SATS EchoStar Corporation

 

Exhibit 3.11

 

State of Delaware Secretary of State Division of Corporations Delivered 12:55 PM 09/04/2014 FILED 12:33 PM 09/04/2014 SRV 141141122 - 5597345 FILE

 

STATE OF DELAWARE

 

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

 

OF

 

NORTHSTAR WIRELESS, LLC

 

(Pursuant to Section 18-201 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act)

 

 

The undersigned, as an authorized person, in order to form a limited liability company pursuant to the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:

 

1.            The name of the company is Northstar Wireless, LLC (the "Company").

 

2.            The address of the registered office and the name and address of the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware required to be maintained by Section 18-104 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act are: Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned authorized person has executed this Certificate of Formation on the 4^th day of September, 2014.

 

	By:	/s/ Joseph Mignone
		Name: Joseph Mignone Title: Authorized Person

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.12

 

Execution

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

NORTHSTAR WIRELESS, LLC

 

This Limited Liability Company Agreement (this “Agreement”) of NORTHSTAR WIRELESS, LLC is entered into as of September 12, 2014 by NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC (the “Member”).

 

The Member hereby forms a limited liability company pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del.C. § 18-101, et seq.), as amended from time to time (the “Act”), and hereby agrees as follows:

 

1. Name. The name of the limited liability company formed hereby (the “Company”) is “Northstar Wireless, LLC.”

 

2. Purpose. The Company is formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature of the business to be conducted and promoted by the Company is limited to, (a) the business of acquiring licenses in the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) Auction Number 97; (b)   the deployment of such licenses in a manner consistent with applicable law and FCC rules, whether by (A) owning, constructing and operating systems to provide wireless broadband services; (B) entering into one or more joint venture, lease, wholesale or other agreements or (C) any other means, in any case using technology fully compatible and interoperable with the technology or technologies employed by American AWS-3 Wireless II L.L.C. and its affiliates from time to time (without limiting the vendors from whom the equipment comprising such systems may be acquired); (c)  marketing and offering the services and features described in clause (b), including advertising such services and features using broadcast and other media; (d) any other activities upon which the Member may agree and (e) any and all activities necessary or incidental to the foregoing.

 

3. Sole Member. The name and mailing address of the Member is as follows:

 

Name	Address
Northstar Spectrum, LLC	c/o Doyon, Limited
	1 Doyon Place, Suite 300
	Fairbanks, AK 99701 2941
	Attn: Allen M. Todd, General Counsel
	Facsimile: (907) 459 2075
	cc: Lowenstein Sandler LLP
	1251 Avenue of the Americas
	New York, NY 10020
	Attention: Michael A. Brosse
	Fax: (973) 422-6841

 

 

4. Powers. The Member of the Company shall manage the Company. The actions of the Member taken in such capacity and in accordance with this Agreement shall bind the Company.

 

i. Northstar Spectrum, LLC shall be the sole “manager” (as that term is used in the Act) of the Company.

 

ii. The Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be entitled to remuneration for acting in the Company business.

 

5. Capital Contributions. The Member may make contributions to the capital of the Company from time to time. The membership interests of the Company held by the Member will be deemed to be “securities” within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(15) and as provided by section 8-103(c) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware or analogous provisions in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in any other jurisdiction.

 

6. Tax Elections. The taxable year shall be the Fiscal Year. The “Fiscal Year” shall be any year ending on December 31.

 

7. Dissolution. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of the following (a) the written consent of the Member or (b) the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership of the Member in the Company.

 

8. Allocation of Profits and Losses. The Company’s profits and losses shall be allocated to the Member.

 

9. Liability of the Member. The Member shall not have any liability for the obligations or liabilities of the Company except to the extent provided in the Act.

 

10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, without regard to principles of conflicts of law provisions of that or of any other state, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

[END OF PAGE]

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF NORTHSTAR WIRELESS, LLC

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, has duly executed this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC
	By:	Northstar Manager, LLC
	Its:	Manager
	By:	Doyon, Limited
	Its:	Manager

  

	By	/s/ Aaron Schutt
	Name:   Aaron Schutt
	Title:     President / CEO

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.13

 

State of Delaware Secretary of State Division of Corporations Delivered 05:03 PM 08/29/2014
FILED 04:43 PM 08/29/2014 SRV 141127438 - 5595374 FILE

 

SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC

 

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

 

This Certificate of Formation of SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC, dated August 29, 2014, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as an authorized person, to form a limited liability company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

 

FIRST:      The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter, the "LLC") formed hereby is:

 

SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC

 

SECOND: The address of the registered office of the LLC in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808. The name of the registered agent as such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

-Signature page follows-

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Formation as of the date first above written.

 

	/s/Andrea Barr Cohen
	Authorized Person

 

 

Exhibit 3.14

 

Execution Copy

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

of

 

SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC

 

by and between

 

SNR WIRELESS MANAGEMENT, LLC,

 

JOHN MULETA

 

and

 

AMERICAN AWS-3 WIRELESS III L.L.C.

 

Dated as of June 7, 2018

 

 

THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

 

THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND ORGANIZATION	2
Section 1.1 Definitions	2
Section 1.2 Formation	17
Section 1.3 Name	17
Section 1.4 Principal Place of Business	18
Section 1.5 Registered Office; Registered Agent	18
Section 1.6 Term	18
Section 1.7 Purpose and Powers	18
Section 1.8 Filings	18
Section 1.9 Sole Agreement	18
ARTICLE 2 CAPITALIZATION	18
Section 2.1 Capital Accounts	18
Section 2.2 Capital Contributions	20
Section 2.3 No Withdrawals	22
Section 2.4 No Interest	22
Section 2.5 Interests are Securities	22
Section 2.6 Certification of Interests	23
Section 2.7 Failure to Fund	23
ARTICLE 3 DISTRIBUTIONS	24
Section 3.0 Mandatory Quarterly Distribution	24
Section 3.1 Non-Liquidating Distributions	24
Section 3.2 Liquidating Distributions	25
Section 3.3 Interest Purchase Agreement, Security Agreement and Pledge Agreement	26
ARTICLE 4 ALLOCATIONS	27
Section 4.1 Profits and Losses	27
Section 4.2 Losses	27
Section 4.3 Special Allocations	28
Section 4.4 Curative Allocations	30
Section 4.5 Special Allocations in the Event of Company Audit Adjustments	30
Section 4.6 Allocation of Credits	31
Section 4.7 Tax Allocations	31
Section 4.8 Change in Members’ Interests	32
ARTICLE 5 ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS	32
Section 5.1 Fiscal Year	32

 

 

Section 5.2 Method of Accounting	32
Section 5.3 Books and Records; Inspection	33
Section 5.4 Financial Statements; Internal Controls	33
Section 5.5 Taxation	34
ARTICLE 6 MANAGEMENT	38
Section 6.1 Manager	38
Section 6.2 Removal of Manager	39
Section 6.3 Supermajority Approval Rights	40
Section 6.4 Separateness Covenants	40
Section 6.5 Business Plans and Budgets	41
Section 6.6 Management Fees	42
ARTICLE 7 TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS	43
Section 7.1 Restrictions	43
Section 7.2 Exceptions	44
Section 7.3 [Intentionally omitted.]	44
Section 7.4 [Intentionally omitted.]	45
Section 7.5 Substituted Members	45
Section 7.6 Invalid Transfers Void	46
Section 7.7 [Intentionally omitted.]	46
Section 7.8 Acceptance of Prior Acts	46
ARTICLE 8 PUT RIGHT	46
Section 8.1 Put	46
Section 8.2 Conditions to Closing	50
Section 8.3 Closing	51
Section 8.4 Terminated Auction Purchase	51
ARTICLE 9 REGISTRATION RIGHT	52
Section 9.1 Registration Right	52
Section 9.2 Right to Purchase—Preliminary Range	52
Section 9.3 Right to Purchase—IPO Price	53
Section 9.4 Right to Defer the Offering	53
Section 9.5 Registration Expenses	53
Section 9.6 Registration Procedures	53
ARTICLE 10 OTHER AGREEMENTS	56
Section 10.1 Exclusivity	56
Section 10.2 Confidentiality	57
Section 10.3 Arbitration	58
Section 10.4 [Intentionally omitted.]	58

