AN OFFERING STATEMENT PURSUANT TO REGULATION A RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRELIMINARY OFFERING CIRCULAR IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED BEFORE THE OFFERING STATEMENT FILED WITH THE COMMISSION IS QUALIFIED. THIS PRELIMINARY OFFERING CIRCULAR SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR MAY THERE BE ANY SALES OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL BEFORE REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE. WE MAY ELECT TO SATISFY OUR OBLIGATION TO DELIVER A FINAL OFFERING CIRCULAR BY SENDING YOU A NOTICE WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF OUR SALE TO YOU THAT CONTAINS THE URL WHERE THE OFFERING CIRCULAR WAS FILED MAY BE OBTAINED.
Preliminary Offering Circular, Dated May 21, 2021

RoyaltyTraders LLC dba SongVest
1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd., Suite 115
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 324-2945
www.songvest.com
Best Efforts Offering of Royalty Share Units
RoyaltyTraders LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (which we refer to as “SongVest”, “we,” “us,” “our” or “our company”), is offering, on a best efforts basis, units (the “Royalty Share Units”) representing the right to a portion of specified royalty sharing agreements (each, a “Royalty Share Agreement”) identified in the “Royalty Share Offering Table” beginning on page iii. The Royalty Share Units will be made available for purchase via our web-based investment platform www.songvest.com (the “SongVest Platform”).
All of the Royalty Share Units of our company offered hereunder may collectively be referred to in this offering circular as the “Royalty Share Units” and each, individually, as a “Royalty Share Unit.” The Royalty Share Agreements described above may collectively be referred to in this offering circular as the “Royalty Share Agreements” and each, individually, as a “Royalty Share Agreement” and the offerings of the Royalty Share Units may collectively be referred to in this offering circular as the “offerings” and each, individually, as an “offering.” See “Securities Being Offered” for additional information regarding the Royalty Share Units.
The Royalty Share Units represent the contractual right to receive a portion of any royalty stream from the music portfolio underlying Royalty Share Agreements. SongVest will enter into Royalty Share Agreements with music portfolio owners to obtain rights to the music portfolio which, once the purchase option is executed, will result in SongVest receiving all of, or a portion of the royalties generated by that portfolio. Investors will acquire Royalty Share Units from SongVest to receive a pro rata portion of what SongVest has received (net of SongVest’s administrative fees) based on the number of Royalty Share Units that investor holds compared to the outstanding number of Units for that interest. Purchasing the Royalty Share Units does not confer to the investor any ownership in our company or the underlying music portfolio.
There will be a separate closing with respect to each offering. The closing of an offering will occur on the earliest to occur of (i) the date subscriptions for the number of Royalty Share Units offered for a Royalty Share Agreement have been accepted or (ii) a date determined by our company in its sole discretion, provided that subscriptions for the number of Units offered for a Royalty Share Agreement have been accepted. If closing has not occurred, an offering shall be terminated upon (i) the date which is one year from the date such offering circular or amendment thereof, as applicable, is qualified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, or (ii) any date on which our company elects to terminate the offering for a particular Royalty Share in its sole discretion. No securities are being offered by existing securityholders.
Each offering is being conducted on a “best efforts” basis pursuant to Tier 2 of Regulation A promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The subscription funds advanced by prospective investors as part of the subscription process will be held in a non-interest bearing escrow account with North Capital Private Securities Corporation and will not be commingled with the operating account of our company until, if and when there is a closing with respect to that investor group. Our company will be permitted to purchase Royalty Share Units alongside investors in offerings of series of Royalty Share Units conducted by our company at its discretion. The company will not use the proceeds raised from an offering for such purposes – rather, the company would use its own, separate cash reserves to purchase such Royalty Share Units.
| Price to public | Broker-Dealer discount and commissions(1) | Proceeds to Issuer(3) | ||||||||||
| Royalty Share Agreement 001 | ||||||||||||
| Per Interest | $ | [_] | $ | [_] | $ | [_] | ||||||
| Total Minimum (2) | $ | [_] | $ | [_] | $ | [_] | ||||||
| Total Maximum (2) | $ | [_] | $ | [_] | $ | [_] | ||||||
| (1) | We have engaged Dalmore Group, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC to perform administrative and technology related functions in connection with this offering, but not for underwriting or placement agent services. This includes 1% commission payable to Dalmore, but it does not include the one-time due diligence fee of $5,000 and one-time consulting fee of $25,000 payable by our company to Dalmore. See “Plan of Distribution” for details. |
| (2) | Because these are best efforts offerings, the actual public offering amounts and proceeds to us are not presently determinable and may be substantially less than each total maximum offering set forth above. Further, because we are raising a specific amount of funds to purchase a specific asset, we will only close on investments in this offering and accept funds from investors if we have raised the specific amount that we have determined is necessary to purchase that asset and cover other certain costs of this offering – no more and no less. As such, the maximum and minimum offering amounts in this offering are the same, which we refer to collectively as the “Offering Amount”). |
| (3) | Our company has assumed and will not be reimbursed for offering expenses. See “Use of Proceeds to Issuer” for additional information. |
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act, and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced reporting requirements for this offering circular and future filings after the offerings.
An investment in our Royalty Share Units involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” on page 7 for a description of some of the risks that should be considered before investing in our Royalty Share Units.
Generally, no sale may be made to you in any offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or your net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov.
THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF OR GIVE ITS APPROVAL TO ANY SECURITIES OFFERED OR THE TERMS OF ANY OFFERING, NOR DOES IT PASS UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY OFFERING CIRCULAR OR OTHER SOLICITATION MATERIALS. THESE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSION; HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION HAS NOT MADE AN INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION THAT THE SECURITIES OFFERED ARE EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.
We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, our Royalty Share Units only in jurisdictions where such offers and sales are permitted. You should rely only on the information contained in this offering circular. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than the information contained in this offering circular. The information contained in this offering circular is accurate only as of its date, regardless of the time of its delivery or of any sale or delivery of our Royalty Share Units. Neither the delivery of this offering circular nor any sale or delivery of our Royalty Share Units shall, under any circumstances, imply that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this offering circular. This offering circular will be updated and made available for delivery to the extent required by the federal securities laws.
This offering circular is following the offering circular format described in Part II (a)(1)(i) of Form 1-A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information contained in this offering circular includes some statements that are not historical and that are considered “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our development plans for our business; our strategies and business outlook; anticipated development of our company, our manager, our company and the SongVest Platform; and various other matters (including contingent liabilities and obligations and changes in accounting policies, standards and interpretations). These forward-looking statements express our manager’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, and intentions regarding the future. In addition, without limiting the foregoing, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates”, “believes”, “continue”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “might”, “plans”, “possible”, “potential”, “predicts”, “projects”, “seeks”, “should”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions and variations, or comparable terminology, or the negatives of any of the foregoing, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements contained in this offering circular are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments that are difficult to predict. Neither we nor our manager can guarantee future performance, or that future developments affecting our company, our manager or the SongVest Platform will be as currently anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties, along with others, are also described below under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the parties’ assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and should not make an investment decision based solely on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
ii
ROYALTY SHARE UNITS OFFERING TABLE
The table below shows key information related to the offering of each series of Royalty Share Unit. Please also refer to “The Underlying Portfolio” and “Use of Proceeds” sections for further details.
| Royalty Share Name | Underlying Portfolio(s) | Offering Price per Unit (1) | Offering Amount (2) | Units | Opening Date | Closing Date | Status | |||||||||||
| “Hit The Quan” | “Hit the Quan” Producer’s Share | $ | [_] | $ | [_] | 1,950 | [ ] | [ ] | Not Yet Launched | |||||||||
| (1) | The offering price per Royalty Share Unit will be determined through a “second-price” auction during a testing the waters period under Rule 255 of Regulation A. See “Plan of Distribution and Selling Securityholders – Price Discovery” for further information on how our company will determine the offering price per share for its Royalty Share Units. As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have not yet determined the price per Royalty Share Unit for the “Hit The Quan” Royalty Share Units, nor has it begun this process. |
| (2) | As described on the cover page of this Offering Circular, the Offering Amount is both the maximum and minimum amount of proceeds that the Company will accept in this offering. The Offering Amount includes the cost to acquire the “Hit The Quan” Music Royalty Asset of $[_], the Sourcing Fee payable to our company of $[_], certain other offering expenses related to fees payable to Dalmore ($500) and our transfer agent ($500), and the 1% commission payable to Dalmore of $[_]. As of the date of this Offering Circular, the Company is not yet able to determine the offering size, as the Company has not yet determined the price of the Royalty Share Units, and therefore does not know the price at which it will sell the 1,950 “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Units. |
iii
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this offering circular. You should read the entire offering circular and carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in the section captioned “Risk Factors.” You are encouraged to seek the advice of your attorney, tax consultant, and business advisor with respect to the legal, tax, and business aspects of an investment in our Royalty Share Units. All references in this offering circular to “$” or “dollars” are to United States dollars.
The Company
Overview
Revenue generated in the music industry is expected to grow in the foreseeable future. A June 2019 Goldman Sachs equity research report forecasted that the recorded music market will hit $45 billion by 2030, driven by 1.15 billion users paying for music-streaming subscriptions and 40% penetration in developed markets such as the U.S. Despite this optimistic outlook, many record labels continue to seek alternative methods of financing while optimizing their digital marketing strategy in the music streaming economy. Further, while donation crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, and investment platforms like Royalty Exchange have seen some success in providing opportunities to invest in music to the public, investors and music fans still have limited access to investing in music royalty assets. Even those who do have access to top quality music royalty assets are faced with high fees, lack of transparency, and significant operational overheads. With high transactional costs and low transaction volumes, investors in music assets often suffer from illiquidity, resulting in long holding periods that make such investments inaccessible and unattractive for many investors.
The SongVest Platform is our proposed solution to this problem. The SongVest Platform combines crowdfunding, investing, and a social network involving fans to create a robust online marketplace where the public can acquire shares of music royalties in their favorite artists’ albums. The SongVest Platform allows investors to pick and invest in the royalty streams from compositions by their favorite artists, and get royalty distributions related to those assets. Additionally, SongVest allows investors to impact the success of artists with their albums. Record labels are provided with tools and strategies enabled by the SongVest Platform to collectively promote albums, potentially furthering the success of a release, and generating more revenue.
We plan to use the proceeds from this offering to acquire, hold and manage royalty interests derived from intellectual property created in the media industry (“Music Royalty Assets”). Music Royalty Assets are passive (non-operating) interests in media catalogs (collections of work) that provide the right to revenue produced from the catalog. As it relates to music catalogs, this includes revenue generated from streaming, downloads, physical album sales and other forms of usage by movies, television and advertisements.
We intend to acquire Music Royalty Assets ranging in price anywhere from $20,000 to $250,000. Some assets may also be below or above this range. Our mission is to democratize wealth accumulation by providing access, liquidity and transparency to investments in Music Royalty Assets.
Our company will charge a 15% “sourcing fee” for Music Royalty Assets acquired using the proceeds from our offerings (the “Sourcing Fee”). The Sourcing Fee may be waived or reduced by our manager. Additionally, our company will receive an administrative fee of 10% of value of the total distributions due to holders of the Royalty Share Units, as compensation for managing the Music Royalty Assets (and corresponding Royalty Share Agreements).
History and Structure
Our company is a limited liability company formed on March 18, 2021 pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, or the LLC Act.
Manager
The company has designated Sean Peace and Alexander Guiva as the managers of our company. Throughout this Offering Circular, we refer to Sean Peace and Alexander Guiva together as the “manager”.
The manager has identified the Music Royalty Assets that the proceeds of this offering will be used to purchase, and generally is responsible for the day-to-day operations of our company.
1
Price Discovery
To determine the per Royalty Share Unit price for each series, we will utilize a “second-price” auction during a testing the waters period under Rule 255 of Regulation A. SongVest will offer the projected number of Royalty Share Units for sale in an auction environment. Each bidder can bid for as many or as few Royalty Share Units as they are willing to pay for, subject to a minimum bid size of one Royalty Share Unit. However, all winning test bidders have a projected payment based only on the lowest qualifying (successful) bid. The bid price will only increment higher when all Royalty Share Units of the next bid increment are completely bid out. Then the process repeats itself for the next round of bidding. If there are more successful bids than Royalty Share Units available, priority goes to the bidders whose bids are the highest and then to bidders who submitted their bids first in time. In order to beat a competing bidder, a bidder must bid a higher price per Royalty Share Unit than the other bidder(s), regardless of the number of Royalty Share Units that are being bid for. Bidding is conducted in $1.00 increments.
The bidding described above will consist solely of non-binding indications of interest as required by Rule 255 of Regulation A. No commitments to invest will be solicited, and no funds will be accepted prior to qualification of a series of Royalty Share Units.
Distributions
Holders of Royalty Share Units will receive distributions at set amounts and intervals as determined by the terms of the applicable series of Royalty Share Units that such holders have purchased. For the terms of each series of Royalty Share Unit being offered in this offering, see the “Securities Being Offered” section of this Offering Circular.
2
The Offerings
| Securities being offered: |
We are offering the number of Royalty Share Units of each series at a price per interest set forth in the “Series Offering Table” section above.
Each series of Royalty Share Units relates to a different Music Royalty Asset, and has its own terms. See “Securities Being Offered” for further details. The Royalty Share Units are debt instruments that are paid based on the flow of royalties from a particular Music Royalty Asset, which is governed by the terms of the applicable Royalty Share Agreement relating to the Music Royalty Asset. The Royalty Share Units do not have any voting rights, and do not represent any ownership interest in our company. The purchase of a particular series of Royalty Share Units is an investment only in that particular Music Royalty Asset of our company and does not create any rights to royalty payments from any other Music Royalty Asset. The Royalty Share Agreements are structured as a purchase option, which gives us the right, but not the obligation to purchase a specific Music Royalty Asset subject to the agreement through the proceeds of the series offering related to that Music Royalty Asset. | |
| Minimum subscription: | The minimum subscription by an investor is one (1) Royalty Share Unit. The per Royalty Share Unit price will vary by series. | |
| Broker: | We have entered into an agreement with the Dalmore Group, LLC (the “Broker”), which is acting as our executing broker in connection with each offering. The Broker is a broker-dealer which is registered with the Commission and will be registered in each state where each offering will be made prior to the launch of such offering and with such other regulators as may be required to execute the sale transactions and provide related services in connection with each offering. The Broker is a member of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC. | |
| Restrictions on investment: |
Each investor must be a “qualified purchaser.” See “Plan of Distribution and Selling Securityholders—Investor Suitability Standards” for further details. Our manager may, in its sole discretion, decline to admit any prospective investor, or accept only a portion of such investor’s subscription, regardless of whether such person is a “qualified purchaser.” Furthermore, our manager anticipates only accepting subscriptions from prospective investors located in states where the Broker is registered.
Generally, no sale may be made to you in any offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(c) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov. | |
| Escrow account: |
The subscription funds advanced by prospective investors as part of the subscription process will be held in a non-interest bearing escrow account with North Capital Private Securities Corporation, the “Escrow Agent”, and will not be commingled with the operating account of any series until, if and when there is a closing with respect to that investor group.
When the Escrow Agent has received instructions from our manager that an offering will close and the investor’s subscription is to be accepted (either in whole or part), then the Escrow Agent shall disburse such investor’s subscription proceeds in its possession to the account of the particular series.
If any offering is terminated without a closing, or if a prospective investor’s subscription is not accepted or is cut back due to oversubscription or otherwise, such amounts placed into escrow by prospective investors will be returned promptly to them without interest. Any costs and expenses associated with a terminated offering will be borne by our manager. |
3
| Offering period: | There will be a separate closing with respect to each offering. The closing of an offering will occur on the earliest to occur of (i) the date subscriptions for the number of Royalty Share Units offered for a series have been accepted or (ii) a date determined by our manager in its sole discretion, provided that subscriptions for the number of Royalty Share Units offered for a series have been accepted. If closing has not occurred, an offering shall be terminated upon (i) the date which is one year from the date such offering circular or amendment thereof, as applicable, is qualified by the Commission, which period may be extended with respect to a particular series by an additional six months by our manager in its sole discretion, or (ii) any date on which our manager elects to terminate the offering for a particular series in its sole discretion. No securities are being offered by existing securityholders. | |
| Use of proceeds: |
The proceeds received in an offering will be applied in the following order of priority of payment:
● Acquisition Cost of the Music Royalty Asset: Actual cost of the underlying Music Royalty Asset related to a series of Royalty Share Units;
● Offering Expenses: In general, these costs include actual fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with an offering, including legal, accounting, escrow, underwriting, filing and compliance costs, as applicable, related to a specific offering;
● Acquisition Expenses: In general, these include costs associated with the acquisition of the Music Royalty Assets related to a series of Royalty Share Units, such as due diligence costs (i.e. lien searches, confirming sellers have valid royalty rights, etc.) and legal costs (in connection with contract drafting, etc.).
● Sourcing Fee: We will be paid a sourcing fee from the proceeds of each offering as compensation for sourcing each Music Royalty Asset in an amount equal to 15% of the consideration being paid for the Music Royalty Asset pursuant to the applicable Royalty Share Agreement for each offering; provided that such sourcing fee may be waived or reduced by the company, at the discretion of our manager.
Our company bears all offering expenses and acquisition expenses described above on behalf of each series of Royalty Share Units that are offered by the company, and will be reimbursed from the proceeds of each offering for certain offering expenses, but not for acquisition expenses or certain offering expenses (such as legal costs, etc.). See “Use of Proceeds to Issuer” and “Plan of Distribution and Selling Securityholders—Fees and Expenses” sections for further details. | |
| Risk factors: | Investing in our Royalty Share Units involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this offering circular and other information included in this offering circular for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our Royalty Share Units. | |
4
The Royalty Share Units offered hereby are highly speculative in nature, involve a high degree of risk and should be purchased only by persons who can afford to lose their entire investment. There can be no assurance that our investment objectives will be achieved or that a secondary market would ever develop for our Royalty Share Units, whether via the SongVest Platform, via third party registered broker-dealers or otherwise. The risks described in this section should not be considered an exhaustive list of the risks that prospective investors should consider before investing in our Royalty Share Units. Prospective investors should obtain their own legal and tax advice prior to making an investment in our Royalty Share Units and should be aware that an investment in our Royalty Share Units may be exposed to other risks of an exceptional nature from time to time. The following considerations are among those that should be carefully evaluated before making an investment in our Royalty Share Units.
Risks Related to the Structure, Operation and Performance of our Company
Our company was recently formed, has no track record and no operating history from which you can evaluate our company or this investment.
Our company was recently formed and has generated revenues to date from operations that are secondary to our company’s primary plan of operations, which is the acquiring and managing of Music Royalty Assets. With respect to acquiring and managing Music Royalty Assets, our company has no operating history upon which prospective investors may evaluate its performance. No guarantee can be given that our company will successfully employ the Music Royalty Assets to create a return for investors.
We currently are not generating sufficient revenue to carry out our planned business operations. We expect our operations to continue to consume substantial amounts of cash.
We expect that, until we acquire a sufficient amount of Music Royalty Assets, we will not be generating sufficient revenue to carry out our planned operations. In order to generate sufficient revenues to carry out our plan of operations and cover our expenses, including the expenses of this Offering, we believe we will need to continue to acquire Music Royalty Assets until we reach a sufficient scale. We expect that our costs may increase as we continue identifying and negotiating with artists and record labels and entering into new Royalty Share Agreements and thereby incurring more costs. Further, the Music Royalty Assets we license may still be in development (such as an incomplete music album from an artist) and therefore may not be generating sales when we acquire such assets. If a lack of available capital means that we are unable to expand our operations or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We expect that, in order to maintain and grow our operations, we will need to promote multiple Royalty Share Unit offerings. There can be no assurance that we will be able to promote enough offerings to sustain our business model.
Although SongVest already has a pipeline of royalty holders to seed our company with offerings, we will need to have a continuous pipeline of offerings that allow us to achieve certain economies of scale in regard to marketing, distribution and other functions. However, we may fail to have enough pipeline of offerings to support our business model and we may fail to achieve economies of scale. There can be no assurance that we will be able to have a sufficient number of successful offerings to achieve revenues that exceed our costs and margins that justify our continued operations.
There are few businesses that have pursued a strategy or investment objective similar to ours, which may make it difficult for our company and Royalty Share Units to gain market acceptance.
We believe that few other companies crowd fund Music Royalty Assets or propose to run a platform for crowd funding Music Royalty Assets. Our company and our Royalty Share Units may not gain market acceptance from potential investors, potential asset sellers or service providers within the music industry. This could result in an inability of our manager to operate the Music Royalty Assets profitably. This could impact the issuance of further series of Royalty Share Units and additional Music Royalty Assets being acquired by us. This would further inhibit market acceptance of our company and if we do not acquire any additional Music Royalty Assets in a timely manner, it will be difficult for us to establish a sustainable business strategy and gain market acceptance.
5
Our success depends in large part upon our manager and its ability to execute our business plan.
The successful operation of our company (and therefore, the success of each series) is in part dependent on the ability of our manager to enter into Royalty Share Agreements for Music Royalty Assets. The success of our company (and therefore, each series of Royalty Share Units) will be highly dependent on the expertise and performance of our manager, its expert network and other investment professionals (which include third party experts) to source, acquire and manage the Music Royalty Assets. The loss of the services of one or both members of the manager could have a material adverse effect on the Music Royalty Assets, in particular, their ongoing management and ability to provide value for the holders of the series Royalty Share Units.
In the event a royalty holder breaches the terms of a Royalty Share Agreement, we would have limited recourse and due to that we may not be able to collect the royalties the royalty holder represented and may not be able to get the funds paid to the royalty holder back to reimburse the investors.
Each Royalty Share Agreement will be between a royalty holder and SongVest. Holders of our Royalty Share Units will have no rights under any Royalty Share Agreement, whether as third-party beneficiaries or otherwise. In the event that we terminate any Royalty Share Agreement due to a material breach by a royalty holder – for example, if the royalties they represent they owned were in fact not theirs to assign royalty income rights to – we will likely not make any royalty payments to holders of the relevant Royalty Share Units.
We intend to enforce all contractual obligations to the extent we deem necessary and in the best interests of our company and holders of Royalty Share Units. However, the royalty holder who misrepresents the royalties they have assigned in the Royalty Share Agreement may not return some or all of the payments they received as part of the sale of the Music Royalty Asset to SongVest, which means that Royalty Share Unit holders may not receive some or all of the investment they made in those units.
Potential breach of the security measures of the SongVest Platform could have a material adverse effect on our company, each series and the value of your investment.
The highly automated nature of the SongVest Platform through which potential investors bid during the testing the waters phase, or acquire Royalty Share Units may make it an attractive target and potentially vulnerable to cyber-attacks, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or similar disruptions. The SongVest Platform processes certain confidential information about investors. While we intend to take commercially reasonable measures to protect our confidential information and maintain appropriate cybersecurity, the security measures of the SongVest Platform, our company, our manager or our service providers could be breached. Any accidental or willful security breaches or other unauthorized access to the SongVest Platform could cause confidential information to be stolen and used for criminal purposes or have other harmful effects. Security breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information could also expose us to liability related to the loss of the information, time-consuming and expensive litigation and negative publicity, or loss of the proprietary nature of our manager’s and our company’s trade secrets. If security measures are breached because of third-party action, employee error, malfeasance or otherwise, or if design flaws in the SongVest Platform software are exposed and exploited, the relationships between our company, investors, users and the asset sellers could be severely damaged, and our company could incur significant liability or have its attention significantly diverted from utilization of the Music Royalty Assets, which could have a material negative impact on the value and payments available for the Royalty Share Units.
Because techniques used to sabotage or obtain unauthorized access to systems change frequently and generally are not recognized until they are launched against a target, we, the third-party hosting used by the SongVest Platform and other third-party service providers may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. In addition, federal regulators and many federal and state laws and regulations require companies to notify individuals of data security breaches involving their personal data. These mandatory disclosures regarding a security breach are costly to implement and often lead to widespread negative publicity, which may cause investors, the asset sellers or service providers within the industry, including insurance companies, to lose confidence in the effectiveness of the secure nature of the SongVest Platform. Any security breach, whether actual or perceived, would harm our reputation and the SongVest Platform and we could lose investors and the asset sellers. This would impair our ability to achieve our objectives of acquiring additional Music Royalty Assets through the issuance of further series of Royalty Share Units and monetizing them together with existing assets through revenue generating events and leasing opportunities.
6
We may encounter limitations on the effectiveness of our internal controls and a failure of our internal controls to prevent error or fraud may harm our business and holders of Royalty Share Units.
Because we operate with minimal employees, we may encounter limitations on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, public disclosures and other matters. For example, as a result of our staffing, our processing of financial information may suffer from a lack of segregation of duties, such that journal entries and account reconciliations are not reviewed by someone other than the preparer. If we encounter limitations on the effectiveness of our internal controls and are unable to remediate them, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately, prevent fraud or file our periodic reports as a Regulation A reporting company in an accurate, complete and timely manner. This could harm our business and holders of Royalty Share Units.
Risks Related to the Music Industry
Income generated by music royalty rights may be reduced if the recorded music industry fails to grow or streaming revenue fails to grow at a sufficient rate to offset download and physical sales declines.
Legal digital music has rapidly grown since 2003, and revenue from music downloads and streaming services have emerged, with streaming revenue experiencing multi-year growth and currently accounting for more than 50% of the overall revenue in the recorded music business. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (“IFPI”), digital downloads accounted for only 5.9% of global digital recorded music revenue in 2019. Although revenue from digital downloads fell by 15.3% in 2019, that decline was more than offset by the 22.9% increase in streaming revenue in 2019.
There can be no assurances that this growth pattern will persist or that digital revenue will grow at a rate sufficient to offset declines in physical sales, or that changes in streaming models will not negatively impact income generated from our music royalty rights. A declining recorded music industry is likely to lead to reduced levels of revenue and operating income generated by the recorded music business. There are also a variety of factors that could cause the prices in the recorded music industry to be reduced. They are, among others, consumption during a global pandemic and fear for economic downturns, price competition from the sale of motion pictures and videogames in physical and digital formats, the negotiating leverage of mass merchandisers, big-box retailers and distributors of digital music, the increased costs of doing business with mass merchandisers and big-box retailers as a result of complying with operating procedures that are unique to their needs and any associated changes.
Changes in technology may affect our ability to receive payments from music royalty rights.
The recorded music business is dependent in part on technological developments, including access to and selection and viability of new technologies, and is subject to potential pressure from competitors as a result of their technological developments. For example, the recorded music business may be further adversely affected by technological developments that facilitate the piracy of music, such as Internet peer-to-peer filesharing activity, by an inability to enforce intellectual property rights in digital environments, and by a failure to develop successful business models applicable to a digital environment. The recorded music business also faces competition from other forms of entertainment and leisure activities, such as cable and satellite television, motion pictures, and videogames, whether in physical or digital formats. The new digital business, including the impact of ad-supported music services, some of which may be able to avail themselves of “safe harbor” defenses against copyright infringement actions under copyright laws, may also limit the recorded music industry’s ability to receive income from music royalty rights. Due to such “safe harbor” defenses, revenue from ad-supported music services may not fully reflect increases in consumption of recorded music. In addition, the recorded music industry is currently dependent on a small number of leading digital music services, which allows such services to significantly influence the prices that can be charged in connection with the distribution of digital music. It is possible that the share of music sales by a small number of leading mass-market retailers, as well as online retailers and digital music services, will continue to grow, which could further increase their negotiating leverage and put pressure on prices, ultimately decreasing the income we will receive from music royalty rights.
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Failure to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights could substantially harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
The success of our company depends on our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our rights under each Royalty Share Agreement. The measures that we take to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our rights, including, if necessary, litigation or proceedings before governmental authorities and administrative bodies, may be ineffective, expensive and time-consuming and, despite such measures, we may not be able to enforce royalty collection on our Music Royalty Assets. Additionally, changes in law may be implemented, or changes in interpretation of such laws may occur, that may affect our ability to obtain, maintain, protect or enforce rights to our Music Royalty Assets. Moreover, with music royalty rights, it is possible that despite our due diligence efforts there could be successful challenges by third parties to the ownership of a particular copyright or royalty stream or, if acquired as a group of assets, the entire group in which case the value of the asset(s) might be significantly less valuable, or have no value. Failure to obtain, maintain, protect or enforce our rights could harm our brand or brand recognition and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.
Digital piracy may lead to decreased sales in the recorded music industry and affect our ability to receive income from music royalty rights.
The combined effect of the decreasing cost of electronic and computer equipment and related technology such as the conversion of music into digital formats have made it easier for consumers to obtain and create unauthorized copies of music recordings in the form of, for example, MP3 files. For example, based on a global study conducted by IFPI in April 2018, more than one-third of music consumers pirated music, and that approximately 32% of the music privacy took place via stream-ripping. Such piracy will have a negative effect on revenues attributable to music royalty rights we acquire. In addition, while growth of music-enabled mobile consumers offers new opportunities for growth in the music industry, it also opens the market up to risks from behaviors such as “sideloading” and mobile app-based downloading of unauthorized content. As the business shifts to streaming music or access models, piracy in these models is increasing. For example, the practice of “stream-ripping,” where websites or software programs enable end-users to obtain an unauthorized copy of the audio file associated with a music video, is a growing practice among young people and in parts of the world with high mobile data costs. The impact of digital piracy on legitimate music sales and subscriptions is hard to quantify but we believe that illegal filesharing and other forms of unauthorized activity has a substantial negative impact on music sales and on the royalty income that we may receive, including royalties derived from music royalty rights. The music industry is working to control this problem in a variety of ways including by litigation, by lobbying governments for new, stronger copyright protection laws and more stringent enforcement of current laws, through graduated response programs achieved through cooperation with Internet service providers and legislation being advanced or considered in many countries, through technological measures and by enabling legitimate new media business models. However, we do not know whether such measures will be effective, and if such measures are not effective, our royalty income derived from our music royalty rights may decrease.
Sellers of the Music Royalty Assets do not owe any fiduciary duties to us or our investors, and they have no obligation to enhance the value of the underlying music royalty rights or disclose information to our investors.
The intellectual property owners have no obligation to enhance the value of the underlying music royalty rights we may acquire. For example, the recording artist may decide to retire which may have the effect of decreasing future royalty income on the music. Furthermore, neither the recording artist nor the intellectual property rights owner owe any fiduciary duties to us or our investors. Our investors will have no recourse directly against the recording artist or the intellectual property rights owner, either under the agreement to purchase the music royalty rights or under state or federal securities laws.
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Risks Related to the Offerings and Ownership of our Royalty Share Units
Any amounts paid to holders of a particular series of Royalty Share Units will only reflect the royalty performance of the underlying Music Royalty Asset.
Investors are acquiring Royalty Share Units which reflect the royalty performance only of the Music Royalty Asset associated with those units. As such, investors will not receive the benefit of diversification in assets or share in the performance of other Music Royalty Assets relating to other series.
There is currently no public trading market for our Royalty Share Units; there can be no assurance that any trading market will develop.
There is currently no public trading market for any series of our Royalty Share Units, and an active market may not develop or be sustained. If an active public trading market for our Royalty Share Units does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult or impossible for investors to resell their Royalty Share Units at any price. Even if a public market does develop, the market price could decline below the amount an investor paid for their Royalty Share Units.
If a market ever develops for our Royalty Share Units, the market price and trading volume may be volatile.
If a market develops for our Royalty Share Units, the market price of our Royalty Share Units could fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including reasons unrelated to our performance, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions, or announcements by our competitors regarding their own performance, as well as general economic and industry conditions. For example, to the extent that other companies, whether large or small, within our industry experience declines in their share price, the value of our Royalty Share Units may decline as well.
In addition, fluctuations in operating results of a particular series or the failure of operating results to meet the expectations of investors may negatively impact the price of our securities. Operating results may fluctuate in the future due to a variety of factors that could negatively affect revenues or expenses in any particular reporting period, including vulnerability of our business to a general economic downturn; changes in the laws that affect our operations; competition; compensation related expenses; application of accounting standards; seasonality; and our ability to obtain and maintain all necessary government certifications or licenses to conduct our business.
There may be state law restrictions on an investor’s ability to sell its Royalty Share Units making it difficult to transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of our Royalty Share Units.
Each state has its own securities laws, often called “blue sky” laws, which (1) limit sales of securities to a state’s residents unless the securities are registered in that state or qualify for an exemption from registration and (2) govern the reporting requirements for broker-dealers and stock brokers doing business directly or indirectly in the state. Before a security is sold in a state, there must be a registration in place to cover the transaction, or it must be exempt from registration. Also, the broker must be registered in that state. We do not know whether the Royalty Share Units being offered under this offering circular will be registered, or exempt, under the laws of any states. A determination regarding registration will be made by the broker-dealers, if any, who agree to serve as the market-makers for our Royalty Share Units. There may be significant state blue sky law restrictions on the ability of investors to sell, and on purchasers to buy, our Royalty Share Units. Investors should consider the resale market for our Royalty Share Units to be limited. Investors may be unable to resell their Royalty Share Units, or they may be unable to resell them without the significant expense of state registration or qualification.
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Dilution means a reduction in value, control or earnings of the Royalty Share Units the investor owns. There will be no dilution to any investors associated with any offering because once a particular series is fully issued, our company will not sell additional Royalty Share Units of that same series.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION AND SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
Plan of Distribution
We are offering, on a best efforts basis, the membership Royalty Share Units of each of the series in the “Series Offering Table” beginning on page iii. The offering price for each series was determined by our manager.
The SongVest Platform allows investors to acquire a series of our Royalty Share Units, which are tied to the performance of a specific Music Royalty Asset under the terms of a Royalty Share Agreement entered into by our company and the royalty rights holder. Through the use of the SongVest Platform, investors can browse and screen the potential investments and sign legal documents electronically. We intend to distribute each series of Royalty Share Units exclusively through the SongVest Platform. Neither our manager nor any other affiliated entity involved in the offer and sale of our Royalty Share Units is a member firm of FINRA, and no person associated with us will be deemed to be a broker solely by reason of his or her participation in the sale of our Royalty Share Units.
There will be a separate closing with respect to each series of Royalty Share Units. The closing of each series will occur on the earliest to occur of (i) the date subscriptions for the number of Royalty Share Units offered for a series have been accepted or (ii) a date determined by our manager in its sole discretion, provided that subscriptions for the number of Royalty Share Units offered for a series have been accepted. If closing has not occurred, an offering shall be terminated upon (i) the date which is one year from the date such offering circular or amendment thereof, as applicable, is qualified by the Commission, which period may be extended with respect to a particular series by an additional six months by our manager in its sole discretion, or (ii) any date on which our manager elects to terminate the offering for a particular series in its sole discretion.
The Royalty Share Units are being offered by subscription only in the United States and to residents of those states in which the offer and sale is not prohibited. This offering circular does not constitute an offer or sale of Royalty Share Units outside of the United States.
Those persons who want to invest in our Royalty Share Units must sign a subscription agreement for the particular series of Royalty Share Units, which will contain representations, warranties, covenants, and conditions customary for offerings of this type. See “—How to Subscribe” below for further details. Copies of the form of subscription agreement for each series are filed as Exhibit 4.1 and onwards in the offering statement.
Our company will be permitted to purchase Royalty Share Units in offerings of series of Royalty Share Units conducted by our company at its discretion. The company will not use the proceeds raised from the offering for such purposes – rather, the company would use its own, separate cash reserves to purchase such Royalty Share Units, should it choose to do so. Our company primarily intends to purchase Royalty Share Units only in situations where the company believes a particular offering may not reach the Offering Amount, and rather than terminate the offering, the company would purchase the remaining Royalty Share Units so that the offering may close, and investors can receive their Royalty Share Units.
The Royalty Share Units will be issued in digital book-entry form without certificates.
The company has engaged Dalmore Group, LLC (“Dalmore”) a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA, to perform the following administrative and technology related functions in connection with this offering, but not for underwriting or placement agent services:
| ● | Review investor information, including KYC (“Know Your Customer”) data, AML (“Anti Money Laundering”) and other compliance background checks, and provide a recommendation to the company whether or not to accept investor as a customer. |
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| ● | Review each investors subscription agreement to confirm such investors participation in the offering, and provide a determination to the Company whether or not to accept the use of the subscription agreement for the investor’s participation. |
| ● | Contact and/or notify the company, if needed, to gather additional information or clarification on an investor. |
| ● | Not provide any investment advice nor any investment recommendations to any investor. |
| ● | Keep investor details and data confidential and not disclose to any third-party except as required by regulators or pursuant to the terms of the agreement (e.g. as needed for AML and background checks). |
| ● | Coordinate with third party providers to ensure adequate review and compliance. |
As compensation for the services listed above, the company has agreed to pay Dalmore $25,000 in one-time set up fees, consisting of the following:
| ● | $5,000 advance payment for out of pocket expenses. | |
| ● | $20,000 consulting fee due and payable immediately after FINRA issues a no objection letter. |
In addition, the company will pay Dalmore a commission equal to 1% of the amount raised in the offering to support the offering once the SEC has qualified the Offering Statement and the offering commences. The company estimates the commission payable to Dalmore would be $[_] for a fully-subscribed offering. Additionally, we have agreed to pay Dalmore a flat fee of $500 for each series of Royalty Share Units that we offer. As such, the total amount that the Company estimates that it will pay Dalmore, pursuant to a fully-subscribed offering would be $[_]. These assumptions were used in estimating the fees due in the “Use of Proceeds.”
Investor Suitability Standards
Our Royalty Share Units are being offered and sold only to “qualified purchasers” (as defined in Regulation A under the Securities Act). “Qualified purchasers” include: (i) “accredited investors” under Rule 501(a) of Regulation D and (ii) all other investors so long as their investment in any series of Royalty Share Units of our company (in connection with any series offered under Regulation A) does not represent more than 10% of the greater of their annual income or net worth (for natural persons), or 10% of the greater of annual revenue or net assets at fiscal year-end (for non-natural persons). We reserve the right to reject any investor’s subscription in whole or in part for any reason, including if we determine in our sole and absolute discretion that such investor is not a “qualified purchaser” for purposes of Regulation A.
For an individual potential investor to be an “accredited investor” for purposes of satisfying one of the tests in the “qualified purchaser” definition, the investor must be a natural person who has:
| 1. | an individual net worth, or joint net worth with the person’s spouse, that exceeds $1,000,000 at the time of the purchase, excluding the value of the primary residence of such person and the mortgage on that primary residence (to the extent not underwater), but including the amount of debt that exceeds the value of that residence and including any increase in debt on that residence within the prior 60 days, other than as a result of the acquisition of that primary residence; or |
| 2. | earned income exceeding $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with a spouse exceeding $300,000 for those years and a reasonable expectation of the same income level in the current year. |
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If the investor is not a natural person, different standards apply. See Rule 501 of Regulation D for more details. For purposes of determining whether a potential investor is a “qualified purchaser,” annual income and net worth should be calculated as provided in the “accredited investor” definition under Rule 501 of Regulation D. In particular, net worth in all cases should be calculated excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles.
Our Royalty Share Units will not be offered or sold to prospective investors subject to ERISA and investors living in Canada
If an investor lives outside the United States, it is his or her responsibility to fully observe the laws of any relevant territory or jurisdiction outside the United States in connection with any purchase, including obtaining required governmental or other consent and observing any other required legal or other formalities.
Our manager will be permitted to make a determination that the subscribers of our Royalty Share Units in any offering are qualified purchasers in reliance on the information and representations provided by the subscriber regarding the subscriber’s financial situation. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable federal thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to http://www.investor.gov.
An investment in our Royalty Share Units may involve significant risks. Only investors who can bear the economic risk of the investment for an indefinite period of time and the loss of their entire investment should invest in our Royalty Share Units. See “Risk Factors.”
Minimum Investment
The minimum subscription by an investor is one (1) Royalty Share Unit of a particular series. The per unit price will vary by series.
Escrow Agent
The Escrow Agent is North Capital Private Securities Corporation, who has been appointed as escrow agent for each offering pursuant to escrow agreements among the Escrow Agent and our company. A copy of the escrow agreement is included as Exhibit 8.1 in the offering statement of which this Offering Circular is part.
Fees and Expenses
See “Use of Proceeds to Issuer” for a description of the specific expenses for each offering.
Offering Expenses
Included in the proceeds for each series of Royalty Share Units will be specific amounts to cover fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the offering of that series of Royalty Share Units (which we collectively refer to as the “Offering Expenses”). Offering Expenses consist of legal, accounting, escrow, underwriting, filing and compliance costs, as applicable, related to a specific offering.
Sourcing Fee
Our company will collect a sourcing fee as compensation for sourcing each Music Royalty Asset (which we refer to as the “Sourcing Fee”). This fee will be set at 15% of the value of the consideration to acquire the rights to the Music Royalty Asset pursuant to the applicable Royalty Share Agreement. The Sourcing Fee may be waived or reduced by our manager on per series basis.
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Price Discovery
To determine the per Royalty Share Unit price for each series, we will utilize a “second-price” auction during a testing the waters period under Rule 255 of Regulation A. SongVest will offer a number of Royalty Share Units for sale in an auction environment. Each bidder can bid for as many or as few Royalty Share Units as they are willing to pay for, subject to a minimum bid size of one Royalty Share Unit. However, all winning test bidders have a projected payment based only on the lowest qualifying (successful) bid. The bid price will only increment higher when all Royalty Share Units of the next bid increment are completely bid out. Then the process repeats itself for the next round of bidding. If there are more successful bids than Royalty Share Units available, priority goes to the bidders whose bids are the highest and then to bidders who submitted their bids first in time. In order to succeed, a competing bidder must bid a higher price per Royalty Share Unit than the other bidder(s), regardless of the number of Royalty Share Units that are being bid for. Bidding is conducted in $1 increments.
Any bids submitted in the “second-price” auction described above will only be non-binding indications of interest as required by Rule 255 of Regulation A. No commitments to invest or funds will be accepted prior to qualification of a series of Royalty Share Units.
Illustrative Example
Here is an example of how an auction might work:
If the series were to auction 1,000 Royalty Share Units for a certain Music Royalty Asset.
