Indemnification. Except as otherwise provided in this
Article, the LLC shall indemnify any Member or Manager (and may indemnify any
employee or agent) of the LLC who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
a party to a potential, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and whether formal
or informal, other than an action by or in the right of the LLC, by reason of
the fact that such person is or was a Member, Manager, employee or agent of the
LLC. Indemnification shall be limited to expenses, including attorney's fees,
judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding,
if, and only if, the person acted in good faith, with the care an ordinary
prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances.
For persons other than Members or Managers of the LLC, indemnification shall
only be made after an affirmative vote of a majority in interest of LLC
Members.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Amendment of Operating Agreement. This Agreement may
be amended by, and only by, a written resolution setting forth in detail the
amendment and signed by sufficient Members to reflect a Supermajority vote
interest of LLC Members in favor of said amendment.
Section 10.2 Successors. This Agreement shall be binding as upon
all successors in interest of the Members which includes, but is not limited
to, executors, personal representatives, estates, trustees, heirs,
beneficiaries, assignees, nominees, and creditors of the Members.
Section 10.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
several counterparts with the same effect as if the parties executing the
several counterparts had all executed one counterpart.
Section 10.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of ____________________.
Each Member, by signing this agreement, hereby submits to personal and subject
matter jurisdiction in the State of _______________________ of any dispute
between or among the Members, the LLC, and the LLC Managers connected to or
regarding the business of, or investment in, the LLC.
Signatures
[JV1]To be used to establish operating procedures for a limited Liability corporation. Use the Long form when you have numerous members and/or you wish to provide as much specificity as possible on how the LLC is to be operated. This form allows for vesting of management of the LLC in the members or in a designated manager. If members elect to manage the Company, this agreement also allows officers to be appointed and covers various other previsions.
[JV2]Insert your company’s name here
[JV3]We left this generic, purposely without a certain date, since some states do not require any certain order of filing. That is, in some states one can do the operating agreement first and then file, or visa versa.
[JV5]This can be any percentage agreed upon by the members, but the number should make sense such that one does not have minority owners, say someone owning less than 10%, calling meetings at a whim.
[JV6]While the notice date does not have to be seven days we like the idea of setting a certain date here
[JV7]Insert name here
[JV8]The Members may initially manage the llc. The long form llc is really for more complex organizations that might wish to have an “outside” manager. This can be changed to reflect either member management or an outside manager as follows: “The members or a designated member shall manage the operations of the LLC. However, the LLC members reserve the right to name a non-member manager at any time by vote of the majority of the members.”
[JV9]This provision means the llc manager, should the members appoint one or more, will manage the organization for a date certain, in this instance one year subject to removal by the llc members.
[JV10]Insert managers’ names here
[JV11]Generally, he bears the burden of proof to whomever the issue is raised before, whether it be the other LLC members or a regulatory or judicial body. With respect to the regulatory or judicial body, it “goes without saying” that the burden of proof rests with the individual raising the issue. Nonetheless, we add it here anyway so that if the issue is raised, the complainant can never say he did not know he bore the burden of proof.
[JV12]This may sound “dangerous”, but some States require the ability to freely sell ones shares to other members without restriction. If your state does not make such a requirement the paragraph may read as follows: “Members may sell, conveyor otherwise transfer theis LLC Units to another Member only if the selling member gives all other members the right of first refusal for the purchase of said units.”
[JV13]This is a potentially confusing point where a written contract may trump state laws. This is also a point where many “can” LLC operating agreements fall apart. Here is the picture: Each state has laws that set out basic operating rules for LLCs, some of which will govern a business unless an operating agreement says otherwise (these are called "default rules"). Many states, for example, have a default rule that requires owners to divide up LLC profits and losses equally, regardless of each member's investment in the business. Others have rules relating to how distribution is handled in the event of retirement, and so on. These laws generally defer to the OPERATING AGREEMENT AND DEFAULT TO STATE LAW IN THE ABSENCE OF A PROVISION IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC ISSUE. Thus, for point of clarity, we make VERY clear in this part that the operating agreement trumps the state law.
[JV14]An LLC is more akin to a partnership than it is to a corporation. That is, while the LLC provides protection like a corporation (limiting liability, et al) it typically treats profits and losses more like a partnership does. Thus when one withdraws from an llc, one is entitled to profits and ones contribution, assuming that contribution is available. Thus, in a more complex situation, such as this agreement addresses, one cannot allow a person simply to walk away from the LLC and take his contribution with him- and potentially jeopardize the existence of the LLC.
[JV15]Most State Statutes do not have provisions requiring any certain manner in which records are kept. The following provision can be made a part of the operating agreement, however:
“A member of the LLC shall be appointed to keep records of the minutes of meetings, to record actions taken by the Members of the LLC, and to otherwise mail and receive all notices sent on behalf of the LLC, with the exception of those notices that are required by law to be received by the LLC’s registered agent.” A member may also be appointed to keep all financial records of the LLC.
[JV16]If you would prefer arbitration, consider the following: Some state courts have held arbitration provisions to be contrary to State law; that is it denies litigants their day in court. Others have reached the same conclusions, but not in the context of LLC agreements specifically. You may change the wording of the agreement to read as follows: “they shall submit the issue to a mutually agreed upon arbitrator or to an arbitration panel in the event the members cannot agree upon a single arbitrator to resolve the issue. The parties (the remaining LLC members representing one party and the estate of the deceased member representing the other) shall each submit the name of an arbitrator. These arbitrators shall between them choose a third arbitrator to make up the panel of three arbitrators. This panel shall resolve the issue of the value of the LLC interest of the deceased party by majority vote of the panel.
[JV17]This, once again refers to “default laws” in many states.