 

 

ARTICLE 11 REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS	59
Section 11.1 Representations of the Members	59
Section 11.2 Covenants of the Members	60
Section 11.3 Representations and Covenants of SNR and American III	60
Section 11.4 Failure to Qualify as a Qualified Person	61
ARTICLE 12 EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION	61
Section 12.1 No Personal Liability	61
Section 12.2 Indemnification by Company	62
Section 12.3 Notice and Defense of Claims	62
ARTICLE 13 DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION	63
Section 13.1 No Withdrawal	63
Section 13.2 Dissolution	64
Section 13.3 Procedures Upon Dissolution	64
Section 13.4 Deficit Capital Accounts	66
Section 13.5 Termination	66
ARTICLE 14 MISCELLANEOUS	66
Section 14.1 Entire Agreement	66
Section 14.2 Amendment; Waiver	67
Section 14.3 Successors and Assigns	67
Section 14.4 No Third Party Beneficiaries	67
Section 14.5 Disposition of Interests	67
Section 14.6 Survival of Rights and Duties	67
Section 14.7 Governing Law	68
Section 14.8 Specific Performance	68
Section 14.9 Remedies Cumulative	68
Section 14.10 Further Assurances	68
Section 14.11 Expenses	68
Section 14.12 Notices	69
Section 14.13 Severability	70
Section 14.14 Reformation	70
Section 14.15 Relationship of Parties	71
Section 14.16 No Right to Partition	71
Section 14.17 Construction	71
Section 14.18 Counterparts	72

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), effective as of June 7, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), by and between AMERICAN AWS-3 WIRELESS III L.L.C., a Colorado limited liability company (“American III”), SNR WIRELESS MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SNR”) and John Muleta, a U.S. citizen.

 

WHEREAS, the FCC has announced that it will auction licenses to use spectrum in the 1695-1710 MHz and 1755-1780/2155-2180 MHz bands in an auction designated by the FCC as Auction Number 97 (the “Auction”) and that is currently scheduled by the FCC to begin on November 13, 2014, as the same may be rescheduled or modified by the FCC;

 

WHEREAS, Congress has directed the FCC to promote economic opportunity and competition by disseminating licenses among a wide variety of applicants, including small businesses and businesses owned by members of minority groups, and to ensure that small businesses and businesses owned by members of minority groups are given the opportunity to participate in the provision of spectrum-based services;

 

WHEREAS, SNR desires to participate in the provision of spectrum-based services to secure economic opportunity for its shareholders, to develop telecommunications industry expertise for and on behalf of its shareholders and to provide innovative new wireless service offerings;

 

WHEREAS, in pursuit of these goals, SNR desires to participate in the Auction together with American III;

 

WHEREAS, License Company, American III and the Company were party to the Original Credit Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to which License Company borrowed $5,565,414,940 from American III and the Company guaranteed License Company’s obligations thereunder;

 

WHEREAS, American III exchanged five billion sixty-five million four hundred fourteen thousand nine hundred and forty Dollars ($5,065,414,940) of outstanding indebtedness owed to it by License Company under the Original Credit Agreement for 5,065,415 Class A Preferred Interests (as defined below) effective as of March 31, 2018;

 

WHEREAS, the FCC issued an order, Northstar Wireless, LLC, SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, Applications for New Licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz Bands, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 30 FCC Rcd 8887 (2015), resulting in the denial of bidding credits to License Company;

 

WHEREAS, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, et al. v. Federal Communications Commission, 868 F.3d 1021 (D.C. Cir. 2017) affirmed the FCC’s decision, in part, and remanded the matter to the FCC to give SNR an opportunity to seek to negotiate a cure of the issues identified by the FCC in its order;

 

 

WHEREAS, the FCC has not responded to substantive inquiries and meeting requests by SNR regarding how to cure the issues identified by the FCC in its order referenced above;

 

WHEREAS, as of September 12, 2014, American III and SNR entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement of SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC relating to the matters set forth herein (“Original Agreement”), which was amended and restated in the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of October 13, 2014 (the “First Amended Agreement”), and further amended and restated in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of March 31, 2018 (the “Second Amended Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the FCC has stated that Baker Creek Communications, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 18709 (1998), sets forth an illustrative list of typical passive investor protections, which the Company and American III adopted in the Second Amended Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“WTB”) of the FCC determined that contractual rights specified in the agreements supporting the application of Advantage Spectrum, L.P. (ULS File No. 0006668843, granted July 5, 2016) did not preclude the grant of bidding credits to that Auction applicant; and the Company and American III adopted materially similar contractual rights in the Second Amended Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, in light of the concerns WTB expressed with certain provisions related to the sale of SNR’s Interest, sales of licenses, rights of first refusals, tag- along rights, and the Put Right, American III and SNR seek to amend this Agreement in response to those concerns; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14.2 of the Second Amended Agreement, American III and SNR wish to amend and restate the Second Amended Agreement to read as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND ORGANIZATION

 

Section 1.1 Definitions

 

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without other definition shall, unless expressly stated otherwise, have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1.

 

“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to

time.

 

“Additional Appraiser” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(vi).

 

 

“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant fiscal year, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

 

(i)             such Capital Account shall be deemed to be increased by any amounts which such Member is obligated to restore to the Company (pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the second to last sentence of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) (relating to allocations attributable to nonrecourse debt); and

 

(ii)            such Capital Account shall be deemed to be decreased by the items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6).

 

The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted and applied consistently therewith.

 

“Adverse FCC Action” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Adverse FCC Action Reformation” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that either directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person at any time during the period for which the determination of affiliation is being made; provided, that the Members shall be deemed not to be Affiliates of the Company for purposes of this Agreement; provided, further, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, EchoStar Corporation and EchoStar Corporation’s direct and indirect subsidiaries will not be considered or deemed to be Affiliates of American III. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, American III is not an Affiliate of the Company or Non-American III Members.

 

“Agents” is defined in Section 10.2(a).

 

“Agreement” means this Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

“American III” is defined in the preamble.

 

“American III FMV Acceptance Notice” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iii).

 

“American III Members” means American III and its transferees.

 

“Applicable Law” means with respect to any Person, any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, Judgment, order, injunction or decree or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by any Governmental Authority, whether in effect as of the date of execution of this Agreement or thereafter, and in each case as amended, applicable to such Person or its Affiliates or their respective assets, including the FCC Rules.

 

 

“Appraisal Anniversary” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(i).

 

“Appraisal Option Parties” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iii).

 

“Auction” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Auction Benefits” means the eligibility of the License Company and its Subsidiaries to hold any of the licenses for which the License Company is the Winning Bidder in the Auction and the ability of the License Company and each of its Subsidiaries to realize the twenty five percent (25%) Bidding Credits and other financial benefits that it derives from its status as a Qualified Person without the payment of unjust enrichment penalties with respect to such Bidding Credits.

 

“Auction Purchase Price” is defined in Section 2.2(c)(i).

 

“Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(i)             the filing by such Person of a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, rearrangement, readjustment or similar relief, in any form, of its debts under Title 11 of the United States Code (or corresponding provisions of future laws) or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, or such Person’s filing an answer consenting to, or acquiescing in any such petition, or the adjudication of such Person as a bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(ii)             the making by such Person of any assignment for the benefit of its creditors or any similar action for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by such Person in writing of its inability to pay its debts as they mature;

 

(iii)            the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Code (or corresponding provisions of future laws), an application for the appointment of a receiver for the assets of such Person, or an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, rearrangement or readjustment of its debts or similar relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, provided that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such sixty (60) day period;

 

(iv)           the giving of notice by such Person to any Governmental Authority of insolvency or pending insolvency or suspension or pending suspension of operations;

 

(v)            the appointment (or such Person’s seeking or acquiescing to such appointment) of any trustee, receiver, conservator or liquidator of such Person of all or any substantial part of its properties; or

 

(vi)           the entry of an order for relief against such Person under Title 11 of the United States Code (or corresponding provisions of future laws) or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law.