1. Bidder “A” bids for 300 Shares at $22 each.
2. Bidder “B” bids for 600 Shares at $21 each.
3. Bidder “C” bids for 250 Shares at $18 each.
4. Bidder “D” bids for 150 Shares at $17 each.
The outcome of this auction would be:
1. Bidder “A” wins 300 Shares at $18 each.
2. Bidder “B” wins 600 Shares at $18 each.
3. Bidder “C” wins 100 Shares at $18 each.
The price is $18 per Royalty Share Unit as that was the lowest successful bid at which all of the Royalty Share Units are sold (hence the second price). Upon qualification by the SEC of an offering of the series of Royalty Share Units, all bidders would be given the opportunity to buy the number of Royalty Share Units at which a successful auction is concluded during the TTW phase even if that number of units is lower than the number of units in their original bid. (See Bidder “C” in the example above).
The auction may be extended if i) the quantity and price of bids fail to meet the reserve price (the minimum price at which the SongVest is willing to sell the series of Royalty Share Units in an offering) and SongVest agrees to extend the auction beyond its normal timeframe or ii) if a bidder places a bid within the last 5 minutes of the auction, the auction will automatically be extended for 5 minutes.
Additional Information Regarding this Offering Circular
We have not authorized anyone to provide information regarding this offering other than as set forth in this Offering Circular. Except as otherwise indicated, all information contained in this Offering Circular is given as of the date of this Offering Circular. Neither the delivery of this Offering Circular nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date hereof.
From time to time, we may provide an “offering circular supplement” that may add, update or change information contained in this Offering Circular. Any statement that we make in this Offering Circular will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a subsequent offering circular supplement. The offering statement we filed with the Commission includes exhibits that provide more detailed descriptions of the matters discussed in this Offering Circular. You should read this Offering Circular and the related exhibits filed with the Commission and any offering circular supplement together with additional information contained in our annual reports, semiannual reports and other reports and information statements that we will file periodically with the Commission.
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The Offering Circular and all supplements and reports that we have filed or will file in the future can be read on the Commission website at www.sec.gov or in the legal section on the SongVest Platform (at www.songvest.com/offering). The contents of the SongVest Platform (other than the offering statement, this Offering Circular and the appendices and exhibits thereto) are not incorporated by reference in or otherwise a part of this Offering Circular.
How to Subscribe
Potential investors who are “qualified purchasers” may subscribe to purchase our Royalty Share Units. Any potential investor wishing to acquire our Royalty Share Units must:
| 1. | Carefully read this Offering Circular, and any current supplement, as well as any documents described in the Offering Circular and attached as exhibits to the offering statement or which you have requested. Consult with your tax, legal and financial advisors to determine whether an investment in our Royalty Share Units is suitable for you. |
| 2. | Review the subscription agreement (including the “Investor Qualification and Attestation” attached thereto), which was pre-populated following your completion of certain questions on the SongVest Platform application, and if the responses remain accurate and correct, sign the completed subscription agreement using electronic signature. Except as otherwise required by law, subscriptions may not be withdrawn or cancelled by subscribers. |
| 3. | Once the completed subscription agreement is signed, you will be instructed to transfer funds in an amount equal to the purchase price for Royalty Share Units you have applied to subscribe for (as set out on the front page of your subscription agreement) by ACH into the escrow account. The Escrow Agent will hold such subscription monies in escrow until such time as your subscription agreement is either accepted or rejected by our manager and, if accepted, such further time until you are issued the Royalty Share Units. |
| 4. | Our manager will review the subscription documentation completed and signed by you. You may be asked to provide additional information. Our manager will contact you directly if required. We reserve the right to reject any subscriptions, in whole or in part, for any or no reason, and to withdraw any offering at any time prior to closing. |
| 5. | Once the review is complete, our manager will inform you whether or not your application to subscribe for the Royalty Share Units is approved or denied and if approved, the number of Royalty Share Units you are entitled to subscribe for. If your subscription is rejected in whole or in part, then your subscription payments (being the entire amount if your application is rejected in whole or the payments associated with those subscriptions rejected in part) will be refunded promptly, without interest or deduction. Our manager accepts subscriptions on a first-come, first served basis subject to the right to reject or reduce subscriptions. |
| 6. | If all or a part of your subscription is approved, then the number of Royalty Share Units you are entitled to subscribe for will be issued to you upon the closing. Simultaneously with the issuance of the Royalty Share Units, the subscription monies held by the Escrow Agent in escrow on your behalf will be transferred to the account of the applicable series as consideration for such Royalty Share Units. |
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By executing the subscription agreement, you agree to be bound by the terms of the subscription agreement and the Royalty Share Units. Our company and our manager will rely on the information you provide in the subscription agreement, including the “Investor Qualification and Attestation” attached thereto and the supplemental information you provide in order for our manager to verify your status as a “qualified purchaser.” If any information about your “qualified purchaser” status changes prior to you being issued the Royalty Share Units, please notify our manager immediately using the contact details set out in the subscription agreement.
For further information on the subscription process, please contact our manager using the contact details set out in the “Where You Can Find Additional Information” section.
The subscription funds advanced by prospective investors as part of the subscription process will be held in a non-interest-bearing account with the Escrow Agent and will not be commingled with the operating account of our company, until if and when there is a closing with respect to that investor. When the Escrow Agent has received instructions from our manager that an offering will close and the investor’s subscription is to be accepted (either in whole or part), then the Escrow Agent shall disburse such investor’s subscription proceeds in its possession to our company. If an offering is terminated without a closing, or if a prospective investor’s subscription is not accepted or is cut back due to oversubscription or otherwise, such amounts placed into escrow by prospective investors will be returned promptly to them without interest or deductions. Any costs and expenses associated with a terminated offering will be borne by our company.
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The allocation of the net proceeds of each offering set forth below represents our intentions based upon our current plans and assumptions regarding the specified Music Royalty Asset. The company reserves the right to modify the use of proceeds
“Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement
We estimate that the gross proceeds of the offering of “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement will be approximately $[_] (the “Offering Amount”) assuming the full amount of the offering is sold, and will be used in the following order of priority of payment:
| Uses | Dollar Amount | Percentage of Gross Cash Proceeds | ||||||
| Cash Consideration for Acquisition of Music Royalty Asset (1) | $ | [_] | [_] | % | ||||
| Sourcing Fee(2) | $ | [_] | [_] | % | ||||
| Offering Expenses(3) | $ | [_] | [_] | % | ||||
| Total Proceeds | $ | [_] | 100.0 | % | ||||
| (1) | The company entered into a Royalty Share Agreement with Kingdom Trust Company FBO Sean Peace for the “Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset on May 16, 2021, which is included as Exhibit 6.5. |
| (2) | The company will receive a Sourcing Fee as compensation for sourcing the “Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset in an amount equal to 15% of the consideration for acquisition of the “Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset as set forth in the ““Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement”. |
| (3) | Represents certain other offering expenses related to fees payable to Dalmore ($500) and our transfer agent ($500), and the 1% commission payable to Dalmore of $[_]. |
THE UNDERLYING MUSIC PORTFOLIOS
“Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset
The discussions contained in this offering circular relating to the “Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset underlying the “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement and the music industry are taken from the royalty statements from the royalty provider and third-party sources that we believe to be reliable and we believe that the information from such sources contained herein regarding the “Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset and the music industry are reasonable, and that the factual information therein is fair and accurate.
Summary Overview
The “Hit The Quan” Music Royalty Asset is the underlying asset of the “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement. It contains the producer’s share of income from the master recording “Hit The Quan” recorded by the recording artist iLoveMemphis and released in 2015 by Sony Music. The producer, Cordarius Williams P/K/A BUCK NASTY, sold his producer royalty income previously to the Kingdom Trust Company FBO Sean Peace, which is a self-directed IRA of a member of our manager, Sean Peace. The “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement is structured as a purchase option, which gives us the right, but not the obligation to purchase the “Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset if we raise the maximum amount of proceeds in this Offering. Upon raising the Offering Amount in this offering, the company will be able to fund the purchase price required to exercise the purchase option pursuant to the “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement with Kingdom Trust Company FBO Sean Peace (filed as Exhibit 6.5 to the offering statement of which this offering circular forms a part), so that the Company can purchase the right to receive the producer royalty revenue from this asset.
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“Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement Terms
The “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement is between Kingdom Trust Company FBO Sean Peace and our company. Pursuant to the “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement, for the purchase price of $[_] (i.e. the purchase option), our company has the right to receive 100% of the producer’s revenue share for a term of 40 years starting June 1, 2021 through June 1, 2061. Revenues the company will be entitled to receive from the “Hit the Quan” asset pursuant to this agreement include revenues earned in connection with the sale and exploitation of the Masters (i.e. the official original recording of the song, and the source from which all the later copies are made), which will be paid at the percentage interest as defined in the “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement for the applicable revenue sources (e.g., Streaming). Sales shall be determined by reference to the royalty statements from the royalties paid to the producer bi-yearly by Sony Music, which shall be conclusive and binding upon the Parties, absent manifest error. Further, the “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement provides that all earnings from video exploitation of “Hit the Quan” Music Royalty Asset will also be paid to the company.
Financial Highlights
The royalties paid over the last two years from all revenue streams contemplated in the “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement has averaged $3,868 per year.
| 2018 H1 | 2018 H2 | 2019 H1 | 2019 H2 | 2020 H1 | 2020 H2 | Grand Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| HIT THE QUAN | $ | 1,091.86 | $ | 1,130.70 | $ | 2,305.54 | $ | 1,609.10 | $ | 1,266.78 | $ | 2,555.86 | $ | 9,959.84 | ||||||||||||||
“Hit The Quan” was released in 2015. The revenue increased from 2018 to 2019 and has remained basically flat from 2019 to 2020.
| Service Providers | 2018 H1 | 2018 H2 | 2019 H1 | 2019 H2 | 2020 H1 | 2020 H2 | Grand Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| YouTube | $ | 17.87 | $ | 102.09 | $ | 365.06 | $ | 412.01 | $ | 312.62 | $ | 836.07 | $ | 2,045.72 | ||||||||||||||
| Apple | $ | 474.13 | $ | 402.98 | $ | 372.38 | $ | 352.87 | $ | 307.14 | $ | 710.84 | $ | 2,620.34 | ||||||||||||||
| Spotify | $ | 300.02 | $ | 324.88 | $ | 282.42 | $ | 357.41 | $ | 287.09 | $ | 652.04 | $ | 2,203.86 | ||||||||||||||
| Amazon | $ | 66.37 | $ | 60.70 | $ | 24.77 | $ | 131.78 | $ | 79.82 | $ | 236.59 | $ | 600.03 | ||||||||||||||
| Pandora | $ | 123.36 | $ | 111.69 | $ | 72.90 | $ | 62.40 | $ | 54.07 | $ | 38.36 | $ | 462.78 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 30.45 | $ | 20.17 | $ | 31.11 | $ | 90.12 | $ | 31.55 | $ | 203.40 | |||||||||||||||||
| Peloton | $ | 7.26 | $ | 12.51 | $ | 46.01 | $ | 43.39 | $ | 13.39 | $ | 122.56 | ||||||||||||||||
| Deezer | $ | 9.71 | $ | 5.86 | $ | 7.60 | $ | 6.88 | $ | 6.95 | $ | 10.36 | $ | 47.36 | ||||||||||||||
| The Rest | $ | 100.40 | $ | 84.79 | $ | 1,147.73 | $ | 208.63 | $ | 85.58 | $ | 26.66 | $ | 1,653.79 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,091.86 | $ | 1,130.70 | $ | 2,305.54 | $ | 1,609.10 | $ | 1,266.78 | $ | 2,555.86 | $ | 9,959.84 | ||||||||||||||
(Note – the data in the table above was taken from Sony Music royalty statements sent to the owner of the “Hit The Quan” Music Royalty Asset. Additionally, references to “H1” and “H2” refer to the first half of the year and the second half of the year, respectively).
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Overview of the Company
Our company is a limited liability company formed on March 18, 2021, pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, or the LLC Act. We founded RoyaltyTraders LLC with the mission to combine crowdfunding, investing, and a social network involving fans to create a robust online marketplace where the public can acquire shares of Music Royalty Assets in their favorite music artists’ creations. The SongVest Platform allows investors to pick and invest in the royalty streams from compositions by artists, and receive royalty distributions from those assets. Additionally, SongVest allows investors to impact the success of artists with their albums. Record labels are provided with tools and strategies enabled by the SongVest Platform to collectively promote albums, potentially furthering the success of a release, and generating more revenue.
Market Opportunity
SongVest is poised to take advantage of the growth of two industries – the music industry, and the growth of centralized marketplaces and crowdfunding platforms. SongVest intends to provide a music platform where investors can purchase shares linked to the royalties of songs via a Royalty Share Agreement.
We believe music royalty owners, such as artists, record labels, songwriters, producers and estate heirs, are looking for ways to diversify their holdings and liquidity. The current options for financing music revenue streams are limited. In addition, investors and fans have limited access to music royalty investment opportunities because they usually do not have direct access to the holders of music rights. We believe there is a market opportunity to provide music fans with an opportunity to invest in multiple music royalty streams at a fractional level for as little as $10 to $20.
Our goal is not just to be an investment platform, but more importantly serve as a central hub for music fans where we can engage with them, which may potentially help boost streaming and other revenue streams of the artists and record labels. Because our fans are investors and have a vested interest in the success of the music they have invested in, we believe it will be a rewarding experience for them.
SongVest has the opportunity to advance the investment music space through its portal that is intended to provide updated information on which artist and album is trending across multiple social, sales, and streaming data streams. This is where fans can come to find new investment opportunities and share the investments they have made. Our expertise in music sales and marketing will facilitate music fan and investor interactions and will be sought after not only for investment purposes but also for our music market expertise.
We believe the music industry is poised for continued growth after a decline because of COVID. Goldman Sachs’ Music Industry’s long-term growth forecast predicts a 26% rise in 2021 and an 18% increase in 2022, with compound annual growth rate (CAGR) settling in at 6% for the period of 2019 to 2030.
In addition, we have seen more and more fans and artists use centralized marketplaces, such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon to create different revenue streams which supports the thesis that if we create a marketplace that allows royalty owners to capitalize on their future royalty earnings today, there is an interest in those types of opportunities.
Key Aspects of Our Business
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SongVest Platform
The SongVest Platform at www.songvest.com is intended to be a platform that connects investors with different royalty stream investments, and provides further opportunities for the royalty owners to engage with investors and music fans.
The SongVest Platform will have two main goals: (i) the listing of offerings we have for investment; and (ii) serving as a music portal that will provide social, sales, concert and streaming data to showcase the artists and songs that are driving the royalty investments.
We intend for investors in our offerings to be able to view the shares they own via the SongVest Platform, as well as view royalty information about payments. We intend to release an expanded version of the SongVest Platform in the next 6 months that will include more data sources, including news, and trading information.
Pipeline
We will market to songwriters, producers, publishers and record labels to build the pipeline for investments on the SongVest portal. While songwriters, producers and publishers are more likely to want to monetize their assets, record labels will see this as a way to directly connect with fans in ways they have not been able to before. We believe the real upside is in being able to educate record labels that this new way to have a direct connection with fans will allow them not only to increase current album revenue but also provide other forms of upsell and cross-sell opportunities to drive more revenue.
Competition
Our closest competitors are Royalty Exchange in the US and ANote in Europe. We are currently working on signing up top record labels, artists and obtaining industry backing to lock in SongVest as a first mover status given that our business model is different from the competition.
Royalty Share Agreements
It is our intention that each Royalty Share Agreement we enter into will be based on a template royalty agreement that acts as a standard baseline, however, variations may occur. The form of this baseline Royalty Share Agreement is included as an exhibit to the offering statemen of which this Offering Circular is part, along with the specific Royalty Share Agreements related to each Music Royalty Asset that is related to an offering we are conducting. Generally, only certain terms of the baseline royalty agreement will be subject to negotiation with each royalty holder. We believe that many royalty owners will not “sell” 100% of their Music Royalty Assets in perpetuity but only sell a portion of them for a certain period of time. Therefore, our royalty agreements will be for a certain percentage of the Music Royalty Asset royalty income and for a certain period of time. We are expecting 30 to 40 year terms. We may also offer shorter term offerings with 3 to 10 year terms for sellers who just need a much shorter term and have a smaller financial need. We expect, though, that each Royalty Share Agreement will be structured as a purchase option agreement, which gives us the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the Music Royalty Asset, typically through the proceeds of the offering for the series related to that Royalty Share Agreement.
Our Manager
The company has elected to be a manager managed limited liability company. Under the operating agreement, Sean Peace and Alexander Guiva are designated as the managers of our company. Throughout this Offering Circular, we refer to both managers together as the manager as they may act independently with full authority as “manager” of our company. Our manager will assist the company in identifying Music Royalty Assets to be acquired using the proceeds from the offerings we conduct.
See “Directors, Executive Officers and Significant Employees” for additional information regarding our manager.
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Indemnification of our Manager
The operating agreement provides that none of our manager, nor any current or former directors, officers, employees, partners, shareholders, members, controlling persons, agents or independent contractors of our manager, nor persons acting at the request of our company in certain capacities with respect to other entities will be liable to our company, any series or any interest holders for any act or omission taken by them in connection with the business of our company or any series that has not been determined in a final, non-appealable decision of a court, arbitrator or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to constitute fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence.
Music Royalty Asset Selection
Our asset selection criteria were established by our manager and are continually influenced by investor demand and current industry trends. The criteria are subject to change from time to time in the sole discretion of our manager. Although we cannot guarantee positive investment returns on the assets we acquire, we endeavor to select assets that are projected to generate positive return on investment, primarily based upon the asset’s historical performance data and assumptions about its ability to produce future royalty income. Our manager, will endeavor to select assets with known royalty income history that have the opportunity to continue to produce royalty income for years to come. Our manager also considers the artist, the release date, top chart position, current social media statistics and other data points that might influence the future earnings of the song or songs represented in the Music Royalty Asset.
We will partner with artists, songwriters, producers, royalty owners and record labels to select songs, albums, and catalogs to be subject to a Royalty Share Agreement. We may select and bundle artists and albums for certain series of Royalty Share Units based on genre, relative success of past albums, fan base demographics, or other factors that make such assets fit together as a cohesive package.
Sourcing.
We have sales reps that will engage potential artists, record labels and songwriters who are interested in participating in the SongVest offerings. They will qualify potential prospects and work with them to understand the opportunity and pull the appropriate materials together. Sales reps are, and will be, paid via commission only on the value of deals sourced and closed upon by the company that such sales reps have introduced to our company.
As compensation for these services, our company will receive a Sourcing Fee equal to 15% of the consideration paid for acquisition of the Music Royalty Asset as set forth in the applicable Royalty Share Agreement for such asset.
Due Diligence.
When evaluating an asset, we will consider the growth, its potential, historical significance, ownership history, past valuation of the asset and comparable assets. Our diligence process will include a review of public auction data, opinions from music advisors in our network, precedent and comparable transactions, among other metrics. We will also complete diligence on the royalty owners themselves and their assets. We will validate that there are no tax liens, divorce decrees, UCC filings or other factors that might encumber or impact the future royalty streams. The diligence process will be a part of a memo that will be put together for an investment review.
Asset Management.
Management of Music Royalty Assets we acquire will involve management of the relationship with the royalty rights holders, as well as oversight of compliance with the terms of the Royalty Share Agreements entered into by the company and royalty holders, to ensure that the company is receiving all payments owed to it pursuant to the terms of the applicable Royalty Share Agreement. The company will monitor the royalty distributions that are due on Music Royalty Assets and will allocate royalty streams to the right owners in a timely manner after such distributions are received by the company.
As compensation for such services, our company will receive an administrative fee of 10% of value of the total distributions made to holders of the Royalty Share Units.
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Employees
The company does not currently have any employees except for its two managers. We are currently using consultants for sales, operations and finance, but will be looking to add full-time staff down the road. The company also currently has one sales rep, which is not an employee of the company, and works on a commissions-only basis.
Government Regulation
The types of music royalties available to our company are governed by U.S. copyright law. The Copyright Act establishes compulsory license fees for musical works categorized as “mechanical royalties” along with the writers share and publishers share of music copyright. Additionally we may utilize other types of royalty streams, like producers share or other specific royalty generating areas that can be contractually secured.
Legal Proceedings
None of our company or our manager is presently subject to any material legal proceedings.
Other SongVest Operations
Our company owns and operates the SongVest Platform. In addition to providing a platform through which our Royalty Share Units may be offered and sold, the SongVest Platform is also a marketplace where music royalty rights can be purchased and sold through traditional commercial contract processes, such as assignments or advances. The SongVest Platform facilities the sales by holders of such assets to purchasers for a commission. From time to time, the company may also broker music catalog deals, assisting in the sale of an artist’s entire catalogue to a seller. For all such sales made on the SongVest Platform, our company usually charges a fee equal to 12.5% of the proceeds from the sale. The music royalty rights that are sold on the SongVest platform in this manner are sold as a whole asset to a single purchaser, and are not subdivided in any way.
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Our company intends to continue these activities on the SongVest Platform, and to continue generating revenues from these operations – but such activities will be kept separate and apart from the offerings described in this Offering Circular.
Allocations of Expenses
To the extent relevant, Offering Expenses, Acquisition Expenses, Operating Expenses, revenue generated from Music Royalty Assets made by our company will be allocated amongst the various series of Royalty Share Units By way of example, as of the date hereof it is anticipated that revenues and expenses will be allocated as follows:
| Revenue or Expense Item | Details | Allocation Policy (if revenue or expense is not clearly allocable to a specific Music Royalty Asset) | ||
| Revenue | Revenue from royalty income | Allocable pro rata to the holders of the related Royalty Share Units after deduction of expenses. | ||
| Offering Expenses | Filing expenses related to submission of regulatory paperwork for a series of Royalty Share Units | The amount to be recovered by our company as stated in the Use of Proceeds above. | ||
| Professional expenses related to the submission of regulatory paperwork for a series of Royalty Share Units | The amount to be recovered by our company as stated in the Use of Proceeds above. | |||
| Audit and accounting work related to the regulatory paperwork or | The amount to be recovered by our company as stated in the Use of Proceeds above. | |||
| Escrow agent fees for the administration of escrow accounts related to each series of Royalty Share Units | The amount to be recovered by our company as stated in the Use of Proceeds above. | |||
|
Compliance work including diligence related to the preparation of a series |
The amount to be recovered by our company as stated in the Use of Proceeds above. | |||
| Sourcing Fee | Compensation for due diligence and efforts to secure a Royalty Share Agreement | The amount to be recovered by our company as stated in the Use of Proceeds above. | ||
| Administrative Fee | Compensation for administration of the royalty payments to holders of the Royalty Share Units | Amount to be paid to our company is 10% of the value of the royalty payments collected by our company to be distributed to holders of each series of Royalty Share Units. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, our manager may revise and update the allocation policy from time to time in its reasonable discretion without further notice to investors.
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The company currently leases office space at 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 115, Raleigh, NC 27604. The monthly rent is $250.
We believe that all this property is suitable and adequate for our business as most employees are working remotely.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION
Overview
Since its formation on March 18, 2021, our company has been engaged primarily in two areas: selling music catalogs and advances to our customers at auction as well as building the infrastructure to support our new royalty share model by developing the financial, offering and other materials to begin our royalty share offerings. We are considered to be a development stage company, since we are devoting substantially all of our efforts to establishing our business and planned principal operations have only recently commenced.
Emerging Growth Company
Upon the completion of our initial offering, we may elect to become a public reporting company under the Exchange Act. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act. As a result, we will be permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. For so long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:
| ● | have an auditor report on our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; |
| ● | comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis); |
| ● | submit certain executive compensation matters to shareholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay” and “say-on-frequency;” and |
| ● | disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. |
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.
We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our total annual gross revenues exceed $1.07 billion, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter or (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.07 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three year period.
Operating Results
Revenues are generated at the company level. As of March 18, 2021, our inception date, we had not generated any revenues. The Company has not yet commenced any offerings of its Royalty Share Units, and therefore has not generated any proceeds from such offerings, nor has it generated any revenues from managing any Music Royalty Assets and Royalty Share Agreements. The Company does not expect to generate any revenues from such activities until July 2021, assuming the SEC has qualified this offering statement of which this Offering Circular forms a part by that date. However, since our inception, we have been generating revenues by selling music catalogs, advances, and other music royalty assets through the SongVest Platform as described in “The Company’s Business” section of this Offering Circular.
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We have normal operating expenses as well as planned additional expenses related to obtaining qualification of the offering statement of which this Offering Circular forms a part and the infrastructure investment needed to support our business operations. Our company will be responsible for its own operating expenses, as well as the majority of the offering expenses applicable to an offering of a series of Royalty Share Units, with the exception of certain fees payable to Dalmore and our company’s transfer agent.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2021, our company had $250,100 in cash on hand. As of the date of this Offering Circular, the company is generating revenues from operations (via selling music catalogs and advances to our customers at auctions conducted on our SongVest Platform). Our company has minimal operating expenses, and believes that will have sufficient funding from a combination of revenues from its current, alternative SongVest Platform operations, Sourcing Fees, and Asset Management Fees to satisfy our cash requirements for the next twelve months to implement the foregoing plan of operations.
Issuances of Equity
In April 2021, the company issued 2,000,000 Common Units at a price of $1.00 per unit in exchange for certain assets contributed into the company by Sean Peace, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement filed as Exhibit 6.1 to this offering statement, of which this Offering Circular forms a part.
In March 2021, the company issued a total of 270,100 of Series A Units at a price of $1.00 per unit. 20,100 of these shares were purchased by Sean Peace for $20,100, and 250,000 were purchased by Alex Guiva for $250,000 for total proceeds of $270,100.
Plan of Operations
We plan to launch approximately 20 to 30 additional offerings in the next twelve months to fund the purchase of additional Music Royalty Assets.
We intend to generate revenue collecting Sourcing Fees from Music Royalty Assets that our company sources that are purchased using the proceeds of our offerings, and from the management of royalty streams due to Royalty Share Unit holders pursuant to the applicable Royalty Share Agreements entered into by the company. We anticipate collecting royalty streams in fiscal year 2021 to start distributions to purchasers of Royalty Share Units, but do not expect to distribute any dividends to holders of the company’s equity securities. See “Description of Business—Operating Expenses” for additional information regarding the payment of Operating Expenses.
Our company has minimal operating expenses, and believes that will have sufficient funding from a combination of revenues from its current, alternative SongVest Platform operations, Sourcing Fees, and Asset Management Fees to satisfy our cash requirements for the next twelve months to implement the foregoing plan of operations.
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DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES
Directors, Executive Officers and Key Employees
Our company operates under the direction of our manager, which is responsible for directing the operations of our business, directing our day-to-day affairs, and implementing our investment strategy.
The following table sets forth the name and position of each person designated as a manager.
| Name | Position | Age | Term of Office (Beginning) | Approximate hours per week for part-time employees | ||||
| Sean Peace | Manager | 53 | March 2021 | Full-time | ||||
| Alexander Guiva | Manager | 42 | March 2021 | Part-time (10 hours) |
Sean Peace. Mr. Peace created the original SongVest in 2007 to sell royalties as memorabilia. That led to the creation of Royalty Exchange, the first online market to buy and sell music royalties at auction. Having sold Royalty Exchange in 2015, he has been working on implementing his vision to create the first royalty market exchange platform where fans can invest in their favorite artists via SongVest Records. From 2018 to January 2020 he has been CTO of Curbside Kitchen, a SaaS company that schedules food truck services for commercial and residential locations. From May 2011 until December 2015 he served as Founder and President of Royalty Exchange which was sold in 2015 and still operates today. From November 2008 to May 2011, Mr. Peace had various positions including as partner at Group 19 and Schmooze.me where he had leadership positions overseeing sales and marketing. Prior to these two startup companies, Mr. Peace was a partner and consultant at several companies focusing on business development, operations, and strategic alliances. Mr. Peace received his Bachelor of Economics from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1991.
Alexander Guiva. Mr. Guiva is a co-founder of RoyaltyTraders LLC. Over the last fifteen years, Mr. Guiva has been an investor in the technology, music, food and manufacturing companies in the US and internationally and closed more than 50 M&A transactions. He serves as Chairman of DevelopScripts LLC dba AuctionSoftware.com, a white-label subscription-based digital platform allowing users to organize, manage, and conduct auctions through a centralized medium facilitating business transactions as well as fundraising efforts. Mr. Guiva is an active investor in the music royalty space, as featured in the Forbes magazine, and his portfolio of royalty assets include works by Cardi B, Cage The Elephant, Dire Straits, Willow Smith, Madcon and others. Mr. Guiva graduated with a BA in Economics from Lyon College.
There are no family relationships between any director, executive officer, person nominated or chosen to become a director or executive officer or any significant employee.
To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers has, during the past five years:
| ● | been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offences); or |
| ● | had any petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he was general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing. |
Responsibilities of our Manager
Our manager will be responsible for directing the operations of our business, directing our day-to-day affairs, and implementing our investment strategy. Such responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | evaluating Music Royalty Asset acquisitions; |
| ● | evaluating any third party offers for Music Royalty Asset acquisitions; |
Compensation of the Manager
The company does not intend to compensate the manager for its services as the company’s manager.
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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Through March 31, 2021, we compensated our three highest paid directors and executive officers as follows:
| Name | Capacity in which compensation was received |
Cash Compensation |
Other Compensation |
Total Compensation |
||||||||||
| Sean Peace | Manager | $ | 7,000 (1) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||
| Alexander Guiva | Manager | $ | 0 (2) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||
| (1) | Our company has entered into an employment agreement with Sean Peace. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Peace is entitled to a base salary of $84,000. In addition, Mr. Peace is eligible to receive bonus compensation based on the performance of the Company. For each month, Mr. Peace is entitled to receive additional compensation based on the Company’s gross revenues that month, up to a maximum of $3,000 if the Company earns $12,000 that month. If Mr. Peace were to receive his maximum bonus under this compensation structure, he could earn a maximum of $120,000 pear year. A copy of this agreement is filed as Exhibit 6.3 to the offering statement, of which this offering circular forms a part. We will evaluate Sean Peace’s compensation every year and may adjust it in the future as determined by the board members other than Mr. Peace. It is expected that Mr. Peace’s annual base compensation will increase to $150,000 in 2022. |
| (2) | Mr. Guiva currently does not receive any compensation, but our company has agreed start paying Mr. Guiva a quarterly fee equal to 2% of its quarterly EBITDA when and if our company achieves EBITDA of over $500,000 for a twelve month period. Such amount will be paid on a quarterly basis to Mr. Guiva. A copy of the agreement between our company and Mr. Guiva is filed as Exhibit 6.4 to the offering statement, of which this offering circular forms a part. |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN SECURITYHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our company’s management, directors, and holders of 10% or more of any class of our voting securities as of May 21, 2021.
| Title of class | Name and address of beneficial owner |
Amount and nature of beneficial ownership |
Amount and nature of beneficial ownership acquirable |
Percent of total voting |
||||||
| Membership Interests (comprised of Series A Units and Common Units) | Sean Peace 1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd, Suite 115, Raleigh 27604 |
20,100 shares of Series A Units
2,000,000 shares of Common Units |
N/A | 89 | % | |||||
| Membership Interests (comprised of Series A Units and Common Units) | Alexander Guiva 1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd, Suite 115, Raleigh 27604 |
250,000 shares of Series A Units | N/A | 11 | % | |||||
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INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
On April 26, 2021, our company entered into a Contribution Agreement with Sean Peace, a significant owner of our company, and a member of our manager. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Peace assigned and transferred all of his rights and assets in the SongVest Platform to our company, including the websites and domains associated with the SongVest Platform, all legal templates and documents used to complete royalty-related transactions, the full pipeline of potential royalty transactions, all CRM contacts and records of prior conversations and all other, tangible and intangible assets in his possession that are used to conduct royalty-related transactions to the company in exchange for issuance of 2,000,000 Common Units of our company. Prior to entering into the Contribution Agreement, Mr. Peace was the sole owner of the SongVest Platform, and all related rights and assets of the SongVest Platform. A copy of this agreement is filed as Exhibit 6.1 to this offering statement, of which this Offering Circular forms a part.
On March 18, 2021, our company entered into a Service Order Agreement with DevelopScripts, LLC, a software developer, for software development services related to the development of the enhanced version of the SongVest Platform. DevelopScripts, LLC is controlled by Alex Guiva, a significant owner of our company, and a member of our manager. A copy of this agreement is filed as Exhibit 6.2 to this offering statement, of which this Offering Circular forms a part.
The following is a summary of the principal terms of, and is qualified by reference to, the subscription agreements, attached hereto as Exhibit 4, relating to the purchase of the Royalty Share Units offered hereby. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of that agreement, which should be reviewed in their entirety by each prospective investor. In the event that the provisions of this summary differ from the provisions of the subscription agreements, the provisions of the subscription agreement shall apply.
General
Our company is offering Royalty Share Units corresponding to specific Music Royalty Assets of our company. Our company has acquired the option to purchase the rights to the Music Royalty Assets by entering into Royalty Share Agreements with the underlying royalty holders. The Royalty Share Agreements are structured as a purchase option agreement, which gives us the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a specific Music Royalty Asset subject to the agreement through the proceeds of the series offering related to that Royalty Share Agreement. Once the company has received sufficient proceeds from an offering of its Series of Royalty Share Units, it will exercise the option, and purchase the Music Royalty Asset pursuant to the applicable Royalty Share Agreement. The Royalty Share Units provide investors with the pro rata right to cash flow generated pursuant to the Royalty Share Agreements, following the deduction of administrative fees by our company. The number of Royalty Share Units per Music Royalty Asset is fixed, and is identified on the “Royalty Share Unit Offering Table” above.
Electronic Issuance
All Royalty Share Units will be issued in electronic form only, and maintained through the SongVest Platform.
Minimum Purchase Amount
Investments may be made in denominations of $10 and integral multiples of $10.
Expected Rate of Return
There is no expected rate of return for the Royalty Share Units because of the variable nature of the royalty payments.
Obligation to Make Payments
We will be obligated to make payments to holders of Royalty Share Units only if, and to the extent, we receive royalty payments on the corresponding Royalty Share Agreement.
Timing of Royalty Payments
Our company expects to make payments to Royalty Share Unit holders on a quarterly basis within 45 days of the end of every quarter.
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Obligation to Make Payments
We will be obligated to make payments to holders of Royalty Share Units only if, and to the extent, we receive royalty payments on the corresponding Royalty Share Agreement.
Administrative Fee
Prior to payments being made to Royalty Share Unit holders, our company will deduct 10% of the total amount of royalties received from the Music Royalty Asset for that quarterly period. Our company will then distribute the net amount pro rata to the holders of the Royalty Share Units.
Term of the Royalty Share Units
The term of the Royalty Share Units will be consistent with the term of the underlying Royalty Share Agreement. Terms can be as long as 20 to 40 years for acquired royalty rights, or as short as 3 to 10 years for an advance on the royalties.
Final Payment Date
The date our obligation to make payments on a series of Royalty Share Units s terminates, unless otherwise extended. The final payment date for each series of Royalty Share Units corresponds to the end date of the corresponding Royalty Share Agreement.
No Security Interest
The Royalty Share Units will be unsecured obligations of our company. In the event the company fails, investors may have difficulty recovering royalties directly from the royalty holder in the event of default by our company.
In the event of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding of our company, the relative rights of the holder of the Royalty Share Units as compared to the holders of unsecured indebtedness of our company are uncertain. If we were to become subject to a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, the holder of our Royalty Share Units will have an unsecured claim against us that may or may not be limited in recovery to the corresponding Royalty Share Agreement.
Exclusive Jurisdiction
Pursuant to our subscription agreement, any dispute in relation to the subscription agreement is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of a court of the State of North Carolina, and each investor will covenant and agree not to bring any such claim in any other venue. If a holder of the Royalty Share Units were to bring a claim against our company or our manager pursuant to the subscription agreement, it would have to do so in a court of competent jurisdiction in North Carolina.
We believe the provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of North Carolina law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies and in limiting our litigation costs, the forum selection provision may limit investors’ ability to bring claims in judicial forums that they find favorable to such disputes and may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Our company has adopted the provision to limit the time and expense incurred by its management to challenge any such claims. As a company with a small management team, this provision allows its officers to not lose a significant amount of time travelling to any particular forum so they may continue to focus on operations of our company.
Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. We believe that the exclusive forum provision applies to claims arising under the Securities Act, but there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a provision in this context. Further, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision would require suits to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction to be brought in federal court located in North Carolina. Investors will not be deemed to have waived our company’s compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury
Our subscription agreement provides that each investor waives the right to a jury trial for any claim they may have against us arising out of, or relating to, the subscription agreement and any transaction arising under that agreement, which could include claims under federal securities law. By subscribing to this offering, the investor warrants that the investor has reviewed this waiver, and knowingly and voluntarily waives his or her jury trial rights. If we opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, a court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable given the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable case law.
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RoyaltyTraders LLC
Financial Statements with
Independent Auditor’s Report
MARCH 31, 2021

F-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| Independent Auditor’s Report | F-3 | |
| Financial Statements | ||
| Balance Sheet | F-4 | |
| Statement of Income | F-5 | |
| Statement of Members’ Equity | F-6 | |
| Statement of Cash Flows | F-7 | |
| Notes to Financial Statements | F-8 |
F-2

To the Members
RoyaltyTraders LLC
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of RoyaltyTraders LLC (a Delaware limited liability company), which comprise the balance sheet as of March 31, 2021, and the related statement of income, members’ equity and cash flows for the period from inception, March 18, 2021, to March 31, 2021, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the Company’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of RoyaltyTraders LLC as of March 31, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from inception, March 18, 2021, to March 31, 2021, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

St. Louis, Missouri
April 5, 2021

F-3
| Balance Sheet |
| March 31, 2021 |
| ASSETS | ||||
| Current Assets | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 250,100 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 250,100 | ||
| LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY | ||||
| Current Liabilities | ||||
| Related party payable | $ | 20,000 | ||
| Total Liabilities | 20,000 | |||
| Members’ Equity | 230,100 | |||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY | $ | 250,100 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
| Statement of Income |
| Period beginning March 18, 2021 and ending March 31, 2021 |
| Revenue | ||||
| Royalty commission fees | $ | - | ||
| Operating expenses | ||||
| General and administrative expenses | 20,000 | |||
| Total operating expenses | 20,000 | |||
| Net loss | $ | (20,000 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
| Statement of Members’ Equity |
| Period beginning March 18, 2021 and ending March 31, 2021 |
| Members’ Equity at March 18, 2021 | $ | - | ||
| Initial Capital Contributions | 250,100 | |||
| Net loss | (20,000 | ) | ||
| Members’ Equity at March 31, 2021 | $ | 230,100 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
| Statements of Cash Flows |
| Period beginning March 18, 2021 and ending March 31, 2021 |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (20,000 | ) | |
| Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities: | ||||
| Related party payables | 20,000 | |||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | - | |||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | - | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||
| Member contributions | 250,100 | |||
| Net cash used in financing activities | 250,100 | |||
| INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 250,100 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents, at inception March 18, 2021 | - | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents, March 31, 2021 | $ | 250,100 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-7
Notes to Financial Statements
March 31, 2021
Note A - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies
A summary of RoyaltyTraders LLC dba SongVest (the “Company”) significant accounting policies in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements follows:
Description of Business
The Company acts as a marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of music royalties. The marketplace provides an opportunity for music right owners to monetize their future royalty streams. RoyaltyTraders packages royalty income streams into royalty unit offerings that are sold to investors as royalty shares. The Company charges a fee for its services and also generates income by charging a service fee for managing and distributing the royalty payments to the investors.
Royalty Commission Fees
The Company intends to recognize royalty commission income at a point in time based upon the completion of the performance obligation of matching music right owners to music royalty investors.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000. The Company may maintain cash balances in excess of FDIC coverage. Management considers this to be a normal business risk.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Income Taxes
The Members of the Company have elected to be treated as an LLC and taxed as a partnership under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code which provide that in lieu of corporation income taxes, the Members are taxed on the Company’s taxable income.
The Company has evaluated its tax positions, expiring statutes of limitations, audits, proposed settlements, changes in tax law and new authoritative rulings and believes that no provision for income taxes is necessary, at this time, to cover any uncertain tax positions.
Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated all subsequent events through April 5, 2021, the date the financial statements were available to be issued.
F-8
RoyaltyTraders LLC
Notes to Financial Statements - Continued
March 31, 2021
Note B – Related Party Payable
The Company owes one of its Members $20,000 for the payment of legal professional fees. The Company intends to pay the Member back in the second calendar quarter of 2021.
Note C – Equity Issuance
Common Units
In April 2021, the Company issued 2,000,000 units of common equity at a price of $1.00 per unit in exchange for certain assets contributed into the Company by a member.
In case the Company makes cash distributions unrelated to a sale, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of common units are entitled to a pro rata share of 30% of the Company total distribution until Series A Unit holders fully recoup their capital contribution plus accrued preferential dividends. Thereafter, common unit holders are entitled to such distributions according to their percentage ownership.
Preferred Series A Units
In March 2021, the Company issued a total of 250,100 of Series A Units at a price of $1.00 per unit in connection with the initial funding.
The holders of Series A Units are entitled to receive, when and if declared by the Board, preferential dividends at the rate of 7% cumulative, accruing daily and compounded annually.
In the event of liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Series A Units are entitled to a liquidation preference of $1 per unit plus the accrued preferential dividends. The Series A Unit is convertible into common units at any time by the holder at $1.00 per unit and under other circumstances, as defined in the agreement.
In case the Company makes cash distributions unrelated to a sale, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series A units are entitled to a pro rata share of 70% of the total Company distribution until their capital contribution plus accrued preferential dividends are fully repaid. Thereafter, Series A unit holders are entitled to such distributions according to their percentage ownership on an as converted basis.