 

 

The foregoing is intended to supersede and replace the events listed in Section 18-304(a) of the Act.

 

“Bidding Credit” means, with respect to any license for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder, an amount equal to the excess of the gross winning bid placed in the Auction by the License Company for such license over the net winning bid placed in the Auction by the License Company for such license.

 

“Bidding Protocol” means the Bidding Protocol and Joint Bidding Arrangement, dated as of September 12, 2014 (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms), by and among SNR, American III, the Company, the License Company and, for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 thereof only, American AWS-3 Wireless I L.L.C.

 

“Book Value” means, with respect to any asset of the Company, the asset’s adjusted basis as of the relevant date for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

(i)           the initial Book Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the Fair Market Value of such asset, as determined by the contributing Member and the Company with the concurrence of the Members other than the contributing Member;

 

(ii)           the Book Values of all Company assets (including intangible assets, such as goodwill) shall be adjusted to equal their respective Fair Market Values (as adjusted by Section 7701(g) of the Code) as of the following times:

 

(A)             the acquisition of an additional Interest by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis capital contribution or for services;

 

(B)              the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of money or other Company property as consideration for an interest in the Company;

 

(C)              the termination of the Company for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 708(b) of the Code; and

 

(D)              immediately prior to incorporation of the Company (however effected, in connection with an initial public offering);

 

(iii)           the Book Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be the Fair Market Value of such asset (as adjusted by Section 7701(g) of the Code) on the date of distribution;

 

(iv)           if the Book Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) above, such Book Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses, and other items allocated pursuant to ARTICLE 4; and

 

 

(v)            the Book Value of Company assets shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate, to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted tax bases of such assets pursuant to Sections 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (v) of the definition of “Profits” and “Losses” set forth below; provided, however, that Book Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (v) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) hereof is required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (v).

 

The foregoing definition of Book Value is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and shall be interpreted and applied consistently therewith.

 

“Business” means the business (conducted through the License Company and its Subsidiaries) of (i) acquiring licenses in the Auction; (ii) the deployment of such licenses in a manner consistent with Applicable Law, including the FCC Rules, whether by (A) owning, constructing and operating systems to provide wireless broadband services, (B) entering into one or more joint venture, lease, wholesale or other agreements or (C) any other means; (iii) marketing and offering the services and features described in clause (ii), including advertising such services and features using broadcast and other media; and (iv) any other activities which the Manager reasonably determines to be in the best interests of the Company.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required to close under the laws of the State of New York.

 

“Business Plan” means the Five-Year Business Plan and each annual business plan adopted in accordance with Section 6.5.

 

“Business Purpose” is defined in Section 1.7.

 

“Capital Account” is defined in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Change of Control of SNR” means (i) any circumstance, event or transaction following which any Person or group (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), other than the members of SNR as of the date of this Agreement and such members’ Affiliates, is the “beneficial owner” (as such term is used in Rules 13d-3, 13d-5 or 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) of at least 50.1% of the Voting Securities of SNR or otherwise has the power to control SNR; (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of SNR’s membership interests, business or assets (including through a merger or otherwise); (iii) a change of the sole managing member of SNR; or (iv) any amendment or modification of the limited liability company agreement of SNR which would have the effect of vesting control or management of SNR in any entity other than the sole managing member of SNR.

 

“Claim” is defined in Section 12.3(a).

 

 

“Class A Member” means, initially, American III as long as it has not ceased to be a Class A Member, and any Person who, at the time of the reference thereto, has been admitted to the Company as a Class A Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and has not ceased to be a Class A Member.

 

“Class A Percentage” means, as to a Class A Member, such Class A Member’s percentage ownership of the Class A Preferred Interests as set forth herein. The current Class A Percentage of American III is one hundred percent (100%).

 

“Class A Preferred Interest” is defined in Section 2.2(f).

 

“Class B Common Interest” means the Interest of a Class B Member in its capacity as

such.

 

“Class B Member” means, initially, American III and SNR as long as they have not ceased to be Class B Members, and any Person who, at the time of the reference thereto, has been admitted to the Company as a Class B Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and has not ceased to be a Class B Member.

 

“Class B Percentage” means, as to a Class B Member, such Class B Member’s percentage ownership of the Class B Common Interests as set forth herein. The current Class B Percentage of American III is eighty-five percent (85%), and the current Class B Percentage of SNR is fifteen percent (15%).

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Company” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Company Minimum Gain” means the aggregate of the amounts of gain, if any, determined for each nonrecourse liability of the Company, that would be realized by the Company for federal income tax purposes if it disposed of the Company property subject to such liability in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction thereof and for no other consideration. To the extent the foregoing is inconsistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d) or incomplete with respect to such regulation, Company Minimum Gain shall be computed in accordance with such regulation.

 

“control,” “controlled” and “controlling” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Credit Agreement” means that Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among License Company, American III and the Company effective as of June 7, 2018.

 

“Deemed Liquidation Event” means: (i) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company is a constituent party (except any such merger, consolidation, or similar transaction in which the Company’s Members prior to such transaction own a majority of the equity securities of the surviving, resulting or acquiring entity in approximately the same relative percentages after such transaction as before such transaction); or (ii) the sale, license or lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions.

 

 

“Depreciation” means, for each fiscal year or part thereof, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such year or other period, except that if the Book Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Book Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year bears to such adjusted tax basis; provided that if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such Book Value using any reasonable method selected by the Manager.

 

“Economic Element” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Effective Date” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Equity Interests” means capital stock, partnership interests, limited liability company interests or other ownership or beneficial interests of any Person.

 

“Excess Cash” means all cash and cash equivalents held by the Company at the time of determination in excess of such amount required for the Company and its Subsidiaries to retain to satisfy the then current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to provide a reasonable reserve for the future liabilities and then current and future operating expenses and capital expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Exchange” is defined in Section 2.2(f).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Face Amount” means the Initial Face Amount plus the value of any and all amounts added to the Initial Face Amount pursuant to Section 3.0 minus all Non-Liquidating Distributions paid pursuant to Section 3.1(a) to the Class A Members in accordance with their Liquidation Preference.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, as of the date of determination, the cash price at which a willing seller would sell and a willing buyer would buy such asset in a transaction negotiated at arm’s length, each being apprised of and considering all relevant facts, circumstances and factors, and neither acting under compulsion, with the parties being unaffiliated third parties acting without time constraints.

 

“FCC” means the Federal Communications Commission or any successor agency or entity performing substantially the same functions.

 

“FCC Rules” means the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by, inter alia, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, codified at 47 U.S.C. § 151 et seq., as it may be amended in the future, including the rules and regulations established by the FCC and codified in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time hereafter, and effective orders, rulings, and public notices of the FCC.

 

 

“First Amended Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

“First Put Window” is defined in Section 8.1(a).

 

“Five-Year Business Plan” is defined in Section 6.5(a), as the same may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“FMV Report” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iv).

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and/or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any government or political subdivision thereof, whether domestic or foreign, including any national, state, regional, provincial, county, city, municipal, local or other governmental department, ministry, commission, board, bureau, agency, regulatory body or authority, instrumentality, judicial or administrative body, having jurisdiction over the matter or matters in question, including the FCC.

 

“Impermissible Deficit” is defined in Section 4.3(f).

 

“Indemnified Person” is defined in Section 12.1(b).

 

“Independent Appraisers” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(v).

 

“Initial Application Date” means September 12, 2014.

 

“Initial Face Amount” is defined in Section 2.2(f).

 

“Initial Grant Date” means October 27, 2015.

 

“Inspectors” is defined in Section 9.6(h).

 

“Instrument of Assignment” is defined in Section 8.3(a).

 

“Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement effective as of June 7, 2018 and entered into by American III and SNR (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms).

 

“ Interest” means the interest of a Member (or a Permitted Transferee of a Member pursuant to ARTICLE 7 which has not been admitted as a Member of the Company) in the aggregate distributions by the Company, and the aggregate allocations by the Company of Profits, Losses, income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item, and all other rights and interests of a Member of the Company.

 

 

“Interest Purchase Agreement” is defined in Section 3.3.

 

“IPO Price” is defined in Section 9.3.

 

“Joint Appraiser” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iv).