F-9
PART III – EXHIBITS
Exhibit Index
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 1.1 | Broker-Dealer Agreement with Dalmore Group LLC | |
| 2.1 | Certificate of Formation of RoyaltyTraders LLC | |
| 2.2 | Limited Liability Company Agreement of RoyaltyTraders LLC | |
| 4.1 | Form of Subscription Agreement* | |
| 6.1 | Contribution Agreement dated April 26, 2021 between RoyaltyTraders LLC and Sean Peace. | |
| 6.2 | Service Order Agreement dated March 18, 2021 between DevelopScripts, LLC and RoyaltyTraders LLC | |
| 6.3 | Employment Agreement with Sean Peace | |
| 6.4 | Management Fee Agreement with Alex Guiva | |
| 6.5 | “Hit the Quan” Royalty Share Agreement | |
| 8.1 | Form of Escrow Agreement | |
| 11.1 | Consent of Auditor | |
| 12.1 | Opinion on legality of the offered Royalty Share Units* |
| * | To be filed by amendment |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation A, the issuer certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 1-A and has duly caused this offering statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Raleigh, State of North Carolina, on May 21, 2021.
| ROYALTYTRADERS LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Sean Peace | |
| Sean Peace Manager | ||
This offering statement has been signed by the following persons, in the capacities, and on the dates indicated.
| SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||
| /s/ Sean Peace | Manager, principal executive officer, principal financial officer, | on May 21, 2021 | ||
| Sean Peace | and principal accounting officer | |||
| /s/ Alexander Guiva | Manager | on May 21, 2021 | ||
| Alexander Guiva | ||||
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Exhibit 1.1
Broker-Dealer Agreement
This agreement (together with exhibits and schedules, the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between RoyaltyTraders LLC (“Client”), a Delaware Limited Liability Company, and Dalmore Group, LLC., a New York Limited Liability Company (“Dalmore”). Client and Dalmore agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, effective as of April 14, 2021 (the “Effective Date”):
Whereas, Dalmore is a registered broker-dealer providing services in the equity and debt securities market, including offerings conducted via SEC approved exemptions such as Reg D 506(b), 506(c), Regulation A+, Reg CF and others;
Whereas, Client is offering securities directly to the public in an offering exempt from registration under Regulation A (the “Offering”); and
Whereas, Client recognizes the benefit of having Dalmore as a service provider for investors who participate in the Offering (“Investors”).
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Appointment, Term, and Termination
a. Client hereby engages and retains Dalmore to provide operations and compliance services at Client’s discretion.
b. The Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and will remain in effect for a period of twelve (12) months and will renew automatically for successive renewal terms of twelve (12) months each unless any party provides notice to the other party of non-renewal at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the current term. If Client defaults in performing the obligations under this Agreement, the Agreement may be terminated (i) upon sixty (60) days written notice if Client fails to perform or observe any material term, covenant or condition to be performed or observed by it under this Agreement and such failure continues to be unremedied, (ii) upon written notice, if any material representation or warranty made by either Provider or Client proves to be incorrect at any time in any material respect, (iii) in order to comply with a Legal Requirement, if compliance cannot be timely achieved using commercially reasonable efforts, after providing as much notice as practicable, or (iv) upon thirty (30) days’ written notice if Client or Dalmore commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief, or is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or has entered against it a final and unappeable order for relief, under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or either party executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors. The description in this section of specific remedies will not exclude the availability of any other remedies. Any delay or failure by Client to exercise any right, power, remedy or privilege will not be construed to be a waiver of such right, power, remedy or privilege or to limit the exercise of such right, power, remedy or privilege. No single, partial or other exercise of any such right, power, remedy or privilege will preclude the further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, remedy or privilege. All terms of the Agreement, which should reasonably survive termination, shall so survive, including, without limitation, limitations of liability and indemnities, and the obligation to pay Fees relating to Services provided prior to termination.
2. Services. Dalmore will perform the services listed on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof, in connection with the Offering (the “Services”). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties.
3. Compensation. As compensation for the Services, Client shall pay to Dalmore a fee equal to one hundred (100) basis points on the aggregate amount raised by the Client. This will only start after FINRA Corporate Finance issues a No Objection Letter for the offering. Client authorizes Dalmore to deduct the fee directly from the Client’s third party escrow or payment account.
There will also be a one-time due diligence expense for out of pocket expenses of $5,000. Payment is due and payable upon execution of this agreement. The advance payment will cover expenses anticipated to be incurred by the firm such a preparing the FINRA filing, due diligence expenses, working with the Client’s SEC counsel in providing information to the extent necessary, and any other services necessary and required prior to the approval of the offering. The firm will refund a portion of the payment related to the advance to the extent it was not used, incurred or provided to the Client.
The Client shall also engage Dalmore as a consultant to provide ongoing general consulting services relating to the Offering such as coordination with third party vendors and general guidance with respect to the Offering. The Client will pay a one-time Consulting Fee of $20,000 which will be due and payable immediately after FINRA issues a No Objection Letter.
4. Regulatory Compliance
a. Client and all its third party providers shall at all times (i) comply with direct requests of Dalmore; (ii) maintain all required registrations and licenses, including foreign qualification, if necessary; and (iii) pay all related fees and expenses (including the FINRA Corporate Filing Fee), in each case that are necessary or appropriate to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement. Client shall comply with and adhere to all Dalmore policies and procedures.
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FINRA Corporate Filing Fee for this $75,000,000, best efforts offering will be $11,750 and will be a pass- through fee payable to Dalmore, from the Client, who will then forward it to FINRA as payment for the filing. Since this Offering involves ongoing filings, Dalmore will invoice the Client for the FINRA fee due and the $1,000 1-APOS filing fee prior to each filing. This fee is due and payable prior to any submission by Dalmore to FINRA.
b. Client and Dalmore will have the shared responsibility for the review of all documentation related to the Transaction but the ultimate discretion about accepting a client will be the sole decision of the Client. Each Investor will be considered to be that of the Client’s and NOT Dalmore.
c. Client and Dalmore will each be responsible for supervising the activities and training of their respective sales employees, as well as all of their other respective employees in the performance of functions specifically allocated to them pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
d. Client and Dalmore agree to promptly notify the other concerning any material communications from or with any Governmental Authority or Self Regulatory Organization with respect to this Agreement or the performance of its obligations, unless such notification is expressly prohibited by the applicable Governmental Authority.
5. Role of Dalmore. Client acknowledges and agrees that Client will rely on Client’s own judgment in using Dalmore’ Services. Dalmore (i) makes no representations with respect to the quality of any investment opportunity or of any issuer; (ii) does not guarantee the performance to and of any Investor; (iii) will make commercially reasonable efforts to perform the Services in accordance with its specifications; (iv) does not guarantee the performance of any party or facility which provides connectivity to Dalmore; and (v) is not an investment adviser, does not provide investment advice and does not recommend securities transactions and any display of data or other information about an investment opportunity, does not constitute a recommendation as to the appropriateness, suitability, legality, validity or profitability of any transaction. Nothing in this Agreement should be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, or employer-employee relationship of any kind.
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6. Indemnification.
a. Indemnification by Client. Client shall indemnify and hold Dalmore, its affiliates and their representatives and agents harmless from, any and all actual or direct losses, liabilities, judgments, arbitration awards, settlements, damages and costs (collectively, “Losses”), resulting from or arising out of any third party suits, actions, claims, demands or similar proceedings (collectively, “Proceedings”) to the extent they are based upon (i) a breach of this Agreement by Client, (ii) the wrongful acts or omissions of Client, or (iii) the Offering.
b. Indemnification by Dalmore. Dalmore shall indemnify and hold Client, Client’s affiliates and Client’s representatives and agents harmless from any Losses resulting from or arising out of Proceedings to the extent they are based upon (i) a breach of this Agreement by Dalmore or (ii) the wrongful acts or omissions of Dalmore or its failure to comply with any applicable federal, state, or local laws, regulations, or codes in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
c. Indemnification Procedure. If any Proceeding is commenced against a party entitled to indemnification under this section, prompt notice of the Proceeding shall be given to the party obligated to provide such indemnification. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to take control of the defense, investigation or settlement of the Proceeding and the indemnified party agrees to reasonably cooperate, at the indemnifying party's cost in the ensuing investigations, defense or settlement.
7. Notices. Any notices required by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be addressed, and delivered or mailed postage prepaid, or faxed or emailed to the other parties hereto at such addresses as such other parties may designate from time to time for the receipt of such notices. Until further notice, the address of each party to this Agreement for this purpose shall be the following:
If to the Client:
RoyaltyTraders LLC
1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd, Suite 11
Raleigh, NC 27604
Attn: Sean Peace - President
Tel: 919-324-2945
Email: sean@songvesr.com
If to Dalmore:
Dalmore Group, LLC.
525 Green Place
Woodmere, NY 11598
Attn: Etan Butler, Chairman
Tel: 917-319-3000
etan@dalmorefg.com
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8. Confidentiality and Mutual Non-Disclosure:
a. Confidentiality.
i. Included Information. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Confidential Information” means all confidential and proprietary information of a party, including but not limited to (i) financial information, (ii) business and marketing plans, (iii) the names of employees and owners, (iv) the names and other personally-identifiable information of users of the third-party provided online fundraising platform, (v) security codes, and (vi) all documentation provided by Client or Investor.
ii. Excluded Information. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “confidential and proprietary information” shall not include (i) information already known or independently developed by the recipient without the use of any confidential and proprietary information, or (ii) information known to the public through no wrongful act of the recipient.
iii. Confidentiality Obligations. During the Term and at all times thereafter, neither party shall disclose Confidential Information of the other party or use such Confidential Information for any purpose without the prior written consent of such other party. Without limiting the preceding sentence, each party shall use at least the same degree of care in safeguarding the other party’s Confidential Information as it uses to safeguard its own Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may disclose Confidential Information (i) if required to do by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that such party shall notify the other party in writing promptly upon receipt of knowledge of such order so that such other party may attempt to prevent such disclosure or seek a protective order; or (ii) to any applicable governmental authority as required by applicable law. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit the SEC, FINRA, or other government official or entities from obtaining, reviewing, and auditing any information, records, or data. Issuer acknowledges that regulatory record-keeping requirements, as well as securities industry best practices, require Provider to maintain copies of practically all data, including communications and materials, regardless of any termination of this Agreement.
9. Miscellaneous.
a. ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE CLIENT AND PROVIDER RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SETTLED BY ARBITRATION BEFORE AND UNDER THE RULES OF THE ARBITRATION COMMITIEE OF FINRA.
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b. This Agreement is non-exclusive and shall not be construed to prevent either party from engaging in any other business activities
c. This Agreement will be binding upon all successors, assigns or transferees of Client. No assignment of this Agreement by either party will be valid unless the other party consents to such an assignment in writing. Either party may freely assign this Agreement to any person or entity that acquires all or substantially all of its business or assets. Any assignment by the either party to any subsidiary that it may create or to a company affiliated with or controlled directly or indirectly by it will be deemed valid and enforceable in the absence of any consent from the other party.
d. Neither party will, without prior written approval of the other party, place or agree to place any advertisement in any website, newspaper, publication, periodical or any other media or communicate with the public in any manner whatsoever if such advertisement or communication in any manner makes reference to the other party, to any person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control, with the other party and to the clearing arrangements and/or any of the Services embodied in this Agreement. Client and Dalmore will work together to authorize and approve co-branded notifications and client facing communication materials regarding the representations in this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary within, Client agrees that Dalmore may make reference in marketing or other materials to any transactions completed during the term of this Agreement, provided no personal data or Confidential Information is disclosed in such materials.
e. THE CONSTRUCTION AND EFFECT OF EVERY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY QUESTIONS ARISING OUT OF THE AGREEMENT, WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party
f. If any provision or condition of this Agreement will be held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court, or regulatory or self-regulatory agency or body, the validity of the remaining provisions and conditions will not be affected and this Agreement will be carried out as if any such invalid or unenforceable provision or condition were not included in the Agreement.
g. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreement relating to the subject matter herein. The Agreement may not be modified or amended except by written agreement.
h. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts and by facsimile or electronic means, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE(S)]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| CLIENT: RoyaltyTraders LLC | ||
| By | /s/ Sean Peace | |
| Name: | Sean Peace | |
| Its: | President | |
| Dalmore Group, LLC: | ||
| By | /s/ Etan Butler | |
| Name: | Etan Butler | |
| Its: | Chairman | |
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Exhibit A
Services:
| a. | Dalmore Responsibilities – Dalmore agrees to: |
| i. | Review investor information, including KYC (Know Your Customer) data, perform AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and other compliance background checks, and provide a recommendation to Client whether or not to accept investor as a customer of the Client; |
| ii. | Review each investors subscription agreement to confirm such Investors participation in the offering, and provide a determination to Client whether or not to accept the use of the subscription agreement for the Investors participation; |
| iii. | Contact and/or notify the issuer, if needed, to gather additional information or clarification on an investor; |
| iv. | Not provide any investment advice nor any investment recommendations to any investor; |
| v. | Keep investor details and data confidential and not disclose to any third-party except as required by regulators or in our performance under this Agreement (e.g. as needed for AML and background checks); |
| vi. | Coordinate with third party providers to ensure adequate review and compliance. |
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Exhibit 2.1
STATE of DELAWARE
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
CERTIFICATE of FORMATION
FIRST
Name
The name of the limited liability company is:
RoyaltyTraders LLC
SECOND
Registered Agent
The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 8 The Green, Suite R in the City of Dover. Zip code 19901.
The name of its registered agent at such address is
Resident Agents Inc.
THIRD
Duration
The duration of the limited liability company shall be perpetual.
FOURTH
Purpose
The purpose for which the company is organized is to conduct any and all lawful business for which Limited Liability Companies can be organized pursuant to Delaware statute.
In Witness Whereof, the undersigned have executed this Certificate of Formation this 18'h day of March, 2021.
| By: | ||
| Authorized | ||
| Person Name: | ||
| Riley Park |
Exhibit 2.2
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
March ___, 2021
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
This LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of ROYALTYTRADERS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated as of March ___, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), is adopted, executed and agreed to, for good and valuable consideration, by the Members (as defined below).
Article
1
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto) but not defined in the body hereof are defined in Exhibit A.
1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) pronouns in the masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa; (b) the term “including” shall be construed to be expansive rather than limiting in nature and to mean “including, without limitation;” (c) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (d) the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited; and (e) references to Exhibits and Schedules are to the items identified separately in writing by the parties hereto as the described Exhibits or Schedules attached to this Agreement, each of which is hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes as if set forth in full herein.
Article
2
ORGANIZATION
2.1 Formation. The Company was organized as a Delaware limited liability company under and pursuant to the Act by the filing of the Certificate.
2.2 Name. The name of the Company is “RoyaltyTraders LLC” and all Company business must be conducted in that name or such other name or names that comply with Law and as the Board may select.
2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Board may designate in the manner provided by Law. The registered agent of the Company in Delaware shall be the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other Person or Persons as the Board may designate in the manner provided by Law. The principal office of the Company shall be at such place as the Board may designate. The Company may have such other offices as the Board may designate.
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2.4 Purposes. The purposes of the Company are to manage the operations and affairs of the business acquired pursuant to the Contribution Agreement and to engage in such other activities incidental or ancillary thereto as the Board deems necessary or advisable, all upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2.5 Foreign Qualification. The Board shall cause the Company to comply with all requirements necessary to qualify the Company as a foreign limited liability company in foreign jurisdictions if that jurisdiction requires qualification. At the request of the Board, each Member shall execute, acknowledge, swear to and deliver all certificates and other instruments conforming with this Agreement that are necessary or appropriate to qualify, continue and terminate the Company as a foreign limited liability company in all such jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business, provided, that no Member shall be required to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in any jurisdiction in which it is not already so qualified.
2.6 Term. The Company commenced upon the effectiveness of the Certificate and shall have a perpetual existence, unless and until it is dissolved and terminated in accordance with Article 12.
2.7 No State Law Partnership. The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member, for any purposes other than federal and state tax purposes, and this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise.
2.8 Title to Company Assets. Title to the Company’s assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity. Title to any or all of the Company assets may be held in the name of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries or one or more nominees, as the Board may determine. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Company assets is held.
Article
3
MEMBERS; UNITS
3.1 Members. The Persons listed on Schedules I and II are the sole Members of the Company as of the Effective Date (each, an “Initial Member”). Each of the Persons listed on Schedule I and II is admitted to the Company as a Member upon such Person’s execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement and the Capital Contribution for such Person set forth on Schedule III.
3.2 Units.
(a) The Membership Interests in the Company shall initially be divided into three classes of units referred to as “Common Units”, “Series A Units” and “Series B Units”. The Company is authorized to issue up to 3,500,000 units, designated as “Common Units,” and 1,500,000 units designated as “Series A Units,” and up to 300,000 units as Series B Units.
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(b) The Company shall issue an aggregate of up to 2,000,000 Common Units pursuant to the Contribution Agreement. The Company shall issue up to 500,000 Series A Units at a purchase price equal to $1.00 per Series A Unit. The Company may issue an aggregate of up to 300,000 Series B Units pursuant to Restricted Unit Agreements. The Series B Units may be vested (“Vested Series B Units”) or unvested (“Unvested Series B Units”). Unvested Series B Units shall vest or remain unvested in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable Restricted Unit Agreement.
(c) The Series B Units are intended to constitute “profits interests” within the meaning of Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43 (or the corresponding requirements of any subsequent guidance promulgated by the IRS or other applicable law). Accordingly, the capital account associated with each Series B Unit at the time of its issuance shall be equal to zero dollars ($0.00). The Company and the holders of Series B Units shall file all federal income tax returns consistent with such characterization, and each party acknowledges the existence of multiple proposed legislative changes which would alter the tax treatment of the Series B Units.
(d) The Company may from time to time designate and issue additional series of Series B Units (up to the number of authorized Series B Units), each of which shall be designated by a sequential number (Series B-1, Series B-2, Series B-3, etc.). The Board shall designate a per Unit “Threshold Value” applicable to each such series of Series B Units to the extent necessary to cause such Series B Units to constitute “profits interests” as provided in Section 3.2(c) above, but not less than zero (taking into account the adjustments to Book Value contemplated in clause (ii) of subparagraph (b) of the definition thereof). The per Unit Threshold Value for each series of Series B Units shall equal the amount that would, in the reasonable determination of the Board, be distributed with respect to each Series B Unit if, immediately prior to the issuance of such additional series, the assets of the Company were sold for their fair market value and the proceeds (net of any liabilities of the Company) were distributed pursuant to Section 12.2(c)(iii). Authorized but unissued Series B Units (including any previously issued Series B Units that have been redeemed by or forfeited to the Company) are referred to as “Unallotted Series B Units.”
(e) Units shall constitute “securities” governed by Article 8 of the applicable version of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended from time to time after the date hereof.
(f) Units that have been redeemed by or forfeited to the Company may be reissued subject to the requisite approvals and other terms and conditions of this Agreement, including in the case of redeemed Series B Units the requirements of Section 3.2(d) with respect to Threshold Value and the last sentence of such Section 3.2(d). For the avoidance of doubt, any Series B Units that have been redeemed by or forfeited to the Company may be reissued in accordance with this Agreement as a new series of Class B Units with a Threshold Value computed at the time of issuance.
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3.3 Issuance of Common Units. On the Effective Date, subject to the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement, each of the Members listed on Schedule I is contributing to the Company the amount set forth under column (1) opposite the name of such Member on Schedule I, and, in exchange for such contribution, the Company is issuing to such Member the number of Common Units set forth under column (2) opposite the name of such Member on Schedule I, for an aggregate contribution of assets described in the Contribution Agreement and an aggregate issuance of 2,000,000 Common Units. From and after the Effective Date, Peace shall have the right to transfer a portion of his Common Units on a restricted basis to certain Persons subject to the terms and provisions of that certain Restricted Common Unit Ownership Agreement dated the date of this Agreement (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Restricted Common Unit Agreement”).
3.4 Issuance of Series A Units. On the Effective Date, the Company is issuing to the Members listed in Schedule II the number of Series A Units for the consideration described in Schedule II.
3.5 Summary of Capital Contributions. The initial Book Value and adjusted tax basis of the Capital Contributions of the Members are set forth on Schedule III.
3.6 No Other Persons Deemed Members. Unless admitted to the Company as a Member as provided in this Agreement, no Person (including an assignee of rights with respect to Units or Membership Interests or a transferee of Units or Membership Interests, whether voluntary, by operation of law or otherwise) shall be, or shall be considered, a Member. The Company may elect to deal only with Persons so admitted as Members (including their duly authorized representatives). Any distribution by the Company to the Person shown on the Company’s records as a Member or to its legal representatives, shall relieve the Company of all liability to any other Person who may have an interest in such distribution by reason of any Disposition by the Member or for any other reason.
3.7 No Resignation. A Member may not take any action to Resign as a Member voluntarily, and a Member may not be removed involuntarily, prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company, other than as a result of a permitted Disposition of all of such Member’s Units in accordance with Article 7 and each of the transferees of such Units being admitted as a Substituted Member. A Member will cease to be a Member only in the manner described in Section 3.8 and Article 12.
3.8 Admission of Additional Members and Substituted Members and Creation of Additional Units.
(a) Authority. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article 3 and in Article 7 and subject to Section 8.5, the Company may admit Additional Members and Substituted Members to the Company and may also issue additional Units or create and issue such additional classes or series of Units or Membership Interests (or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for a Unit or other Membership Interest), having such designations, preferences and relative, participating or other special rights, powers and duties as the Board shall determine, including: (i) the right of any such class or series of Units or Membership Interests to share in the Company’s distributions; (ii) the allocation to any such class or series of Units or Membership Interests of Profits (and all items included in the computation thereof) or Losses (and all items included in the computation thereof); (iii) the rights of any such class or series of Units or Membership Interests upon dissolution or liquidation of the Company; and (iv) the right of any such class or series of Units or Membership Interests to vote on matters relating to the Company and this Agreement. Upon the issuance pursuant to and in accordance with this Article 3 of any class or series of Units or Membership Interests, the Board may, subject to Section 13.5, amend any provision of this Agreement, and authorize any Person to execute, acknowledge, deliver, file and record, if required, such documents, to the extent necessary or desirable to reflect the admission of any additional Member to the Company or the authorization and issuance of such class or series of Units or Membership Interests (or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for a Unit or other Membership Interest), and the related rights and preferences thereof.
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(b) Requisite Approval Required. The Common Units and the Series A Units shall be voting Units. As such, each Common Unit and each Series A shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote for the election of Managers and for any other purpose or matter as to which members of a Delaware limited liability company are entitled to vote. The holders of the Series A Units shall not vote as a separate class, but shall vote together with the holders of the Common Units as one class and in that case, each holder of a Series A Unit shall be entitled to vote its Series A Unit on a converted basis with respect to the matter to be voted upon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not (i) authorize or create any new class or series of units of membership interests in the Company having rights senior to or pari passu with the Series A Units as to the payment of distributions or payments due as provided in this Agreement, except that no such approval would be required in order to authorize units in connection with a bona fide capital financing at a pre-money valuation greater than the post-money valuation following the consummation of the Series A financing, with no greater than a 1x liquidation preference and voting and other rights are substantially similar to the Series A Units; (ii) amend, alter or repeal any of the provisions of the certificate of formation of the Company or this Limited Liability Company Agreement so as to affect adversely the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Series A Units or the holders thereof, or (iii) reclassify any outstanding membership units of the Company that rank junior to the Series A Units as to the payment of distributions or payments due as provided herein into units of membership interest of the Company that rank on a parity with or senior to the Series A Units as to any such payments, or reclassify any outstanding Units of the Company that rank on a parity with the Series A Units as to any such payments, into Units that rank senior to the Series A Units as to any such payments, (iv) redeem or repurchase any units (other than pursuant to employee agreements); (v) declare or pay any dividend, except that no such approval of the Series A Members would be required in connection with an aggregate dividend that is less than 25% of the amount of net income from the Company’s operations during a period in which the Company’s aggregate net income from operations is no less than $2,000,000; or (vi) liquidate or dissolve, including any sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or other change of control, except that no such approval would be required if the transaction generates net proceeds to the Members of at least $20,000,000; unless in the case of each of (i) through (vi) the Company receives the Requisite Approval.
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(c) Conditions. No Additional Member or Substituted Member shall be admitted to the Company unless and until all applicable conditions of this Section 3.8 and Article 7 are satisfied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Disposition or issuance of Units or Membership Interests otherwise permitted or required by this Agreement shall be effective, no Member shall have the right to substitute a transferee as a Member in its place with respect to any Units or Membership Interests acquired by such transferee in any Disposition and no purchaser of newly issued Units or Membership Interests from the Company shall be deemed to be a Member, in each case unless and until any such transferee or purchaser who is not already a party to this Agreement (and such transferee’s or such purchaser’s spouse, if applicable) shall execute and deliver to the Company an Addendum Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit C (an “Addendum Agreement”) and such other documents or instruments as may be required in the Company’s reasonable judgment to effect the admission.
(d) Rights and Obligations of Additional Members and Substituted Members. A transferee of Units or Membership Interests who has been admitted as an Additional Member or as a Substituted Member or a purchaser of newly issued Units or Membership Interests from the Company who has been admitted as an Additional Member in accordance with this Section 3.8 shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the restrictions and liabilities under this Agreement relating to a Member holding Units.
(e) Date of Admission as Additional or Substituted Member. Admission of an Additional Member or Substituted Member shall become effective on the date such Person’s name is recorded on the books and records of the Company. Upon the admission of an Additional Member or Substituted Member, (i) the Company shall amend Schedule I or II, as applicable, to reflect the name and address of, and number and class of Units held by, such Additional Member or Substituted Member and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address and interest of the predecessor of such Substituted Member (such revisions to be presented to the Board no later than at the next regular meeting of the Board) and (ii) to the extent of the Disposition to such Substituted Member, the Disposing Member shall be relieved of its obligations under this Agreement. Any Member who shall Dispose of all of such Member’s Units or Membership Interests in one or more Dispositions permitted pursuant to this Section 3.8 and Article 7 (where each transferee was admitted as a Substituted Member) shall cease to be a Member as of the last date on which all transferees are admitted as Substituted Members, provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, such Member shall not be relieved of any liabilities incurred by such Member pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement prior to the time such Member Disposes of any Units or Membership Interests or ceases to be a Member hereunder.
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3.9 No Liability of Members. Except as otherwise provided under the Act, the debts, liabilities, contracts and other obligations of the Company (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise) shall be solely the debts, liabilities, contracts and other obligations of the Company, and no Member in its capacity as such shall be liable personally (a) for any debts, liabilities, contracts or any other obligations of the Company, except to the extent and under the circumstances set forth in any non-waivable provision of the Act or in any separate written instrument signed by the applicable Member, or (b) for any debts, liabilities, contracts or other obligations of any other Member. No Member shall have any responsibility to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account or to contribute to or in respect of the liabilities or obligations of the Company or to return distributions made by the Company, expect as expressly provided herein or required by any non-waivable provision of the Act. The agreement set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a compromise with the consent of all of the Members for purposes of §18-502(b) of the Act. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction orders, holds or determines that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to restore any such negative balance, make any such contribution or make any such return, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Person.
3.10 Spouses of Members. Spouses of the Members that are natural persons do not become Members as a result of such marital relationship. Each spouse of a Member (including the Initial Members) shall be required to execute a Spousal Agreement in the form of Exhibit B to evidence his or her agreement and consent to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement as to his or her interest, whether as community property or otherwise, if any, in the Units owned by such Member.
Article
4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1 Representations and Warranties of Members. Each Member severally, but not jointly, represents and warrants as of the Effective Date to the Company that:
(a) Authority. Such Member has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the execution, delivery and performance by such Member of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary action.
(b) Binding Obligations. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which such Member is a party have been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Member and constitute the binding obligations of such Member enforceable against such Member in accordance with their respective terms, subject to Creditors’ Rights.
(c) No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by such Member of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, (i) violate any provision of Law to which such Member is subject, (ii) violate any order, judgment or decree applicable to such Member, or (iii) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement, certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, or, except where such conflict, breach or default would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have an adverse effect on such Member’s ability to satisfy its obligations hereunder or thereunder, any agreement or other instrument to which such Member is a party.
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(d) Purchase Entirely For Own Account. The Units to be acquired by such Member will be acquired for investment for such Member’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof; such Member has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same; and such Member does not have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Units.
(e) No Registration. Such Member understands that the Units, at the time of issuance, will not be registered under the Securities Act on the ground that the issuance of Units hereunder is exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder.
(f) Investment Experience. Such Member confirms that it or he has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such Member is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in Units and of making an informed investment decision and understands that (i) this investment is suitable only for an investor which is able to bear the economic consequences of losing its entire investment, (ii) the acquisition of Units hereunder is a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment, and (iii) there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of, and there will be no public market for, the Units, and accordingly, it may not be possible for such Member to liquidate such Member’s investment in case of emergency.
(g) Accredited Investor. Such Member is an Accredited Investor.
(h) Restricted Securities. Such Member understands that the Units may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom, and that in the absence of either an effective registration statement covering such Units or an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the Units must be held indefinitely.
Article
5
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
5.1 Contributions. On the Effective Date, the Initial Members are making the Capital Contributions described in Article 3 as summarized on Schedule III.
5.2 Return of Contributions. A Member is not entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. An unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. A Member is not required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return any Member’s Capital Contributions.
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5.3 Capital Account. A Capital Account shall be established and maintained for each Member in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Each Member’s Capital Account (a) shall be increased by (i) the amount of money contributed by such Member to the Company, (ii) the Book Value of property contributed by such Member to the Company (net of liabilities secured by the contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752) and (iii) allocations to such Member of Profits and any other items of income or gain allocated to such Member, and (b) shall be decreased by (i) the amount of money distributed to such Member by the Company, (ii) the Book Value of property distributed to such Member by the Company (net of liabilities secured by the distributed property that such Member is considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752), and (iii) allocations to such Member of Losses and any other items of loss or deduction allocated to such Member. The Capital Accounts shall also be increased or decreased to reflect a revaluation of Company property pursuant to paragraph (b) of the definition of Book Value. On the transfer of all or part of a Member’s Units, the Capital Account of the transferor that is attributable to the transferred Units shall carry over to the transferee Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l). A Member that has more than one class of Units shall have a single Capital Account that reflects all such Units.
5.4 Advances by Members. If the Company does not have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, then with the approval of the Board, any or all of the Members may (but will have no obligation to) advance all or part of the needed funds to or on behalf of the Company, which advances will constitute a loan from such Member to the Company, will bear interest and be subject to such other terms and conditions as agreed between such Member and the Company and will not be deemed to be a Capital Contribution.
Article
6
DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
6.1 Distributions.
(a) General. Each distribution made by the Company, regardless of the source or character of the assets to be distributed, shall be made in accordance with this Article 6 and applicable Law. Subject to obtaining Requisite Approval pursuant to Section 8.5(b), the Board shall have sole discretion to determine the timing and amount of each distribution under this Section 6.1.
(b) Income Distributions. Each distribution made by the Company other than in the event of Sale, Recapitalization, Refinancing or Distributions to Cover Holders’ Tax Liabilities shall be made first seventy percent (70%) to the Series A Members and thirty percent (30%) to the Common Unit Members until Series A Members have received Total Distributions in the amount equal to their Preferential Return, and thereafter, to the holders of outstanding Common Units and Series A Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests on an as converted basis.
(c) Distributions from Sale, Recapitalization or Refinancing; Other Distributions. Distributions funded by the sale of material assets of the Company outside the ordinary course of business or a recapitalization or refinancing of the Company (“Proceeds Distributions”) shall be distributed first to the Series A Members to cover any shortfall of their Preferential Return not already covered by Income Distributions until the Series A Members have received Total Distributions in an amount equal to their Preferential Return and thereafter, to the holders of outstanding Common Units, Series A Units and the Series B in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests on an as converted basis. Series B holders only participate in Proceeds Distributions above the Threshold Value assigned to their tranches of Series B Units at the time of their issuance. Exhibit D illustrates the Proceeds Distributions waterfall under various scenarios.
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(d) Series B Limitations. If one or more series of Series B Units are issued with a Threshold Value greater than zero, each such series of Series B Units shall be ignored for purposes of the definition of Percentage Interest and for purposes of this Section 6.1 (and such series will not be entitled to receive distributions) until cumulative distributions have been made to the holders of series of Series B Units with lesser Threshold Value.
(e) Record Date. All distributions made under this Section 6.1 shall be made to the holders of record of the applicable Units on the record date established by the Board or, in the absence of any such record date, to the holders of the applicable Units on the date of the distribution.
(f) In Kind Distributions. Except for distributions pursuant to Section 6.1(b) which shall be funded in cash, the Company may distribute securities or other property in kind. The fair market value of securities or other property distributed in kind shall be determined by the Board.
(g) Tax Withholding. All amounts withheld or required to be withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any state, local or foreign tax law with respect to any payment, distribution, or allocation to the Company or the Members and treated by the Code (whether or not withheld pursuant to the Code) or any such tax law as amounts payable by or in respect of any Partner or any Person owning an interest, directly or indirectly, in such Member shall be treated as amounts actually distributed to the Member with respect to which such amount was withheld pursuant to this section for all purposes under this Agreement. The Company is authorized to withhold from distributions, or with respect to allocations, to the Members and to pay over to any federal, state, local or foreign government any amounts required to be so withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other federal, state, local or foreign law, and shall allocate any such amounts to the Members with respect to which such amount was withheld. In the event that the Board reasonably determines that the amounts distributable to a Member by the Company are not expected to be sufficient to satisfy the Company’s tax withholding obligation with respect to such Member, then such Member shall promptly advance to the Company sufficient funds to satisfy any such obligation as requested by the Board. The Company shall promptly deposit such amounts with the applicable tax authority for credit to such Member, no such amounts shall be credited to the Capital Account of such Member and the Company shall have no obligation to repay or return any such amounts to the Member. If a Member fails to timely transfer any such funds to the Company, then such amount shall be deemed a defaulted capital contribution and the Company shall take such action as deemed necessary to collect such amount.
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6.2 Allocations of Profits and Losses.
(a) General Profit and Loss Allocations.
(i) Allocations. Except as provided in Sections 6.2(b) and (e), for each taxable year of the Company, and after giving effect to the other allocations contemplated by this Agreement and any contributions and distributions made during such taxable year Profits and Losses (and all items included in the computation thereof) shall be allocated among the Members so that, as nearly as possible, the balance of each such Member’s Capital Account is the same as such Member’s Target Capital Account balance. Profits and Losses shall only be allocated to Series B Units in a year in which the Series B units are entitled to Proceeds Distributions. The Profits and Losses allocated to the Series B units in a year in which the Series B units are entitled to Proceeds Distributions shall be allocated to the Series B units so that, as nearly as possible, the balance of each such Member’s Capital Account will reflect the hypothetical distributions such Member would receive pursuant to Section 6.1(c).
(ii)
(b) Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 6.2, the following special allocations shall be made for each taxable period:
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.2, if there is a net decrease in Minimum Gain during any taxable period, each Member shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), (g)(2) and (j)(2)(i). For purposes of this Section 6.2(c), each Member’s Capital Account shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.2 with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.2(c)(i) is intended to comply with the partner minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.2 (other than Section 6.2(c)(i) above), if there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any taxable period, any Member with a share of Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and (j)(2)(ii). For purposes of this Section 6.2(c), each Member’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income and gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.2, other than Section 6.2(c)(i) above, with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.2(c)(ii) is intended to comply with the partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
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(iii) Except as provided in Sections 6.2(c)(i) and 6.2(c)(ii) above, in the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by such Treasury Regulation, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Sections 6.2(c)(i) and 6.2(c)(ii).
(iv) In the event any Member has a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of any taxable period, such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.2(c)(iv) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account after all other allocations provided in this Section 6.2(c) have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.2(c) were not in this Agreement.
(v) Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests.
(vi) Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Member that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704 2(i). If more than one Member bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Member Nonrecourse Debt, Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Members in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(vii) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to sections 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, 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 item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Members in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such provisions.
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(c) Curative Allocation. The allocations set forth in Section 6.2(c) (other than Section 6.2(c)(vii)) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Treasury Regulations. It is the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss, or deduction pursuant to this Section 6.2(d). Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 6 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), but subject to the Code and the Treasury Regulations, the Board shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company income, gain, loss, or deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Member’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Member would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of this Agreement. In exercising its discretion under this Section 6.2(d), the Board shall take into account future Regulatory Allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Regulatory Allocations previously made.
(d) Final Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 6.2 (other than the Regulatory Allocations and Curative Allocations), in the year in which a Dissolution Event or Sale of the Company occurs and all subsequent years (and for any prior years with respect to which the due date (without regard to extensions) for the filing of the Company’s federal income tax return has not passed as of the date of the Dissolution Event), all items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company, including gross items, shall be allocated among the Members in a manner reasonably determined by the Board as shall cause to the nearest extent possible the Capital Account of each Member to equal the amount to be distributed to such Member pursuant to Sections 12.2(c) and 12.4.
6.3 Income Tax Allocations.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 6.3, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company for federal income tax purposes shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as such items are allocated for book purposes under Section 6.2.
(b) The Members recognize that there may be a difference between the Book Value of a Company asset and the asset’s adjusted tax basis at the time of the property’s contribution or revaluation pursuant to this Agreement. In such a case, all items of tax depreciation, cost recovery, amortization, and gain or loss with respect to such asset shall be allocated among the Members to take into account the disparities between the Book Values and the adjusted tax basis with respect to such properties as determined by the Board in accordance with the provisions of sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations under those sections, using the “remedialmethod” (as defined in Regulation 1.704-3(d)) for allocating section 704(c) items ; provided, however, that any tax items not required to be allocated under sections 704(b) or 704(c) of the Code shall be allocated in the same manner as such gain or loss would be allocated for book purposes under Section 6.2.
(c) If any deductions for depreciation are recaptured as ordinary income upon the sale or other disposition of Company properties, the ordinary income character of the gain from such sale or disposition shall be allocated among the Members in the same ratio as the deductions giving rise to such ordinary income character were allocated.
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6.4 Other Allocation Rules. All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit allocable to Units that may have been transferred shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee based on the portion of the calendar year during which each was recognized as the owner of such Units, without regard to the results of Company operations during any particular portion of that calendar year and without regard to whether cash distributions were made to the transferor or the transferee during that calendar year; provided, however, that this allocation must be made in accordance with a method permissible under Code Section 706 and the regulations thereunder. If any Units are Disposed of or redeemed in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, all distributions with respect to which the record date is before the date of such Disposition or redemption shall be made to the Disposing Member, and all distributions with respect to which the record date is after the date of such Disposition, in the case of a Disposition other than a redemption, shall be made to the transferee.
Article
7
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS REGARDING
PURCHASE, SALE AND ISSUANCE OF UNITS
7.1 Restrictions on Dispositions of Units.
(a) Dispositions of Units otherwise permitted or required by this Agreement may only be made in compliance with federal and state securities laws, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the Act.
(b) For so long as the Company is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in no event may any Disposition of any Units by any Member be made if such Disposition is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or if such Disposition would otherwise result in the Company being treated as a “publicly traded partnership,” as such term is defined in Section 7704(b) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) Dispositions of Units may only be made in strict compliance with all applicable terms of this Agreement, and any purported Disposition of Units that does not so comply with all applicable provisions of this Agreement shall be null and void and of no force or effect, and the Company shall not recognize or be bound by any such purported Disposition and shall not effect any such purported Disposition on the transfer books of the Company or Capital Accounts of the Members. The Members agree that the restrictions contained in this Article 7 are fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the Company and the Members.
(d) Each Member that is an entity that was formed for the sole or principal purpose of directly or indirectly acquiring Membership Interests or Units or an entity whose principal asset is its Membership Interests or Units, or direct or indirect interests in Membership Interests or Units, agrees that it will not permit Dispositions of Capital Stock in such Member in a single transaction or series of related transactions if such Dispositions collectively would result in Capital Stock in such Member representing a majority of the economic or voting interests in such Member being owned or Controlled by a Person or Persons that do not own or Control Capital Stock in such Member as of the date that such Member became a Member unless such Member requires such Dispositions of such Capital Stock to be treated as a full Disposition of Membership Interests or Units by such Member hereunder.
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7.2 Additional Restrictions on Dispositions of Units.
(a) No Disposition of Series B Units may be made except (i) to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with Section 7.3, (ii) in connection with a Drag-Along Transaction or (iii) to the Company in accordance with the redemption provisions of the applicable Restricted Unit Agreement or this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein, no Disposition of Units may be made to any Person that is a Potential Competitor of, or an adverse party to, the Company, as reasonably determined by the Board, except pursuant to Section 7.5.
7.3 Permitted Dispositions.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1 and to the applicable provisions of Section 7.4 and Section 7.6, any Member may Dispose of its Units by way of gift to a Permitted Transferee of such holder; provided, however, that (i) such Permitted Transferee shall not be entitled to make any further Dispositions in reliance upon this Section 7.3(a), except for a Disposition of such acquired Units back to such original holder or to another Permitted Transferee of such holder or a Person to whom such transfer is permitted under Section 7.2, and (ii) such Permitted Transferee must assume all of the obligations of the original holder of the Units under and agree to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.
(b) Any holder of any Series B Units may Dispose of such Units by way of gift to a Permitted Transferee of such holder; provided, however, that (i) such Permitted Transferee shall not be entitled to make any further Dispositions in reliance upon this Section 7.3(b), except for a Disposition of such acquired Units back to such original holder or to another Permitted Transferee of such holder or a Person to whom such transfer is permitted under Section 7.2, and (ii) such Permitted Transferee must assume all of the obligations of the original holder of the Series B Units under and agree to comply with the provisions of the applicable Restricted Unit Agreement and this Agreement.
(c) A Member may not make a Disposition of Units to a Permitted Transferee if such Disposition has as a purpose the avoidance of or is otherwise undertaken in contemplation of avoiding the restrictions on Dispositions in this Agreement (it being understood that the purpose of this Section 7.3(c) is to prohibit the Disposition of Units to a Permitted Transferee followed by a change in the relationship between the transferor and the Permitted Transferee (or a change of Control of such transferor or Permitted Transferee) after the Disposition with the result and effect that the transferor has indirectly made a Disposition of Units by using a Permitted Transferee, which Disposition would not have been directly permitted under this Section 7.3 had such change in such relationship occurred prior to such Disposition).
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7.4 Rights of First Offer.
(a) If any holder of any Common Units or Series A Units desires to Dispose of all or a part of such holder’s Common Units or Series A Units in a bona fide Disposition to one or more Third Parties (a “Proposed Disposition”), such holder (the “Offeror Holder”) shall deliver written notice of such Proposed Disposition (the “Notice of Right of First Offer”) to the Company no less than 30 days prior to the date of the Proposed Disposition. The date that the Notice of Right of First Offer is received by the Company shall constitute the “First Offer Notice Date.” Within five days after receipt of the Notice of Right of First Offer by the Company, the Company shall send a copy of the Notice of Right of First Offer along with a letter indicating the First Offer Notice Date to each Member that holds Common Units and each Major Investor of Series A Units (other than the Offeror Holder). (each, a “ROFO Holder”). If the Proposed Disposition involved Common Units, then the Company and each Major Investor of Series A Units shall be considered a ROFO Holder; and if the Proposed Disposition involves Series A Units, then only the Major Investors of Series A Units shall be considered a ROFO Holder. The notice shall set forth the name or names, if known, of the Third Party or Third Parties, the number and class or series of Common Units or Series A Units to be sold (the “Offered Units”), the price per Unit for the Offered Units (the “Offer Price”), and all details of the payment terms and all other terms and conditions of the Proposed Disposition. A Proposed Disposition may not contain provisions related to any property of the Offeror Holder other than Common Units or Series A Units held by the Offeror Holder, and the Offer Price shall be expressed only in terms of cash (in U.S. dollars). Any Proposed Disposition of Common Units or Series A Units not satisfying the terms of this Section 7.4 (e.g., a Proposed Disposition in which not all of the proposed consideration is cash or a Proposed Disposition that is not bona fide) may not be made unless otherwise expressly permitted pursuant to the other provisions of this Article 7.
(b) Within ten days of the Notice of First Offer Date, each applicable ROFO Holder (as set forth in Section 7.4(a) above) shall have the right to purchase up to that number of the Offered Units equal to such ROFO Holder’s pro rata percentage of the total Percentage Interest of all ROFO Holders (the “Proportionate Share”). Within 25 days after the First Offer Notice Date, each ROFO Holder may deliver a written notice to the Offeror Holder, the Company and each other ROFO Holder of its election to purchase such Offered Units. To the extent any ROFO Holder does not elect to purchase its full Proportionate Share of such Offered Units or fails to deliver a notice within the applicable period, each ROFO Holder that has elected to purchase its full Proportionate Share shall be entitled, by delivering written notice to the Offeror Holder and the Company within five days following the end of such 25-day period (such fifth day, the “Offer Expiration Date”), to purchase up to all of the remaining Offered Units. If there is an oversubscription, the oversubscribed amount shall be allocated among the ROFO Holders fully exercising their rights to purchase such remaining Offered Units pro rata based on the Percentage Interest owned by each fully electing ROFO Holder relative to the Percentage Interest held by all fully electing ROFO Holders. The delivery of a notice of election under this Section 7.4 shall constitute an irrevocable commitment to purchase such Offered Units. If the ROFO Holders shall have elected to purchase all but not less than all of the Offered Units, the Company shall thereafter set a reasonable place and time for the closing of the purchase and sale of the Offered Units, which shall be not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days after the First Offer Notice Date (subject to extension to the extent necessary to pursue any required regulatory approvals, including to allow for the expiration or termination of all waiting periods under the HSR Act) unless otherwise agreed by all of the parties to such transaction.
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(c) The purchase price and terms and conditions for the purchase of the Offered Units pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be the price and terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Proposed Disposition; provided, that the Offeror Holder shall at a minimum make customary representations and warranties concerning (i) such Offeror Holder’s valid title to and ownership of the Offered Units, free of all liens, claims and encumbrances (excluding those arising under applicable securities laws), (ii) such Offeror Holder’s authority, power and right to enter into and consummate the sale of the Offered Units, (iii) the absence of any violation, default or acceleration of any agreement to which such Offeror Holder is subject or by which its assets are bound as a result of the agreement to sell and the sale of the Offered Units, and (iv) the absence of, or compliance with, any governmental or third party consents, approvals, filings or notifications required to be obtained or made by such Offeror Holder in connection with the sale of the Offered Units. The Offeror Holder also agrees to execute and deliver such instruments and documents and take such actions, including obtaining all applicable approvals and consents and making all applicable notifications and filings, as the purchasing ROFO Holders may reasonably request in order more effectively to implement the purchase and sale of the Offered Units hereunder.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the ROFO Holders shall not have elected to purchase all of such Offered Units on or prior to the Offer Expiration Date, such ROFO Holders shall not have the right to purchase any of the Offered Units and the Offered Units may be sold by the Offeror Holder at any time within 90 days after the Offer Expiration Date, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1 and Section 7.6 and to the applicable provisions of Section 7.2(b). Any such sale shall not be at less than the price or upon terms and conditions more favorable, individually or in the aggregate, to the purchaser than those specified in the Proposed Disposition. If any such Offered Units are not so transferred within such 90-day period, the Offeror Holder may not sell any of the Offered Units without again complying in full with the provisions of this Section 7.4.
(e) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, prior to any Disposition of Units by an Offeror Holder pursuant to this Section 7.4 to a Person other than a ROFO Holder, the Offeror Holder shall, after complying with the provisions of this Section 7.4, comply with the provisions of Section 7.6 hereof.
7.5 Drag-Along Rights.
(a) At any time, Members holding at least a majority of the of Common Units and/or Series A Units (the “Selling Members”) may propose a Drag-Along Transaction and require all other holders of Units (the “Drag-Along Members”) to sell all but not less than all of their Units in accordance with this Section 7.5. The Selling Members shall exercise their rights pursuant to this Section 7.5 by delivering a written notice (the “Drag-Along Notice”) to the Company and each Drag-Along Member no more than ten (10) Business Days after the execution by all parties thereto of a definitive agreement with respect to the Drag-Along Transaction. The Drag-Along Notice shall make reference to the Selling Members’ rights and obligations hereunder and shall describe in reasonable detail (i) the name of the Person to who the Units are proposed to be sold; (ii) the proposed date, time and location of the closing of the transaction; (iii) a description of the consideration to be paid; and (iv) the other material terms and conditions of the Drag-Along Transaction.
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(b) In connection with any such Drag-Along Transaction, all Drag-Along Members shall consent to and raise no objections against the Drag-Along Transaction, and if the Drag-Along Transaction is structured as (i) a merger, conversion, Unit exchange or consolidation of the Company, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, each holder of Units entitled to vote thereon shall vote in favor of the Drag-Along Transaction and shall waive any appraisal rights or similar rights in connection with such merger, conversion, Unit exchange, consolidation or asset sale, or (ii) a sale of all the Units, each holder of Units shall agree to sell all of his or its Units that are the subject of the Drag-Along Transaction, on the terms and conditions of such Drag-Along Transaction. The holders of Units shall promptly take all necessary and desirable actions in connection with the consummation of the Drag-Along Transaction, including the execution of such agreements and such instruments and other actions reasonably necessary to (A) provide customary representations, warranties, indemnities, and escrow/holdback arrangements relating to such Drag-Along Transaction (subject to Sections 7.5(c)(iv) and 7.5(c)(v) below), in each case to the extent that each other holder of Units is similarly obligated, and (B) effectuate the allocation and distribution of the aggregate consideration upon the Drag-Along Transaction as set forth in Section 7.5(c) below. The holders of Units shall be permitted to sell their Units pursuant to any Drag-Along Transaction without complying with any other provisions of this Article 7.
(c) The obligations of the drag-Along Members pursuant to this Section 7.5 are subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i) Upon the consummation of the Drag-Along Transaction, each Drag-Along Member shall receive the same proportion of the aggregate consideration from such Drag-Along Transaction that such holder would have received if such aggregate consideration had been distributed by the Company in complete liquidation pursuant to the rights and preferences set forth in Section 12.2 as in effect immediately prior to such Drag-Along Transaction, and if a holder of Units receives consideration from such Drag-Along Transaction in a manner other than as contemplated by such rights and preferences or in excess of the amount to which such holder is entitled in accordance with such rights and preferences, then such holder shall take such action as is necessary so that such consideration shall be immediately reallocated among and distributed to the holders of Units in accordance with such rights and preferences;
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(ii) if any holder of a series of Units is given an option as to the form and amount of consideration to be received, all holders of Units shall be given the same option;
(iii) the Company shall bear the reasonable, documented costs incurred in connection with any Drag-Along Transaction (costs incurred by or on behalf of any holder of Units for its sole benefit will not be considered costs of the transaction hereunder) unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the acquiror, in which case no holder of Units shall be obligated to make any out-of-pocket expenditure prior to the consummation of the Drag-Along Transaction (excluding modest expenditures for postage, copies, and the like) and no holder of Units shall be obligated to pay any portion (or, if paid, shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company for that portion paid) that is more than its pro rata share of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with a consummated Drag-Along Transaction;
(iv) no holder of Units shall be required to provide any representations, warranties or indemnities (other than pursuant to an escrow or holdback of consideration proportionate to the amount receivable under this Section 7.5) in connection with the Drag-Along Transaction, other than customary (including with respect to qualifications) several representations, warranties and indemnities concerning (A) such holder’s valid title to and ownership of Units, free of all liens, claims and encumbrances (excluding those arising under applicable securities laws), (B) such holder’s authority, power and right to enter into and consummate such Drag-Along Transaction, (C) the absence of any violation, default or acceleration of any agreement to which such holder is subject or by which its assets are bound as a result of the Drag-Along Transaction, and (D) the absence of, or compliance with, any governmental or third party consents, approvals, filings or notifications required to be obtained or made by such holder in connection with the Drag-Along Transaction (and then only to the extent that each other holder of Units provides similar representations, warranties and indemnities with respect to the Units held by such holder of Units);
(v) no holder of Units shall be obligated in respect of any indemnity obligations in such Drag-Along Transaction for an aggregate amount in excess of the total consideration payable to such holder of Units in such Drag-Along Transaction; and
(vi) if some or all of the consideration received in connection with the Drag-Along Transaction is other than cash, then such consideration shall be deemed to have a dollar value equal to the fair market value of such consideration as determined by the Board in its reasonable judgment.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.5, if the consideration proposed to be paid to the holders of Units in a Drag-Along Transaction includes securities with respect to which no registration statement covering the issuance of such securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act, then each of the holders of Units that is not then an Accredited Investor (without regard to Rule 501(a)(4)) may be required (notwithstanding Section 7.5(c)(ii)), at the request and election of the holders that are pursuing a Drag-Along Transaction, to (i) at the cost of the Company, appoint a purchaser representative (as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) reasonably acceptable to such requesting holders or (ii) accept cash in lieu of any securities such non-Accredited Investor would otherwise receive in an amount equal to the fair market value of such securities as determined in the manner set forth in Section 7.5(c)(vi).
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(e) Holders of an amount of outstanding Common Units and/or Series A Units sufficient to propose a Drag-Along Transaction shall have the right in connection with any such transaction (or in connection with the investigation or consideration of any such potential transaction) to require the Company to cooperate fully with potential acquirors in such prospective Drag-Along Transaction by taking all customary and other actions reasonably requested by such holders or such potential acquirors, including making the Company’s properties, books and records, and other assets reasonably available for inspection by such potential acquirors, establishing an electronic data room including materials customarily made available to potential acquirors in connection with such processes and making its employees reasonably available for presentations, interviews and other diligence activities, in each case subject to reasonable and customary confidentiality provisions. In addition, the holders of Common Units and/or Series A Units entitled to propose a Drag-Along Transaction shall be entitled to take all steps reasonably necessary to carry out an auction of the Company, including selecting an investment bank, providing confidential information (pursuant to confidentiality agreements), selecting the winning bidder and negotiating the requisite documentation. The Company shall provide assistance with respect to these actions as reasonably requested.
7.6 Tag-Along Rights.
(a) If, at any time and in its sole discretion, holders of at least a majority of the Common Units (“Tag-Along Transferors”) elect to Dispose to one or more Third Parties (collectively, a “Tag-Along Transferee”), in a bona fide arm’s-length transaction or series of related transactions (including by way of a purchase agreement, tender offer, merger or other business combination transaction or otherwise) a majority of the Tag Along Transferors’ Common Units held by the Tag Along Transferors on the date thereof and the Company does not exercise its rights under Section 7.4 above (a “Tag Sale”), each of the Series A Members shall be entitled to sell or transfer in the contemplated Tag Sale a number of Series A Units to be purchased in such Tag Sale equal to the product of (A) the quotient determined by dividing the number of Series A Units owned by such Member, on a converted basis, by the (A) total number of Common Units owned by each Tag Along Transferor electing to sell its Common Units in such Tag Sale, and (B) the total number of Series A Units to be sold in the Tag Sale.
(b) The delivery of the notice of election by each such holder under this section shall constitute an irrevocable commitment to sell the indicated Units. The Tag Along Transferor shall use reasonable efforts to arrange for the sale to the Tag-Along Transferee of all Units requested by such Members to be sold in the Tag Sale. If the Tag-Along Transferee agrees to purchase all of the Units requested by the Tag Along Transferor and the other Members to be part of the Tag-Along Sale, such sale shall be made pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Proposed Disposition as if the Third Party offer from the Tag-Along Transferee was made to, and accepted by, the other Members providing notice of election, unless the Tag Along Transferor and the electing Members each agree otherwise. If the Tag-Along Transferee agrees to purchase only a portion of the Units subject to the Tag-Along Sale and the Tag Along Transferor is willing to sell less than all of its Units initially to be transferred pursuant to the Proposed Disposition, the Units to be sold shall be allocated prorata between the Tag Along Transferor and the other Members who have provided notice to participate in the Tag-Along Sale in accordance with their Percentage Interests in the Company as compared to all shares the Transferee has agreed to purchase, and otherwise as if the offer from the Tag-Along Transferee was made to, and accepted by, the Members providing notice of to participate in the Tag-Along Sale pursuant to the Proposed Disposition, unless such Members and the Offeror Holder each agree otherwise. If neither (i) the Transferee is willing to purchase all of the Units subject to the Tag-Along Sale, nor (ii) the Tag Along Transferor be willing to sell a pro rata portion of its Units in the manner provided above, then no Member shall be permitted to sell his Units to such Transferee without first repeating the applicable procedures set forth in this Agreement.
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(c) The Tag Along Transferor and the other Members shall sell to the Tag-Along Transferee all of the Units proposed to be transferred by them in accordance with this Section 7.6 at not less than the price and upon the terms and conditions, if any, not more favorable, individually and in the aggregate, to the Tag-Along Transferee than those in the Proposed Disposition, at the time (subject to extension to the extent necessary to pursue any required regulatory approvals, including to allow for the expiration or termination of all waiting periods under the HSR Act) and place provided for the closing as the Tag Along Transferor, the other Members and the Tag-Along Transferee shall agree.
7.7 Preemptive Rights.
(a) Prior to the Company issuing (other than through (i) issuances of (i) Common Units pursuant to the conversion rights of the Series A Units, (ii) Series B Units, (iii) options to purchase Units pursuant to incentive equity plans approved by the Board, (iv) Units issued to any Person that is not a Member or an Affiliate thereof as consideration in any acquisition or other strategic transaction approved in accordance with this Agreement, (v) Units issued in connection with any split, distribution or recapitalization of the Company, and (v) any Capital Stock issued by the Company pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act and approved by the Board), any Units, warrants or options or other rights to acquire Units (collectively, the “New Units”) to a proposed purchaser (the “Proposed Purchaser”), each Eligible Purchaser shall have the right to purchase the number of New Units as provided in this Section 7.7.
(b) The Company shall give each Eligible Purchaser at least 15 days’ prior notice (the “First Notice”) of any proposed issuance of New Units, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the proposed terms and conditions thereof and shall offer to each Eligible Purchaser the opportunity to purchase its Pro Rata Share (which Pro Rata Share shall be calculated as of the date of such notice) of the New Units at the same price, on the same terms and conditions and at the same time as the New Units are proposed to be issued by the Company. If any Eligible Purchaser wishes to exercise its preemptive rights, it must do so by delivering an irrevocable written notice to the Company within 15 days after delivery by the Company of the First Notice (the “Election Period”), which notice shall state the dollar amount of New Units such Eligible Purchaser (each a “Requesting Purchaser”) would like to purchase up to a maximum amount equal to such Eligible Purchaser’s Pro Rata Share of the total offering amount plus the additional dollar amount of New Units such Requesting Purchaser would like to purchase in excess of its Pro Rata Share (the “Over-Allotment Amount”), if any, if other Eligible Purchasers do not elect to purchase their full Pro Rata Share of the New Units. The rights of each Requesting Purchaser to purchase a dollar amount of New Units in excess of each such Requesting Purchaser’s Pro Rata Share of the New Units shall be based on the relative Pro Rata Share of the New Units of those Requesting Purchasers desiring Over-Allotment Amounts and not based on the Requesting Purchasers’ relative Over-Allotment Amounts.
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(c) If not all of the New Units are subscribed for by the Eligible Purchasers, the Company shall have the right, but shall not be required, to issue and sell the unsubscribed portion of the New Units to the Proposed Purchaser at any time during the 90 days following the termination of the Election Period pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the First Notice. The Board may, in its reasonable discretion, impose such other reasonable and customary terms and procedures such as setting a closing date, rounding the number of Units covered by this Section 7.7 to the nearest whole Unit and requiring customary closing deliveries in connection with any preemptive rights offering. In the event any Eligible Purchaser refuses to purchase offered Units for which it subscribed pursuant to the exercise of preemptive rights granted thereto under this Section 7.7, in addition to any other rights the Company may be permitted to enforce at law or in equity, such Eligible Purchaser and any Permitted Transferee of such Eligible Purchaser shall not be considered an Eligible Purchaser for any future rights granted under this Section 7.7 unless the Board expressly designates such Person as an Eligible Purchaser (which the Board, in its sole discretion, may do on an offer-by-offer basis or not at all).
7.8 Specific Performance. Each Member acknowledges that it shall be inadequate or impossible, or both, to measure in money the damage to the Company or the Members, if any of them or any transferee or any legal representative of any party hereto fails to comply with any of the restrictions or obligations imposed by this Article 7, that every such restriction and obligation is material, and that in the event of any such failure, the Company or the Members shall not have an adequate remedy at law or in damages. Therefore, each Member consents to the issuance of an injunction or the enforcement of other equitable remedies against such Member at the suit of an aggrieved party without the posting of any bond or other security, to compel specific performance of all of the terms of this Article 7 and to prevent any Disposition of Units in contravention of any terms of this Article 7, and waives any defenses thereto, including the defenses of: (i) failure of consideration; (ii) breach of any other provision of this Agreement; and (iii) availability of relief in damages.
7.9 Termination Following Qualified Public Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 7, the provisions of this Article 7 (other than Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.10) shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering. If the Board of Managers determines that there shall be a Qualified Public Offering, each holder of Units agrees that it will, and will cause its Affiliates to, enter into a customary lock-up period agreement, if the underwriter in any such Qualified Public Offering requests that Members hold their Units for a period of time in connection with the Qualified Public Offering.
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7.10 Conversion Rights. Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in this Agreement, each holder of Series A Units shall have the right to convert its Series A Units into Common Units upon the following terms:
(a) Right to Convert. Subject to the provisions of this Section 7.10, at any time and from time to time on or after the Date of Issuance, any holder of Series A Units shall have the right, upon approval of the Series A Members holding at least a majority of the Series A Class Sharing Percentages, to convert all or any portion of its outstanding Series A Units (including any fraction of a Unit) held by such holder into an equal number (1:1) of Common Units (including any fraction of a Unit).
(b) Automatic Conversion. Subject to the provisions of this Section 7.10, in connection with, and on the closing of, a Qualified Public Offering by the Company, and, upon the receipt of the full amounts of Preferential Return by Series A holders, all of the outstanding Series A Units (including any fraction of a Unit) held by Series A Members shall automatically convert into an equal (1:1) number of Common Units (including any fraction of a Unit) (“Conversion Units”).
(c) Procedures for Optional Conversion. In order to effectuate a conversion of Series A Units pursuant to Section 7.10(a), a holder shall (a) submit a written election to the Company that such holder elects to convert Units, the number of Units elected to be converted and (b) surrender, along with such written election, to the Company the certificate or certificates representing the Units being converted, if the Units have been certificated, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company, and if the Units are uncertificated, a duly executed assignment relating thereto. The conversion of such Units hereunder shall be deemed effective as of the date of surrender of such Series A Units certificate or certificates or delivery of such assignment. Upon the receipt by the Company of a written election, the Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in any event within ten (10) days thereafter) deliver to the relevant holder (a) a certificate in such holder’s name (or the name of such holder’s designee as stated in the written election) for the number of Common Units (including any fractional Unit) to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion of the applicable Units as calculated pursuant to Section 7.10(a) and, if applicable, a certificate in such holder’s (or the name of such holder’s designee as stated in the written election) for the number of Series A Units (including any fractional Unit) represented by the certificate or certificates delivered to the Company for conversion but otherwise not elected to be converted pursuant to the written election. All Units issued hereunder by the Company shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, free and clear of all taxes, liens, charges, and encumbrances with respect to the issuance thereof.
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(e) Procedures for Automatic Conversion. As of the closing of a Qualified Public Offering and after Series A holders receive the full amount of Preferential Return all outstanding Series A Units shall be converted to the number of Common Units calculated pursuant to Section 7.10(b) without any further action by the relevant holder of such Units or the Company. As promptly as practicable following such Qualified Public Offering (but in any event within five (5) days thereafter), the Company shall send each holder of Series A Units written notice of such event. Upon receipt of such notice, each holder shall surrender to the Company the certificate or certificates representing the Units being converted, if the Units have been certificated, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company, and if the Units are uncertificated, a duly executed assignment relating thereto. Upon the surrender of such certificate(s) and accompanying materials, the Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in any event within ten (10) days thereafter) deliver to the relevant holder a certificate in such holder’s name (or the name of such holder’s designee as stated in the written election) for the number of Common Units (including any fractional Unit) to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion of the applicable Units. All Common Units issued hereunder by the Company shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, free and clear of all taxes, liens, charges, and encumbrances with respect to the issuance thereof.
(f) Effect of Conversion. All Series A Units converted as provided in this Section 7.10 shall no longer be deemed outstanding as of the effective time of the applicable conversion and all rights with respect to such Units shall immediately cease and terminate as of such time, other than the right of the holder to receive Common Units.
(g) Reservation of Units. The Company shall at all times when any Series A Units is outstanding reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Units, solely for the purpose of issuance upon the conversion of the Series A Units, such number of Common Units issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding Series A Units pursuant to this Section 7, taking into account any adjustment to such number of Units so issuable in accordance with Section 7.10(h) hereof.
(h) No Charge or Payment. The issuance of certificates for Common Units upon conversion of Series A Units pursuant to this Section 7.10 shall be made without payment of additional consideration by, or other charge, cost, or tax to, the holder in respect thereof.
(i) Adjustment to Conversion Price and Conversion Units upon Distribution, Subdivision, or Combination of Common Units. In order to prevent dilution of the conversion rights granted under this Section 7.10, the Conversion Price and the number of Conversion Units issuable on the conversion of the Series A Units shall be subject to adjustment from time to time so that no future act of the Company shall have the effect of diluting the number of Common Units each holder of Series A Units would otherwise be entitled to receive as of the Date of Issuance. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the Date of Issuance, (i) pay a distribution or make any other distribution upon the Common Units or any other capital stock of the Company payable in Common Units or options therefor, or (ii) subdivide (by any stock split, recapitalization, or otherwise) its outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Units, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to any such distribution, distribution, or subdivision shall be proportionately reduced and the number of Conversion Units issuable upon conversion of the Series A Units shall be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time combines (by combination, reverse stock split, or otherwise) its outstanding Common Units into a smaller number of Units, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately increased and the number of Conversion Units issuable upon conversion of the Series A Units shall be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section 7.10(h) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the distribution, subdivision, or combination becomes effective.
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Article
8
MANAGEMENT
8.1 Management Under Direction of the Board. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed and controlled by a board of managers comprised of 2 members (the “Board,” and each member of the Board, a “Manager”), and the Board shall have full and complete discretion to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company, to make all decisions affecting the business and affairs of the Company and to take all such actions as it deems necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of the Company as set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Manager in his or her individual capacity shall have the authority to manage the Company or approve matters relating to, or otherwise to bind the Company, such powers being reserved to all of the Managers acting pursuant to Section 8.2(e) through the Board and to such agents of the Company as designated by the Board.
8.2 Board of Managers.
(a) Composition; Managers. Immediately following the Effective Date, the Managers shall be as set forth on Schedule IV. Such Managers shall be designated as follows:
(i) For the Company to have a valid status, at least two Managers are required at any given time. If for whatever reason there are less than two Managers at the Company, a second Manager will be added within 60 days of the occurrence.
(ii) So long as at least one unit of the Series A Units remain outstanding, the holders of Series A Units acting by consent of a majority of the outstanding Series A Units shall be entitled to designate one (1) Manager to the Board of Managers (the “Series A Manager”), and the initial Series A Manager shall be Alex Guiva (“Guiva”);
(iii) So long as Sean Peace (“Peace”) continues to own a majority of the Common Units, Peace shall have the right to appoint one designee (a “Common Unit Manager”), and the initial Common Unit Manager shall be Peace.
(iv) If Series A Manager and Common Unit Manager both agree, they can nominate a third Manager to be added to Board of Managers; and,
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(v) If there are Observers, they shall have the right to be present at the meetings of the Board of Managers in person, telephonically or through videoconferencing.
Each Manager shall serve in such capacity until his successor has been elected and qualified or until such person’s death, resignation or removal. The members of the Board shall be “managers” within the meaning of the Act.
(b) Removal. Any Common Manager or Series A Manager may be removed with or without cause only by vote or consent of the Members entitled to designate such Manager. Any other Manager may be removed with or without cause only by Requisite Approval.
(c) Resignations. A Manager may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Company. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless expressly so provided in the resignation.
(d) Vacancies. In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of any Common Manager or Series A Manager, such vacancy shall be filled only by consent of the Member or Members entitled to designate such Manager. In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of any other Manager, such vacancy shall be filled only by Requisite Approval. A Member or group of Members entitled to designate a Manager may do so at any time by written notice to the Company.
(e) Quorum; Required Vote for Board Action. Each Manager shall have one vote. Unless otherwise required by this Agreement, both Managers must be present for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Board, and actions by the Board shall require the vote or consent of both Managers.
(f) Place of Meetings; Order of Business. The Board may hold its meetings and may have an office and keep the books of the Company, except as otherwise provided by Law, in such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine by resolution. At all meetings of the Board, business shall be transacted in such order as shall from time to time be determined by the by resolution of the Board.
(g) Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required.
(h) Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by any Common Manager on at least 24 hours personal, written or electronic notice to each Manager, which notice must include appropriate dial-in information to permit each Manager to participate in such meeting by means of telephone conference. Such notice need not state the purpose or purposes of such meeting, except as may otherwise be required by Law.
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(i) Compensation. Unless approved by Requisite Approval, none of the Managers shall receive any compensation for serving on the Board. All of the Managers shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in attending meetings of the Board.
(j) Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all Managers. Such writing or writings shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board.
(k) Telephonic Conference Meeting. Subject to the requirement for notice of meetings, members of the Board may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(l) Waiver of Notice Through Attendance. Attendance of a Manager at any meeting of the Board (including by telephone) shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such Manager attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and notifies the other Managers at such meeting of such purpose.
(m) Reliance on Books, Reports and Records. Each Manager shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or reports made to the Company by any of its Officers or by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care by the Board, or in relying in good faith upon other records of the Company.
(n) Committees. The Board may appoint or create any committees of the Board as it deems appropriate.
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8.3 Officers.
(a) Generally. The Company may have such officers (the “Officers”) as the Board in its discretion may appoint. The Board may remove any Officer with or without cause at any time; provided, however, that such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the Officer so removed. Election or appointment of an Officer shall not of itself create contractual rights. Any such Officers may, subject to the general direction of the Board, have responsibility for the management of the normal and customary day-to-day operations of the Company, and act as “agents” of the Company in carrying out such activities. The Officers shall be compensated, and the terms and conditions of their employment with the Company or a Subsidiary (as applicable) shall be, as provided in their respective employment agreements, if any. Any Officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Board. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless expressly so provided in the resignation.
(b) General Authority of Officers. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, the Officers shall have delegated authority from the Board for conducting the day-to-day business of the Company, including the authority to:
(i) manage the daily affairs, business operations and properties of the Company (including the opening, maintaining and closing of bank accounts and drawing checks or other orders for the payment of monies in the ordinary course of business) and, in connection therewith, bind the Company and otherwise act as its agent;
(ii) expend Company funds in connection with operating the business of the Company;
(iii) collect all amounts due to the Company and contest and exercise the Company’s right to collect such amounts;
(iv) to the extent that funds of the Company are available therefore, pay as they become due, all obligations of the Company;
(v) employ and dismiss from employment any and all employees (other than another Officer) and appoint and remove agents, consultants and independent contractors, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(vi) acquire, hold, manage, own, sell, transfer, convey, assign, exchange or otherwise dispose of assets of the Company; and
(vii) enter into, execute, make, amend, supplement, acknowledge, deliver and perform in the name and on behalf of the Company all contracts, agreements, licenses and other instruments, undertakings and understandings in the ordinary course of the business and affairs of the Company (or that the Board and, if applicable, the Members determine are necessary, appropriate or incidental to the carrying out of such business and affairs).
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8.4 Members. Except for the right to consent to or approve certain matters as expressly provided in Section 8.5, the Members in their capacity as Members shall not have any other power or authority to manage the business or affairs of the Company or to bind the Company or enter into agreements on behalf of the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Law and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or any Transaction Document, no Member in its capacity as a Member shall have any duty, fiduciary or otherwise, to the Company or any other Member in connection with the business and affairs of the Company or any consent or approval given or withheld pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document. The foregoing sentence will not be deemed to alter the contractual obligations of a Member to another Member or the Company pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, Members shall have no voting rights or rights of approval, veto or consent or similar rights over any actions of the Company. Any matter requiring the consent or approval of any of the Members pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, setting forth such consent or approval, and signed by the holders of not less than the number of outstanding Units necessary to consent to or approve such action. Prompt notice of such consent or approval shall be given by the Company to those Members who have not joined in such consent or approval.
8.5 Decisions Requiring Board or Member Approval.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following actions by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall require approval by the Board in accordance with Section 8.2(e):
(i) the adoption of an Annual Budget or any modification to an Annual Budget;
(ii) any transaction or agreement involving hedging or forward sales arrangements;
(iii) any commencement or settlement of any litigation, investigation or proceeding;
(iv) the entry into any agreement, contract or commitment or series of related agreements, contracts or commitments, in each case involving expenditures which, when fully funded are expected to be, in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year;
(v) entry into any union contract or collective bargaining agreement;
(vi) the election or removal of Officers; changes in compensation for any Officer or entering into or amending any employment or severance agreement with any Officer; or the adoption of any employee benefit or welfare plans, provided, however, only the Series A Manager shall approve the compensation agreement of Peace, which shall be done each year and for 2021 within 30 days of the Date of Issuance; and
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(vii) entering into any agreement or otherwise committing to do any of the foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following actions by the Company, in addition to the actions described in Section 3.8(b) above, shall require the approval of the Board in accordance with Section 8.2(e) as well as Requisite Approval:
(i) any distribution to the holders of Units or any redemption, acquisition or repurchase of any Units or other Membership Interests (including any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for a Unit or other Membership Interest);
(ii) entering into or amending a note, credit agreement, credit facility, letter of credit or other instrument of indebtedness in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000 or more in any transaction or series of related transactions; otherwise incurring indebtedness or agreeing to furnish a guarantee or other credit support in an amount in excess of $50,000 in any transaction or series of related transactions; or the purchase, redemption, cancellation, prepayment or other complete or partial discharge in advance of a scheduled payment or mandatory redemption date of any such obligation in any transaction or series of related transactions;
(iii) the creation, authorization or issuance of any Units or other Membership Interests (including any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for a Unit or other Membership Interest);
(iv) the purchase or other acquisition of assets (including equity interests in any Person) in any transaction or series of related transactions for consideration (including assumed indebtedness) in excess of $100,000 (other than transactions included in an Annual Budget that has been approved in accordance with Section 8.5(b));
(v) the sale of all, substantially all or any material portion of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including equity interests in any Subsidiary) taken as a whole in any transaction or series of related transactions (other than transactions included in an Annual Budget that has been approved in accordance with Section 8.5(b));
(vi) any consolidation, merger or other business combination or any conversion to another type or form of business entity;
(vii) any Dissolution Event;
(viii) the registration of any securities under the Securities Act or any public offering of securities;
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(ix) any change in the Company’s independent public accountants;
(x) the adoption of any voluntary change in the tax classification for federal income tax purposes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xi) any change in the principal line of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or in the Company’s purpose as set forth in Section 2.4;
(xii) the adoption of a plan or proposal for a complete or partial liquidation, reorganization or recapitalization or commencement of any case, proceeding or action seeking relief under any laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, conservatorship or relief of debtors, or applying for or consenting to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or similar official, or filing an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any such proceeding, or making a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admitting in writing its inability or failing generally to pay its debts as they become due; and
(xiii) entering into any agreement or otherwise committing to do any of the foregoing.
8.6 Acknowledgement Regarding Outside Businesses and Opportunities.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to the contrary, each of the Company and the Members acknowledges and agrees that the Investors and their respective Affiliates (i) have made, prior to the date hereof, and are expected to make, on and after the date hereof, investments (by way of capital contributions, loans or otherwise), and (ii) may have engaged, prior to the date hereof, and may engage, on and after the date hereof, in other transactions with and with respect to, in each case, Persons engaged in businesses that directly or indirectly compete with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as conducted from time to time. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 8.6(b), the Company and the Members agree that any involvement, engagement or participation of such Investors and their respective Affiliates (including any Investor Nominee) in such investments, transactions and businesses, even if competitive with the Company, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper or to violate any duty express or implied under applicable Law.
(b) The Company and each Member hereby renounce any interest or expectancy in any business opportunity, transaction or other matter in which any member of the Investor Group participates or desires or seeks to participate (each, a “Business Opportunity”) other than a Business Opportunity that (i) is presented to an Investor Nominee solely in such individual’s capacity as an Investor Nominee (whether at a meeting of the Board or otherwise) and with respect to which no member of the Investor Group has independently received notice or is otherwise pursuing or aware of such Business Opportunity or (ii) is identified to the Investor Nominee solely through the disclosure of information by or on behalf of the Company to the Investor Nominee and with respect to which no member of the Investor Group has independently received notice or is otherwise pursuing or aware of such Business Opportunity (each Business Opportunity other than those referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) are referred to as a “Renounced Business Opportunity”). No member of the Investor Group, including any Investor Nominee, shall have any obligation to communicate or offer any Renounced Business Opportunity to the Company, and any member of the Investor Group may pursue for itself or direct, sell, assign or transfer to a Person other than the Company any Renounced Business Opportunity.
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(c) Each of the Company and the Members hereby agrees that any claims against, actions, rights to sue, other remedies or other recourse to or against the Investors, any Covered Person or any of their respective Affiliates for or in connection with any such investment activity or other transaction activity or other matters described in Section 8.6(a) or (b), or activities related to any of the foregoing, whether arising in common law or equity or created by rule of law, statute, constitution, contract (including this Agreement or any other Transaction Document) or otherwise, are expressly released and waived by the Company and each Member, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Law; provided, however, that this Section 8.6(c) shall not constitute a release or waiver by the Company of any violation of Section 10.5 by a Member.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to the contrary, but subject to the terms and provisions of Section 8.7 below, each of the Company and the Members acknowledges and agrees that the Investors and their respective Affiliates have obtained, prior to the date hereof, and are expected to obtain, on and after the date hereof, confidential information from other companies in connection with the activities and transactions described in Section 8.6(a) or otherwise. Each of the Company and the Members hereby agrees that (i) none of the Investors or any of their respective Affiliates (including the Investor Nominees) has any obligation to use in connection with the business, operations, management or other activities of the Company or to furnish to the Company or any Member any such confidential information, and (ii) that any claims against, actions, rights to sue, other remedies or other recourse to or against the Investors, any Covered Person or any of their respective Affiliates for or in connection with any such failure to use or to furnish such confidential information, whether arising in common law or equity or created by rule of law, statute, constitution, contract (including this Agreement or any other Transaction Document) or otherwise, are expressly released and waived by the Company and each Member, to the fullest extent permitted by Law.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall constitute a waiver as to any Manager or Officer of fiduciary or other duties that an officer of a Delaware limited liability company would normally have to the extent such Management Class A Member is acting in its capacity as an Officer or employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries.
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8.7 Covenants of the Management Principal. Management Principal shall enter into an employment agreement with the Company. During the Noncompetition Period, in the event the Management Principal, in his individual capacity, shall be presented with, or made aware of, any New Business Opportunity, such Management Principal shall immediately notify and present the terms and conditions of such New Business Opportunity to the Company and the Board of Managers; whether or not the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company elects to take advantage of such New Business Opportunity, Management Principal shall not present such New Business Opportunity to any Person other than the Company and the Board of Managers.
(a) Subject to the terms of his Employment Agreement, during the Noncompetition Period, Management Principal shall be engaged exclusively in providing services on behalf of the Company and shall ensure that, except to the extent that such Management Principal is performing services on behalf of the Company, Management Principal shall not (A) invest or otherwise take advantage of, directly or indirectly, any New Business Opportunity in the Area of Interest, (B) engage, directly or indirectly, in any other activity or take any other employment in either case relating to, or competing with, the Business or any other business conducted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Area of Interest, or perform services for third parties that are competitive with the Business or any other business conducted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Competitive Services”), (C) directly or indirectly induce or solicit employees, salesmen, agents, consultants, distributors, representatives or advisors of the Company to terminate or reduce their relations with the Company or its Subsidiaries, (D) directly or indirectly induce or solicit those customers or suppliers of the Company to which the Management Principal provided products or services or with whom the Management Principal communicated on behalf of the Company, or about whom the Management Principal had access to Confidential Business Information or Trade Secrets during the twelve (12) month period prior to such termination to terminate or reduce their business relations with the Company, or (E) directly or indirectly, own, operate, advise, manage, carry on, establish, acquire control of, invest in or have an interest (in the capacity of a shareholder, partner, principal, consultant, or any other relationship or capacity) in or otherwise be engaged or affiliated with, any business that engages or participates in the Business in the area of Interest or that performs Competitive Services. Management Principal shall be deemed to be engaged in the Business or performing Competitive Services if he shall engage in such business or perform such services directly or indirectly, whether for his own account or for that of another Person, except as an officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate of the Company. In addition, Management Principal shall not, directly or indirectly, rent, lease, sell, license, contribute or otherwise transfer or make available (each, a “Disclosure”): (1) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names and corporate names which are owned by the Company or to which the Company has rights or (2) books, records, invoices, documents, ledgers, financial data, files, customer data, reports, product and design manuals, plans, drawings, tax returns, technical manuals, management information systems (including related computer software), trade secrets or other confidential information of the Company, in each case to any third party without the written consent of the Board of Managers and unless, prior to such Disclosure, the transferee enters into a confidentiality agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, and an agreement not to compete with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company on terms substantially similar to those set forth in this Section 8.7.
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(b) For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Noncompetition Period” shall mean, with respect to Management Principal, the period beginning at the Effective Date of such Management Principal’s Employment Agreement and ending upon: i) the second anniversary of the date on which such Person is no longer employed by, or a consultant to, the Company or any of its Affiliates if such Person or his/her affiliates has not been an equity holder of the Company during this two year period after departing the Company, or ii) the second anniversary of such Person’s sale of his/her complete ownership stake in the Company to an unaffiliated buyer, the Company or the Company’s equity holders. The term “Confidential Business Information” shall mean any and all confidential and proprietary information of the Company and its business, including, without limitation, product designs, specifications, service designs, development processes, business plans, prospects and projections, marketing plans, business records, financial data, customer information and customer lists, dealer lists, seismic and other geoscience data, pricing, financial information, sales information, purchasing and cost information, pricing information, supplier lists, computer programs, systems, formats, designs, specifications, processes, discoveries, any employee of the Company’s work product or other information of similar character. The term “Trade Secret” shall mean any formula, pattern, device or compilation of information which is used in the Company’s business and presents an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it, including, without limitation, any and all formulas, intellectual property (including, without limitation, inventions, original works of authorship and discoveries, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws), compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, processes or other such similar information. For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Business Information and Trade Secrets shall not include, and the obligations within this Section 8.7 shall not extend to: (i) information which is generally known and available to the public through no violation by Management Principal of any of his obligations in this Agreement; (ii) information obtained by a Management Principal from third persons (other than employees, customers or suppliers of the Company), not under agreement to maintain the confidentiality of the same; and (iii) information which is required to be disclosed by law or legal process.
(c) Management Principal agrees and acknowledges that there are legitimate protectable business interests at stake (such as protection of the goodwill, customers, employees and Trade Secrets and other Confidential Business Information of the Company) and that the covenants contained in this Section 8.7 are necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, and that breach of the covenants contained in this Section 8.7 would cause irreparable harm and injury to the Company, which cannot adequately be remedied through damages at law. Accordingly, Management Principal agrees that the Company’s remedies may include specific performance, a temporary restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, or other equitable relief against any threatened or actual breach by the Management Principal of Section 8.7 hereof. Nothing contained in this Section 8.7 shall prohibit the Company from seeking and obtaining any other remedy, including monetary damages, to which it may be entitled.
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Management Principal hereby acknowledges the reasonableness of the agreements set forth in this Section 8.7, including the reasonableness of the geographic area, duration of time and scope of activity restrained as set forth in Section 8.7. Management Principal further acknowledges that his skills are such that he can be gainfully employed in noncompetitive employment and that the agreement not to compete will in no way prevent him from earning a living. Management Principal understands that the foregoing restrictions may limit his ability to engage in certain businesses anywhere in the Area of Interest during the Noncompetition Period, but acknowledges that he is receiving sufficient consideration and other benefits to justify such restriction. Each of the restrictions contained in Section 8.7 of this Agreement are considered by Management Principal to be reasonable and necessary in order to protect and maintain the Confidential Business Information, Trade Secrets, property, relationships and other legitimate business interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries. In the event any provision of Section 8.7 is found by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be unreasonable or unnecessary to protect these interests, or invalid for any other reason, the court or arbitrator before whom the matter is pending shall reform the restriction to the broadest extent possible to render the provision enforceable. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Section 8.7 be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable laws, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, the Management Principal hereby waives any provision of applicable laws that would render any provision of this Section 8.7 invalid or unenforceable. If any provision of this Section 8.7, or the application to any person or set of circumstances, shall be determined to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable to any extent at any time, the remainder of this Section 8.7, and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is determined to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, shall be affected and shall continue to be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any invalid, unlawful or unenforceable provision herein shall be reformed to the extent necessary to render it valid, lawful and enforceable in a manner consistent with the intentions of the parties hereto regarding such provision.