 

“Judgment” means any judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of any court, judge, justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court, or arbiter, and any order of or by any other Governmental Authority.

 

“license” means a license issued by the FCC authorizing the licensee to construct and operate radio transmitting facilities. Unless otherwise indicated, references to licenses in this Agreement shall refer to licenses to use spectrum in the 1695-1710 MHz and/or 1755-1780/2155-2180 MHz bands.

 

“License Company” means SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“License Company System(s)” means the fixed or mobile wireless system(s) licensed to, constructed and operated by, or to be constructed and operated by, the License Company and/or any License Company Subsidiaries for the purpose of providing service authorized under a license or licenses in each of the Markets.

 

“License Payment Date” is defined in Section 2.2(c).

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any lien (including, without limitation, judgment liens and liens arising by operation of Applicable Law), mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge, right of first refusal or rights of others therein, or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature thereof) in respect of such asset.

 

“Liquidation Event” means a liquidation, dissolution or cessation of the business of the Company.

 

“Liquidation Preference” means the sum of the then-current Face Amount of the Class A Preferred Interests and all accrued but unpaid distributions pursuant to Section 3.0 on such Class A Preferred Interests not already included in the definition of Face Amount.

 

“Liquidator” is defined in Section 13.3(b).

 

“Management Fee” is defined in Section 6.6.

 

“Manager” means SNR for so long as it serves as the “manager” of the Company (within the meaning of the Act) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and, thereafter, any manager of the Company duly appointed in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

 

“Mandatory Quarterly Distributions” is defined in Section 3.0.

 

“Market” means the geographic area(s) in which a Person is authorized to provide fixed or mobile wireless service under a license issued by the FCC.

 

“Member” means each Person who has been admitted to the Company as a Class A Member and/or Class B Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and has not ceased to be a Member, in such Person’s capacity as a member (within the meaning of the Act) of the Company.

 

“Member Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Member Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).

 

“Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4), and generally means any nonrecourse debt of the Company for which any Member bears the economic risk of loss (such as a nonrecourse loan to the Company by a Member or certain Affiliates of a Member).

 

“Member Nonrecourse Deduction” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deduction” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2). The amount of the Member Nonrecourse Deductions with respect to a Member Nonrecourse Debt for a Company fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt during that fiscal year, reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate amount of any distributions during that fiscal year to the Member that bears the economic risk of loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt to the extent such distributions are from the proceeds of such Member Nonrecourse Debt and are allocable to an increase in Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt.

 

“Newco” is defined in Section 9.1.

 

“Non-American III Members” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Non-Conforming Appraisal” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(vi).

 

“Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date” means, with respect to any Non-Liquidating Distribution declared and paid pursuant to Section 3.1(a), the date that such Non-Liquidating Distribution is declared by the Company.

 

“Non-Liquidating Distributions” is defined in Section 3.1(a).

 

“Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain during that fiscal year, reduced (but not below zero) by any Nonrecourse Distributions during such year.

 

 

“Nonrecourse Distributions” means the aggregate amount, as determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c), of any distributions during the fiscal year of proceeds of a nonrecourse liability, as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3), that are allocable to an increase in Company Minimum Gain.

 

“Offered Interests” means all or any part of SNR’s Interests.

 

“Offering” is defined in Section 9.1.

 

“Original Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Original Credit Agreement” is defined in Section 2.2(f).

 

“Participating Members” is defined in Section 9.5.

 

“Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to a Member, an Affiliate, a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Member, and a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Person of which such Member is a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, incorporated or unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

“Private Equity Investors” means each member of SNR other than John Muleta, and such member’s successors and Permitted Transferees.

 

“Profits ” and “Losses ” means, for each fiscal year or part thereof, the Company’s taxable income or loss for such year determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss and deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss) with the following adjustments:

 

(i)             any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

 

(ii)            any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or treated as such pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

 

(iii)           in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, Depreciation for such fiscal year shall be taken into account;

 

(iv)           if the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition of Book Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;

 

 

(v)            gain or loss resulting from the disposition of any Company asset with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed with reference to the Book Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted basis of such asset differs from the Book Value of such asset;

 

(vi)           to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset under Section 734(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the adjusted tax basis of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the adjusted tax basis of the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits and Losses; and

 

(vii)          such taxable income or loss shall not be deemed to include items of income, gain, loss, or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) (to comply with Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) of the Code), Section 4.3, Section 4.4 or Section 4.5.

 

“Put Price” is defined in Section 8.1(b).

 

“Put Right” is defined in Section 8.1(a).

 

“Qualified Person” means a Person that qualifies as a “very small business” under the terms of FCC Rules applicable to the Auction in effect on the Initial Application Date, including but not limited to Sections 1.2110(b)(1) and 27.1106(a)(2) of the FCC Rules in effect on the Initial Application Date.

 

“Quarterly Distribution Payment Date” means January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year commencing April 15, 2018 (for the period from March 31, 2018 to, but excluding, April 15, 2018); provided, however, if any Quarterly Distribution Payment Date would fall on a date that is not a Business Day, that Quarterly Distribution Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day.

 

“Quarterly Distribution Period” means the period from, and including, a Quarterly Distribution Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Quarterly Distribution Payment Date, except that the initial Quarterly Distribution Period shall commence on, and include, March 31, 2018 and shall end on, and exclude, the first Quarterly Distribution Payment Date occurring after March 31, 2018.

 

“Quarterly Distribution Record Date” means, with respect to any Quarterly Distribution Payment Date, the first day of the month in which that Quarterly Distribution Payment Date occurs. These Quarterly Distribution Record Dates shall apply regardless of whether a particular Quarterly Distribution Record Date is a Business Day.

 

“Records” is defined in Section 9.6(h).

 

“Related Agreements” means the Bidding Protocol.

 

 

“Required Tax Amount” is defined in Section 3.1(b).

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor commission or agency having similar powers.

 

“Second Amended Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Second Put Window” is defined in Section 8.1(a).

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Sellers” means SNR and, to the extent applicable, any other owners of the Offered Interests.

 

“Senior Credit Facility” means the secured credit facility created by that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated concurrently herewith, by and among the Company, the License Company and American III, including all schedules, attachments and exhibits thereto and the note, the pledge agreements, the security agreement and the other agreements ancillary thereto, as any of the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their terms.

 

“Significant Breach” means (i) fraud, embezzlement or any other conduct by the Manager related to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries constituting a criminal or other material violation of Applicable Law; (ii) gross negligence, any knowingly dishonest act, or knowing bad faith or willful misconduct (in each case, which has a material negative impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken together as a whole), (A) by the Manager in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, or (B) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance of their respective obligations under any material agreement to which the Company or any such Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound; (iii) voluntary or involuntary insolvency or Bankruptcy of the Manager; (iv) any action or omission by the Manager or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any violation of or failure to comply with FCC Rules) that is reasonably likely to materially impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits or result in the revocation or non-renewal of any FCC license; or (v) any material breach by the Manager of its obligations under this Agreement, unless such breach is cured within thirty (30) days following notice thereof by American III or other Members holding at least fifteen percent (15%) of the Class B Percentages, which notice shall specify in reasonable detail such alleged breach; provided that if such breach cannot be cured within thirty (30) days, then ninety (90) days as long as the Manager is diligently acting in good faith to cure such deviation or failure as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that in the case of (ii)(B), (iv) and (v), such (x) gross negligence, knowingly dishonest act, or knowing bad faith or willful misconduct, (y) action or omission or (z) material breach was not caused (directly or indirectly, and whether as the lender under the Senior Credit Facility or otherwise) or expressly approved or authorized in writing by American III.

 

 

“Significant Matter” means each of the following matters, in each case to the extent consistent with the FCC’s decision in Baker Creek Communications, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 18709 (1998) and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s determination that the contractual rights specified in the application of Advantage Spectrum, L.P. (ULS File No. 0006668843, granted July 5, 2016) did not preclude the grant of bidding credits to the Auction applicant:

 

(i)            the reclassification of Interests and the issuance of Interests in the Company directly from the Company to any Person and the admission of any such Person to the Company as a Member; provided, however, that this provision shall not restrict any issuance of additional Class A Preferred Interests in connection with any distributions made to Class A Members in respect of their Class A Preferred Interests pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion, or transfers of existing Interests in the Company, which shall be governed by Article 7;

 

(ii)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(iii)           the incurrence of any significant indebtedness in the name of the Company; the modification, extension, renewal, refinancing or restructuring of any significant debt; the pledge, assignment or otherwise use of any assets of the Company as security for any significant indebtedness or the action to obligate the Company as a surety, guarantor or accommodation party to any obligation or to any other Person;

 

(iv)           the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the filing of a petition for bankruptcy, the consolidation or merger of the Company into or with any other Person or acquisition of any interest in any other Person or any significant portion of the assets of any other Person or agree to enter into any partnership or joint venture, except in the ordinary course of business;

 

(v)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(vi)          the sale, transfer, exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge or assignment or entry into any agreement for the sale, transfer, exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge or assignment of any major asset (where assets include, but are not limited to, licenses), or of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (including assets held by the Company’s subsidiaries);

 

(vii)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(viii)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(ix)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(x)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(xi)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(xii)          setting compensation for senior management (provided that this shall not include compensation that is market-based);

 

(xiii)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

 

(xiv)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(xv)         the making of any expenditure, or the agreement to make any expenditure, which would significantly affect the Company’s market capitalization;

 

(xvi)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(xvii)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(xviii)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(xix)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

“Significant Violation” means (i) fraud, embezzlement or any other conduct by the Manager related to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries constituting a criminal or other material violation of Applicable Law, (ii) gross negligence, any knowingly dishonest act, or knowing bad faith or willful misconduct, (a) by the Manager in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, or (b) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance of their respective obligations under any material agreement to which the Company or any such Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) voluntary or involuntary insolvency or Bankruptcy of the Manager, (iv) any action or omission by the Manager or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any violation of or failure to comply with FCC Rules) that is reasonably likely to materially impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits or result in the revocation or non-renewal of any FCC license owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (v) any material breach by the Manager of its obligations under this Agreement, unless such breach is cured within thirty (30) days following notice thereof by American III or other Members holding at least twenty percent (20%) of the Class B Percentages, which notice shall specify in reasonable detail such alleged breach; provided that if such breach is capable of being cured but cannot be cured within thirty (30) days, then ninety (90) days as long as the Manager is diligently acting in good faith to cure such deviation or failure as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that in the case of any of the foregoing in (i) through (v), such event has a material negative impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken together as a whole and was not caused (directly or indirectly, and whether as the lender under the Senior Credit Facility or otherwise) or expressly approved or authorized in writing by American III or any of its Affiliates.

 

“SNR” is defined in the preamble.

 

“SNR Capital” is defined in Section 8.1(b).

 

“SNR Members” means SNR and its Permitted Transferees.

 

“SNR Pledge Agreement” is defined in Section 3.3.

 

“SNR Return” is defined in Section 8.1(b).

 

“SNR Security Agreement” is defined in Section 3.3.

 

 

 

“Subsidiary” of any Person means any other Person with respect to which either (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors or individuals having similar functions of such other Person (irrespective of whether at the time interests of any other class or classes of such Person shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) or (ii) more than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of such other Person is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person’s other Subsidiaries.

 

“Tax Matters Member” is defined in Section 5.5(d).

 

“Tax Shortfall Amount” is defined in Section 3.1(b).

 

     “Transfer” means any direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means regulations issued by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Code.

 

“Voting Securities” means Equity Interests of a Person having the right to vote generally in the election of the directors (or persons performing equivalent functions) of such Person.

 

“Winning Bidder” shall mean a Person who is the winning bidder in the Auction for a license offered by the FCC therein (i) as set forth in the FCC’s post-Auction public notice identifying Auction winning bidders or (ii) by virtue of having accepted the FCC’s offer of a license for the amount of its final Auction net bid therefor following the default of the winning bidder for that license described in clause (i) of this definition, provided, that, for purposes of this Agreement, the License Company shall be deemed to not have been the winning bidder for the licenses in respect of which the License Company did not pay the gross winning bid amounts (as more fully described in that letter dated October 1, 2015 from Ari Q. Fitzgerald (of Hogan Lovells US LLP) to Jean L. Kiddoo, Deputy Bureau Chief, Office of the Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the FCC, and set forth on Attachment 2 to such letter).

 

“WTB” is defined in the preamble.

 

Section 1.2       Formation

 

The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company by filing a certificate of formation under the Act on August 29, 2014. The certificate of formation is in all respects approved and the Members hereby agree to continue the Company.

 

Section 1.3       Name

 

The name of the Company shall be SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC.

 

 

Section 1.4       Principal Place of Business

 

The Company’s principal office and place of business shall be located at c/o John Muleta, 200 Little Falls Street, Suite 102, Falls Church, VA 22046.

 

Section 1.5       Registered Office; Registered Agent

 

The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808 or such other address as the Manager may determine. The name and address of the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware shall be Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808.

 

Section 1.6       Term

 

The term of the Company commenced on August 29, 2014 and, unless terminated in accordance with this Agreement, shall be perpetual.

 

Section 1.7       Purpose and Powers

 

The purposes of the Company are to establish and conduct the Business and to do any and all things reasonably necessary or advisable in connection therewith (the “Business Purpose”). The Company shall have the power and authority to take any and all actions necessary or advisable to or for the furtherance of said purposes.

 

Section 1.8       Filings

 

The Manager shall cause to be executed, filed and published all such certificates, notices, statements or other instruments, and amendments thereto, under the laws of the State of Delaware and other applicable jurisdictions as the Manager may deem necessary or advisable for the operation of the Company and to enable the Company to conduct business in each applicable jurisdiction.

 

Section 1.9       Sole Agreement

 

The Members intend that their obligations to each other with respect to the Company and the scope of the Company’s activities, including any activities of its Subsidiaries, be as set forth in this Agreement, and that no further authority to bind the other or the Company or any liabilities to each other or any third party be inferred from the relationships described herein.

 

ARTICLE 2

CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 2.1       Capital Accounts

 

(a)           Establishment A separate capital account (“Capital Account”) was established for each Member as of the date of the Original Agreement.

 

 

(b)           General Rules for Adjustment of Capital Accounts

 

The Capital Account of each Member shall be:

 

(i)            increased by:

 

(A)        the aggregate amount of such Member’s cash contributions to the Company;

 

(B)        the initial Book Value of property contributed by such Member to the Company;

 

(C)        such Member’s allocable share of Profits and items of income and gain allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) or ARTICLE 4 (other than Section 4.6 and Section 4.7(a));

 

(D)        any positive adjustment to such Capital Account by reason of an adjustment to the Book Value of the Company assets; and

 

(E)         the amount of Company liabilities assumed by such Member or which are secured by any property distributed to such Member; and

 

  (ii)         decreased by:

 

(A)       cash distributions to such Member from the Company;

 

(B)        the Book Value of property distributed in kind to such Member;

 

(C)        such Member’s allocable share of Losses and items of loss or deduction allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) or ARTICLE 4 (other than Section 4.7(a));

 

(D)        any negative adjustment to such Capital Account by reason of an adjustment to the Book Value of Company assets;

 

(E)        any amount charged to the Capital Account of such Member pursuant to Section 5.5(e); and

 

(F)        the amount of any liabilities of such Member assumed by the Company or which are secured by property contributed by such Member to the Company.

 

(c)           Special Rules

 

  (i)          Time of Adjustment for Capital Contributions. For purposes of computing the balance in a Member’s Capital Account, no credit shall be given for any capital contribution which such Member is obligated to make until such contribution is actually made.

 

 

(ii)           Capital Account for Transferred Interest. If any Interest in the Company or part thereof is Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the Transferred Interest.

 

(iii)          Intent to Comply with Treasury Regulations. The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulation. To the extent the provisions of this Agreement are inconsistent with such regulation or are incomplete with respect thereto, the Capital Accounts of the Members shall be maintained in accordance with such regulation except to the extent that doing so would materially distort the timing or amount of an allocation or distribution to a Member.