Article
9
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Limitation of Liability and Indemnification.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in any Transaction Document, no Manager (solely in such individual’s capacity as a Manager) nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable to the Company or to any Member for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission taken or omitted by such Manager in his capacity as such; provided, that such Manager’s conduct did not constitute fraud or knowing violation of Law.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2, the Board may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and neither the Board nor any individual Manager (acting solely in such individual’s capacity as a Manager) shall be responsible or liable to the Company or any Member for any mistake, action, inaction, misconduct, negligence, fraud or bad faith on the part of any such agent appointed by the Board unless, with respect to an individual Manager only, such Manager had knowledge that such agent was acting unlawfully or engaging in fraud.
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(c) Any Covered Person acting for, on behalf of or in relation to, the Company in respect of any transaction, any investment or any business decision or action, or otherwise shall be entitled to rely on the provisions of the Transaction Documents and on the advice of counsel, accountants and other professionals that is provided to the Company or such Covered Person, and such Covered Person shall not be liable to the Company or to any Member for such Covered Person’s reliance on any Transaction Document or such advice, provided, that such Covered Person’s conduct did not constitute fraud or knowing violation of Law. Except as otherwise required pursuant to any Transaction Document, notwithstanding any provisions of Law or in equity to the contrary, whenever a Covered Person is permitted or required to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such Covered Person shall be entitled to consider only such interests (including its own interests) and factors as it desires, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company, the Members or any other Person to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Each Member acknowledges and agrees that any Manager designated by an Investor, or its transferees or successors, pursuant to Section 8.2 shall serve in such capacity to represent the interests of the Members that designated such Manager and shall be entitled to consider only such interests (including the interests of the Members that designated such Manager) and factors specified by the Members that designated such Manager, and shall not owe duties, fiduciary or otherwise, at Law, in equity or under the Transaction Documents, to the Company, any other Member or to any creditor of the Company (even if the Company is insolvent or near insolvency). The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of a Manager or Member otherwise existing at Law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, such other duties and liabilities of such Manager or Member. This Section 9.1 does not create any duty or liability of a Covered Person that does not otherwise exist at Law or in equity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under this Agreement or pursuant to any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) or otherwise applicable provision of Law or equity, a Member or Manager may enter into voting agreements or arrangements with one or more other Members regarding, among other things, the voting by such Member or by Managers appointed by such Member. Without limiting the scope of any such voting agreement or arrangement permitted hereunder, a voting agreement or arrangement may provide that Members may act in concert and that Managers may act in concert.
(d) Each Covered Person (regardless of such person’s capacity and regardless of whether another Covered Person is entitled to indemnification) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company (but only to the extent of the Company’s assets), to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, from and against any and all loss, liability and expense (including taxes; penalties; judgments; fines; amounts paid or to be paid in settlement; costs of investigation and preparations; and fees, expenses and disbursements of attorneys, whether or not the dispute or proceeding involves the Company or any Manager or Member) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such Covered Person in connection with the activities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, provided, that such Covered Person’s conduct did not constitute fraud or knowing violation of Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.1(d), no Officer shall be entitled to indemnification hereunder if such Officer did not act in good faith and in a manner such Officer reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company. The indemnification provided by this Section 9.1 shall be in addition to any other rights to which a Covered Person may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of Law or otherwise, both as to actions in such Covered Person’s capacity as a Covered Person hereunder and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of such Covered Person. A Covered Person shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 9.1 because such Covered Person had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
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(e) The Company shall advance to any Covered Person the expenses and other indemnification payments to which such Covered Person may be otherwise entitled; provided, however, that any such advance shall only be made if the Covered Person delivers a written affirmation by such Covered Person of its good faith belief that it is entitled to indemnification hereunder and agrees to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.
(f) Each Covered Person may rely, and shall incur no liability in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, paper, document, signature or writing reasonably believed by it to be genuine, and may rely on a certificate signed by an officer, agent or representative of any Person in order to ascertain any fact with respect to such person or within such Person’s knowledge, in each case provided that such Covered Person’s conduct did not constitute fraud or knowing violation of Law.
(g) NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT TO THE CONTRARY, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANY COVERED PERSON SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE COMPANY, TO ANY MEMBER OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON MAKING CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE FOREGOING FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF USE OR REVENUE OR LOSSES BY REASON OF COST OF CAPITAL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, THE GRANTING OR WITHHOLDING OF ANY APPROVAL REQUIRED HEREUNDER OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, VIOLATION OF ANY APPLICABLE DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT OR SIMILAR LAW OR ANY OTHER LEGAL OR EQUITABLE DUTY OR PRINCIPLE, AND THE COMPANY AND EACH COVERED PERSON RELEASE EACH OF THE OTHER SUCH PERSONS FROM LIABILITY FOR ANY SUCH DAMAGES.
(h) The obligations of the Company to the Covered Persons provided in the Transaction Documents or arising under Law are solely the obligations of the Company, and no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any Member or other Covered Person for such obligations, to the fullest extent permitted by Law. The obligations of the Investors which are Members provided in the Transaction Documents or arising under Law are solely the obligations of such Member, and no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any other Covered Person for such obligations, to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Where the foregoing provides that no personal liability shall attach to or be incurred by a Covered Person, any claims against or recourse to such Covered Person for or in connection with such liability, whether arising in common law or equity or created by rule of law, statute, constitution, contract or otherwise, are expressly released and waived under the Transaction Documents, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of the Transaction Documents and any related agreement, and the incurring by the Company or such Member of the obligations provided in such agreements.
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(i) Nothing in this Section 9.1 shall be deemed to limit or waive any rights that any Person has for breach of contract under the terms of the Transaction Documents; provided, however, that each Member acknowledges that it is not relying upon any other Member or any of such other Member’s Affiliates, or any of such other Member’s or such other Member’s Affiliates’ respective stockholders, partners, members, directors, officers or employees, in making its investment or decision to invest in the Company or in monitoring such investment, and each Member hereby agrees that any claims against, actions, rights to sue, other remedies or other recourse to or against any other Member and such other Member’s Affiliates and any of such other Member’s or such other Member’s Affiliates’ respective stockholders, partners, members, directors, officers, managers, liquidators and employees (collectively, the “Released Persons”) for or in connection with any breach by any Released Person of the terms of any Transaction Document (other than a breach by a Released Person of its obligations under Section 7.4, Section 7.5 or Section 7.6) are expressly released and waived by each Member, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Law. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be deemed to have waived or released its rights against any Released Person for a breach of such Released Person’s obligations to the Company pursuant to the Transaction Documents. For purposes of this Section 9.1(i), the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to not be an Affiliate of any Released Person.
(j) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 9.1 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on liability of the Covered Persons, or terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Covered Person, under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.1 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
9.2 Insurance. The Company may maintain insurance (including directors’ and officers’ insurance), at its expense, to protect each Manager and Officer of the Company, and the Company may maintain such insurance to protect itself and any Covered Person or other Member of the Company, in each case against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such expense, liability or loss under the Act.
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Article
10
CERTAIN AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY AND MEMBERS
10.1 Financial Reports and Access to Information.
(a) Each holder of Common Units and Series A Units shall be entitled to receive the following information from the Company:
(i) Within 45 days after the end of each month, a monthly management report, including an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such month and an unaudited related income statement and statement of cash flows for such month, together with a comparison of such statements to the Annual Budget for such periods;
(ii) Within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such quarter and an unaudited related income statement, and statement of cash flows for such quarter including any footnotes thereto (if any) prepared in accordance with GAAP (with the exception of normal year end adjustments and absence of footnotes), consistently applied, together with a comparison of such statements to the Annual Budget for such periods; and
(iii) Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, to the extent it is prepared by the Company, an audited balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal year and the related income statement, statement of members’ equity and statement of cash flows for such fiscal year prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied and a signed audit letter from the Company’s auditors who shall be an accounting firm approved by the Board, together with a comparison of such statements to the Annual Budget for such periods; and
(iv) Annual budget within 60 days of the end of every year (for fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, withing 15 days of the completion of the budget).
(b) The Board shall use its reasonable efforts to meet no less frequently than quarterly, and at such meetings the Company shall report to the Board on, among other things, its business activities, prospects, and financial position.
(c) The Company shall permit holders of Common Units and holders of Series A Units entitled to receive information pursuant to Section 10.1(a) or their respective representatives, at the sole risk of such Persons, to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including its books of account and other records (and make copies of and take extracts from such books and records), and to discuss all aspects of its business, affairs, finances and accounts with the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ officers and its independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times during the Company’s and such Subsidiaries’ usual business hours and as often as any such person may reasonably request, and to consult with and advise management of the Company and its Subsidiaries, upon reasonable notice at reasonable times from time to time, on all matters relating to the operation of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Any information received by a Member pursuant to this Section 10.1(c) shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.5.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.1, the Company shall have no obligation to make available the properties, books of account and other records, officers or independent public accountants of the Company and its Subsidiaries as contemplated by Section 10.1(c) in each case to any holder of Series B Units who is no longer employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent doing so would reasonably be expected to result in the disclosure to such holder of sensitive business information, competitive information or other confidential information, the disclosure of which to such holder is determined by the Board in good faith to be inappropriate in such circumstances.
10.2 Annual Budget. The Officers of the Company shall present to the Board, at least 30 days before the beginning of each fiscal year of the Company ending after December 31, 2021, a reasonably detailed annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget for fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 will be completed within 90 days after closing of the Series A investment round. Such budget shall be subject to approval in accordance with Section 8.5. The budget for any fiscal year, as so approved, is referred to as the “Annual Budget.”
10.3 Maintenance of Books. The Company shall keep or cause to be kept at its principal office complete and accurate books and records of the Company, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the Company’s business and minutes of the proceedings of the Board and any of the Members. The records shall include complete and accurate information regarding the state of the business and financial condition of the Company; a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto; a current list of the names and last known business, residence or mailing addresses of all Members; and the Company’s federal, state and local tax returns.
10.4 Accounts. The Company shall establish one or more separate bank and investment accounts and arrangements for the Company, which shall be maintained in the Company’s name with financial institutions and firms that the Board may determine. The Company may not commingle the Company’s funds with the funds of any Member.
10.5 Information.
(a) No Member shall be entitled to obtain any information relating to the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement or to the extent required by the Act; and to the extent a Member is so entitled to such information, such Member shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.5(b).
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(b) Each Member agrees that all Confidential Information shall be kept confidential by such Member and shall not be disclosed by such Member in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that (i) any of such Confidential Information may be disclosed to such Member’s Affiliates, to Persons who are (or who are prospective) beneficial owners of equity interests in such Member and to managers; directors; officers; employees; and authorized representatives (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers and financial advisors) of such Member and of such Member’s Affiliates (collectively, for purposes of this Section 10.5(b), “Representatives”), each of which Representatives shall be bound by the provisions of this Section 10.5(b) or substantially similar terms; (ii) any disclosure of Confidential Information may be made to the extent to which the Company consents in writing; (iii) any disclosure may be made of the terms of a Member’s investment in the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the performance of that investment to the extent in compliance with applicable Law (whether in the Member’s fundraising materials or otherwise); (iv) Confidential Information may be disclosed by a Member or Representative to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with such Member’s enforcement of its rights under this Agreement; and (v) Confidential Information may be disclosed by any Member or Representative to the extent that the Member or Representative has received advice from its counsel that it is legally compelled to do so, provided, that, prior to making such disclosure, the Member or Representative, as the case may be, uses reasonable efforts to preserve the confidentiality of the Confidential Information, including consulting with the Company regarding such disclosure and, if reasonably requested by the Company, assisting the Company, at the Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order to prevent the requested disclosure, and provided, further, that the Member or Representative, as the case may be, discloses only that portion of the Confidential Information as is, based on the advice of its counsel, legally required.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no holder of Series B Units shall be entitled to obtain from the Company or any other Member any information with respect to another holder of Series B Units or the terms of such holder’s Series B Units, including the number of Series B Units held by any other holder of Units.
(d) The obligations of a Member pursuant to this Section 10.5 will continue following the time such Person ceases to be a Member, but thereafter such Person will not have the right to enforce the provisions of this Agreement. Each Member acknowledges that disclosure of Confidential Information in violation of this Section 10.5 may cause irreparable damage to the Company and the Members for which monetary damages are inadequate, difficult to compute, or both. Accordingly, each Member consents to the issuance of an injunction or the enforcement of other equitable remedies against such Member at the suit of an aggrieved party without the posting of any bond or other security, to compel specific performance of all of the terms of this Section 10.5.
Article
11
TAXES
11.1 Tax Returns. The Company shall prepare and timely file all U.S. federal, state and local and foreign tax returns required to be filed by the Company. Any income tax return of the Company shall be prepared by an independent public accounting firm selected by the Board. Each Member shall furnish to the Company all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company’s operations that is necessary to enable the Company’s tax returns to be timely prepared and filed. The Company shall deliver to each Member within 75 calendar days after the end of the applicable fiscal year, a Schedule K-1 together with such additional information as may be required by the Members in order to file their individual returns reflecting the Company’s operations. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its tax returns.
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11.2 Tax Partnership. It is the intention of the Members that the Company be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Unless otherwise approved in accordance with Section 8.5(b), neither the Company nor any Member shall make an election for the Partnership to be excluded from the application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state law or to be classified as other than a partnership pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3.
11.3 Tax Elections. The Company shall make the following elections on the appropriate forms or tax returns:
(a) to adopt the calendar year as the Company’s fiscal year, if permitted under the Code;
(b) to adopt the accrual method of accounting and to keep the Company’s books and records on the U.S. federal income tax method;
(c) to elect to amortize the organizational and start-up expenses of the Company as permitted by Code Sections 195 and 709(b);
; and
(d) any other election the Board may deem appropriate and in the best interests of the Members.
11.4 Partnership Representative.
(a) The Board shall appoint a person to serve as the Company’s “partnership representative” in accordance with Section 6223 of the Code (“Company Representative”). The initial Company Representative shall be Sean Peace. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Company Representative (a) shall provide each Member with prompt notice of all tax audits, appeals, litigation, and related matters with respect to the Company keep them informed of developments relating thereto, (b) shall give each Member an opportunity for it and its legal or tax advisors to participate in all such proceedings, (c) shall take no action without the authorization of the Board, other than such action as may be required by Law, (d) to the greatest extent possible shall make the election described in Section 6226(a) of the Code, and (e) shall endeavor to make decisions and elections and allocate tax burdens among Members in an equitable manner. Any cost or expense incurred by the Company Representative in connection with its duties, including the preparation for or pursuance of administrative or judicial proceedings, shall be paid by the Company. If any Member intends to file a notice of inconsistent treatment under Code Section 6222(b), such Member shall give reasonable notice under the circumstances to the other Members of such intent and the manner in which the Member’s intended treatment of an item is (or may be) inconsistent with the treatment of that item by the other Members.
11.5 Section 83(b) Election. Each Member who acquires Series B Units acknowledges and agrees to make a timely election under Code Section 83(b) and to consult with such Member’s tax advisor to determine the tax consequences of such acquisition and of filing an election under Code Section 83(b). Each such Member acknowledges that it is the sole responsibility of such Member, and not the Company, to file the election under Code Section 83(b) even if such Member requests the Company or its Representatives to assist in making such filing.
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11.6 Section 83 Safe Harbor Election. By executing this Agreement, each Member authorizes and directs the Company to elect to have the “Safe Harbor” described in the proposed Revenue Procedure set forth in Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-43 (the “IRS Notice”), including any similar safe harbor in any finalized Revenue Procedure, Revenue Ruling or Treasury Regulation, apply to any interest in the Company transferred to a service provider by the Company on or after the effective date of such final pronouncement in connection with services provided to the Company. For purposes of making such Safe Harbor election, the Company Representative is hereby designated as the “partner who has responsibility for Federal income tax reporting” by the Company and, accordingly, execution of such Safe Harbor election by the Company Representative constitutes execution of a “Safe Harbor Election” in accordance with the IRS Notice or any similar provision of any final pronouncement. The Company and each Member hereby agree to comply with all requirements of any such Safe Harbor, including any requirement that a Member prepare and file all Federal income tax returns reporting the income tax effects of each Interest issued by the Company in connection with services in a manner consistent with the requirements of the IRS Notice or other final pronouncement. A Member’s obligations to comply with the requirements of this Section shall survive such Member’s ceasing to be a member of the Company and the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company.
Article
12
DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP AND TERMINATION
12.1 Dissolution.
(a) Subject to Section 12.1(b), the Company shall be liquidated and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each a “Dissolution Event”) and no other event shall cause the Company’s dissolution:
(i) the consent of the Board and the Members in accordance with Article 8;
(ii) at any time when there are no Members;
(iii) a Liquidation Event; and
(iv) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act.
(b) If the Dissolution Event described in Section 12.1(a)(ii) shall occur, the Company shall not be dissolved, and the business of the Company shall be continued, if the requirements of Section 18-801 of the Act for the avoidance of dissolution are satisfied (a “Continuation Election”).
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(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 12.1, to the maximum extent permitted by the Act, the death, retirement, Resignation, Expulsion, Bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the commencement or consummation of separation proceedings shall not constitute a Dissolution Event and, notwithstanding the occurrence of any such event or circumstance, the business of the Company shall be continued without dissolution.
12.2 Winding-Up and Termination. On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, unless a Continuation Election is made, the Board may select one or more Persons to act as liquidator or may itself act as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a Company expense, including reasonable compensation to the liquidator if approved by the Board. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Board. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations;
(b) the liquidator shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in winding up) or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and
(c) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in the manner set forth in Section 6.1(c)
All distributions in kind to the Members shall be made subject to the liability of each distributee for costs, expenses and liabilities theretofore incurred or for which the Company has committed prior to the date of termination and those costs, expenses and liabilities shall be allocated to the distributee pursuant to this Section 12.2. The distribution of cash or property to the Members in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.2 constitutes a complete return to such Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Members of its Membership Interests (including Units) and all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.
12.3 Sale of the Company. In the event of the Sale of the Company, the transaction shall be treated as if the Company sold all of its assets and received the consideration exchanged in such Sale of the Company plus the assumption of all its liabilities, and thereafter liquidated and distributed such consideration to its Members in accordance with the terms of this Article 12.
12.4 Deficit Capital Accounts. No Member shall be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to any third party any deficit balance which may exist from time to time in the Member’s Capital Account.
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12.5 Certificate of Cancellation. On completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Board (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a Certificate of Cancellation with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to Section 2.5, and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the effectiveness of the Certificate of Cancellation, the existence of the Company shall cease, except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or other applicable Law.
Article
13
GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.1 Offset. Whenever the Company is to pay or distribute any sum to any Member, any amounts that such Member, in its capacity as a Member, owes the Company, whether pursuant to this Agreement or another Transaction Document, may be deducted from that sum before payment or distribution.
13.2 Notices.
(a) Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices, requests or consents provided for or required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given if personally delivered, telecopied and confirmed, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or nationally recognized overnight delivery service with proof of receipt maintained, at the following addresses (or any other address that any such party may designate by written notice to the other parties):
(i) if to the Company, at the address of its principal executive offices;
(ii) if to an Initial Member, to the address given for the Member on Schedule I or Schedule II hereto; and
(iii) if to an additional Member or a holder of Membership Interests or Units that has not been admitted as a Member, to the address given for such Member or holder in an Addendum Agreement.
Any such notice shall, if delivered personally, be deemed received upon delivery; shall, if delivered by telecopy, be deemed received on the first business day following confirmation; shall, if delivered by certified mail, be deemed received upon the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five business days after the date of deposit in the United States mail, as the case may be; and shall, if delivered by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, be deemed received the first business day after the date of deposit with the delivery service.
(b) Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law, the Certificate or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
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13.3 Entire Agreement; Supersedure. This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules) constitutes the entire agreement of the Members relating to the Company and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to the Company, whether oral or written.
13.4 Effect of Waiver or Consent. A waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person with respect to the Company. Failure on the part of a Person to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Person of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.
13.5 Amendment or Restatement; Power of Attorney.
(a) Subject to Section 8.5, neither this Agreement (including any Exhibit or Schedule hereto) nor the Certificate may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated, nor may any provisions of this Agreement or the Certificate be waived, without consent of the Board of Managers; provided, however, that (i) any such amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver that by its explicit terms would alter or change the rights, obligations, powers or preferences specific to any series of Units in a disproportionate and adverse manner compared to the rights, obligations, powers and preferences specific to other series of Units shall require the prior written consent of Members holding a majority of the series of Units so disproportionately and adversely affected, (ii) except as otherwise provided in Section 5.4, any such amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver that by its explicit terms would alter or change the rights, obligations, powers or preferences of any Member in its capacity as a holder of a specific series of Units in a disproportionate and adverse manner compared to other Members in their capacities as holders of the same series of Units shall require the prior written consent of such Member so disproportionately and adversely affected and (iii) any such amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver that would require a Capital Contribution to the Company by any Member shall require the prior written consent of such Member. The execution of an Addendum Agreement in connection with an issuance or transfer of Units made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and changes to Schedule I, Schedule II, or Schedule III hereof to reflect such transfers or issuances shall not be considered amendments to this Agreement and shall not require approval hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 13.5, if (i) the provisions of Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3 and related sections and the proposed Revenue Procedure described in IRS Notice 2005-43, as proposed by the Internal Revenue Service on May 24, 2005, or provisions similar thereto, or (ii) the amendments to Treasury Regulations §§ 1.704-1 and 1.704-3 proposed on January 22, 2003 (and corrected on March 28, 2003) are adopted as final (or temporary) rules (the “New Rules”), the Managers are authorized to make such amendments to this Agreement (including provision for any safe harbor election authorized by the New Rules) as the Managers may determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with or reflect the New Rules; provided, that such amendments do not materially alter the economic rights of the Members under this Agreement other than the timing of distributions pursuant to Section 6.1(b). Except as required by Law, no amendment, modification, supplement, discharge or waiver of or under this Agreement shall require the consent of any person not a party to this Agreement.
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(b) Each Member irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints each Manager of the Company, acting individually or collectively, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (i) any amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver of any provision of this Agreement that has been approved in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) all other instruments, certificates, filings or papers not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement which may be necessary or advisable in the determination of the Board to evidence an amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver of, or relating to, this Agreement or to effect or carry out another provision of this Agreement or which may be required by law to be filed on behalf of the Company. With respect to each Member, the foregoing power of attorney (x) is coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable and shall survive the incapacity or Bankruptcy of such Member and (y) shall survive the Disposition by such Member of all or any portion of the Units held by such Member.
13.6 Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and each Member and their respective heirs, permitted successors, permitted assigns, permitted distributees and legal representatives; and by their signatures hereto, the Company and each Member intends to and does hereby become bound. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under, in or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned by a Member to a transferee of all or a portion of such Member’s Units transferred in accordance with this Agreement (and shall be assigned to the extent this Agreement requires such assignment), but only to the extent of such Units so transferred; it being understood that the assignment of any rights under this Agreement shall not constitute admission to the Company as a Member unless and until such transferee is duly admitted as a Member in accordance with this Agreement.
13.7 Governing Law; Severability; Limitation of Liability.
(a) This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the law of the state of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law principles of such state.
(b) The parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and appropriate appellate courts therefrom, over any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each party hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such dispute or proceeding may be heard and determined in such courts. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. This consent to jurisdiction is being given solely for purposes of this Agreement and is not intended to, and shall not, confer consent to jurisdiction with respect to any other dispute in which a party to this Agreement may become involved. Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to process being served by any party to this Agreement in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature specified in this subsection (b) by the mailing of a copy thereof in the manner specified by the provisions of Section 13.2. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
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(c) In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and (i) any provision of the Certificate or (ii) any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Certificate or the Act shall control. If any provision of the Act provides that it may be varied or superseded in the agreement of a limited liability company (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter.
(d) If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future Laws effective during the term of this Agreement, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of each such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there shall be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.
13.8 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and each Member shall execute and deliver all such future instruments and take such other and further action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the intention of the parties as expressed herein.
13.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including facsimile counterparts), all of which together shall constitute a single instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members have executed this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
| THE COMPANY: | ||
| ROYALTYTRADERS LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | Manager | |
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Amended & Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement
Signature Page
| MEMBER: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | Manager | |
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
| MEMBER: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
| MEMBER: | ||
| By: | ||
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
| MEMBER: | ||
| By: | ||
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
| MEMBER: | ||
| By: | ||
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
EXHIBIT
A
DEFINED TERMS
“Accredited Investor” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Accrued Preferred Interest” is the total amount of accrued but unpaid Preferred Interest on Series A Units.
“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and any successor statute, as amended from time to time.
“Addendum Agreement” is defined in Section 3.8(b).
“Additional Member” means any Person that is not already a Member who acquires (i) a portion of the Units held by a Member from such Member or (ii) newly issued Units from the Company and, in each case, is admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.8.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Member, (a) increased by any amounts that such Member is obligated to restore or is treated as obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(c), 1.704 2(g)(1) and 1.704 2(i)(5) and (b) decreased by any amounts described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) with respect to such Member. The Adjusted Capital Accounts shall be maintained in a manner that facilitates the determination of that portion of each Adjusted Capital Account attributable to Units that are not Management Units and that portion of each Adjusted Capital Account attributable to Management Units.
“Affiliate” means, when used with respect to a specified Person, any Person which (a) directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by or is Under Common Control with such specified Person, (b) is an officer, director, general partner, trustee or manager of such specified Person, or of a Person described in clause (a), or (c) is a Relative of such specified Person or of an individual described in clauses (a) or (b).
“Agreement” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, as amended and restated from time to time.
“Allocation Period” is defined in Section 6.1(b)(i).
“Annual Budget” is defined in Section 10.2.
“Area of Interest” means the United States of America.
“Assumed Jurisdiction” means, at any given time and from time to time as determined by the Board of Managers, either (a) the combination of state, county, city and other taxing jurisdictions of a natural person residing in North Carolina, or (b) the combination of state, county, city and other taxing jurisdictions in which any Owner resides or is domiciled that, at such time, collectively imposes the highest marginal rate of income tax on its residents or domiciliaries.
A-1
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Bankruptcy” or “Bankrupt” means with respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (iii) becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties; or (b) against such Person, a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Law has been commenced and 120 days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Person’s consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties has been appointed and 90 days have expired without the appointment’s having been vacated or stayed, or 90 days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated.
“Board” is defined in Section 8.1.
“Book Value” means, with respect to any property, such property’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a) The initial Book Value of any property contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the fair market value of such property as reasonably determined by the Board;
(b) The Book Values of all properties shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values as reasonably determined by the Board in connection with (i) the acquisition of an interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis capital contribution to the Company, (ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of property as consideration for an interest in the Company, or (iii) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(g)(1) (other than pursuant to Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code);
(c) The Book Value of property distributed to a Member shall be the fair market value of such property as reasonably determined by the Board; and
(d) The Book Value of all property shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such property 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 Regulation Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (f) of the definition of Profits and Losses; provided, however, Book Value shall not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (d) to the extent the Board reasonably determines that an adjustment pursuant to clause (b) hereof is necessary or appropriate in connection with the transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (d).
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
If the Book Value of property has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clauses (b) or (d) hereof, such Book Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such property for purposes of computing Profits and Losses and other items allocated pursuant to Article 6.
“Business Opportunity” is defined in Section 8.6(b).
“Capital Account” means the account to be maintained by the Company for each Member pursuant to Section 5.6.
“Capital Contribution” means with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the initial Book Value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall include a Capital Contribution of his predecessors in interest.
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all ownership interests in a limited liability company, partnership or other Person (other than a corporation), and any and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.
“Certificate” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company, as amended from time to time.
“Class Sharing Percentage” means, with respect to any Member, as to a particular class of Units held by such Member, the percentage that is determined by multiplying 100% times a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the total number of Units of such class held by such Member and the denominator of which is the total number of Units of such class held by all Members of the same class.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. All references herein to sections of the Code shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding Law.
“Common Manager” is defined in Section 8.2(a)(ii).
“Common Units” is defined in Section 3.2(a).
“Common Units Deemed Outstanding” means, at any given time, the sum of (a) the number of Common Units actually outstanding at such time, plus (b) the number of Common Units issuable upon exercise of options actually outstanding at such time, plus (c) the number of Common Units issuable upon conversion or exchange of any Units actually outstanding at such time (treating as actually outstanding any convertible Units issuable upon exercise of options actually outstanding at such time), in each case, regardless of whether the options or convertible Units are actually exercisable at such time; provided, that Common Units Deemed Outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries.
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Company” means RoyaltyTraders LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Confidential Information” means all confidential and proprietary information (irrespective of the form of communication) obtained by or on behalf of a Member from the Company or its representatives, other than information which (a) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by such Member, (b) was or becomes available to such Member on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure to the Member by the Company or its representatives, (c) was or becomes available to the Member from a source other than the Company and its representatives, provided, that such source is not known by such Member to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company, or (d) is independently developed by such Member without the use of any such information received under this Agreement.
“Continuation Election” is defined in Section 12.1(b).
“Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution Agreement with respect to certain assets owned by Peace contributed to the Company by Peace in exchange for Common Units of the Company.
“Control,” including the correlative terms “Controlling,” “Controlled by” and “Under Common Control with” means possession, directly or indirectly (through one or more intermediaries), of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.
“Conversion Price” means the price at which Series A Unit to be converted into Common.
“Covered Person” means each current and former Member, Company Representative, Manager, Officer, Investor, and each of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, liquidators, partners, stockholders, managers, members and employees, in each case whether or not such Person continues to have the applicable status referred to above.
“Creditors’ Rights” means applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.
“Date of Issuance” means, for any Series A Units, the date on which the Company initially issues such Units (without regard to any subsequent transfer of such Units or reissuance of the certificate(s) representing such Units.
A-4
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Depreciation” means, for each taxable year, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for Federal income tax purposes with respect to property for such taxable year, except that (a) with respect to any property the Book Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for Federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the remedial allocation method pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such taxable year shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such taxable year under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (b) with respect to any other property the Book Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis at the beginning of such taxable year, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Book Value as the Federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such taxable year bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, that if the adjusted tax basis of any property at the beginning of such taxable year is zero, Depreciation with respect to such property shall be determined with reference to such beginning value using any reasonable method selected by the Managers.
“Disposition,” including the correlative terms “Dispose” or “Disposed,” means any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift, inter vivos transfer, pledge, hypothecation, mortgage, or other encumbrance, or any other disposition (whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law) of Units (or any interest (pecuniary or otherwise) therein or right thereto), including derivative or similar transactions or arrangements whereby a portion or all of the economic interest in, or risk of loss or opportunity for gain with respect to, Units is transferred or shifted to another Person.
“Dissolution Event” is defined in Section 12.1(a).
“Distributions to Cover Holders’ Tax Liabilities” distributions to cover tax liabilities of Series A and Common Unit holders that are made according to estimated tax liabilities annually if permitted by the Company’s Board of Managers.
“Drag-Along Transaction” means (a) any consolidation, conversion, merger or other business combination involving the Company in which Units are exchanged for or converted into cash, securities of a corporation or other business organization or other property, (b) a Liquidation Event, or (c) the sale by the Members of Units in the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning assigned to that term in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Effective Date” is defined in the preamble.
“Election Period” is defined in Section 7.7(b).
“Eligible Purchaser” means any holder of Series A Units or Common Units that certifies to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction that such holder is an Accredited Investor.
“Eligible Purchaser Persons” is defined in Section 7.7(d).
“Eligible Seller Persons” is defined in Section 7.6(c).
“Fair Market Value” means an estimate of the price that could be obtained for the sale of the applicable Units on the applicable date in a negotiated, arm’s length transaction with a party unaffiliated with the Company. The determination of Fair Market Value will be made as if the Company as a whole were sold on the relevant date taking into account available information about similarly situated companies and, for the avoidance of doubt, no discount will be applied to restrictions on transferability or the minority nature of any Units.
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“First Notice” is defined in Section 7.7(b).
“First Offer Notice Date” is defined in Section 7.4(a).
“GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
“Gross Asset Value” means, with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by an Owner to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as determined by the Board;
(b) The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account), as determined by the Board as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of additional Units in the Company by any person in exchange for more than a de minimis capital contribution or upon the exercise of an option; (ii) the distribution by the Company to an Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company property as consideration for Units; (iii) the grant of an interest in the Company (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Company; and (iv) liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g);
(c) The Gross Asset Value of any item of Company assets distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account) of such asset on the date of distribution as determined by the Board; and
(d) The Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such 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 Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) or Section 6.2(b)(vii); provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (b) is required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d).
If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b) or (d), such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for tax purposes.
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Income Distribution” means any cash distribution made by the Company other than in the event of Sale, Recapitalization or Refinancing.
“Initial Member” is defined in Section 3.1.
“Investor Group” means the Investors, each of their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), any Investor Nominee, and any portfolio company in which the Investor or any of their Affiliates has an equity investment (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“Investor Nominee” means any officer, director, partner, employee or other agent of an Investor whose designee serves as a Manager.
“Investors” means the Series A Members and any other Person who is designated an “Investor” by the Board and each of their respective Affiliates other than the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“IRS Notice” is defined in Section 11.6.
“Law” means any applicable constitutional provision, statute, act, code (including the Code), law, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, decree, ruling, proclamation, resolution, judgment, decision, declaration, or interpretative or advisory opinion or letter of a domestic, foreign or international governmental authority or any political subdivision thereof and shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, the Act.
“Liquidation Event” means the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s equity or assets (including sale or exclusive license of material technology or intellectual property), merger, reorganization, or similar transaction.
“Major Investor of Series A Units” means any Investor who makes a Capital Contribution to the Company of at least $100,000.
“Management Principal” means Sean Peace, individually, and any other person designated as a Management Principal after the Effective Date by the Board of Managers and executing and delivering a counterpart signature page to this Agreement as a Member.
“Manager” is defined in Section 8.1.
“Member” means any Person (but not any Affiliate or entity in which such Person has an equity interest) executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement as a member or hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement, but such term does not include any Person who has ceased to be a member in the Company.
“Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning assigned to the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
“Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning assigned to the term “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Member Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning assigned to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
“Membership Interest” means the interest of a Member in the Company, including rights to distributions (liquidating or otherwise), allocations, notices and information, and all other rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Member (under the Act, the Certificate, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member; and all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Member (under the Act, the Certificate, this Agreement, or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member.
“Minimum Gain” has the meaning assigned to that term in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704 2(d).
“New Business Opportunity” means any commercial proposal, solicitation, deal, transaction or opportunity relating to or substantially similar the business activities of the Company.
“New Rules” is defined in Section 13.5(a).
“New Units” is defined in Section 7.7(a).
“Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b).
“Notice of Right of First Offer” is defined in Section 7.4(a).
“Observer” is a person who has the right to be present virtually or in person at the meetings of Board of Managers.
“Offer Expiration Date” is defined in Section 7.4(b).
“Offer Price” is defined in Section 7.4(a).
“Offered Units” is defined in Section 7.4(a).
“Offeror Holder” is defined in Section 7.4(a).
“Officers” is defined in Section 8.3(a).
“Outstanding Capital Contribution” is an amount above or equal to zero constituting the difference between Capital Contributions by Series A holders and Distributions from the Company to Series A holders unrelated to Preferred Interest and Tax Distributions.
“Over-Allotment Amount” is defined in Section 7.7(b).
“Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.4(a).
“Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Member, as of any date, the proportionate amount of Units held by such Member as set forth on Schedule III at such time. The initial Percentage Interests of each Member is as set forth on Schedule III at the time of the execution of this Agreement. However, only Vested Series B Units shall be included in determining the Percentage Interests of the Members. Further, in the event all or any portion of a Unit is transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Percentage Interest of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred Unit.
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Permitted Transferee” means (A)with respect to any Series B Member, the spouse of such Member, (ii) any trust, or family partnership or family limited liability company, the sole beneficiary of which is such Member or a Relative of such Member, (iii) the heirs of any deceased Member, and (iv) any other Affiliate of such Member, and (B) with respect to any other Member, any Permitted Transferee to which as Series B Member can make a Disposition, plus in the context of a distribution by such Member to its direct or indirect equity owners substantially in proportion to such ownership, the partners, members or stockholders of such Member, or the partners, members or stockholders of such partners, members or stockholders.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust, or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity and any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Potential Competitor” means any Person whose business is or relates to trading royalties.
“Preferential Return” means, with respect to each Series A Unit, the amount of Outstanding Capital Contributions of Series A Unit members per each Series A unit plus the amount accruing on such Preferred Unit on a daily basis at Preferred Interest, compounding annually on December 31 of each year on the aggregate Outstanding Capital Contributions with respect to each Series A Unit.
“Preferred Interest” means a rate of return to the Series A of seven percent (7%) per annum on the aggregate Capital Contributions.
“Profits” or “Losses” means, for each taxable year, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such taxable 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 (without duplication):
(a) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition of “Profits” and “Losses” shall be added to such taxable income or loss;
(b) Any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of “Profits” and “Losses” shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
(c) In the event the Book Value of any asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of the definition of Book Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Book Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Book Value of the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;
(d) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Book Value;
(e) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition an oil and gas property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be treated as being equal to the corresponding Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss;
(f) 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 and Simulated Depletion for such taxable year;
(g) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Account balances as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and
(h) Any items that are allocated pursuant to Section 6.2(c)-(d) shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in clauses (a) through (g) hereof but shall not be taken into account in computing Profits and Losses.
“Proportionate Share” is defined in Section 7.4(b).
“Proposed Disposition” is defined in Section 7.4(a).
“Proposed Purchaser” is defined in Section 7.7(a).
“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Eligible Purchaser, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which equals the number of Common Units and/or Series A Units held by such Eligible Purchaser and the denominator of which equals the total number of Common Units and Series A Units held by all Eligible Purchasers.
“Qualified Public Offering” means any firm commitment underwritten initial public offering by the IPO Issuer of equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (a) for which aggregate cash proceeds to be received by the IPO Issuer from such offering (without deducting underwriting discounts, expenses and commissions) are at least $20,000,000, and (b) pursuant to which such equity securities are authorized and approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange or admitted to trading and quoted in the Nasdaq Global Market system.
A-10
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Regulatory Allocations” is defined in Section 6.2(d).
“Relative” means, with respect to any individual, (a) such individual’s spouse, (b) any lineal descendant, parent, grandparent, great grandparent or sibling or any lineal descendant of such sibling (in each case whether by blood or legal adoption), and (c) the spouse of an individual described in clause (b).
“Released Persons” is defined in Section 9.1(i).
“Renounced Business Opportunity” is defined in Section 8.6(b).
“Representatives” is defined in Section 10.5(b).
“Requesting Purchaser” is defined in Section 7.7(b).
“Requisite Approval” means the approval of the (a) holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Common and Series A Units, voting together as a single class, and (b) the holders of at least sixty percent (60%) of the outstanding Series A Units. For the avoidance of doubt, any decision which requires the Requisite Approval as set forth in this Agreement requires the consent of the holders of at least sixty percent (60%) of the Series A Units.
“Resign,” or “Resignation” means the resignation, withdrawal or retirement of a Member from the Company as a Member.
“Restricted Unit Agreement” means the Restricted Unit Agreement to be entered into between the Company and each recipient of Series B Units, in the form approved by the Board.
“Restricted Common Unit Agreement” is defined in Section 3.3.
“ROFO Holder” is defined in Section 7.4(a).
“ROFO Holder Persons” is defined in Section 7.4(f).
“Sale of the Company” means any transaction or series of related transactions in which all of the Units are sold to a Third Party.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute thereto and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Series A Manager” is defined in Section 8.2(a)(i).
“Series A Units” is defined in Section 3.2(a).
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Series B Units” is defined in Section 3.2(a).
“Subsidiary” means (a) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity a majority of the Capital Stock of which having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, with power to vote, by the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, (b) a partnership in which the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary is a general partner or (c) a limited liability company in which the Company or any director or indirect Subsidiary is a managing member or manager.
“Substituted Member” means any Person who acquires Units from a Member and is admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.7.
“Tag-Along Sale” is defined in Section 7.6(a).
“Target Capital Account” means an amount, determined with respect to each Member, equal to (a) the hypothetical distributions such Member would receive pursuant to Section 6.1(c) if (i) each asset of the Company (other than cash) was sold for an amount of cash equal to such asset’s Gross Asset Value as of the end of the applicable Fiscal Year, (ii) each liability of the Company was satisfied in cash in accordance with its terms (limited, with respect to each “Non-recourse liability,” as defined in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the Regulations, to the Gross Asset Value of the asset or assets securing such Non-recourse liability), and (iii) all remaining cash of the Company (including the net proceeds of such hypothetical transactions and all cash otherwise available after the hypothetical satisfaction of all the aforementioned liabilities) were distributed in full to the Members pursuant to Section 6.1(c); minus (b) if upon such hypothetical liquidation, instead of receiving a distribution such Member would be obligated to make a capital contribution to the Company or would otherwise be liable for the obligations of the Company, an amount equal to such hypothetical contribution obligation or liability (taking into consideration any similar contribution obligations or liabilities of other Members so that their respective Capital Account balances correspond as closely as possible to the manner in which economic responsibility for such items would be borne by the Members under the terms of this Agreement and applicable law); minus (c) the sum of (i) the amount of such Member’s share of partnership minimum gain (as defined in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and (3)) and (ii) the amount of such Owner’s share of partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5)). All unvested Series B Units shall be treated as vested Series B Units for purposes of all tax allocations.
“Tax Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)
“Third Party” with respect to any Member means any Person, including any other Member that is not a Permitted Transferee with respect to such first Member or the original holder of the related interest.
“Total Distributions” means the total amount of distributions to Unit A, Unit B and Common Unit holders.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and each agreement attached as an Exhibit (including any exhibit to any Exhibit).
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ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
“Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.6(b).
“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code.
“Units” means the Common Units, Series A Units and Series B Units, collectively, and any “Unit” shall refer to any one of the foregoing.
“Unvested Series B Units” is defined in Section 3.2(b).
“Vested Series B Units” is defined in Section 3.2(b).