 

Section 2.2        Capital Contributions

 

 (a)          Initial Contribution

 

On September 12, 2014, SNR contributed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and American III contributed eight hundred fifty dollars ($850) to the equity capital of the Company.

 

 (b)           Upfront Payment

 

On or prior to October 15, 2014, SNR contributed Nine Million Two Hundred Seventy Thousand and No Dollars ($9,270,000.00) in cash to the equity capital of the Company, and American III contributed Fifty Two Million Five Hundred Thirty Thousand and No Dollars ($52,530,000.00) in cash to the equity capital of the Company. The Company shall, in turn, immediately contribute such amounts to the equity capital of the License Company, which shall use such proceeds to make the upfront payment necessary to permit the License Company to bid on licenses in the Auction in accordance with the Bidding Protocol, it being understood that the balance of the capital needs of the License Company to fund such upfront payment will be funded through the Senior Credit Facility (or from the proceeds of other debt financing available to the Company from senior and/or subordinated debt lenders other than American III).

 

 (c)            Auction Purchase Price Payment

 

At least two (2) Business Days prior to the FCC’s deadline by which the post-Auction down payment on any license for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder must be made (the “License Payment Date”):

 

(i)     SNR contributed cash to the equity capital of the Company in an amount equal to 2.25% of the aggregate net purchase price (i.e., taking into account applicable Bidding Credits) of all licenses for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder (such aggregate net amount, the “Auction Purchase Price”), less (B) the amounts contributed by SNR pursuant to Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b), which amount, together with the prior equity capital contributions by SNR, shall represent approximately fifteen percent (15%) of the equity capitalization of the Company at such time.

 

Immediately following such contribution, the Company shall contribute such cash to the equity capital of the License Company.

 

 

(ii)    American III contributed cash to the equity capital of the Company in an amount equal to 12.75% of the Auction Purchase Price, less (B) the amounts contributed by American III pursuant to Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b), which amount, together with the prior equity capital contributions by American III, shall represent approximately eighty five percent (85%) of the equity capitalization of the Company at such time. Immediately following such contribution, the Company shall contribute such cash to the equity capital of the License Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, American III shall have no obligation to make the contribution set forth in this Section 2.2(c)(ii) if SNR, either directly or through the Company (but not the Bidding Manager (as defined in the Bidding Protocol) acting on its own volition or in accordance with the Bidding Protocol), causes the License Company to bid on a license that was not a Target License (as defined in the Bidding Protocol) as set forth in the Bidding Protocol or causes the License Company to purchase a Target License by bidding materially in excess of the established bid limits for such license, in each case, without the prior written consent of American III, which consent may be delivered by email, facsimile or otherwise and which consent shall be deemed given if the member of the Auction Committee (as defined in the Bidding Protocol) appointed by American III has approved thereof.

 

(iii)    The Company shall cause the License Company to use the amounts set forth in Section 2.2(a), Section 2.2(b), Section 2.2(c)(i) and Section 2.2(c)(ii), together with other funds borrowed by the License Company under the Senior Credit Facility or other senior and/or subordinated debt from lenders other than American III, as may be necessary to timely pay to the FCC all amounts owed in respect of the Auction Purchase Price.

 

(d)          No Additional Commitments

 

Neither SNR nor American III shall be required to contribute any additional capital to the Company after the Effective Date.

 

(e)          Additional Agreements Regarding Capital Contributions

 

Notwithstanding Section 2.2(c)(i) and Section 2.2(c)(ii) of this Agreement, SNR and American III have agreed to contribute cash to the equity capital of the Company as follows:

 

(i)        On or prior to February 13, 2015, SNR contributed $62,801,609.25 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, and American III shall contribute $355,875,785.75 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, which contributions may be made via direct payment to the FCC on behalf of SNR LicenseCo, and shall constitute capital contributions under Section 2.2(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of Section 8.1 of this Agreement, SNR’s $62,801,609.25 capital contribution shall be deemed to have been deposited on February 11, 2015.

 

 

(ii)       On or prior to March 2, 2015, SNR contributed $20,443,288.31 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, and American III shall contribute $115,845,300.44 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, which contributions may be made via direct payment to the FCC on behalf of SNR LicenseCo, and shall constitute capital contributions under Section 2.2(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of Section 8.1 of this Agreement, SNR’s $20,443,288.31 capital contribution shall be deemed to have been deposited on February 11, 2015.

 

(iii)       SNR and American III hereby ratify the $9,270,000.00 capital contribution made by SNR on October 14, 2014 and the $52,530,000.00 capital contribution made by American III on October 15, 2014, both via direct payment to the FCC on behalf of the License Company, as capital contributions under Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.

 

 (f)        Exchange of Indebtedness for Preferred Equity

 

As of March 31, 2018, American III exchanged Five Billion Sixty-Five Million Four Hundred Fourteen Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty Dollars ($5,065,414,940) (the “Initial Face Amount”) of the amounts outstanding and owed to it under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among License Company, American III and the Company dated as of October 13, 2014 (as amended through March 31, 2018, the “Original Credit Agreement”) for 5,065,415 par value $1,000, Class A Preferred Interests (the “Class A Preferred Interests”) with the rights and preferences described in this Agreement (the “Exchange”). The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Initial Face Amount of indebtedness under the Original Credit Agreement was exchanged for the Class A Preferred Interests and was extinguished and discharged as of March 31, 2018. American III released the Company and License Company from all obligations with respect to the Initial Face Amount of indebtedness exchanged for the Class A Preferred Interests. The Class A Preferred Interests shall be non-voting and non-participating. The Class A Preferred Interests shall not have any preemptive rights or co-sale rights, though American III shall retain its consent rights over Significant Matters pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof.

 

Section 2.3        No Withdrawals

 

Except as expressly set forth herein, no Member shall be entitled to withdraw any portion of its capital contribution or Capital Account balance.

 

Section 2.4        No Interest

 

Except as expressly set forth herein, no Member shall be entitled to receive any interest or similar return on its capital contributions or Capital Account balance.

 

Section 2.5        Interests are Securities

 

Each Interest shall constitute a “security” within the meaning of and shall be governed by

(a) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (including Section 8-102(a)(15) thereof) as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware and (b) the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction that now or hereafter substantially includes the 1994 revisions to Article 8 thereof as adopted by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association on February 14, 1995.

 

 

Section 2.6       Certification of Interests

 

Interests shall be issued in non-certificated form; provided that at the request of any Member, the Manager shall cause the Company to issue certificates to the Members representing the Interests held by the Members. If any Interest certificate is issued, then such certificate shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:

 

This certificate evidences a membership interest representing an interest in SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC and shall constitute a “security” within the meaning of and shall be governed by (i) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (including Section 8-102(a)(15) thereof) as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware, and (ii) the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction that now or hereafter substantially includes the 1994 revisions to Article 8 thereof as adopted by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association on February 14, 1995.

 

The membership interest in SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC represented by this certificate is subject to restrictions on transfer set forth in that certain Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC, dated as of June 7, 2018, by and among the members from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

The membership interest in SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC represented by this certificate has not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under any other applicable securities laws. Such membership interest may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise disposed of at any time without effective registration under such Act and laws or, in each case, exemption therefrom.

 

Section 2.7        Failure to Fund

 

American III acknowledges that if the License Company is the Winning Bidder for one or more licenses and (a) it is determined in any arbitration proceeding (whether under this Agreement or under the Senior Credit Facility or any Related Agreement) or (b) if American III admits in writing, in either case (a) or (b) that American III failed to fund any amounts required to be funded by it under this Agreement or the Senior Credit Facility and that such failure to fund caused the License Company to be or become in default under the FCC Rules (including, without limitation, the provisions of 47 C.F.R. Section 1.2109), then SNR, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have all remedies available to them in law and in equity (including specific performance), and notwithstanding Section 8.4 of the Credit Agreement or any similar provisions in any other Loan Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement), the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to recover from American III any and all damages incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries resulting from such failure to fund, including all license default penalty payments due to the FCC as a result of such default.

 

 

ARTICLE 3

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 3.0       Mandatory Quarterly Distribution

 

The Class A Preferred Interests will accrue distributions during each Quarterly Distribution Period at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum until the Effective Date. The Class A Preferred Interests will accrue distributions during each Quarterly Distribution Period at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum from and after the Effective Date, calculated based on actual days elapsed in a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, on the then-current Face Amount of the Class A Preferred Interests. Distributions on the Class A Preferred Interests will be made on a mandatory basis each quarter. Each Class A Member on the applicable Quarterly Distribution Record Date shall be entitled to receive (regardless of whether such Class A Member remains a Class A Member of record on the applicable Quarterly Distribution Payment Date), distributions accrued to but excluding the applicable Quarterly Distribution Payment Date (“Mandatory Quarterly Distributions”), by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Quarterly Distribution Payment Date in respect of the Quarterly Distribution Period then ended. Any and all such Mandatory Quarterly Distributions may be paid either (i) in cash, (ii) by adding such amounts to the then-current Face Amount or (iii) in a combination of cash and additional Face Amount, and the method of payment will be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Manager. In the event that the Manager elects to pay all or part of any Mandatory Quarterly Distribution in cash, the Company shall request wire transfer instructions from each Class A Member as of the relevant Quarterly Distribution Record Date at least five Business Days prior to the relevant Quarterly Distribution Payment Date. All such Mandatory Quarterly Distributions paid in cash shall be paid by wire transfer of funds legally available for the payment of distributions under Delaware law to the accounts designated by the Class A Members entitled to payment.

 

Section 3.1       Non-Liquidating Distributions

 

(a)           The Company may at any time, other than in connection with a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event, and separately from and in addition to the Mandatory Quarterly Distributions and the distributions provided for in Section 3.1(b), declare and pay cash distributions to the Members out of funds legally available for the payment of distributions under Delaware law (“Non-Liquidating Distributions”) in the manner set forth hereinafter. The Company shall request wire transfer instructions from each Class A Member as of the relevant Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date at least five Business Days prior to the date that the Company sets for the payment of such Non-Liquidating Distributions. Non-Liquidating Distributions shall be made first, to the Class A Members as of the Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date in accordance with their Liquidation Preference until the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full and second, to the Class B Members as of the Non- Liquidating Distribution Record Date in proportion to their Class B Percentages. The Manager shall have the sole and absolute discretion to declare and pay any Non-Liquidating Distributions. For the avoidance of doubt, Mandatory Quarterly Distributions paid pursuant to Section 3.0 shall be mandatory and not subject to the Company’s discretion, except that the Manager shall have sole discretion on the method of payment.

 

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1(a), within thirty days after the end of each fiscal quarter other than the fiscal quarter in which the proceeds from a liquidation are distributed in accordance with Section 3.2, the Company shall make distributions to each Member in amounts that are at least sufficient to allow each Member to pay income tax obligations arising from its respective interests in the Company (the “Required Tax Amount”), which shall be calculated based on the Assumed Tax Rate. “Assumed Tax Rate” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a fiscal year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in New York, New York and earning income through a Subchapter S corporation that is fully taxable in New York, New York (and thus such rate shall include the New York City corporate-level tax rate on the income of such Subchapter S corporation) (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) and Section 68 of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short- term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income, but not taking into account the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes). For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Members and (ii) items of loss or deduction previously allocated to a Member (or to a predecessor of a Member) and not taken into account in a manner that reduced tax distributions to such Member (or to a predecessor of such Member) shall be taken into account in determining a Member’s income tax obligations arising from its Interest for purposes of this Section 3.1(b) such that a Member’s taxable income for the current year for purposes of determining its right to a distribution under this Section 3.1(b) shall be reduced by the amount of any cumulative losses or deductions previously allocated to such Member (or to a predecessor of such Member) which have not been offset by subsequent allocations of income. The total amount of such tax distributions shall not exceed the amount of Excess Cash then held by the Company (except that the Manager may, in its discretion, cause the License Company to borrow amounts available for such purpose under the Senior Credit Facility and cause the License Company to distribute such borrowed amounts to the Company, to enable the Company to make tax distributions hereunder); provided, further, that, in the event that the amount otherwise required to be distributed to the Members pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) for such fiscal quarter, as estimated by the Manager, exceeds the amount of Excess Cash then held by the Company, such that the aggregate distributions made pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) with respect to such fiscal quarter are less than such amount otherwise required to be distributed to the Members pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) for such fiscal quarter (such shortfall, the “Tax Shortfall Amount”), then the Company shall make one or more distributions in an aggregate amount equal to the Tax Shortfall Amount to the Class B Members at such time as the Company holds sufficient Excess Cash to fund, in whole or in part, such remaining Tax Shortfall Amount (or portion thereof).

 

Section 3.2       Liquidating Distributions

 

Subject to Section 6.3, distributions to the Members of cash or property in connection with a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event shall be made in accordance with Section 13.3.

 

 

Section 3.3        Interest Purchase Agreement, Security Agreement and Pledge Agreement

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that, effective as of June 7, 2018, the License Company executed and delivered in favor of SNR a Second Amended and Restated Interest Purchase Agreement (the “ Interest Purchase Agreement”), and on September 12, 2014 executed and delivered in favor of SNR a Security Agreement (the “SNR Security Agreement”) and a Pledge Agreement (the “SNR Pledge Agreement”). Within one (1) Business Day of the date upon which any Subsidiary of the License Company is formed, the Company shall cause the License Company to cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver to SNR (a) a guarantee of the License Company’s obligations under the Interest Purchase Agreement in the form attached as an exhibit to the Interest Purchase Agreement and (b) a security agreement supplement in the form attached as an exhibit to the SNR Security Agreement. In addition, within one (1) Business Day of the date upon which any Subsidiary of the License Company holding licenses is formed, the Company shall cause the License Company to take the actions required under the SNR Pledge Agreement to perfect SNR’s first priority Lien in the outstanding equity interests of such Subsidiary. The parties hereto also acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, the Company may make payments to SNR in exchange for membership interests in the Company pursuant to the Put Right and the License Company and its Subsidiaries may make payments to SNR in exchange for membership interests in the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Interest Purchase Agreement, the SNR Security Agreement and the SNR Pledge Agreement and such related Subsidiary guarantees and security agreement supplements when due, subject to the provisions of the Senior Credit Facility and the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement. All such payments to SNR in respect of the obligations of the License Company and its Subsidiaries under the Interest Purchase Agreement or related guarantees, and all proceeds received by SNR in connection with its exercise of remedies under the SNR Security Agreement or related security agreement supplements, shall be credited against the obligations of the License Company and its Subsidiaries under the Interest Purchase Agreement and related guarantees, and, if necessary to avoid duplication in respect of any payments or distributions by the Company to the SNR Members in respect of their Interests, the amount of all such payments or proceeds, as applicable, shall be deemed to be a distribution to the Company (and by the Company to SNR) constituting a return of the SNR Members’ capital contributions to the Company on a pro rata basis. SNR shall not amend or waive, nor shall the Company permit the License Company or its Subsidiaries to amend or waive, any term or provision of the Interest Purchase Agreement, the SNR Security Agreement or the SNR Pledge Agreement or the related Subsidiary guarantees or security agreement supplements, without the prior written consent of American III in its sole discretion.

 

 

ARTICLE 4

ALLOCATIONS

 

Section 4.1       Profits and Losses

 

(a)           After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 4.3 through Section 4.5, Profits and Losses with respect to any fiscal year shall be allocated as follows:

 

(i)            Profits shall first be allocated to reverse prior allocations of Losses to the Class B Members to the extent such Losses had not reversed prior allocations of Profits to such Class B Members;

 

(ii)           Any remaining Profits shall then be allocated to reverse prior allocations of Losses to the Class A Member to the extent such Losses had not reversed prior allocations of Profits to the Class A Member;

 

(iii)         Any remaining Profits shall then be allocated to the Class A Member until the aggregate allocations to the Class A Member equals the sum of (1) total Mandatory Quarterly Distributions (whether or not paid in cash) accrued as of the end of such period and (2) without duplication, in respect of any amounts added to the Initial Face Amount in a Mandatory Quarterly Distribution pursuant to Section 3.0 as of the end of such period with respect to the Class A Member, an amount equal to 12% per annum accrued for periods prior to the Effective Date or 8% per annum accrued for periods from and after the Effective Date;

 

(iv)          Any remaining Profits shall then be allocated to the Class B Members in proportion to their Class B Percentages;

 

(v)           Losses shall be allocated first to the Class B Members in proportion to their Class B Percentages until the aggregate amount allocated under this Section 4.1(a)(v) equals the aggregate amount allocated pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(iv) above;

 

(vi)          Remaining Losses shall be allocated to the Class A Members until the aggregate amount allocated under this Section 4.1(a)(vi) equals the aggregate amount allocated pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(iii) above;

 

(vii)         Remaining Losses shall be allocated to the Class B Members in accordance with their respective Class B Percentages until each Class B Member has a Capital Account of zero; and

 

(viii)        Any remaining Losses shall then be allocated to the Class A Members in proportion to their Class A Percentages.