A-13
ROYALTYTRADERS LLC
Limited Liability Company Agreement
EXHIBIT B
SPOUSAL AGREEMENT
The spouse of the Member executing the foregoing Limited Liability Company Agreement (or the counterpart signature page above) is aware of, understands and consents to the provisions of the foregoing Agreement and its binding effect upon any community property interest or marital settlement awards he or she may now or hereafter own or receive, and agrees that the termination of his or her marital relationship with such Member for any reason shall not have the effect of removing any Units subject to the foregoing Agreement from the coverage thereof and that his or her awareness, understanding, consent and agreement is evidenced by his or her signature below.
| [Signature and Spouse’s Name] |
B-1
EXHIBIT C
ADDENDUM AGREEMENT
This Addendum Agreement is made this ___ day of ______________, 20___, by and between ______________________ (the “Transferee”) and [______________________], a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), pursuant to the terms of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated as of _________, 2021, including all exhibits and schedules thereto (the “Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Members entered into the Agreement to impose certain restrictions and obligations upon themselves, and to provide certain rights, with respect to the Company and its Units; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Members have required in the Agreement that all Persons to whom Units of the Company are transferred and all other Persons acquiring Units must enter into an Addendum Agreement binding the Transferee and the Transferee’s spouse to the Agreement to the same extent as if they were original parties thereto and imposing the same restrictions and obligations on the Transferee, the Transferee’s spouse and the Units to be acquired by the Transferee as are imposed upon the Members under the Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of the parties and as a condition of the purchase or receipt by the Transferee of the Units, the Transferee acknowledges and agrees as follows:
1. The Transferee has received and read the Agreement and acknowledges that the Transferee is acquiring Units subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
2. The Transferee agrees that the Units acquired or to be acquired by the Transferee are bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement, and hereby joins in, and agrees to be bound by, and shall have the benefit of, all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement to the same extent as if the Transferee were an original party to the Agreement; provided, however, that the Transferee’s joinder in the Agreement shall not constitute admission of the Transferee or the Transferee’s spouse as a Member unless and until the Transferee is duly admitted in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. This Addendum Agreement shall be attached to and become a part of the Agreement.
3. The Transferee hereby represents and warrants, with respect to the Transferee, as of the date hereof to the Company and the Members the matters set forth in Section 4.1 of the Agreement.
4. Any notice required as permitted by the Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beneath the Transferee’s signature below.
5. The Transferee is acquiring [Common] [Series A] [_______] Units.
C-1
6. The Transferee irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints each Manager of the Company, acting individually or collectively, as the Transferee’s true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (i) any amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver of any provision of the Agreement that has been approved in accordance with the Agreement and (ii) all other instruments, certificates, filings or papers not inconsistent with the terms of the Agreement which may be necessary or advisable in the determination of the Board to evidence an amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver of, or relating to, the Agreement or to effect or carry out another provision of the Agreement or which may be required by law to be filed on behalf of the Company. With respect to the Transferee, the foregoing power of attorney (x) is coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable and shall survive the incapacity or Bankruptcy of the Transferee and (y) shall survive the Disposition by the Transferee of all or any portion of the Units held by the Transferee.
7. The spouse of the Transferee is aware of, understands and consents to the provisions of the Agreement and its binding effect upon any community property interest or marital settlement awards he or she may now or hereafter own or receive, and agrees that the termination of his or her marital relationship with such Transferee for any reason shall not have the effect of removing any Units subject to the Agreement from the coverage thereof and that his or her awareness, understanding, consent and agreement is evidenced by his or her signature below.
| Transferee | Transferee’s Spouse | |
| Address: | ||
AGREED TO on behalf of the Members of the Company pursuant to Section 3.8 of the Agreement.
| [ ] | ||
| By: | ||
| Printed Name and Title | ||
C-2
EXHIBIT
D
DISTRIBUTION WATERFALL (Example)

D-1
SCHEDULE
I
COMMON UNIT HOLDERS
| (1) | (2) | |||||||
| Common Unit Holders | Capital Contribution | # of Common Units | ||||||
| Sean Peace | 0 | 2,000,000 | ||||||
Schedule I – Page 1
SCHEDULE II
SERIES A UNIT HOLDERS
| Number of Series A Units | Agreed Value | Adjusted Tax Basis | ||||||||||
| Alexander Guiva | 250,000 | $ | 250,000 | $ | 250,000 | |||||||
| Sean Peace | 20,100 | $ | 20,100 | $ | 20,100 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 270,100 | $ | 270,100 | $ | 270,100 | ||||||
SERIES B UNIT HOLDERS
| Number of Series B Units | Agreed Value | Adjusted Tax Basis | ||||||||||
| None | ||||||||||||
Schedule II – Page 1
SCHEDULE III
SUMMARY OF BOOK VALUE AND
ADJUSTED TAX BASIS OF CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
RoyaltyTraders LLC –Capitalization Table at Formation
Schedule III to the RoyaltyTraders LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement dated March 18th, 2021
RoyaltyTraders LLC Capitalization
| Member | Initial Capital Contribution - Cash Amount or “FMV” Book Value | Adjusted Tax Basis of Capital Contribution | Common Membership Units Issued | Series A Membership Units Issued | Total Units | Percentage Interest | ||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander Guiva | $ | 250,000 | $ | 250,000 | 0 | 250,000 | 250,000 | 11.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Sean Peace | $ | 20,100 | $ | 20,100 | 2,000,000 | 20,100 | 2,020,100 | 89 | % | |||||||||||||||
| $ | 270,100 | $ | 270,100 | 2,000,000 | 270,100 | 2,270,100 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Schedule III – Page 1
SCHEDULE IV
INITIAL MANAGERS
Designee of the holders of Common Units – Sean Peace
Designee of the holders of Series A Units – Alexander Guiva
Schedule IV – Page 1
Exhibit 6.1
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is executed this 26th day of April 2021 (the “Effective Date”), by ROYALTYTRADERS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RoyaltyTraders” or the “Company”), and SEAN PEACE, an individual whose address is 3724 Congeniality Way, Raleigh, NC (“Peace”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, RoyaltyTraders is an entity set up to facilitate buying and selling of royalty streams; and
WHEREAS, Peace desires to transfer and assign certain assets to RoyaltyTraders in exchange for 2,000,000 Common Units of the Company;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows, intending to be legally bound hereby:
Section 1. Contribution of Assets; Issuance of Stock. Effective at 11:59 P.M. on the Effective Date (the “Effective Time”), Peace hereby irrevocably, fully and forever assigns and contributes (the “Transfer”) the websites and domains SongVest.com and RoyaltyTraders.com, all legal templates and documents used to complete royalty-related transactions, the full pipeline of potential royalty transactions, all CRM contacts and records of prior conversations and all other tangible and intangible assets in his possession that are used to conduct royalty-related transactions (“Transferred Assets”) to RoyaltyTraders in exchange for issuance of 2,000,000 Common Units of the Company.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Transferred Assets unto the Company and its successors and assigns forever, and Peace, for himself and his assigns, covenants and agrees with the Company to warrant and defend title to the Transferred Assets against all and every person and persons.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Peace hereby represents and warrants that:
(i) he has all requisite power and authority to transfer the Transferred Assets;
(ii) SongVest, Inc, a Delaware corporation that Peace controlled in the past (“SongVest”), has been dissolved and all of its assets were distributed to Peace;
(iii) immediately prior to the Transfer, Peace was the sole true and lawful owner of the Transferred Assets, free and clear of any and all liens, claims, charges, pledges, encumbrances and security interests, and SongVest has no right, title and interest in and to any of the Transferred Assets;
(iv) immediately following the Transfer, RoyaltyTraders will be the sole owner of the Transferred Assets, free and clear of any and all liens, claims, charges, pledges, encumbrances and security interests;
(v) there is no action, dispute, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, threatened or contemplated, affecting the Transferred Assets;
(vi) Peace is not in violation of, and has not violated, any applicable provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations relating to the Transferred Assets; and
(vii) There is no fact known to Peace that has not been disclosed to the Company and its investors that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect of the Transferred Assets or the Business. The information provided and the statements made by Peace in connection with the Transferred Assets do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact.
(b) RoyaltyTraders hereby represents, warrants and covenants that:
(i) this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of RoyaltyTraders and it has the authority to enter into and perform under this Agreement; and
(ii) RoyaltyTraders has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized representative and this Agreement constitutes a binding agreement on behalf of RoyaltyTraders.
(c) Each representation and warranty shall continue for a period of two (2) years after the date of this Agreement.
Section 3. Indemnification. Peace hereby agrees to indemnify, protect, defend, save and hold the Company and its members (save and except Peace) harmless from and against any and all debts, duties, obligations, liabilities, suits, claims, demands, causes of action, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs) arising out of or relating to the Transferred Assets or the ownership, use, operation, maintenance or management thereof incurred, arising or accruing prior to the Effective Date. The indemnification contained in this Section 3 shall survive Transfer of the Transferred Assets.
Section 4. Ownership Rights. Peace understands, acknowledges and agrees that upon Transfer of the Transferred Assets, he shall no longer hold any direct record interest in Transferred Assets.
Section 5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including .pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
2
Section 6. Choice of Law. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
Section 7. Amendment; Assignment. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by an instrument in writing executed by all of the parties hereto. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Contribution Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above.
| ROYALTYTRADERS LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Sean Peace | |
| Sean Peace, Manager | ||
| SEAN PEACE | ||
| By: | /s/ Sean Peace | |
| Sean Peace, Individual | ||
Exhibit 6.2
2SERVICE ORDER AGREEMENT
This Service Order Agreement (“SOA”) is entered into this 19th day of March, 2021 (“Effective Date”), by and between SEAN PEACE (“Customer”), a Delaware LLC having a principal office at 1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd. Suite 11 Raleigh NC 27604 and DevelopScripts, LLC (“Developer”), a Texas limited liability company having a principal office at 1221 West Campbell Road, Suite 181, Richardson, Texas 75080.
WITNESSES:
WHEREAS Developer is a software developer with experience and expertise in the development of software applications, including but not limited to its Original Software known generally as Auction Software for the purpose of providing highly customizable forward auctions, reverse auctions, penny auctions, and silent auctions via software development in various industries.
WHEREAS Customer desires that Developer modify the Original Software in accordance with the functionality specified in Exhibit A of this SOA (collectively referred to as the “Modified Software”) and license such Modified Software to Customer.
WHEREAS Developer desires to develop, install and implement the Modified Software and perform the services described in this SOA in accordance with the terms and conditions of this SOA.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants of this SOA, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Customer and Developer hereby agree as follows:
| a. | Definitions. |
| a. | “Authorized Location” means the offices of Developer at its principal office listed above and any other satellite offices where Developer’s representatives and agents may be located, including but not limited to the offices of parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or other related corporate bodies of Developer. |
| b. | “Confidential Information” means any and all (i) technical information of a Party to this SOA, including, without limitation, copyrights, patents, techniques, sketches, drawings, models, inventions, know-how, processes, apparatus, equipment, algorithms, systems information, software programs, software source documents, formulae related to such Party’s current, future, and proposed products and services, and information concerning research, experimental work, development, design details and specifications, and engineering; (ii) non-technical information regarding the business and affairs of a Party, including, without limitation, commercial, operational, and financial information, business forecasts and development leads, marketing strategies, plans, and related information, procurement requirements, purchasing and manufacturing information, rates and pricing information, sales and merchandising information, customer lists, customer contract terms, supplier/vendor contract terms, carrier contract terms, schedules of inventory and accounts receivable, and facility blue prints; (iii) other trade secrets and proprietary information of a Party; and (iv) notes, analyses, schedules, compilations, studies or other material prepared by a Party, whether in written form or recorded electronically or otherwise, containing or based in whole or in part on those items described in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
| c. | “Developer Documentation” means all printed or electronic materials arising from, relating to, or connected with the Original Software or Modified Software that are created or modified by Developer. |
| d. | “Discloser” means a Party that discloses information to the other Party. |
| e. | “Intellectual Property” means (i) trademarks, service marks, brand names, product names, certification marks, trade dress, assumed names, trade names and other indications of origin (whether registered or not); (ii) patents, patent applications and invention disclosures; (iii) trade secrets and other confidential or non-public business information, including ideas, formulas, compositions, discoveries and improvements, chip sets, digital signal processing techniques, ASIC designs, know-how, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, and research and development information (whether patentable or not), drawings, product and system design specifications, detailed design documentation, designs, laboratory books and notebooks, test results, plans, proposals and technical data, business and marketing plans and customer and supplier lists and information; (iv) writings and other copyrightable works of authorship, including computer programs (including, but not limited to, all source code, object code and executable code), data bases, data models, manuals, sales and marketing materials, and documentation thereof, and all copyrights to any of the foregoing (whether registered or not); (v) mask works (whether registered or not); (vi) moral rights; and (vii) registrations of, and applications to register, any of the foregoing with any governmental authority and any renewals or extensions thereof. |
| f. | “Licensed Materials” means the Customer Documentation, Confidential Information and any other information provided by Customer to Developer pursuant to this SOA. |
| g. | “Modified Software” means any source code, object code, binary code or executable code created or modified by Developer that is based in whole or in part on the Licensed Materials, and the modified Original Software in accordance with the functionality specified in Exhibit A of this SOA. Modified Software shall also mean any derivative work of the Licensed Materials prepared by Developer. |
| h. | “Original Software” means Developer’s proprietary software created prior to this SOA as referenced in the recitals above. |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 1 |
| i. | “Original Source Code” means all or part of the Original Software written in human readable, higher-level programming languages. |
| j. | “Customer Documentation” means all printed or electronic materials arising from, relating to, or connected with the Modified Software that is provided to Developer by Customer. |
| k. | “Parties” means Customer and Developer collectively; and “Party” means Customer or Developer individually. |
| l. | “Pre-Existing Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property created, licensed, or owned by a Party prior to the Effective Date. |
| m. | “Recipient” means a Party that receives information from the other Party. |
| b. | License Grant. Customer grants to Developer and its parent, subsidiary, affiliate or other related corporate body of Developer, and Developer accepts, a non-exclusive, transferable, sublicenseable license for the Term to use, modify, compile, or otherwise create the Modified Software and the Developer Documentation from the Licensed Materials in accordance with this SOA. |
| c. | License Restrictions. |
| a. | Scope of Use. Developer acknowledges and agrees that the Licensed Materials shall be used solely for the purposes of this SOA and are only to be used at the Authorized Location. No license to use the Licensed Materials at any other office, facility or location is granted, intended, or implied. The Authorized Location may be changed only by the express written consent of Customer. |
| b. | Security. Developer acknowledges and agrees to maintain the Licensed Materials, Modified Software and Developer Documentation within a secured and restricted location within the Authorized Location. Developer acknowledges and agrees to password protect any and all portions of the Licensed Materials, Modified Software and Developer Documentation that are electronically stored on a computer or computer readable medium. Developer acknowledges and agrees to limit access to Licensed Materials, Modified Software and Developer Documentation only to those employees, contractors, representatives, and agents of Developer having a specific need to access the Licensed Materials, Modified Software and Developer Documentation. Developer acknowledges and agrees to instruct each such employee, contractor, representative and agent of their obligations with respect to use, copying, protection and security of the Licensed Materials, Modified Software and Developer Documentation. |
| c. | No Right to License, Sublicense or Transfer. Developer acknowledges and agrees that it has no right to: |
| i. | distribute, license, sublicense or transfer the Licensed Materials to a third party; or |
| ii. | encumber or otherwise dispose of the Licensed Materials in any way; or |
| iii. | make the Licensed Materials available to any unauthorized third parties in any manner. |
| d. | No Other Rights. Developer agrees not to use the Licensed Materials for any purpose other than as specified in this SOA. Subject to the license granted herein, Customer owns all right, title, and interest in and to the Licensed Materials and all copies and derivations thereof. |
| d. | Term. The term of this SOA shall commence on the date set forth above and will continue until the earlier of completion of the development, installation and implementation of the Modified Software and other services provided for in this SOA, or this SOA is terminated pursuant to Section 10. |
| e. | Modified Software Development, Installation, and Implementation. |
| a. | In General. In consideration of the fees described in Exhibit B of this SOA, Developer will provide the services required to complete development of the Modified Software, the functionality of which is specified in Exhibit A of this SOA and provide necessary services for the installation and implementation of the Modified Software, including user and technical documentation. |
| b. | Modified Software Specifications. Developer agrees to develop the Modified Software for Customer as directed by Customer that will conform to specifications that have been mutually developed and designed by Customer and Developer, including the functionality specified in Exhibit A of this SOA. Developer further agrees to provide necessary services and systems know-how required for the successful installation and implementation of the Modified Software. |
| c. | Reports. Developer shall periodically report on the progress of the Modified Software. |
| d. | Completion Dates. Developer agrees to make commercially reasonable efforts to meet all of the completion dates set forth in Exhibit A of this SOA; provided, however, Customer acknowledges and agrees that changes, modifications, and additions to functionality of the Modified Software are likely to cause Developer to not meet such completion dates. |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 2 |
| e. | Installation. Developer shall provide installation assistance and accept installation responsibilities for the Modified Software. |
| f. | Testing by Developer. During the thirty (30) day period after delivery and installation of the Modified Software, Developer shall perform and complete testing of the Modified Software for the purpose of establishing that it conforms to design specifications jointly agreed to and designed by Customer and Developer, including but not limited to the functionality specified in Exhibit A of this SOA. Once this testing is complete, Developer shall notify Customer in writing that the Modified Software is operational and ready for commercial use. |
| g. | Testing by Customer. Within thirty (30) days after receiving notice from Developer that the Modified Software is operational and is ready for commercial use, Customer may, at its option, perform additional testing of the Modified Software for the purpose of independently determining that the Modified Software is operational and ready for commercial use, and establishing that it conforms to design specifications jointly agreed to and designed by Customer and Developer, including but not limited to the functionality specified in Exhibit A of this SOA. If Customer reasonably determines at any time during this period that the Modified Software fails to perform the functionality set forth in the design specifications or contains material programming errors, Customer shall promptly notify Developer in writing after discovering and documenting the nonconformity to the design specifications including the nature and specifics of the nonconformity. Developer shall use its best efforts to make the Modified Software conform to the design specifications or correct the programming errors as soon as possible. Developer shall continue to use commercially reasonable efforts to make the Modified Software conform to the design specifications until Customer accepts the Modified Software, such acceptance to not be unreasonably withheld, or terminates the SOA upon written notice to Developer. |
| h. | Acceptance. Acceptance shall occur upon either (i) the Modified Software performing the functionality set forth in the design specifications without any material programming errors after being tested by Developer and Customer as described above or (ii) upon availability of commercial productive use of the Modified Software by Customer after being tested by Developer, whichever occurs first. |
| i. | Training. Developer shall provide Customer a total of forty (40) hours of training on use of the Modified Software at the site(s) where the Modified Software is installed, as requested by Customer at any reasonable time within the first thirty (30) days after delivery and installation of the Modified Software. |
| j. | Maintenance. Developer shall perform remedial and preventative maintenance for the Modified Software after Customer’s Acceptance so that the Modified Software continues to perform in accordance with the written design specifications per the terms and conditions of the Service Level Agreement. |
| f. | Payments. |
| a. | Development and Implementation Fees. In consideration of the services provided hereunder, Customer agrees to the payment schedule and amounts specified in Exhibit B of this SOA. All payments to Developer shall be made net five (5) days upon receipt of appropriate invoices from Developer. |
| b. | License Fees, Maintenance Fees and Support Fees. Payments for a license to use the Modified Software once completed, and payments for maintenance and continuing support of the Modified Software shall be governed by that certain Service Level Agreement as referenced in Section 7(a)(ii), below, and Exhibit C of this SOA. |
| c. | Product Transportation Costs. Customer agrees to pay all transportation costs associated with delivery of the Modified Software and any equipment which is being supplied or utilized by Developer and is required for the implementation of the Modified Software. |
| d. | Taxes. Customer agrees to pay all taxes, fees, value added surcharges, import and export duties, and other assessments levied by any federal, state, local or other governments related to this SOA, including but not limited to any taxes based on Customer’s net income. |
| g. | Intellectual Property Rights. |
| a. | Pre-Existing Intellectual Property Rights. |
| i. | Ownership. All Confidential Information of the Discloser shall remain the property of the Discloser, and except as otherwise provided for in this SOA, no license or other rights to the Confidential Information are granted hereby. In addition, any and all right, title, and interest in and to a Party’s Pre-Existing Intellectual Property shall remain with that Party; provided that any and all right, title, and interest in and to the Original Software and Original Source Code shall remain with Developer. |
| ii. | Incorporation of Developer’s Pre-Existing Intellectual Property into the Modified Software. Customer acknowledges and agrees that the Modified Software includes Developer’s Pre-Existing Intellectual Property. Developer hereby grants to Customer a limited, revocable, and non-transferable license to use Developer’s Pre-Existing Intellectual Property that is incorporated, added or otherwise included into the Modified Software only in connection with the Modified Software and not on a stand-alone basis; provided, however, Customer acknowledges and agrees that such license terminates upon the termination of this SOA, and Customer must enter into a Service Level Agreement that will become effective upon termination of this SOA in order to obtain an ongoing license to use the Modified Software. |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 3 |
| b. | wFull and exclusive right, title, interest and ownership in or to all tangible and intangible incidents of the Modified Software, Developer Documentation and associated Intellectual Property, including but not limited to all inventions, improvements and modifications conceived of or made by the Developer that are based, either in whole or in part, on the Customer’s feedback, suggestions, or recommended improvements which Developer possesses or is entitled to shall vest solely in and is hereby assigned to Developer as of the date this SOA is signed by the Parties. Except as provided in this SOA, Customer shall retain no right, ownership, or title in or to the Modified Software, Developer Documentation or in any associated Intellectual Property. The Parties also agree that Developer owns all right, title, interest, and ownership in or to any and all derivative works, related additions, modifications, and enhancements to the Modified Software and Developer Documentation. Customer shall execute and/or cause its employees, contractors, and agents to execute any and all documents reasonably necessary to document Developer’s ownership of the Modified Software and any intellectual property rights associated with the Modified Software, including the waiver of any moral rights of Customer or its employees, contractors, and agents. |
| c. | Disclosure. Customer agrees to promptly disclose to Developer and to assign and hereby assigns to Developer all of its right, title, and interest in and to all ideas, inventions and works of authorship conceived or developed by Customer during the term of this SOA which arise from, relate to or are connected with the business or the actual research or development for Customer of the Modified Software or any work performed by Developer for Customer on the Modified Software. |
| d. | Cooperation by Customer. Should Developer or any of its agents or representatives seek to obtain letters patent, trademarks, or copyrights in any country of the world on all or part of the Modified Software, Customer agrees to cooperate fully without additional compensation in providing information, completing forms, performing actions, and obtaining the necessary signatures or assignments required to obtain such letters patent, trademarks, or copyrights. |
| e. | Copyright Notices. Developer may include appropriate copyright notices in the Modified Software reflecting Developer’s ownership of the Modified Software. Customer will not remove the copyright notices from the Modified Software. Customer agrees to use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized copying of the Modified Software. |
| f. | Other Products. Nothing herein shall prohibit, or in any way limit, Developer's right to use, develop or market existing or subsequently developed or modified software, technology, ideas, inventions, or concepts, or to use its expertise, skills or knowledge acquired in the performance of services rendered under this SOA in any current or subsequent endeavors. |
| h. | Representations, Warranties and Disclaimers. |
| a. | Enforceability. Each Party represents and warrants that: |
| i. | It is a business entity duly created and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its creation. |
| ii. | It has full power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted. |
| iii. | It has full power and authority to enter into this SOA and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. |
| iv. | This SOA has been duly executed and delivered by, and constitutes legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Party, enforceable against the Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, preference, and other laws relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally. |
| v. | No dissolution, winding-up, bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceedings have been commenced, threatened, or are pending or proposed in respect of the Party. |
| b. | No Conflict. Each Party represents and warrants that neither the execution and delivery of this SOA nor the completion of any assignment in accordance with the provisions hereof nor the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereunder will result in or constitute any of the following: |
| i. | a conflict with violation of or default under, or any event that, with notice or lapse of time or both would be a default, breach, or violation of any provision of the articles of incorporation or by laws, shareholders agreement or other governing corporate documents of the Party, any material authorization or any material agreement, instrument or document to which the Party is a Party or by which it is bound; or |
| ii. | a conflict with or violation or breach of any law, rule or regulation of any governmental authority, or any judgment, decree, order or injunction applicable to the Party. |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 4 |
| c. | Intellectual Property. |
| i. | Developer represents and warrants that: |
| 1. | except with respect to the Licensed Materials, the Modified Software will not, to the knowledge of Developer, infringe the Intellectual Property rights of any third party; |
| 2. | it will not use any Intellectual Property owned by a third party in the Modified Software; and |
| 3. | neither Developer nor any individual involved with the Licensed Materials or Modified Software is under any obligation to assign or otherwise give work done under this SOA to any third party. |
| ii. | THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OF EACH PARTY IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, AND NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY PROMISES, REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OR ANY PORTION THEREOF. |
| iii. | THE LICENSED MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS”, AND CUSTOMER MAKES NO PROMISES, REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE LICENSED MATERIALS OR ANY PORTION THEREOF. |
| d. | Modified Software. |
| i. | In General. Developer warrants that: any services furnished hereunder shall be free from defects and will be performed in a workmanlike manner; and the Modified Software will be free of material programming errors, defects in workmanship and materials. In addition, the Modified Software shall operate in conformity with applicable standards and the written design specification, including the functionality specified in Exhibit A of this SOA. |
| ii. | Reporting Claims. Customer shall promptly notify Developer, in writing, of any warranty claims and provide Developer with sufficient documentation to analyze the claim and attempt to remedy it. |
| iii. | Warranty Period. The above warranty obligations shall continue during the term of this SOA and during the term of the Service Level Agreement entered into between the Parties after the termination of this SOA. |
| iv. | Exclusions. This warranty excludes any claims for loss or damage which are caused by Customer, its sublicensees, or third parties. |
| i. | Intellectual Property Indemnification. Intellectual Property indemnification shall be provided by Customer and Developer, respectively, as set forth in that certain Master Service Agreement entered into by and between the Parties. |
| j. | Termination. |
| a. | In General. This SOA may be terminated by either Party upon written notice if the other Party breaches any material term or condition of this SOA and such breach remains uncorrected for thirty (30) days following written notice from the non-breaching Party specifying the breach. |
| b. | Initial Evaluation. Either Party may terminate this SOA immediately upon written notice between the 30th and 45th day following the Effective Date of this SOA for any reason at such Party’s sole discretion; provided, however, if Customer terminates this SOA per this paragraph, Customer shall pay all net undisputed amounts due to Developer, whether invoiced before or after notice of termination, and all payments made by Customer prior to the notice of termination are non-refundable; provided further, however, if Developer terminates this SOA per this paragraph, Developer shall refund to Customer an amount such that Customer shall pay only fifty percent (50%) of all net undisputed amounts that are invoiced to Customer, whether invoiced before or after notice of termination. |
| c. | Incapacity of Developer. Customer shall have the right to immediately terminate this SOA by providing written notice and without giving Developer a chance to cure, in the event Developer: (i) terminates or suspends its business; (ii) becomes subject to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or any other proceeding concerning Developer’s insolvency, dissolution, cessation of operations, reorganization or indebtedness or the like, and such proceeding is not dismissed within sixty (60) days; or (iii) becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts in the ordinary course of business or makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or becomes subject to direct control by a trustee, receiver or similar authority. |
| d. | Opportunity to Cure. Prior to termination of this SOA based on a material breach of its terms and conditions, the non-breaching Party must provide the breaching Party with written notice of the breach by identifying the specific provision(s) of this SOA that have been breached and the facts supporting such a conclusion. Thereafter, the breaching Party shall have thirty (30) days from such notice to correct the breach. Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, this SOA shall automatically terminate on the thirty-first (31st) day following such notice if the breaching Party fails to cure the breach. |
| e. | Return of Materials. In the event of the termination of this SOA, in whole or in part, Customer shall have the right, at any time, to take immediate possession of the Licensed Materials, and any associated documentation and all copies wherever located, without demand or notice. Developer agrees to deliver, within ten (10) days after termination, all proprietary materials of Customer received or made in connection with this SOA, including copies thereof made by Developer and to certify in writing that all proprietary materials have been returned. |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 5 |
| k. | Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition. |
| a. | Customer recognizes that Developer’s customers, independent contractors and employees and the corresponding revenue, loyalty and service constitute a valuable asset of Developer. Accordingly, Customer agrees that Customer and its Representatives will not, directly or indirectly, on Customer’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, (i) interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, business relationships (whether formed before, on or after the Effective Date) between Developer and its customers or clients or any prospective customers or clients, (ii) make an offer of employment, employ, enter into a consulting relationship with, or provide compensation of any kind to any person who is or has been an employee or independent contractor of Developer, or (iii) use or disclose to any person or entity any personal information regarding any of Developer’s employees and/or independent contractors without the prior written consent of Developer for a period of two (2) years following the termination of such person’s relationship with Developer. For purposes of this SOA, “Representative” shall include trustees, executors, partners, members, managers, directors, officers, principals, employees, attorneys, and agents. |
| b. | If one or more of the provisions of this Section shall, for any reason, be held excessively restrictive by reason of the geographic or business scope or the duration thereof so as to be unenforceable as drafted, such provision or provisions shall be construed and reformed by an appropriate judicial body by limiting and reducing it or them, so that this Section shall be enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear. |
| l. | Confidentiality of This SOA. The Parties agree that the terms of this SOA including, but not limited to, pricing, licensing, deliverables, and customization requests are, and shall remain, confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed by any of them or their respective Representatives except as may be required by law; or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or as part of any obligation to disclose in connection with litigation; or as may be required for disclosure to the Party's accounting advisors, legal advisors, spouses, or insurers (provided; however, a Party's accounting advisors, legal advisors, spouses, or insurers shall be informed of this confidentiality agreement and agree to be bound by the terms thereof prior to any disclosure and any court will be asked to impose similar confidentiality restrictions). Prior to disclosure required by law or required by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as part of any obligation to disclose in connection with litigation, the disclosing Party shall provide reasonable notice to the non-disclosing Party such that the non-disclosing Party shall have an opportunity to prevent and/or object to disclosure. The Parties also may disclose the terms of the SOA to the extent required to enforce this SOA. |
| m. | Miscellaneous Provisions. |
| a. | Other Agreements. Developer and Customer agree that this SOA is subject to, and hereby incorporates by reference, that certain Master Service Agreement entered by and between the Parties. Unless otherwise defined herein, defined terms shall have the meanings as set forth in such Master Service Agreement. |
| b. | Waiver or Modification of this SOA. No waiver or modification of this SOA or of any covenant, condition or limitation contained in this SOA shall be valid unless in writing and duly executed by all Parties. |
| c. | Attorneys’ Fees. The prevailing Party in any legal action or other proceeding that may be brought to enforce this SOA or as a result of a dispute, breach, or default thereof shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in connection therewith. |
| d. | Survival of Terms. Notwithstanding the expiration or termination of this SOA or any renewal period hereof, it is acknowledged and agreed that those rights and obligations which by their nature are intended to survive such expiration or earlier termination shall survive including, without limiting the foregoing, the following provisions: Sections 2 (License Grant), 3 (License Restrictions), 7 (Intellectual Property Rights), 8 (Representations, Warranties and Disclaimers), 9 (Intellectual Property Indemnification), 10 (Termination), 11 (Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition), 12 (Confidentiality of this SOA), and 13 (Miscellaneous Provisions). |
| e. | No Waiver. The waiver or failure of any Party to exercise in any respect any rights provided for in this SOA shall not be deemed a waiver of any further right under this SOA by such Party. |
| f. | Severability. In the event that any provision of this SOA shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from this SOA and the remaining provisions of this SOA shall remain in full force and effect. |
| g. | Interpretation. In case of ambiguity, inconsistency or incompatibility between any provision contained in this SOA and any other provision contained in this SOA, the provision which is more specific shall prevail over the provision which is more general to the extent of any such ambiguity, inconsistency, or incompatibility, as the case may be. |
| h. | Headings. The headings appearing at the beginning of the sections and provisions contained in this SOA have been inserted for identification and reference purposes only and shall not be used in the construction and interpretation of this SOA. |
| i. | Independent Judgment. Developer and Customer acknowledge that: (a) they have read this SOA; (b) they understand the terms and conditions of this SOA; (c) they have had the opportunity to seek legal counsel and advice; and (d) they have relied on their own judgment in entering this SOA. |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 6 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Customer and Developer have caused this SOA to be signed and delivered by their duly authorized officers to be effective as of the Effective Date.
DEVELOPSCRIPTS, LLC
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Date: | ||
| Sean Peace | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Date: | ||
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 7 |
EXHIBIT A - MODIFIED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE
Below are General Actions to be delivered in each Phase. calculation of the delivery date is based on the start date of March 19th, 2021
| SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (SDLC) | DELIVERY DATE |
PHASE I - REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
In this phase We will be gathering the details of the customer including all document use case, recordings, or website references.
Product Management will take effect Via: Casecamp.com
|
Start of Work |
PHASE II - DESIGN & HTML/CSS
Design Phase
v New PSD design -- 20 pages (Home page, Buyer Reg-2, Seller Reg-2, login, Auction Homepage-2, Search page, Listing Page, User dashboard-10) v Customization of other pages acc to theme v Admin side Customization v Mobile Responsiveness v Example Design Template: projects.invisionapp.com ○ Color scheme of Client’s Choosing ○ Clean with minimum clutters ▪ Register or Login
|
3 weeks from Phase I |
PHASE III - DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION
Development Phase
Appendix A: ppt. presentation
Video Reference Link: v dropbox.com/s/owgfvyngra8qyro/Auction%20Strategies_HQ_2.mp4?dl=0
Home page v Simple: a. Upcoming auctions b. Login / Signup. c. Search Option d. FAQ. e. User support. f. Static pages: ▪ About us ▪ How it works ▪ Terms and conditions ▪ Contacts ▪ Cookies, GDPR, privacy policies
|
5 weeks from Phase II |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 8 |
Sign-in/Register page: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uqxiVM9anlVK4yaWgD1wkbscD9S4JUIBO84COyXsO00/edit v Registration and login a. Account Type(s): ▪ Buyers – users bidding on shares ▪ Admin – Owners of the website b. Registration: ▪ First Name ▪ Last Name ▪ Phone # ▪ DOB ▪ Address Details ▪ Social Security ▪ Agree to Terms & Conditions Checkbox ▪ Connect your Bank à Payment Gateway ● Plaid API: https://plaid.com/docs/api/ c. New Buyers will need to place their Card information on account before bidding on shares.
Bid engine and Payment Integration: v Standard Auction Features: a. Set alerts for auctions start / end dates b. Alert on being outbid – Email / SMS c. starting bid price d. Start & end, date & time of auction e. Auction countdown timer: 48 hours f. Number of bids already-submitted, masked usernames/nicknames of bidders with amounts v Test the waters auction (before the real one) – Auction happens before the REAL auction, in which it will place the winners of TTW into the real auction. a. Free-for-all contest b. If you participate in the test the water auction, you get the shares first. ▪ Please note: Anyone who participates in the test the waters auction can NOT have any preferential treatment when it comes to being first in line when the offering goes live. v Multi-unit Auctions: Once all of the shares are “allocated” then the next bidder that comes in Past their XXX available, it will bid out the last bidder a. Who gets kicked out of the auction? – the last share buyers after the initial cost is removed. b. first come first server gets the BIGGEST advantage c. the shares would stay at $XXX/Unit bid until all units are sold out d. Once the offering goes live, we can NOT change the price for someone who has already purchased shares. We CAN release more shares at a higher price. e. the main point is that the offering will not be in an auction format, it will only be a sale. 100 shares at $10, when they sell out, then maybe $100 shares at $11 and so on. Or maybe they all sell at just $10 period. v Proxy bid: ASSURE your bid will be at the top of the bid as the next unit in line before everyone else loses their shares. v Buy Now: make it easy for them to just click one button to buy their shares. Buy now happens After the TTW auctions, meaning the LIVE is e-commerce. v Auction ends: winning amount and winning bidder flashes on bidding screen v Winner(s) are determined based on: a. Could have 4/5 offerings going at once. b. When the auction ended, those people will be migrated to the real auction. c. Version 1: no auction mechanism on the real auction d. Email is sent to confirm those users that the REAL auction will start tomorrow, and if they would like to ensure they keep those shares to move forward. e. Feedback Rating & Comments |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 9 |
v Payment gateway – PayPal, Credit/Debit, ACH, Stripe a. Escrow (Primetrust) API: https://documentation.primetrust.com/ v Docusign API integration - https://www.docusign.com/products/apis v APIs to potentially create a different view that is a music dashboard. a. Include additional data form chart metric b. API - https://api.chartmetric.com/apidoc/ v BlockChain Integration: NFT a. Ability to demand a digital asset crypto to be placed between ▪ for each share, create an NFT b. One token is attached to the share. The other token is just of the song.
Seller and Buyer Dashboard: v Personalizing Options a. User account setting / Addresses b. Forgot password c. Referral System d. searches on Dashboards e. History Page f. determine their level of notification (Email / SMS). g. able to view the past auctions into which he has registered on clicking on any auction, the user will be able to view the status of the auctions: ▪ Upcoming ▪ On Going ▪ Completed
|
|
PHASE IV – ADMIN FEATURES
Admin Phase
a. Admin Panel requirements with customization b. Manage users c. Admin accounting: be able to approve the finances & payments / shares for investors. d. Manage Auction/Lots/catalogue a. Manage Live auctions & Time(s) e. Transaction and shipping Management f. Reports same as auctioneer page including Auctioneer report g. Email Notifications customization a. Notification of Product emailed out to registered buyers h. payment management system. i. Testing Phase -- (50 test cases) j. Project Management
|
2 weeks from Phase III |
| Phase V – Delivery | DELIVERY |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 10 |
After going live, you have the option to choose one of these 12-month Maintenance contract Plans:
Plan A: $1,000 / Month
| ● | Includes 60 hours for (Maintenance, New development time, Server admin for Live & Test servers, SEO services and Test server in AWS) |
| ● | When the 60 hours are exceeded, there will be additional charge on support or change requests for $20/Hour flat rate for remote developer or $30/hour for US developer. |
| ● | Any unused hours can be rolled over for next month for the period of 12 months. |
| ● | This Plan includes our Licensing Fee After 1 year of website going Live |
| ● | We will Support for any Existing issues via Email / Phone, or WebEx Teams |
Plan A: $500 / Month
| v | Includes 20 hours for Maintenance, New development time, Server admin for Live & Test servers and Test server in AWS. |
| v | When the 20 hours are exceeded, there will be additional charge on support or change requests for $25/Hour flat rate for remote developer or $30/hour for US developer. |
| v | Any unused hours can be rolled over for next month for the period of 6 months. |
| v | This Plan includes our Licensing Fee After 1 year of website going Live |
| v | We will Support for any Existing issues via Email only |
Plan B:
| 1. | Flat rate of US $30/Hour for remote developer or US $40/hour for US Developers. |
| 2. | Test server payment of AWS is estimated around $50-$75 per month. Estimates of AWS are determined accurately by their sheet. |
CUSTOMER SELECTED PLAN: ______________.
Average Estimate on Hosting and Maintenance
| 1. | Live Hosting Per Year $1,800 |
| 2. | Dev Server per Year $900 |
| 3. | If Plan A above, then maintenance for 24/7 support is $9,600 |
LIVE Server Hosting is NOT included at the base monthly rate of $75.00 per AWS EC2 instance (additional charges may apply based on high website traffic).
Our load testing costs are estimated based on 200 products and 3-150 users bidding actively with reverse, snipers, and auto bidding. When the traffic exceeds the above then price will be based on AWS calculations at: https://calculator.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html. (Live Price can range from $75 to $300) and DevelopScripts will share the Dashboard on Prices that AWS charges
Once this contractual obligation is fulfilled, we expect (but not required), Sean Peace should have all necessary insurance prior to live launch such as:
| 1. | Business Policy |
| 2. | Errors and omission for their end user customer) |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 11 |
Customer hereby acknowledges and agrees that material modifications to the Modified Software Development Lifecycle set forth in this Exhibit A, as requested by Customer, must be made in writing, and agreed upon by Developer per the terms and conditions as set forth in a Change Order. Material modifications, as contemplated herein, include, without limitation, changes in project plans, scope, specifications, schedule, design, requirements, service deliverables, software environment, and server administrative charges, and Developer shall not be obligated to perform any tasks associated with material modifications until a Change Order is entered into addressing, without limitation, modifications arising from, related to, or connected with time, scope, costs, and/or terms and conditions.
Customer also hereby acknowledges and agrees that Customer’s involvement and responsiveness plays a critical role in the successful and timely delivery and completion of the Modified Software and, toward this end, Customer shall:
| 1. | Quickly learn to use Basecamp or Casecamp (Developer will provide documentation to assist). |
| 2. | Exclusively use Basecamp or Casecamp to communicate development comments to Developer throughout the Modified Software Development Lifecycle via “To-Do” or “Case” files that have been previously created by the Project Manager. |
| 3. | Only contact the Project Manager to request the creation of new “To-Do” or “Case” files. |
| 4. | Answer inquiries from Developer within 24 hours. |
| 5. | Pay all third-party server fees on a timely basis. |
| 6. | Communicate directly with Project Manager only (and not communicate directly with developers via phone calls, Skype chats, or any other means). |
| 7. | Contact Developer for any inquiries or emergencies outside of Project Manager at +1 972-200-5516. |
| 8. | Attend a call with Developer via Skype or WebEx upon completion of your project (Delivery Phase) to confirm all of the phases of the project have been delivered as set forth in the Modified Software Development Lifecycle set forth in this Exhibit A. |
| 9. | Maintain a presence in Basecamp or Casecamp; should Customer not be engaged in Basecamp or Casecamp for more than three (3) weeks without written notice to Developer as set forth in the SOA, Developer will administratively close Customer’s project and will only administratively open Customer’s project upon payment of a $500 reinstatement charge; and |
| 10. | Limit project related WebEx conference calls to a maximum of 25. |
SEAN PEACE
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Date: |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 12 |
EXHIBIT B – FEES AND PAYMENT
| Licensing Fees | Cost |
[1 LICENSING] - Unlimited Subscribers
Your license is unrestricted to any number of products, bids and categories or subcategories
|
$2,750/Year |
| [1 TIME COST] – IOS Application | $3,000 |
| [1 TIME COST] – Android Application | $3,000 |
Note: **Enterprise Plan based on the Sales Transaction Revenue per year as below
| 1. | Less 5 Million in Transactions than license Fee is $2,750/Year. |
| 2. | More than 5 Million less than 10 Million in Transactions than license Fee is $4,999/Year. |
| 3. | More than 10 Million and less than 100 Million in Transactions than license fee is $9,999/Year |
| Description of Fees | Cost |
| Logo Installation | $350 [INCLUDED] |
| 6-Month Development Hosting | $300 |
| Design – 20 pages [Phase II] | $3,750 |
| Development [Phase III] | $8,700 |
Additional Development: Blockchain NFT ● 125 hours to be included for Developer Work, Rated @ 50/Hr. ● If scope increases, this is subjected to change. Use case will be mentioned under Design Phase. ● Additional 50 hours for Development of Base Site (similar to Velvetcricket) |
$7,250 |
| Escrow [PrimeTrust] API Integration | $1,250 |
| Development (Admin side) [Phase IV] | $2,000 |
| Testing / Project Management | $1,500 |
| Code Review | $1,000 |
Estimated Cost: $34,500
| Payment Submission Schedule | Amount Due |
| Start of Work | $6,900 |
| Phase II - Complete | $6,900 |
| Phase III – Complete | $6,900 |
| Phase IV - Complete | $6,900 |
| Delivery | $6,900 |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 13 |
EXHIBIT C – CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Customer understands, acknowledges, and agrees that:
| 1. | After completion of the Modified Software by Developer because the Modified Software is owned by Developer, it is an ongoing requirement that Customer must maintain a license issued by Developer to use the Modified Software. |
| 2. | A license to use the Modified Software is included in the Service Level Agreement; and |
| 3. | The Service Level Agreement contains terms and conditions including, but not limited to, an obligation that Customer must make monthly payments for maintenance, additional development charges and/or license fees that if not made on a timely basis (time is of the essence) will result in, without limitation, termination of Customer’s continued ability to use the Modified Software. |
| 4. | Customer and/or Authorized Users shall be responsible for acquiring and installing any computer hardware, mobile devices, and operating systems necessary to use the Software including but not limited to ________________________________________ |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________.
SEAN PEACE
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Date: |
| Service Order Agreement | DevelopScripts _______ Customer _______ | Page 14 |
Exhibit 6.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of May 6, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), by and between RoyaltyTraders LLC (“RoyaltyTraders”), a Delaware limited liability company (together with its successors and assigns permitted hereunder, the “Company”), and Sean Peace (the “Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Company is in the business of (i) selling royalty streams and other music assets (ii) providing advances backed by royalty streams (as the same may be expanded and developed from and after the Effective Date of this Agreement the “Business”); and
WHEREAS, Alexander Guiva serves Series A Manager (the “Series A Manager”) of the Company as described in the Company’s LLC Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure that it will have the benefit of the service and experience of the Executive, who will serve as an officer of the Company and an integral part of its management, and the Executive is willing to enter into an Agreement to such end upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the respective agreements and covenants set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
| 1. | EMPLOYMENT PERIOD |
Subject to Section 3, the Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Company in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term,” and including any and all renewals thereof or Additional Terms, the “Employment Period”); provided the Initial Term and any Additional Term shall automatically renew for an additional one-year term unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other party at least 90 days prior to the end of the then current term of its intention not to renew (the “Additional Terms”).
| 2. | TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT |
| a. | Position and Duties |
| i. | During the term of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and, in so doing, shall perform normal duties and responsibilities associated with such position. |
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| ii. | During the term of the Executive’s employment, and excluding any periods of vacation and other leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote substantially all his business time to the business and affairs of the Company and to use the Executive’s best efforts to perform faithfully, effectively and efficiently his duties and responsibilities. |
| iii. | During the term of the Executive’s employment, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (1) serve on industry trade, civic or charitable boards or committees, (2) deliver lectures or fulfill speaking engagements or (3) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities as an Executive of the Company. |
| iv. | Executive agrees to observe and comply with the Company’s rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. |
| b. | Compensation |
| i. | Base Salary. During the Initial Term, the Executive shall receive an annual minimum base salary (“Annual Base Salary”), which shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company, in an amount equal to $84,000.00. It is understood that the Company may increase, but not decrease, the amount of the Annual Base Salary. Such increase will require a consent from Series A Manager. |
| ii. | Incentive Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to receive monthly bonus payments of up to an amount equal to $36,000 per year in total if the Company achieves more than $250,000 in Revenue for the twelve month period ending on March 31, 2022. At all times during the Employment Period and so long as Executive remains an owner of the Company, Executive shall have the right to review and audit the books and records of the Company to verify the correct determination of the Executive’s Incentive Bonus. |
| iii. | Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any and all medical, pension, dental and life insurance plans and disability income plans, retirement arrangements and other employment benefits as in effect from time to time for executive officers of the Company generally. |
| iv. | Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable employment-related expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the Company’s policies, practices and procedures, as amended from time to time. |
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| v. | Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to two weeks paid vacation each calendar year. Any vacation shall be taken at the reasonable and mutual convenience of the Company and the Executive. Accrued vacation not taken in any calendar year will not be carried forward or used in any subsequent calendar year and the Executive shall not be entitled to receive pay in lieu of accrued but unused vacation in any calendar year, except in the case of Executive’s termination as set forth below. Vacation will be deemed to accrue daily for purposes of the payments described in Section 4 hereof. |
| vi. | Indemnification. In the event that the Executive is made a party or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (a "Proceeding"), (other than any Proceeding initiated by the Executive or the Company related to any contest or dispute between the Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates with respect to this Agreement or the Executive's employment hereunder), by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director or officer of the Company, or any affiliate of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, member, employee, or agent of another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, the Executive shall be indemnified, defended and held harmless by the Company to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law and the Company's governing documents from and against any liabilities, costs, claims, and expenses, including all costs and expenses incurred in defense of any Proceeding (including attorneys' fees). Costs and expenses incurred by the Executive in defense of such Proceeding (including attorneys' fees) shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such litigation upon receipt by the Company of: (i) a written request for payment; (ii) appropriate documentation evidencing the incurrence, amount, and nature of the costs and expenses for which payment is being sought; and (iii) an undertaking adequate under applicable law made by or on behalf of the Executive to repay the amounts so paid if it shall ultimately be determined that the Executive is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under this Agreement. |
| vii. | During the Employment Period and for a period of two (2) years thereafter, the Company or any successor to the Company may purchase and maintain, at its own expense, directors' and officers' liability insurance providing coverage to the Executive on terms that are no less favorable than the coverage provided to other directors and similarly situated businesses in the industry. |
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| c. | Key-Man Insurance. During the term of Executive’s employment, the Company shall have the right to insure the life of the Executive for the Company’s sole benefit, and to determine the amount of insurance and the type of policy. The Executive shall cooperate with the Company in taking out such insurance by submitting to physical examinations, by supplying all information required by the insurance company, and by executing all necessary documents. The Executive shall incur no financial obligation by executing any required document, and shall have no interest in any such policy. |
| 3. | TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT |
| a. | Death or Disability. The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. If the Disability (as defined below) of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period, the Company may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 11.b. of its intention to terminate the Executive’s employment. In such event, the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 10th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”), if, within the 10 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to perform, with reasonable accommodation, the essential functions of his position. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the Executive’s inability to perform, with reasonable accommodations, the essential functions of his position hereunder for a period of 90 consecutive days, or 120 non-consecutive days, in any 12-month period due to mental or physical incapacity. Any question as to the existence of the Executive's Disability as to which the Executive and the Company cannot agree shall be determined in writing by a qualified independent physician mutually acceptable to the Executive and the Company. If the Executive and the Company cannot agree as to a qualified independent physician, each shall appoint such a physician and those two physicians shall select a third who shall make such determination in writing. The determination of Disability made in writing to the Company and the Executive shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement. |
| b. | Cause or Without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “without Cause” shall mean a termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for any reason other than a termination based upon Cause, death, Disability or upon a Change of Control, as defined below. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean: |
| i. | gross negligence or willful misconduct by Executive in the performance of his duties; |
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| ii. | refusal by Executive to perform, or the continued failure by Executive to perform, his assigned duties (other than by reason of Disability), provided that such duties are reasonable and consistent with duties of the position of similarly situated entities principally engaged in the same industry as the Company (in each case except for any such failure to perform as is reasonably capable of being remedied and is remedied promptly but in no event in less than 20 days of Executive receiving written notice describing such failure in reasonable detail from the Company; |
| iii. | Executive engaging in any act of fraud or embezzlement relating to the Company; |
| iv. | Executive engaging in any illegal conduct or in any act of dishonesty or moral turpitude, the purpose or effect of which adversely affects the Company (including, without limitation, the reputation of the Company) or Executive’s ability to perform his duties; |
| v. | Executive materially breaching any provision of this Agreement or any employee policy or procedure of the Company made known to Executive which causes or is reasonably likely to cause material injury to the Company (in each case except for any such breach as is reasonably capable of being remedied and is remedied promptly but in no event in less than 30 days of Executive receiving written notice describing such breach in reasonable detail from the Company; |
| vi. | Executive’s commencement of employment with another person while he is an employee of the Company or any of its affiliates without the prior consent of Series A Manager. |
| vii. | Executive’s commission of, or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (or its equivalent) to, a felony which materially impairs the Executive’s ability to perform its duties to the Company or materially impairs the Company. |
| c. | Good Reason. The Executive’s employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason; provided, however, that the Executive agrees not to terminate his employment for Good Reason unless (x) the Executive has given the Company at least 90 days’ prior written notice of his intent to terminate his employment for Good Reason, which notice shall specify the facts and circumstances constituting Good Reason, (y) Executive’s notice described in (x) above is given within 90 days of the event giving rise to Executive’s Good Reason and (z) the Company has not remedied such facts and circumstances constituting Good Reason within the 90-day period following Executive’s notice. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean: |
| i. | any significant reduction, without the Executive’s consent, in the Executive’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated in Section 2.a. or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities; or |
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| ii. | Company breaching any provision of this Agreement which causes or is reasonably likely to cause injury to Executive; or |
| iii. | Any material reduction in Executive’s Incentive Bonus or compensation structure. |
| d. | Change of Control. If a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs during the Employment Period, then, within one year of such Change of Control, either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment by giving written notice in accordance with Section 11.b. of its intention to terminate the Executive’s employment. |
As used in this Agreement, “Change of Control” means the first to occur of: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any person or group of related persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a “Group”), other than Series A Unit holders; or (ii) one person (or more than one person acting as a group) acquires ownership of the membership interests of the Company that, together with the stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the membership interests of the Company; provided that, a Change in Control shall not occur if any person (or more than one person acting as a group) already owns more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Company's membership interests and acquires additional stock;
| e. | Termination Without Cause and Without Good Reason. The Employment Period and the Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time and for any reason; provided that, unless otherwise provided above or the termination is for Cause, either party shall be required to give the other party at least ninety (90) days advance written notice of any termination of the Executive's employment. |
| 4. | OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION |
| a. | For Cause; Without Good Reason; Other Than for Death, Disability or Upon a Change of Control. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause or the Executive shall terminate his employment without Good Reason, and the termination of the Executive’s employment in any case is not due to death or Disability, without Cause, for Good Reason or upon a Change of Control, the Executive shall forfeit all rights to the Incentive Bonus described in Section 2.b.ii. If the termination is for Cause or if the Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason, the Company shall have no further payment obligations to the Executive or his legal representatives, other than for the payment of: (i) Executive’s unpaid Annual Base Salary earned through the effective date of Executive’s termination, (ii) any accrued but unused vacation, (ii) any expense reimbursement accrued and (iii) unpaid through the effective date of termination, and (iv) any other payments as may be required by applicable law or any Company Entity benefit plan, including any accrued vacation pay (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”). |
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| b. | Death/Disability. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability during the Employment Period, the Company shall have no further payment obligations to the Executive or his legal representatives, other than for payment of: (i) the Accrued Obligations; and (ii) the Earned Incentive Bonus. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Earned Incentive Bonus” shall mean the portion of Executive’s Incentive Bonus described in Section 2.b.ii. that the Board determines in good faith to have been earned based on Executive’s achievement of objective and subjective bonus goals, prorated based on Executive’s duration of service during the calendar year in which termination or expiration of this Agreement occurs and payable at such time as the Incentive Bonus would ordinarily be paid. |
| c. | Without Cause or for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Company shall have no further payment obligations to the Executive or his legal representatives, other than for: (i) the Accrued Obligations; (ii) the Earned Incentive Bonus; and (iii) a monthly amount equal to one-twelfth of the Executive’s Annual Base Salary, payable for a period of six months; provided that the first two monthly payments under this subsection (iii) shall accrue from the date of Executive’s termination but shall not be payable until sixty (60) days following the date of Executive’s termination (the “Severance Payments”). |
| d. | Change of Control. If the Executive’s employment is terminated upon a Change of Control as contemplated in Section 3.d., the Company shall have no further payment obligations to the Executive or his legal representatives, other than for (i) the Accrued Obligations; and (ii) the Earned Incentive Bonus. |
| e. | Notwithstanding any purported limitation of the obligations of the Company in this Section 4, nothing herein shall be deemed to be a waiver or release by any party of their rights and obligations contained in the Company’s Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement (the “Operating Agreement”), among the Company, Executive and the other members of the Company. Furthermore, any and all payments, benefits and other rights of the Company or Executive and related obligations arising in connection with Executive’s ownership of equity of the Company shall be governed by the governing documents of the Company and such rights shall not be deemed to be merged into, waived under, or otherwise adversely impacted by any provision of this Agreement. |
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| 5. | FULL SETTLEMENT; MITIGATION; RELEASE |
The Severance Payment and Earned Incentive Bonus obligations of the Company described in Section 4 above are subject to Executive’s delivery and nonrevocation of an executed, effective release substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A prior to the first Severance Payment.
| 6. | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION |
| a. | The Executive acknowledges that the Company and its affiliates have trade, business and financial secrets and other confidential and proprietary information (collectively, the “Confidential Information”). “Confidential Information” includes sales materials, technical information, processes and compilations of information, records, specifications and information concerning customers or vendors, financial information, manuals, customer lists, information regarding methods of doing business, and other. “Confidential Information” shall not include (i) information that is generally known to other persons or entities who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use and (ii) information required to be disclosed by the Executive pursuant to a subpoena or court order, or pursuant to a requirement of a governmental agency or law of the United States of America or a state thereof or any governmental or political subdivision; provided, however, that the Executive shall take all reasonable steps to prohibit disclosure pursuant to subsection (ii) above. |
| b. | Each of the Executive and the Company has divulged, and herein promises to continue to divulge during Executive’s employment with the Company, appropriate Confidential Information to one another as of the effective date of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter as such appropriate Confidential Information arises. |
| c. | During and following the Executive’s employment by the Company for the Restricted Period (as defined below) or for so long as the Executive remains a member of the Company, whichever is later, the Executive shall hold in confidence and not directly or indirectly disclose or use or copy or make lists of any Confidential Information or proprietary data of the Company or its affiliates except to the extent authorized in writing by Series A Manager or required by any court or administrative agency, other than to an executive of the Company or its affiliates or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the Executive of his duties as an employee of the Company. |
| d. | The Executive further agrees not to use any Confidential Information for the benefit of any person or entity other than the Company or its affiliates during the Restricted Period. |
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| 7. | RESPONSIBILITIES UPON TERMINATION |
Upon the termination of his employment by the Company for whatever reason and irrespective of whether or not such termination is voluntary on his part:
| a. | The Executive shall advise the Company of the identity of his new employer within ten (10) days after accepting new employment and further agrees to keep the Company so advised of any change in employment during the Restricted Period set forth in Section 9 hereof; |
| b. | The Company in its sole discretion may notify any new employer of the Executive that he has an obligation not to compete with the Company during such term; |
| c. | The Executive shall deliver to the Company any and all records, forms, contracts, memoranda, work papers, customer data and any other documents which have come into his possession by reason of his employment with the Company (including the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries), irrespective of whether or not any of said documents were prepared for him, and he shall not retain memoranda in respect of or copies of any of said documents; and |
| d. | The Executive shall participate in an exit interview with the Company, if requested. |
| 8. | SUCCESSORS |
The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all the assets of the Company, by merger or otherwise, subject, however, to the Executive’s right to terminate this Agreement for Good Reason as provided in Section 3.c., and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. All representations, warranties, covenants, terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns of the Company and Executive. Neither this Agreement nor any rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by the Executive without the prior written consent of the Company.
| 9. | NON-COMPETITION |
The provisions of this Section 9 are in consideration for (i) the Company’s promise in Section 6 to continue to make appropriate Confidential Information available to the Executive during the term of Executive’s employment by the Company and (ii) the amounts paid to Executive by the Company on or prior to the date hereof.
| a. | The term of Non-Competition (herein called the “Restricted Period”) shall be for a term beginning on the Effective Date hereof and continuing until the later of, either (i) the two year anniversary of the date of termination if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or due to Disability or by the Executive without Good Reason or termination or non-renewal by the Executive at the end of the Employment Period, or (ii) the one year anniversary of the date of termination if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (and not due to Disability) or upon a Change of Control or by the Executive for Good Reason or termination or non-renewal by the Company at the end of the Employment Period. |
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| b. | During the Restricted Period, the Executive shall not (other than for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates pursuant to this Agreement) directly or indirectly, render services to, assist, participate in the affairs of, or otherwise be connected with, any person or enterprise (other than the Company), which person or enterprise is engaged in, or is planning to engage in, and shall not personally engage in, any business that is in any respect competitive with the Business of the Company, with respect to any products of the Company or any New Product (as defined herein) in any capacity in Europe, Canada, Mexico and the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company agrees that the Executive may own less than five percent of the outstanding voting securities of any publicly traded company that is a competing business so long as the Executive does not otherwise participate in such competing business in any way prohibited by the preceding clause. |
| c. | During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, and will not permit any of his affiliates to, directly or indirectly, recruit or otherwise solicit or induce any employee, customer, subscriber or supplier of the Company to terminate its employment or arrangement with the Company, otherwise change its relationship with the Company in a manner adverse to the Company or establish any relationship with the Executive or any of his affiliates for any business purpose deemed competitive with the business of the Company. |
| d. | The Executive acknowledges that the geographic boundaries, scope of prohibited activities, and time duration of the preceding paragraphs are reasonable in nature and are no broader than are necessary to maintain the goodwill of the Company and its affiliates and the confidentiality of their Confidential Information, and to protect the other legitimate business interests of the Company and its affiliates. |
| e. | If any court determines that any portion of this Section 9 is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Section 9 shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid provisions. If any court construes any of the provisions of this Section 9, or any part thereof, to be unreasonable because of the duration or scope of such provision, such court shall have the power to reduce the duration or scope of such provision and to enforce such provision as so reduced. |
| f. | As used in this Section 9, (i) “Company” shall include Company and any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, and (ii) “New Product” shall refer to any product or service that is or was subject to active consideration or review by the Board prior to the date of termination; provided that, any such New Product that is not implemented or developed into an actual product or service during the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination shall cease to be a New Product following such twelve (12) month period. |
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| 10. | INVENTIONS; ASSIGNMENT |
All rights to discoveries, inventions, improvements and innovations (including all data and records pertaining thereto) related to the Company’s Business, whether or not patentable, copyrightable, registrable as a trademark, or reduced to writing, that the Executive may discover, invent or originate during the Employment Period, either alone or with others and whether or not during working hours or by the use of the facilities of the Company (“Inventions”), shall be the exclusive property of the Company. The Executive shall promptly disclose all Inventions to the Company, shall execute at the request of the Company any assignments or other documents the Company may deem necessary to protect or perfect its rights therein, and shall assist the Company, at the Company’s expense, in obtaining, defending and enforcing the Company’s rights therein. The Executive hereby assigns such rights to Inventions and other intellectual property and appoints the Company, as his attorney-in-fact to execute on his behalf any assignments or other documents deemed necessary by the Company to protect or perfect its rights to any Inventions.
| 11. | MISCELLANEOUS |
| a. | Construction. This Agreement shall be deemed drafted equally by both the parties. Its language shall be construed as a whole and according to its fair meaning. Any presumption or principle that the language is to be construed against any party shall not apply. The headings in this Agreement are only for convenience and are not intended to affect construction or interpretation. Any references to paragraphs, subparagraphs, sections or subsections are to those parts of this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. Also, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, (a) the plural includes the singular and the singular includes the plural; (b) “and” and “or” are each used both conjunctively and disjunctively; (c) “any,” “all,” “each,” or “every” means “any and all,” and “each and every”; (d) “includes” and “including” are each “without limitation”; (e) “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the word “here” refer to the entire Agreement and not to any particular paragraph, subparagraph, section or subsection; and (f) all pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the identity of the entities or persons referred to may require. |
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| b. | Notices. Any notice, demand, request or other communication given hereunder to any party, shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or duly sent by first class registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, or telecopied with a confirmation copy by regular, certified or overnight mail, addressed or telecopied, as the case may be, as follows: |
If to the Executive:
RoyaltyTraders LLC
1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd, Suite 115,
Raleigh, NC 27604
Attention: Sean Peace
If to the Company:
RoyaltyTraders LLC
1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd, Suite 115,
Raleigh, NC 27604
or to such other address as the addressee may have designated by notice to the addressor. All such notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been received: (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery; (ii) if mailed, three (3) days after being mailed as described above; or (iii) in the case of email transmission, when confirmed by email of receipt.
| c. | Enforcement. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term of this Agreement, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a portion of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable. |
| d. | Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges, which it is from time to time, required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of such withholding shall arise. |
| e. | No Waiver. No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at any time. |
| f. | Equitable Relief. The Executive acknowledges that money damages would be both incalculable and an insufficient remedy for a breach of Section 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 by the Executive and that any such breach would cause the Company irreparable harm. Accordingly, the Company, in addition to any other remedies at law or in equity it may have, shall be entitled, without the requirement of posting of bond or other security, to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, in connection with a breach of Section 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 by the Executive. |
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| g. | Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with any applicable agreements and instruments evidencing the stock ownership of Executive between the Executive and the Company, constitutes the entire and complete understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements, representations and understandings between the Executive and the Company, or its affiliates and subsidiaries, which are hereby terminated. Other than as expressly set forth herein, the Executive and the Company acknowledge and represent that there are no other promises, terms, conditions or representations (oral or written) regarding any matter relevant hereto. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts. |
| h. | Survival. Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement. |
| i. | Choice of Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to principles of conflicts of law of Delaware or any other jurisdiction, and, where applicable, the laws of the United States. |
| j. | Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or modified at any time except by a written instrument approved by the Board and executed by the Company and the Executive. |
| k. | Executive Acknowledgment. Executive acknowledges that he has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, has not acted in reliance upon any representations or promises made by the Company other than those contained in writing herein, and has entered into this Agreement freely based on his own judgment. |
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| l. | Section 409A. This Agreement is intended to be written, administered, interpreted and construed in a manner such that no payment or benefits provided under the Agreement become subject to (a) the gross income inclusion set forth within Section 409A(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or (b) the interest and additional tax set forth within Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code (collectively, “Section 409A Penalties”), including, where appropriate, the construction of defined terms to have meanings that would not cause the imposition of Section 409A Penalties. The severance payments payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in reliance upon Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) (relating to short-term deferrals). However, to the extent any such payments are treated as “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, and if Executive is deemed at the time of his separation from service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited payment under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such portion of Executive’s termination benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of Executive’s separation from service or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the earlier of such dates, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive. The determination of whether Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code as of the time of his separation from service shall be made by the Company in accordance with the terms of Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder (including without limitation Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) and any successor provision thereto). For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), each payment that Executive may be eligible to receive under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate and distinct payment and shall not collectively be treated as a single payment. In-kind benefits and reimbursements provided under this Agreement during any tax year of the Executive shall not affect in-kind benefits or reimbursements to be provided in any other tax year of Executive and are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Reimbursement requests must be timely submitted by Executive and, if timely submitted, reimbursement payments shall be made to Executive as soon as administratively practicable following such submission in accordance with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursements, but in no event later than the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. In no event shall Executive be entitled to any reimbursement payments after the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. This Section shall only apply to in-kind benefits and reimbursements that would result in taxable compensation income to Executive. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Board, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its behalf, as of the day first written above.
/s/ Sean Peace
Sean Peace
AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
RoyaltyTraders LLC
By: /s/ Alex Guiva
Name: Alex Guiva
Title: Member of the Manager of RoyaltyTraders LLC
15
Exhibit A
FORM OF GENERAL RELEASE
In exchange for good and valuable consideration set forth in that certain Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) between Sean Peace (“Employee or Executive”) and RoyaltyTraders LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the sufficiency of which such consideration is hereby acknowledged, Employee, on behalf of himself, his executors, heirs, administrators, assigns and anyone else claiming by, through or under Employee, irrevocably and unconditionally, fully and forever, releases and discharges the Company, its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and each of their respective predecessors, successors and related and affiliate entities, including, without limitation, direct and indirect parents and subsidiaries, and each of their respective directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees, attorneys, insurers, employee benefit plans, fiduciaries, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”), from, and with respect to, any and all debts, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, covenants, contracts, wages, bonuses, damages and any and all claims, demands, liabilities, and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs) whatsoever of any name or nature both in law and in equity (severally and collectively, “Claims”), to the extent waivable under applicable law, that Employee now has or ever had against any of the Released Parties by reason of any matter, cause or thing that has happened, developed or occurred, and any Claims that have arisen, before the signing of this Release, including but not limited to, any and all Claims (i) in tort or contract, whether by statute or common law, (ii) relating to salary, wages, bonuses and commissions, the breach of an oral or written contract, unjust enrichment, promissory estoppel, misrepresentation, defamation, and interference with prospective economic advantage, interference with contract, wrongful termination, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and/or (iii) arising out of, based on, or in connection with the Employment Agreement, Employee’s employment by the Company (or any of its direct or indirect affiliates, parents or subsidiaries or any other Released Parties) or the termination of that employment, including, without limitation, any Claims for unlawful employment discrimination of any kind, whether based on age, race, sex, disability or otherwise, including specifically and without limitation, Claims arising under or based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, in each case as amended, and any other local, state or federal equal employment opportunity or anti-discrimination law, statute, policy, order, ordinance or regulation relating to employment matters, but subject in all respects to the limitations set forth in the next to the last paragraph of this Release. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that Employee hereby, irrevocably and unconditionally, fully and forever waives and releases any rights that he may have pursuant to the Employment Agreement except to the extent set forth in the next to the last paragraph of this Release.
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Employee hereby knowingly and voluntarily waives and releases all rights and claims, known or unknown, arising under the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967, as amended, which he might otherwise have had against the Company or any of the other Released Parties regarding any actions which occurred prior to the date that Employee signed this Release, except that Employee is not prevented from cooperating in an investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or from filing an EEOC charge other than for personal relief.
Employee hereby acknowledges that Employee may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to or different from those which Employee now knows or believes to exist with respect to the subject matter of this Release and which, if known or suspected at the time of executing this Release, may have materially affected Employee’s decision to enter into this Release. Nevertheless, Employee expressly waives any Claim, to the extent waivable under applicable law, that might arise as a result of such different or additional claims or facts, and Employee hereby acknowledges, understands and agrees that this Release extends to all Claims, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected. Employee further expressly waives and releases any rights and benefits which he has or may have under any law or rule of any jurisdiction pertaining to the matters released herein and expressly waives and releases any and all rights and benefits conferred upon Employee by the provisions of any law or rule of any jurisdiction designed to prevent the waiver of unknown claims.
It is the intention of Employee through this Release and with the advice of counsel to fully, finally and forever settle and release the Claims set forth above. In furtherance of such intention, the releases herein given shall be and remain in effect as full and complete releases of such matters notwithstanding the discovery of any additional claims or facts relating thereto.
Employee warrants and represents that Employee has not assigned or transferred to any person or entity any of the Claims released by this Release, and Employee agrees to defend (by counsel of the Company’s (or any successor or assign thereof) choosing), and to indemnify and hold harmless, the Released Parties from and against any claims based on, in connection with, or arising out of any such assignment or transfer made, purported or claimed.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Release or the Employment Agreement, the foregoing release shall not cover, and Employee does not intend to release, (i) the rights of Employee to receive from the Company earned but unpaid base salary compensation, accrued but unpaid expense reimbursement and other Accrued Obligations pursuant to the Employment Agreement, (ii) the obligations of the Company to pay the Severance Payments (as defined in the Employment Agreement), (iii) if available, the rights of Employee and his family to COBRA coverage and premium and fees payments and the continuation of benefits as provided in the Employment Agreement; (iv) any rights of indemnification or to advancement of expenses, whether under the Employment Agreement and/or the Company’s certificate of incorporation, organization or formation, as amended (the “Certificate”), or regulations, bylaws or company agreement, as amended (the “Company Agreement”), as applicable, or otherwise; (v) any rights of Executive as a stockholder or holder of other securities; or (vi) the rights of Executive under the Certificate, the Company Agreement, any restricted stock agreement or other agreement or instrument governing Executive’s ownership or right to acquire ownership in the Company. Employee further acknowledges that the Company’s obligations under the Certificate and the Company Agreement are conditioned upon the receipt by the Company of an undertaking by Employee to repay the amount if it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Employee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the Certificate or the Company Agreement.
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EMPLOYEE HAS READ THIS RELEASE AND BEEN PROVIDED A FULL AND AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY IT, AND EMPLOYEE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS A FULL, COMPREHENSIVE AND GENERAL RELEASE AND INCLUDES ANY CLAIM UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT. EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN ADVISED IN WRITING TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE AND THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, AND EMPLOYEE HAS CONSULTED WITH AN ATTORNEY. EMPLOYEE WAS GIVEN A PERIOD OF AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE DAYS TO CONSIDER SIGNING THIS RELEASE, AND EMPLOYEE HAS SEVEN DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SIGNING TO REVOKE EMPLOYEE’S ACCEPTANCE BY DELIVERING TIMELY NOTICE OF HIS REVOCATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE IS SIGNING THIS RELEASE VOLUNTARILY, WITHOUT COERCION, AND WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS INTENDED, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AS A COMPLETE AND FINAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS (TO THE EXTENT WAIVABLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW). EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE PAYMENTS SET FORTH IN THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ARE CONTINGENT UPON EMPLOYEE SIGNING THIS RELEASE AND WILL BE PAYABLE ONLY IF AND AFTER THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED.
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
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Employee has read this Release, fully understand it and freely and knowingly agree to its terms.
Dated this 6th day of May, 2021.
| /s/ Sean Peace | |
| Sean Peace |
AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
RoyaltyTraders LLC
By: /s/ Alex Guiva
Name: Alex Guiva
Title: Member of the Manager of RoyaltyTraders LLC
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Exhibit 6.4
MANAGEMENT FEE AGREEMENT
MANAGEMENT FEE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 6th, 2021 (this “Agreement”), by and among RoyaltyTraders LLC, a Delaware company (“RT” or the “Company”) and Alexander Guiva (“Guiva”), a co-founder and seed investor of RT.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Guiva provided the seed investment to the Company without charging a placement fee and provided valuable help in the process of launching the Company and determining its business model and operational strategy;
WHEREAS, Guiva has expertise in the areas of finance, strategy, investment, acquisitions and other matters relating to the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to compensate Guiva for being the seed investor of RT and avail itself of Guiva’s expertise and consequently have requested that Guiva make such expertise available from time to time in rendering certain management consulting and advisory services related to the business and affairs of the Company and the review and analysis of certain financial and other transactions; and
WHEREAS, each of Guiva and the Company agrees that it is in its best interest to enter into this Agreement whereby, for the consideration specified herein, Guiva shall provide the services identified herein as a consultant to the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and the mutual agreements and covenants set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Retention of Guiva.
The Companies retain Guiva, and Guiva accepts such retention, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Section 2. Term.
This Agreement shall commence on, and shall be effective from, the date hereof and shall continue through and until the earliest of (i) a Change of Control and (ii) an Initial Public Offering.
Section 3. Management Consulting Services.
(a) Guiva shall advise the Companies concerning such management matters that relate to proposed financial transactions, acquisitions, large capital expenditure projects, corporate strategy, hiring senior executives, growth initiatives and other senior management matters related to the business, administration and policies of the Company.
(b) The Company shall promptly provide any materials or information that Guiva may reasonably request in connection with the provision of services by Guiva (any such materials or information so furnished, the “Information”).
Section 4. Compensation.
(a) As consideration for Guiva’s agreement to render the services set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement and as compensation for any such services rendered by Guiva, the Company agree to pay to Guiva a nonrefundable quarterly fee equal to two percent (2%) of quarterly EBITDA calculated consistently with historical practices (the “Fee”). The Fee will commence after the EBITDA of the Company reaches $500,000 for consecutive twelve months and will be payable no later than 45 days after the end of each quarter.
(b) Upon presentation by Guiva to the Company of such documentation as may be reasonably requested by the Company, the Company shall reimburse Guiva for all his out-of-pocket business expenses related to the activities of the Companies.
Section 5. Notices.
All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient if personally delivered, sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier, by email, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
if to Guiva, to:
Alexander Guiva
3420 University Blvd
Dallas TX 75205
if to the Company, to:
RoyaltyTraders LLC
1053 East Whitaker Mill Rd, Suite 115,
Raleigh, NC 27604
Attention: Sean Peace
or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to each other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery, (b) in the case of nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date when sent, (c) in the case of email transmission, when received, and (d) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following that on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted.
Section 6. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed, enforced and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any law that would cause the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware to be applied.
Section 7. Entire Agreement; Amendments.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to its subject matter and supersedes any and all prior agreements, and neither it nor any part of it may in any way be altered, amended, extended, waived, discharged or terminated except by a written agreement signed by each of the parties hereto.
Section 8. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, including via facsimile transmission or PDF copies sent by e-mail, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same document.
Section 9. Waivers.
Any party to this Agreement may, by written notice to the other party, waive any provision of this Agreement. The waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
Section 10. Severability.
Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| ROYALTYTRADERS LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Sean Peace | |
| Name: Sean Peace | ||
| Title: Manager | ||
| By: | /s/ Alexander Guiva | |
| Name: Alexander Guiva |
Exhibit 6.5
PRODUCER ROYALTY OPTION AGREEMENT
This Royalty Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of May 16, 2021 by and between RoyaltyTraders LLC dba SongVest, a Delaware corporation (“SongVest”) at 1053 East Whitaker Rd Suite 11, Raleigh NC 27604, and Kingdom Trust Company FBO Sean Peace, at 105 State Route 121 North Suite B, PO Box 870 Murray, KY 42071 “Producer” and, collectively with SongVest, the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, Producer is granting to SongVest an exclusive option to enter into the Transaction, which option shall be deemed exercised in the event the Option Threshold is satisfied.
WHEREAS, Subject to the satisfaction of the Option Threshold hereunder, Producer will sell to SongVest the right to receive Royalties deriving from the Portfolio during the Royalty Periods (as listed on Schedule A), and SongVest will issue proceed rights units (each a “Unit” and collectively the “Proceed Rights”) to a third party investor (the “Investor”) in and to such Royalties via the SongVest website (the “Site”) as further set forth herein (collectively, the “Transaction”).
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to memorialize their agreement regarding the Royalties to be paid by Producer to SongVest in exchange for the payment to Producer of the Purchase Price.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Assets” means the assets contained in the Portfolio (e.g., Masters, Videos, ) as listed on Schedule A
“Offering” means the offering held by SongVest via the Site wherein the Investor is issued the Units and Proceed Rights.
“Auction Period” means the dates during which the Test the Waters Auction is held and ending on the last day of the Test the Waters Auction.
“Artist(s)” means those recording artists whose musical performances are embodied in the Assets contained in the Portfolio, if any, and as set forth on Schedule A.
“Distributor(s)” means that record label or distributor (or distributors) set forth on Schedule A that sells, markets, and/or distributes the Assets.
“Test the Waters Auction” is a means in which SongVest will hold a pre-auction at SongVest.com website, where individuals can bid, through a Second-Price Auction process. SongVest will use this process to gauge interest in the Auction to help us finalize the number of shares and price per share of the Royalties.
“Fees and Expenses” means the fees and expenses, including Anticipated Fees, incurred by SongVest for its time and effort to place the Proceed Rights into the Offering and market the Units and Proceed Rights to the general public. Fees and Expenses include, without limitation, legal and other regulator costs related to completing the Offering memorandum and closing. Anticipated Fees are outlined in Schedule B, though actual Fees and Expenses may differ.
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“Masters” means those master recordings embodying the performances of Artist(s) and set forth on Schedule A, if any.
“Option Threshold” means an amount equal to the Purchase Price that has been raised and secured by SongVest through the Offering. For the avoidance of doubt, if SongVest does not secure an amount equal to or in excess of the Purchase Price through the Offering, the Option Threshold will not be deemed satisfied.
“Percentage Interest” means the royalty rate and/or percentage of revenue that provides for the Royalties that Producer is entitled to receive (from Distributor, Artist or other third party) with respect to the Assets and that SongVest is entitled to receive from the Producer with respect to the Revenue Sources.
“Portfolio” means the portfolio of Assets as set forth on Schedule A.
“Producer Agreements” means those agreements between Producer and third parties, including Artists, wherein Producer is entitled to receive the Percentage Interest of all Assets.
“Purchase Price” means the final purchase price for the Royalties by SongVest as set forth on Schedule A.
“Revenue Sources” means those sources of revenue earned and received by Producer and from which the Royalties are derived from the Assets, which may include, as set forth herein, Streaming, record sales, Neighboring Rights, licensing or digital sales.
“Royalty Period” means, with respect to the Royalties, the period commencing with the initial payment of the Royalties to the Investor and ending on such date as set forth in Schedule A.
“Royalties” means the royalties payable to SongVest in connection with the Portfolio that derive from the Revenue Sources based on the Percentage Interest.
“Streaming” means the gross revenue payable to Producer derived from the Portfolio (including all Assets) from Distributor and/or Artist from all digital streaming platforms (e.g., Spotify) and reported by any source (digital service providers, Sound Exchange, or other companies collecting streaming income on the Portfolio)
“Term” means the term of this Agreement, which Term shall commence on the date of signature of this Agreement and continue until the earlier of (a) the date that the Option Threshold is deemed to not have been satisfied and (b) the date that all Royalties payable during the Royalty Period have been paid to SongVest. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event the Option Threshold has been satisfied, SongVest’s option to enter into the Transaction shall be deemed exercised and the Term shall continue through the date that all Royalties payable hereunder have been paid to SongVest.
“Videos” means those audiovisual recordings of Masters and set forth on Schedule A, if any.
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1. Transaction/Offering.
| a. | Producer hereby grants to SongVest the exclusive right to conduct the Offering, and at SongVest’s discretion, a Test The Waters Auction prior thereto via the Site for the Auction Period. Upon the conclusion of the Offering, and solely in the event the Threshold Option is satisfied, SongVest’s option to enter into the Transaction shall be deemed exercised and Producer shall irrevocably assign, grant and convey the rights to the Royalties to SongVest for the entire duration of the Royalty Period. |
| b. | SongVest shall be solely responsible for the payment of the Proceed Rights to the Investor from the Royalties received from Producer hereunder throughout the Royalty Period. |
| c. | Promptly upon the conclusion of the Offering and receipt of the full Purchase Price therefor, SongVest will pay Producer the full amount of the Purchase Price. |
| d. | Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary, in the event the Threshold Option is not satisfied (i.e., the full Purchase Price is not secured during the Offering), no rights to Royalties or any other revenue or property of Producer shall transfer to SongVest hereunder, SongVest’s option to enter into the Transaction shall be waived, and the Term of this Agreement shall terminate. |
2. Royalties. In consideration of the Purchase Price paid to Producer hereunder, during the Royalty Period, Producer hereby agrees to pay (or direct payment from all applicable third parties, including Distributor and/or Artist) all Royalties from the following Revenue Sources, as applicable hereunder, in connection with the Portfolio as follows:
| a. | Masters: Revenue earned by Producer in connection with the sale and exploitation of the Masters in the Portfolio, if applicable, will be paid at the Percentage Interest and for the applicable Revenue Sources (e.g., Streaming) as set forth in Schedule A. Sales shall be determined by reference to the royalty statements from the royalties credited to Producer by Distributor, Artist or other third party for the applicable calendar quarter or bi-yearly, which shall be conclusive and binding upon the Parties, absent manifest error. |
| b. | Videos: Revenue earned by Producer in connection with the sale, distribution and exploitation of Videos in the Portfolio via the Revenue Sources, if applicable, will be paid to SongVest and will be calculated on the Percentage Interest for the applicable Revenue Sources as set forth on Schedule A. Sales shall be determined by reference to the royalty statements from the royalties credited to Producer by Distributor, Artist or other third party for the applicable calendar quarter or bi-yearly, which shall be conclusive and binding upon the Parties, absent manifest error. |
| c. | Neighboring Rights: Revenue earned by Producer in connection with all neighboring rights (including Sound Exchange) from the Masters in the Portfolio, if applicable, will be paid to SongVest and will be calculated on the Percentage Interest as set forth on Schedule A. |
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| d. | Additional Assets: Revenue earned by Producer from the Revenue Sources in connection with additional Assets as listed in Schedule A, if any, will be paid to SongVest and will be calculated on the Percentage Interest on Schedule A. |
| e. | Accounting: |
i. A. Producer shall, pursuant to irrevocable letters of direction (“LOD”), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, direct and cause Distributor and/or Artist, and any third party that distributes Assets and accounts to Producer in connection with Royalties therefor, to account and pay all Royalties to SongVest for the entire Royalty Period at the same time and on the same terms as such party is required to account to Producer.
B. In the event the applicable Distributor, Artist or other third party fails to account or pay Royalties to SongVest as required hereunder, Producer shall account to SongVest via a statement and pay all Royalties earned during such period no later than fifteen (15) days after receipt by Producer of such Royalties. All payments shall be made to SongVest via wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to SongVest’s written instructions for same. In the event Producer conducts an audit of any of Distributor’s or Artist’s (or other distributor’s) books and records regarding the sale of any Asset in the Portfolio at any time during the Term, Producer shall notify SongVest thereof and allow SongVest to participate in such audit as it relates to sales of Portfolio material. In the event Producer receives any proceeds or awards from any such audit or other claim relating to the Portfolio, Producer will immediately notify SongVest thereof and pay to SongVest its proportionate share of the proceeds (subject to a deduction therefrom of Producer’s actual, verifiable costs in conducting such audit or claim). Upon SongVest’s request therefor and subject to SongVest covering the costs thereof, Producer agrees to conduct an audit of Distributor’s or Artist’s books and records related solely to accountings in connection with Royalties hereunder. In the event such audit reveals an underpayment of any monies due and payable in connection with Assets that were the subject of such audit, Producer shall ensure that such additional monies are collected and paid directly to SongVest.
ii. At any time within two (2) years after any statement is rendered to SongVest by Producer hereunder, SongVest shall have the right to, upon thirty (30) days written notice, examine Producer’s books and records with respect to such statement. Such examination shall be at SongVest’s sole cost and expense, by a certified public accountant or other qualified representative designated by SongVest. Such examination shall be made during Producer’s usual business hours at the place where Producer maintains the books and records which relate to the Portfolio and which are necessary to verify the accuracy of the statement. Producer shall have no obligation to produce such books and records more than once with respect to each statement rendered to SongVest. Unless notice shall have been given to Producer as provided hereinabove, each royalty statement rendered to SongVest shall be final, conclusive and binding on SongVest and shall constitute an account stated. SongVest shall be foreclosed from maintaining any action, claim or proceeding against Producer in any forum or tribunal with respect to any statement or accounting rendered hereunder unless such action, claim or proceeding is commenced against Company in a court of competent jurisdiction within thirty (30) months after the date such statement or accounting is rendered.
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3. Producer’s Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Producer hereby represents, warrants and covenants to SongVest that as of the date hereof:
| a. | Producer : (i) owns and/or has the irrevocable, exclusive right to receive the Royalties free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, restriction or adverse claim of any nature whatsoever (collectively, “Liens”), other than any tax obligation that Producer must satisfy in connection with the purchase and sale of the Royalties hereunder, (ii) is not aware of any Liens being asserted against the Royalties, (iii) has not consented to the imposition of any Liens on the Royalties and (iv) has not sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered any of Producer’s rights in the Royalties to any person or entity other than SongVest; |
| b. | Producer is competent to enter into (and understands the terms of) this Agreement and has been represented by tax and accounting advisors and legal counsel in the negotiation and execution of this Agreement, or knowingly waived Producer’s right to do so; |
| c. | Producer intends to (and shall) fully and timely satisfy all tax obligations of Producer flowing from this Agreement from the proceeds Producer receives from SongVest hereunder; |
| d. | Producer shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless SongVest, its agents, attorneys, employees, officers, directors, successors and assigns (collectively, the Indemnified Parties”) from and against all claims, losses, damages, penalties, judgments, lawsuits and all related costs and expenses of any nature (including legal fees and costs) (collectively, “Costs”) which may be incurred by or asserted against any of the Indemnified Parties arising out of, related to, or in connection with, this Agreement or any rights assigned or granted to SongVest hereunder, the Masters and/or Videos (or any of them), or any breach or alleged breach by Producer of Producer’s obligations, agreements, covenants, representations and/or warranties in this Agreement. |
| e. | Producer has all necessary right, power, legal capacity and authority, and all necessary actions on the part of Producer (including action required to be taken by Producer’s officers, directors, shareholders, trustees, executors or representatives) have been duly and validly taken to authorize Producer : (i) to own the Royalties; (ii) to sell, assign and transfer the Royalties as provided herein; (iii) to effectuate the execution and delivery of this Agreement; (iv) to execute and deliver those documents and instruments referred to in the Schedules and Exhibits of this Agreement, and all other reasonably necessary documents or instruments contemplated hereby; and (v) to perform the terms, conditions, and obligations hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby. No approvals or consents of any persons or entities other than Producer are necessary in connection therewith, including, without limitation, any approval or consent by the Artists or Distributor. This Agreement is legal, valid, and binding upon Producer and is enforceable in accordance with its terms. |
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| f. | As of the date of execution of this Agreement, Producer has no outstanding, unrecouped, and /or unearned advances in respect of or affecting the Royalties and, at no time during the Term will Producer enter into any agreement affecting the payment of Royalties hereunder, including, without limitation, any agreement whereby Producer receives any advance or other monies that are recoupable from (or otherwise reduce) Royalties payable hereunder. |
| e. | All federal, state and local taxes accrued or owing to and including the date of execution of this Agreement arising out of or in connection with the Royalties, including without limitation any sales or transfer taxes resulting from the transaction contemplated herein, if any, have been or will be paid or caused to be paid by Producer . The Royalties are free and clear of any and all liens, charges, mortgages, pledges, claims, encumbrances, obligations or liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise. |
| f. | Throughout the entire Term, Producer shall use its best efforts to ensure that Distributor and/or Artists continuously pay Royalties, and that Distributor and/or Artist sells and exploits through all channels the Assets contained in the Portfolio, promotes, markets and advertises the Portfolio, and that the entire Portfolio shall remain in Distributor’s catalog and in no event shall any portion thereof be deleted therefrom. |
| g. | Producer has not assigned, pledged or otherwise transferred or encumbered the rights in the Royalties or any other rights being granted hereunder and has not and will not grant any rights or incur any obligations that are inconsistent with the rights granted herein or Producer’s obligations under this Agreement. |
| h. | Producer will maintain the power, right and authority to perform its obligations hereunder at all times during the Term. |
| i. | Each Producer Agreement is: (i) in full force and effect as of the date hereof, and shall remain in effect throughout the entire Term; (ii) is a valid and binding agreement between Producer and the applicable third party (e.g., Artist) wherein Producer is irrevocably entitled to receive and retain all Royalties with respect to the Assets; and (iii) at no time during the Term shall Producer terminate, rescind, revoke or attempt to terminate, rescind or revoke such Producer Agreement without the prior written approval of SongVest. |
4. Distribution. Producer agrees that if, prior to the expiration of the Term, Producer becomes aware that Distributor or Artist no longer has rights to distribute or exploit all or any of the Assets in the Portfolio or if Artist or Distributor is assigning rights in the Assets to any party or licensing rights to a new third party distributor or other entity (wherein a new entity has the right to sell Assets and is obligated to account to Artist [or other rights holder] for all sales thereof) (or otherwise the applicable Distributor or Artist desires to make such change), Producer agrees to notify, in writing, SongVest at least sixty (60) days in advance of said change (or, as soon as Producer is made aware of such change). Such notice shall include the titles of the Portfolio which shall be the subject matter of such change, and the particular change to be made. Producer further agrees to cooperate with SongVest and take whatever actions are necessary, complete and execute any necessary paperwork, documents and instruments (including, without limitation, new LODs) and submit same to the new distributor, licensee or owner so that the entire grant and assignment agreed upon in this Agreement shall continue to be paid to SongVest, if required, uninterruptedly. If Producer fails to notify SongVest such that SongVest cannot obtain the Royalties due SongVest per this Agreement within sixty (60) days after any change, or, if for any other reason SongVest is no longer able to receive the Royalties (or a portion thereof), Producer agrees to immediately compensate SongVest one hundred percent (100%) of the Purchase Price plus ten percent (10%) interest compounded annually from the date of full execution hereof in addition to the royalty payments due hereunder. Producer agrees that any royalties collected by Producer which should have been paid to SongVest per this Agreement will be paid directly to SongVest by Producer within fifteen (15) days after Producer’s receipt thereof (as further set forth in Section 2 above). Any delay in settlement of royalties due SongVest will be subject to payment of interest at a rate of two percent (2%) per month. In the event SongVest requires that Royalties be paid to SongVest directly from the applicable Distributor or Artist, Producer agrees to execute and deliver to Distributor or Artist, as applicable, the LOD immediately upon notice thereof by SongVest.
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5. Successors & Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and administrators. Neither party may assign any of its rights hereunder; provided, however, that SongVest may assign this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder to a third party which agrees to assume SongVest’s obligations hereunder.
6. Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); or (c) on the third (3rd) day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 6):
If to Producer:
| If to SongVest: | SongVest | |
1053 East Whitaker Rd. Suite 11 Raleigh, NC 27604 Attn.: President |
7. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, USA (without regard to its conflicts of law doctrines) as if this Agreement were entered into and wholly to be performed therein. All actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the State or Federal courts in Wake County, North Carolina, and the parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such courts. If any legal action or other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement or as a result of a breach, default or misrepresentation in connection with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the successful or prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs insured in such action or proceeding in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
8. Entire Agreement; Modifications; Headings. This Agreement, together with the Closing Documents, constitute the entire understanding between the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated herein and supersede all other agreements and understandings between the Parties; provided, however, that in the event of any conflict, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. No modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by both Parties. The titles and headings of the various articles and sections in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience of reference and are not intended for any other purpose whatsoever or to explain, modify, or place any construction on any of the provisions of this Agreement.
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9. Third-Party Beneficiary. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Investor is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement and, therefore, that the Investor may enforce its terms directly.
10. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement under seal (each Party adopting the word “SEAL” as its true and lawful seal) as of the date first set forth above.
| SongVest: | ||
| SongVest | ||
| By: | (SEAL) | |
| Name: | Sean Peace | |
| Title: | President | |
| Producer: | ||
| By: | (SEAL) | |
| Name: | Kingdom Trust Co FBO Sean Peace | |
| Title: | Account Holder | |
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SCHEDULE A
PORTFOLIO/ REVENUE SOURCES/ PERCENTAGE INTERESTS
| 1. | Royalty Period – Commencing on August 1, 2021 and ending on August 1, 2061 |
| 2. | Assets – The following are the type of Assets contained in the Portfolio: |
a. Master Recordings
Hit the Quan
| 3. | Percentage Interests – The Percentage Interest (i.e., the Producer royalty rate or net revenue percentage) in Producer’s Revenue Sources is 100%. |
| 4. | Revenue Sources – The Revenue Sources from sales and/or exploitations of Assets are as follows: |
a. Streaming
| 5. | Distributors – The current Distributors of Assets: |
a. Sony ATV
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| 6. | Purchase Price – The Purchase Price shall be the following amount: Thirty nine thousand dollars ($39,000). |
| 7. | Artist – The musical group or recording artist whose performances are embodied in the Assets is “I Love Memphis”. |
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Schedule B: Anticipated Fees
SongVest will add a fee of 15% of the Purchase Price that will be added to obtain the final offering price.
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EXHIBIT A
______________
_____________, 2021
__________
___________
Re: Notice of Assignment of Income
Gentlepersons:
Reference is made to the Producer Royalty Option Agreement between ________________, individually, and on behalf of any affiliate of himself (collectively, “Seller”), and SongVest, Inc. (“Purchaser”), effectively dated ____________ __, 2021, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “Assignment”). Capitalized terms used herein which are not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Assignment.
As evidenced by the Assignment, Purchaser acquired from Seller, throughout the world, the exclusive right to receive and collect Seller’s share of royalties from the Masters (and other Assets) accrued and unpaid and hereafter accruing (the “Assigned Royalties”). Accordingly, from and after ________ __, 2021, you are to remit all of the Assigned Royalties, regardless of when earned, to Purchaser, and send them along with any corresponding statements, notices and correspondence to: SongVest, Inc. ________________________________.
Please confirm your receipt of this notice.
| Very truly yours, | |
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EXHIBIT A-1
NOTICE TO MASTER OWNER
Dated: _____________, 2021
________________
________________
________________
Gentlepersons:
Please be advised that effective as of ___________________, 2021 (“Effective Date”), I have assigned to SongVest, Inc. (“Purchaser”) one hundred percent (100%) of my “Producer Royalties” (as defined below). Accordingly, as of the Effective Date, Purchaser shall own one hundred percent (100%) of the Producer Royalties (“Assigned Royalties”).
“Producer Royalties” shall mean my worldwide share of all monies earned, paid or payable from ______________, or any affiliate, distributor or licensee thereof, or any successor or assignee of any of the foregoing (individually and collectively, “Label”) and derived from: (i) any use or exploitation, including, without limitation, record sales, licensing, streaming, digital distribution or any other source in connection with the “Produced Recordings” (as defined below), and (ii) any and all causes of action, including, without limitation, for infringement of the Produced Recordings past, present and future.
This assignment is subject to the terms and conditions of the producer agreements which are described on Schedule B attached hereto (“Producer Agreements”). This assignment is a grant of the right to receive income only, and shall not be deemed or interpreted as a grant of ownership or control of or over the sound recording copyright or any other intellectual property rights in any of the Produced Recordings.
“Produced Recordings” shall mean and include: (i) those sound recordings set forth and listed on Schedule A attached hereto; and (ii) any derivatives or samples of any of the sound recordings referenced in the preceding subparagraph (i).
As of the Effective Date, you are hereby authorized and directed to pay directly to Purchaser the Assigned Royalties, regardless of when earned. All statements, payments, correspondence and accountings related thereto shall be sent to: SongVest, Inc. ________________________________________
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Label’s compliance with the foregoing authorization shall constitute an accommodation to me alone, and Purchaser will not be a beneficiary of it. All accountings and payments to the Purchaser under this authorization shall constitute payment to me, and Label shall have no liability by reason of any erroneous payment or failure to comply with such authorization. I shall indemnify and hold Label harmless against any claims asserted against Label and any damages, losses or expenses Label incurs by reason of any payment or accounting in connection with this letter of direction or otherwise in connection with any such payment or accounting.
Sincerely,
_____________________
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EXHIBIT A-2
LETTER OF DIRECTION
TO LABEL FROM ARTIST
Dated: _____________, 2021
________________
________________
________________
Gentlepersons:
Reference is hereby made to that agreement between me/us and _________ (“Producer”) wherein I/we am/are obligated to pay to Producer a producer royalty in connection with certain master recordings embodying my/our performances.
Please be advised that effective as of ___________________, 2021 (“Effective Date”), Producer assigned to SongVest, Inc. (“Purchaser”) one hundred percent (100%) of Producer’s “Producer Royalties” (as defined below). Accordingly, as of the Effective Date, Purchaser shall own one hundred percent (100%) of the Producer Royalties (“Assigned Royalties”).
“Producer Royalties” shall mean Producer’s worldwide share of all royalties in connection with the “Produced Recordings” (as defined below) payable with respect to and subject to the terms and conditions of the producer agreements which are described on Schedule B attached hereto (“Producer Agreements”). This assignment is a grant of the right to receive income only, and shall not be deemed or interpreted as a grant of ownership or control of or over the sound recording copyright or any other intellectual property rights in any of the Produced Recordings.
“Produced Recordings” shall mean and include: (i) those sound recordings set forth and listed on Schedule A attached hereto; and (ii) any derivatives or samples of any of the sound recordings referenced in the preceding subparagraph (i).
As of the Effective Date, you are hereby authorized and directed to pay directly to Purchaser the Assigned Royalties, regardless of when earned. All statements, payments, correspondence and accountings related thereto shall be sent to: SongVest, Inc. ___________________________________
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Your compliance with the foregoing authorization shall constitute an accommodation to me/us alone, and Purchaser will not be a beneficiary of it. All accountings and payments to the Purchaser under this authorization shall constitute payment to me/us, and you shall have no liability by reason of any erroneous payment or failure to comply with such authorization. I/We shall indemnify and hold you harmless against any claims asserted against you and any damages, losses or expenses you incur by reason of any payment or accounting in connection with this letter of direction or otherwise in connection with any such payment or accounting.
Sincerely,
_____________________
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SCHEDULE B
PRODUCER AGREEMENTS/ MASTERS
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Exhibit 8.1
ESCROW AGREEMENT
FOR
SECURITIES OFFERING
THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT, effective as of _____________, (“Escrow Agreement”), is by, between and among North Capital Private Securities Corporation, a Delaware Corporation and a registered Broker-Dealer, member FINRA and SIPC, located at 623 E. Ft. Union Blvd, Suite 101, Salt Lake City, UT 84047 (“NCPS”) as escrow agent hereunder (“NCPS” or “Escrow Agent”); Dalmore Group, LLC (“Broker”), a New York limited liability compnay located at 525 Green Place, Woodmere, NY 11598; and ____________________________, a __________________________ (“Issuer”) located at ___________________________________________________________________.
SUMMARY
A. Issuer has engaged Broker to act as broker/dealer of record for the sale up to $________________ of securities (the “Securities”) on a “best efforts” basis, in an offering pursuant to Regulation A+.
B. In accordance with the Form 1-A (“Offering Document”), subscribers to the Shares (the “Subscribers” and individually, a “Subscriber”) will be required to submit full payment for their respective investments at the time they enter into subscription agreements.
C. In accordance with the Offering Document, all payments in connection with subscriptions for Shares shall be sent directly to NCPS, and NCPS has agreed to accept, hold, and disburse such funds deposited with it thereon in accordance with the terms of this Escrow Agreement and in compliance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 15(c)2-4 and related SEC guidance and FINRA rules.
D. In order to establish the escrow of funds and to effect the provisions of the Offering Document, the parties hereto have entered into this Escrow Agreement.
E. The parties to this agreement agree to the Transmittal of Funds for Deposit Into the Escrow Account procedures located in Exhibit B.
STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, for themselves, their successors and assigns, hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined above, the following terms shall have the following meanings when used herein:
“Business Days” shall mean days when banks are open for business in the State of Delaware.
“Cash Investment” shall mean the number of Shares to be purchased by any Subscriber multiplied by the offering price per Share as set forth in the Offering Document.
“Cash Investment Instrument” shall mean an Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), made payable to or endorsed to NCPS in the manner described in Section 3(c) hereof, in full payment for the Shares to be purchased by any Subscriber.
“Escrow Funds” shall mean the funds deposited with NCPS pursuant to this Escrow Agreement.
“Expiration Date” means the date so designated on Exhibit A.
“Minimum Offering” shall mean the number Shares so designated on Exhibit A hereto.
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“Minimum Offering Notice” shall mean a written notification, signed by Broker, pursuant to which the Brokershall represent (1) that subscriptions for the Minimum Offering have been received, (2) that, to the best of Broker’s knowledge after due inquiry and review of its records, Cash Investment Instruments in full payment for that number of Shares equal to or greater than the Minimum Offering have been received, deposited with and collected by NCPS, (3) and that such subscriptions have not been withdrawn, rejected or otherwise terminated, and (4) that the Subscribers have no statutory or regulatory rights of rescission without cause or all such rights have expired.
“Subscription Accounting” shall mean an accounting of all subscriptions for Shares received and accepted by Broker as of the date of such accounting, indicating for each subscription the Subscriber’s name, social security number and address, the number and total purchase price of subscribed Securities, the date of receipt by Broker of the Cash Investment Instrument, and notations of any nonpayment of the Cash Investment Instrument submitted with such subscription, any withdrawal of such subscription by the Subscriber, any rejection of such subscription by Broker, or other termination, for whatever reason, of such subscription.
2. Appointment of and Acceptance by NCPS. Issuer, Broker hereby appoint NCPS to serve as Escrow Agent hereunder, and NCPS hereby accepts such appointment in accordance with the terms of this Escrow Agreement.
3. Deposits into Escrow.
a. All Cash Investment Instruments shall be delivered directly to NCPS for deposit into the Escrow Account described on Exhibit B hereto. Each such deposit shall be accompanied by the following documents:
(1) a report containing such Subscriber’s name, social security number or taxpayer identification number, address and other information required for withholding purposes;
(2) a Subscription Accounting; and
(3) written instructions regarding the investment of such deposited funds in accordance with Section 6 hereof.
ALL FUNDS SO DEPOSITED SHALL REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE SUBSCRIBERS ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE INTERESTS AND SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY LIEN OR CHARGE BY NCPS OR BY JUDGMENT OR CREDITORS' CLAIMS AGAINST ISSUER UNTIL RELEASED OR ELIGIBLE TO BE RELEASED TO ISSUER IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 4(a) HEREOF.
b. Broker and Issuer understand and agree that all Cash Investment Instruments received by NCPS hereunder are subject to collection requirements of presentment and final payment. Upon receipt, NCPS shall process each Cash Investment Instrument for collection, and the proceeds thereof shall be held as part of the Escrow Funds until disbursed in accordance with Section 4 hereof. If, upon presentment for payment, any Cash Investment Instrument is dishonored, NCPS’s sole obligation shall be to notify Broker of such dishonor and to return such Cash Investment Instrument to the Investor should NCPS have Investor information sufficient to effect such a return or to Broker should sufficient Investor information be unavailable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if for any reason any Cash Investment Instrument is uncollectible after payment or disbursement of the funds represented thereby has been made by NCPS, Issuer shall immediately reimburse NCPS upon receipt from NCPS of written notice thereof.
Upon receipt of any Cash Investment Instrument that represents payment of an amount less than or greater than the Cash Investment, NCPS's sole obligation shall be to notify Issuer and Broker, depending upon the source of the of the Cash Investment Instrument, of such fact and to return such Cash Investment Instrument to the Investor should NCPS have Investor information sufficient to effect such a return or to Broker should sufficient Investor information be unavailable.
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c. All Cash Investment Instruments shall be made payable to the order of, or endorsed to the order of, “NCPS / _______________________________-Escrow Account,” and NCPS shall not be obligated to accept, or present for payment, any Cash Investment Instrument that is not payable or endorsed in that manner.
4. Disbursements of Escrow Funds.
a. Completion of Offering. Subject to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, NCPS shall pay to Issuer the liquidated value of the Escrow Funds, by wire no later than one (1) business day following receipt of the following documents:
(1) A Minimum Offering Notice;
(2) Subscription Accounting Spreadsheet substantiating the sale of the Minimum Offering and maintained by the sponsor;
(3) Instruction Letter (as defined below); and
(4) Such other certificates, notices or other documents as NCPS shall reasonably require.
NCPS shall disburse the Escrow Funds by wire from the Escrow Account in accordance with joint written instructions signed by both the Issuer, Broker as to the disbursement of such funds (the “Instruction Letter”) in accordance with this Section 4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, NCPS shall not be obligated to disburse the Escrow Funds to Issuer if NCPS has reason to believe that (a) Cash Investment Instruments in full payment for that number of Securities equal to or greater than the Minimum Offering have not been received, deposited with and collected by NCPS, or (b) any of the certifications and opinions set forth in the Minimum Offering Notice are incorrect or incomplete.
After the initial disbursement of Escrow Funds to Issuer pursuant to this Section 4(a), NCPS shall pay to Issuer any additional funds received with respect to the Securities, by wire, promplty after receipt. Additional disbursments shall be subject to the issuer providing the following documentation:
| (1) | Subscription Accounting Spreadsheet substantiating the sale of the Minimum Offering which shall be made available for electronic access to Issuer by NCPS; |
(2) Instruction Letter (as defined above) from Issuer; and
(3) Such other certificates, notices or other documents as NCPS shall reasonably require.
It is understood that any ACH transaction must comply with U. S. laws and NACHA rules. However, NCPS is not responsible for errors in the completion, accuracy, or timeliness of any transfer properly initiated by NCPS in accordance with joint written instructions occasioned by the acts or omissions of any third party financial institution or a party to the transaction, or the insufficiency or lack of availability of your funds on deposit in an external account.
b. Rejection of Any Subscription or Termination of the Offering. No later than three (3) business days after receipt by NCPS of written notice (i) from Issuer that the Issuer intends to reject a Subscriber’s subscription, (ii) from Issuer, Broker that there will be no closing of the sale of Securities to Subscribers, (iii) from any federal or state regulatory authority that any application by Issuer to conduct a banking business has been denied, or (iv) from the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal or state regulatory authority that a stop or similar order has been issued with respect to the Offering Document and has remained in effect for at least twenty (20) days, NCPS shall pay to the applicable Subscriber(s), by ACH, the amount of the Cash Investment paid by each Subscriber.
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c. Expiration of Offering Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if NCPS shall not have received a Minimum Offering Notice on or before the Expiration Date, NCPS shall, within three (3) business days after such Expiration Date and without any further instruction or direction from Broker or Issuer, return to each Subscriber, by ACH, the Cash Investment made by such Subscriber.
5. Suspension of Performance or Disbursement Into Court. If, at any time, (i) there shall exist any dispute between Broker, Issuer, NCPS, any Subscriber or any other person with respect to the holding or disposition of all or any portion of the Escrow Funds or any other obligations of NCPS hereunder, or (ii) if at any time NCPS is unable to determine, to NCPS’s reasonable satisfaction, the proper disposition of all or any portion of the Escrow Funds or NCPS’s proper actions with respect to its obligations hereunder, or (iii) if Broker and Issuer have not within 30 days of the furnishing by NCPS of a notice of resignation pursuant to Section 7 hereof appointed a successor NCPS to act hereunder, then NCPS may, in its reasonable discretion, take either or both of the following actions:
a. suspend the performance of any of its obligations (including without limitation any disbursement obligations) under this Escrow Agreement until such dispute or uncertainty shall be resolved to the sole satisfaction of NCPS or until a successor NCPS shall have been appointed (as the case may be).
b. petition (by means of an interpleader action or any other appropriate method) any court of competent jurisdiction in any venue convenient to NCPS, for instructions with respect to such dispute or uncertainty, and to the extent required or permitted by law, pay into such court all funds held by it in the Escrow Funds for holding and disposition in accordance with the instructions of such court.
NCPS shall have no liability to Broker, Issuer, any Subscriber or any other person with respect to any such suspension of performance or disbursement into court, specifically including any liability or claimed liability that may arise, or be alleged to have arisen, out of or as a result of any delay in the disbursement of the Escrow Funds or any delay in or with respect to any other action required or requested of NCPS.
6. Investment of Funds. NCPS will not commingle Escrow Funds received by it in escrow with funds of others and shall not invest such Escrow Funds. The Escrow Funds will be held in a non-interest bearing account.
7. Resignation of NCPS. NCPS may resign and be discharged from the performance of its duties hereunder at any time by giving fifteen (15) business days prior written notice to the Broker and the Issuer specifying a date when such resignation shall take effect. Upon any such notice of resignation, the Broker and Issuer jointly shall appoint a successor NCPS hereunder prior to the effective date of such resignation. The retiring NCPS shall transmit all records pertaining to the Escrow Funds and shall pay all Escrow Funds to the successor NCPS, after making copies of such records as the retiring NCPS deems advisable. After any retiring NCPS’s resignation, the provisions of this Escrow Agreement shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was escrow agent under this Escrow Agreement. Any corporation or association into which NCPS may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated shall be the escrow agent under this Escrow Agreement without further act.
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8. Liability of NCPS.
a. NCPS undertakes to perform only such duties as are expressly set forth herein and no duties shall be implied. NCPS shall have no liability under and no duty to inquire as to the provisions of any agreement other than this Escrow Agreement, including without limitation the Offering Document. NCPS shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines that NCPS’s gross negligence or willful misconduct was the primary cause of any loss to the Issuer, Broker or any Subscriber. NCPS’s sole responsibility shall be for the safekeeping and disbursement of the Escrow Funds in accordance with the terms of this Escrow Agreement. NCPS shall have no implied duties or obligations and shall not be charged with knowledge or notice of any fact or circumstance not specifically set forth herein. NCPS may rely upon any notice, instruction, request or other instrument, not only as to its due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, which NCPS shall believe to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the person or parties purporting to sign the same. In no event shall NCPS be liable for incidental, indirect, special, consequential or punitive damages (including, but not limited to lost profits), even if NCPS has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. NCPS shall not be obligated to take any legal action or commence any proceeding in connection with the Escrow Funds, any account in which Escrow Funds are deposited, this Escrow Agreement or the Offering Document, or to appear in, prosecute or defend any such legal action or proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, NCPS shall not be responsible for or required to enforce any of the terms or conditions of any subscription agreement with any Subscriber or any other agreement between Issuer, Broker and/or any Subscriber. NCPS shall not be responsible or liable in any manner for the performance by Issuer or any Subscriber of their respective obligations under any subscription agreement nor shall NCPS be responsible or liable in any manner for the failure of Issuer, Broker or any third party (including any Subscriber) to honor any of the provisions of this Escrow Agreement. NCPS may consult legal counsel selected by it in the event of any dispute or question as to the construction of any of the provisions hereof or of any other agreement or of its duties hereunder, or relating to any dispute involving any party hereto, and shall incur no liability and shall be fully indemnified from any reasonable liability whatsoever in acting in accordance with the reasonable opinion or instruction of such counsel. Issuer shall promptly pay, upon demand, the reasonable fees and expenses of any such counsel.
b. NCPS is authorized, in its sole discretion, to comply with orders issued or process entered by any court with respect to the Escrow Funds, without determination by NCPS of such court's jurisdiction in the matter. If any portion of the Escrow Funds is at any time attached, garnished or levied upon under any court order, or in case the payment, assignment, transfer, conveyance or delivery of any such property shall be stayed or enjoined by any court order, or in case any order, judgment or decree shall be made or entered by any court affecting such property or any part thereof, then and in any such event, NCPS is authorized, in its reasonable discretion, to rely upon and comply with any such order, writ, judgment or decree which it is advised by legal counsel selected by it is binding upon it without the need for appeal or other action; and if NCPS complies with any such order, writ, judgment or decree, it shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person or entity by reason of such compliance even though such order, writ, judgment or decree may be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, NCPS shall provide the Issuer, Broker with immediate notice of any such court order or similar demand and the opportunity to interpose an objection or obtain a protective order.
9. Indemnification of NCPS. From and at all times after the date of this Escrow Agreement, Issuer shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, defend, indemnify and hold harmless NCPS and each director, officer, employee, attorney, agent and affiliate of NCPS (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) against any and all actions, claims (whether or not valid), losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) incurred by or asserted against any of the Indemnified Parties from and after the date hereof, whether direct, indirect or consequential, as a result of or arising from or in any way relating to any claim, demand, suit, action or proceeding (including any inquiry or investigation) by any person, including without limitation Issuer, Broker whether threatened or initiated, asserting a claim for any legal or equitable remedy against any person under any statute or regulation, including, but not limited to, any federal or state securities laws, or under any common law or equitable cause or otherwise, arising from or in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, performance or failure of performance of this Escrow Agreement or any transactions contemplated herein, whether or not any such Indemnified Party is a party to any such action, proceeding, suit or the target of any such inquiry or investigation; provided, however, that no Indemnified Party shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder for any liability finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, subject to no further appeal, to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. Each Indemnified Party shall, in its sole discretion, have the right to select and employ separate counsel with respect to any action or claim brought or asserted against it, and the reasonable fees of such counsel shall be paid upon demand by the Issuer. The obligations of Issuer under this Section 9 shall survive any termination of this Escrow Agreement and the resignation or removal of NCPS.
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10. Compensation to NCPS.
a. Fees and Expenses. Issuer shall compensate NCPS for its services hereunder in accordance with Exhibit A attached hereto and, in addition, shall reimburse NCPS for all of its reasonable pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses, including attorneys’ fees, travel expenses, telephone and facsimile transmission costs, postage (including express mail and overnight delivery charges), copying charges and the like. The additional provisions and information set forth on Exhibit A are hereby incorporated by this reference, and form a part of this Escrow Agreement. All of the compensation and reimbursement obligations set forth in this Section 10 shall be payable by Issuer upon demand by NCPS. The obligations of Issuer under this Section 10 shall survive any termination of this Escrow Agreement and the resignation or removal of NCPS.
b. Disbursements from Escrow Funds to Pay NCPS. NCPS is authorized to and may disburse from time to time, to itself or to any Indemnified Party from the Escrow Funds (but only to the extent of Issuer’s rights thereto), the amount of any compensation and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses due and payable hereunder (including any amount to which NCPS or any Indemnified Party is entitled to seek indemnification pursuant to Section 9 hereof). NCPS shall notify Issuer of any disbursement from the Escrow Funds to itself or to any Indemnified Party in respect of any compensation or reimbursement hereunder and shall furnish to Issuer copies of all related invoices and other statements.
c. Security and Offset. Issuer hereby grants to NCPS and the Indemnified Parties a security interest in and lien upon the Escrow Funds (to the extent of Issuer’s rights thereto) to secure all obligations hereunder, and NCPS and the Indemnified Parties shall have the right to offset the amount of any compensation or reimbursement due any of them hereunder (including any claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 9 hereof) against the Escrow Funds (to the extent of Issuer’s rights thereto.) If for any reason the Escrow Funds available to NCPS and the Indemnified Parties pursuant to such security interest or right of offset are insufficient to cover such compensation and reimbursement, Issuer shall promptly pay such amounts to NCPS and the Indemnified Parties upon receipt of an itemized invoice.
11. Representations and Warranties.
a. Each of Broker and Issuer respectively makes the following representations and warranties to NCPS:
(1) It is a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation or organization, and has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Escrow Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.
(2) This Escrow Agreement has been duly approved by all necessary corporate action, including any necessary shareholder or membership approval, has been executed by its duly authorized officers, and constitutes its valid and binding agreement, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(3) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Escrow Agreement will not violate, conflict with, or cause a default under its articles of incorporation, articles of organization or bylaws, operating agreement or other organizational documents, as applicable, any applicable law or regulation, any court order or administrative ruling or decree to which it is a party or any of its property is subject, or any agreement, contract, indenture, or other binding arrangement to which it is a party or any of its property is subject. The execution, delivery and performance of this Escrow Agreement is consistent with and accurately described in the Offering Document as set forth in Sections 4(b) and 4(c) hereof, has been properly described therein.
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(4) It hereby acknowledges that the status of NCPS is that of agent only for the limited purposes set forth herein, and hereby represents and covenants that no representation or implication shall be made that NCPS has investigated the desirability or advisability of investment in the Securities or has approved, endorsed or passed upon the merits of the investment therein and that the name of NCPS has not and shall not be used in any manner in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities other than to state that NCPS has agreed to serve as escrow agent for the limited purposes set forth herein.
(5) All of its representations and warranties contained herein are true and complete as of the date hereof and will be true and complete at the time of any deposit to or disbursement from the Escrow Funds.
b. Issuer further represents and warrants to NCPS that no party other than the parties hereto and the prospective Subscribers have, or shall have, any lien, claim or security interest in the Escrow Funds or any part thereof. No financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code is on file in any jurisdiction claiming a security interest in or describing (whether specifically or generally) the Escrow Funds or any part thereof.
c. Broker further represent and warrant to NCPS that the deposit with NCPS by NCPS of Cash Investment Instruments pursuant to Section 3 hereof shall be deemed a representation and warranty by NCPS that such Cash Investment Instrument represents a bona fide sale to the Subscriber described therein of the amount of Securities set forth therein, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the Offering Document.
12. Identifying Information. Issuer and Broker acknowledge that a portion of the identifying information set forth on Exhibit A is being requested by NCPS in connection with the USA Patriot Act, Pub.L.107-56 (the “Act”). To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For a non-individual person such as a business entity, a charity, a Trust, or other legal entity, we ask for documentation to verify its formation and existence as a legal entity. We may also ask to see financial statements, licenses, identification and authorization documents from individuals claiming authority to represent the entity or other relevant documentation.
13. Compliance with Privacy Laws. NCPS represents and warrants that its collection, access, use, storage, disposal and disclosure of Personal Data does and will comply with all applicable federal and state privacy and data protection laws, as well as all other applicable regulations. Without limiting the foregoing, NCPS shall implement administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect Personal Data that are no less rigorous than accepted industry, and shall ensure that all such safeguards, including the manner in which Personal Data is collected, accessed, used, stored, processed, disposed of and disclosed, comply with applicable data protection and privacy laws, as well as the terms and conditions of this Escrow Agreement. NCPS shall use and disclose Personal Data solely and exclusively for the purposes for which the Personal Data, or access to it, is provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Escrow Agreement, and not use, sell, rent, transfer, distribute, or otherwise disclose or make available Personal Data for NCPS’s own purposes or for the benefit of any party other than Issuer. For purposes of this section, “Personal Data” shall mean information provided to NCPS by or at the direction of the Issuer, or to which access was provided to NCPS by or at the direction of the Issuer, in the course of NCPS’s performance under this Escrow Agreement that: (i) identifies or can be used to identify an individual (also known as a “data subject”) (including, without limitation, names, signatures, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and other unique identifiers); or (ii) can be used to authenticate an individual (including, without limitation, employee identification numbers, government-issued identification numbers, passwords or PINs, financial account numbers, credit report information, biometric or health data, answers to security questions and other personal identifiers), including the identifying information on individuals described in Section 12.
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13. Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. In the event that any party hereto commences a lawsuit or other proceeding relating to or arising from this Escrow Agreement, the parties hereto agree that the United States District Court for the State of Utah shall have the sole and exclusive jurisdiction over any such proceeding. If such court lacks federal subject matter jurisdiction, the parties agree that the Circuit Court in and for State of Utah shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction. Any of these courts shall be proper venue for any such lawsuit or judicial proceeding and the parties hereto waive any objection to such venue. The parties hereto consent to and agree to submit to the jurisdiction of any of the courts specified herein and agree to accept service of process to vest personal jurisdiction over them in any of these courts.
14. Notice. All notices, approvals, consents, requests, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when the writing is delivered if given or delivered by hand, overnight delivery service or facsimile transmitter (with confirmed receipt) to the address or facsimile number set forth on Exhibit A hereto, or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by like notice, and shall be deemed to have been given on the date deposited in the mail, if mailed, by first-class, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as set forth on Exhibit A hereto, or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by like notice.
15. Amendment or Waiver. This Escrow Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated only by a writing signed by Broker, Issuer and NCPS. No delay or omission by any party in exercising any right with respect hereto shall operate as a waiver. A waiver on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to, or waiver of, any right or remedy on any future occasion.
16. Severability. To the extent any provision of this Escrow Agreement is prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Escrow Agreement.
17. Governing Law. This Escrow Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
18. Entire Agreement. This Escrow Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the acceptance, collection, holding, investment and disbursement of the Escrow Funds and sets forth in their entirety the obligations and duties of NCPS with respect to the Escrow Funds.
19. Binding Effect. All of the terms of this Escrow Agreement, as amended from time to time, shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of Broker, Issuer and NCPS.
20. Execution in Counterparts. This Escrow Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, which when so executed shall constitute one and the same agreement.
21. Termination. Upon the first to occur of the disbursement of all amounts in the Escrow Funds or deposit of all amounts in the Escrow Funds into court pursuant to Section 5 or Section 8 hereof, this Escrow Agreement shall terminate and NCPS shall have no further obligation or liability whatsoever with respect to this Escrow Agreement or the Escrow Funds.
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THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
22. Dealings. NCPS and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of NCPS may buy, sell, and deal in any of the securities of the Issuer and become pecuniary interested in any transaction in which the Issuer may be interested, and contract and lend money to the Issuer and otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not NCPS under this Escrow Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude NCPS from acting in any other capacity for the Issuer or any other entity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Escrow Agreement to be executed under seal as of the date first above written.
| ISSUER: | |
| By: _______________________________ | |
| Printed Name: _______________________ | |
| Title: _____________ | |
| Broker: | |
| Dalmore Group LLC | |
| By: ______________________________ | |
| Name: Etan Butler | |
| Title: Chairman | |
| ESCROW AGENT: | |
| North Capital Privates Securities Corporation | |
| By: ______________________________ | |
| Name: Linsey Harkness | |
| Title: Director of Operations |
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EXHIBIT A
| 1. | Definitions. | “Minimum Offering” means $__________________ (including offline investments) per each Series. |
| “Expiration Date” means twelve months from the effective date of this Agreement. | ||
| 2. | ACH Instructions For North Capital Private Securities, Inc. |
Institution: TRISTATE CAPITAL BANK
ABA: 043019003
Account Name: North Capital Private Securities, Corp
Account Number: 0220003339
FFC: OFFERING NAME AND INVESTOR NAME
(Instructions should be requested from NCPS prior to any international wire being initiated.)
| 3. | NCPS Fees |
| Escrow Administration Fee: | $500 per crowd funding sub account. |
| Out-of-Pocket Expenses: | Billed at cost |
| Escrow Amendment: | $100.00 per amendment |
| Transactional Costs: | $100.00 for each additional escrow break |
The Escrow Administration Fee is payable upon execution of the escrow documents. In the event the escrow is not funded, the Fee and all related expenses, including attorneys’ fees, remain due and payable, and if paid, will not be refunded. Annual fees cover a full year in advance, or any part thereof, and thus are not pro-rated in the year of termination.
The fees quoted in this schedule apply to services ordinarily rendered in the administration of an Escrow Account and are subject to reasonable adjustment based on final review of documents, or when NCPS is called upon to undertake unusual duties or responsibilities, or as changes in law, procedures, or the cost of doing business demand. Services in addition to and not contemplated in this Escrow Agreement, including, but not limited to, document amendments and revisions, non-standard cash and/or investment transactions, calculations, notices and reports, and legal fees, will be billed as extraordinary expenses and capped at $5,000.
Extraordinary fees are payable to NCPS for duties or responsibilities not expected to be incurred at the outset of the transaction, not routine or customary, and not incurred in the ordinary course of business. Payment of extraordinary fees is appropriate where particular inquiries, events or developments are unexpected, even if the possibility of such things could have been identified at the inception of the transaction.
Unless otherwise indicated, the above fees relate to the establishment of one escrow account. Additional sub-accounts governed by the same Escrow Agreement may incur an additional charge. Transaction costs include charges for wire transfers, internal transfers and securities transactions.
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| 4. | Notice Addresses. |
If to Issuer at:
ATTN:
Telephone: ____________________
E-mail:
| If to NCPS at: | North Capital Private Securities Corp |
| 623 E Ft. Union Blvd, Suite 101 | |
| Salt Lake City, UT 84047 | |
| ATTN: Linsey Harkness | |
| Telephone: (415) 937-0573 | |
| E-mail: lharkness@northcapital.com | |
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EXHIBIT B
Transmittal of Funds for Deposit Into the Escrow Account
The Selected Dealer agrees that it is bound by the terms of the Escrow Agreement executed by North Capital Private Securities. ACH transfers are the only acceptable method of payment for this offering. ACH and transfers should be sent directly to the Escrow Agent.
The delivery instructions are as follows:
| 1. | ACH Instructions For North Capital Private Securities, Inc. |
Institution: TRISTATE CAPITAL BANK
ABA: 043019003
Account Name: North Capital Private Securities, Corp
Account Number: 0220003339
FFC: OFFERING NAME AND INVESTOR NAME
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Exhibit 11
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Offering Statement on Form 1-A of RoyaltyTraders LLC of our audit report dated April 5, 2021 relating to the financial statements of RoyaltyTraders LLC for the period from inception, March 18, 2021, to March 31, 2021, which appear in this Offering Statement on Form 1-A.
| /s/ Brown Smith Wallace, LLP | |
| St. Louis, Missouri | |
| May 21, 2021 |
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