 

(b)            In the year in which the Put Right is exercised, the foregoing allocations shall be adjusted such that, to the maximum extent possible, Profits allocable in such year are allocated to the SNR Members such as to cause the Capital Accounts of the SNR Members to collectively equal the total Put Price paid by the Company upon exercise of the Put Right.

 

(c)             In the event that there is more than one Class A Member, any allocations to the Class A Members pursuant to this Article 4 shall be made to the Class A Members in proportion to their Class A Percentages.

 

Section 4.2        Losses

 

(a)           Limitation on Losses

 

 

Losses allocable to any Member pursuant to Section 4.1 with respect to any fiscal year shall not exceed the maximum amount of Losses that may be so allocated without causing such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of such fiscal year. All Losses in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section 4.2(a) shall be allocated: (i) first, to the Class B Members that will not be subject to this limitation, ratably based on the aggregate of their Class B Percentages, to the extent possible until such Class B Members become subject to this limitation; (ii) second, to the Class A Member to the extent it will not be subject to this limitation, to the extent possible until such Class A Member becomes subject to this limitation, and (iii) any remaining amount, to the Class B Members, ratably based on their Class B Percentages, unless otherwise required by the Code or Treasury Regulations.

 

Section 4.3       Special Allocations

 

The following special allocations shall be made for any fiscal year of the Company in the following order of priority:

 

(a)       Minimum Gain Chargeback

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this ARTICLE 4, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain (determined without regard to Member Nonrecourse Debts) during any fiscal year, each Member shall, subject to the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), be specially allocated items of income and gain for such fiscal year (and, if necessary, subsequent fiscal years) equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain (determined without regard to Member Nonrecourse Debts) within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(6) and 1.704-2(i)(2). To the extent that this Section 4.3(a) is inconsistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), the Minimum Gain Chargeback provided for herein shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with such Treasury Regulation.

 

(b)       Member Minimum Gain Chargeback

 

If there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt during any Company fiscal year, each Member that, as of the beginning of such year, has a share of the Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall, subject to the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), be specially allocated items of income and gain for such fiscal year (and, if necessary, subsequent fiscal years) in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704 -2(i)(2). To the extent that this Section 4.3(b) is inconsistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i), the Member Minimum Gain chargeback provided for herein shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with such regulation.

 

 

(c)       Qualified Income Offset

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but only if required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) in order for the allocations provided for herein to be considered to have substantial economic effect or to be deemed to be in accordance with the Member’s Interests, if, for any fiscal year, a Member unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), and such adjustment, allocation or distribution causes or increases an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit with respect to such Member, then, before any other allocations are made, such Member shall be allocated items of income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Company income, including gross income and gain) in the amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as quickly as possible. This Section 4.3(c) is intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(d)       Nonrecourse Deductions

 

Deductions shall be allocated to American III; provided, that any allocation of Losses pursuant to the preceding clause that would cause American III’s Capital Account to be less than an amount equal to (i) American III’s cash contributions to the equity capital of the Company that are credited to American III’s Capital Account less (ii) any distributions to American III in excess of American III’s cumulative share of Profits, shall instead be made to the Class B Members in proportion to their Class B Percentages.

 

(e)       Member Nonrecourse Deductions

 

Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any fiscal year or other period shall be allocated 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 Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).

 

(f)       Gross Income Allocation

 

In the event that any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any fiscal year in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and (ii) the amount such Member is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) and the penultimate sentences in Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(l) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) (an “Impermissible Deficit”), each such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Company income, including gross income and gain for the fiscal year) in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, its Impermissible Deficit; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.3(f) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Impermissible Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Section 4.3 have been tentatively made as if Section 4.3(c) (“Qualified Income Offset”) and this Section 4.3(f) were not in this Agreement.

 

 

Section 4.4        Curative Allocations

 

The allocations set forth in Section 4.3(a) through (f) are intended to comply with certain regulatory requirements under Section 704(b) of the Code. The Members intend that, to the extent possible, all allocations made pursuant to such Sections will, over the term of the Company, be offset either with other allocations pursuant to Section 4.3 or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss, or deduction pursuant to this Section 4.4. Accordingly, the Manager is hereby authorized and directed to make offsetting allocations of Company income, gain, loss or deduction under this Section 4.4 in whatever manner the Manager determines is appropriate so that, after such offsetting special allocations are made, the Capital Accounts of the Members are, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Accounts each would have if the provisions of Section 4.3 were not contained in this Agreement and all income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company were instead allocated pursuant to Section 4.1 and Section 4.2.

 

Section 4.5        Special Allocations in the Event of Company Audit Adjustments

 

Notwithstanding the allocation provisions of Section 4.1 and Section 4.2, and prior to making any of the allocations specified in Section 4.3, the following special allocations shall be made in the following order and in a manner, taking into consideration any tiered partnership structure that the Company may be part of, that reflects the relative economic interests of each Member in the Company:

 

(a)         If for any fiscal year of the Company, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company is deemed to have additional income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, to or involving any Member or Affiliate of any Member, such additional income shall be allocated to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that received such services, license or sublicense (or the Member whose Affiliate was involved in such loan transaction or received such services, license or sublicense) and any related deemed cash distribution shall be treated as having been made to the same Member.

 

(b)         If for any fiscal year of the Company, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company is deemed to have a reduction in income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, to or involving any Member or Affiliate of any Member, such reduction in income shall be allocated to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that received such services, license or sublicense (or the Member whose Affiliate was involved in such loan transaction or received such services, license or sublicense) and any related deemed cash contribution shall be treated as having been made by the same Member.

 

 

(c)         If for any taxable period of a Member, such Member or any Affiliate of the Member is deemed to have additional income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by such Member or any Affiliate of such Member, to or involving the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, any increase in the amount of a Company deduction associated with such re-determination of such Member’s or any Affiliate of such Member’s income shall be allocated (in the appropriate fiscal year) to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that provided such services, license or sublicense (either directly or through an Affiliate), and any related deemed cash contribution shall be treated as having been made by the same Member.

 

(d)         If for any taxable period of a Member, such Member or any Affiliate of the Member is deemed to have a reduction in income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by such Member or any Affiliate of such Member, to or involving the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, any reduction in the amount of a Company deduction associated with such re-determination of such Member’s or any Affiliate of such Member’s income shall be allocated (in the appropriate fiscal year) to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that provided such services, license or sublicense (either directly or through an Affiliate), and any related deemed cash distribution shall be treated as having been made to the same Member.

 

(e)         A re-determination by a taxing authority shall only be given effect for purposes of this Section 4.5 if such re-determination is (i) a decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction, which has become final and is either no longer subject to appeal or for which a determination not to appeal has been made; (ii) a closing agreement made under Section 7121 of the Code or any comparable foreign, state, local or other income tax statute; (iii) a final disposition by a taxing authority of a claim for refund; or (iv) any other written agreement made with respect to a tax re-determination the execution of which is final and prohibits the taxing authority, relevant Member (or any Affiliate of such Members) or the Company (or any Affiliate of the Company) from seeking any further legal or administrative remedies with respect to such tax re-determination.

 

Section 4.6        Allocation of Credits

 

All tax credits shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective allocations of Profits and Losses in accordance with this Agreement or in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code or Treasury Regulations to the extent any such provision is inconsistent with such allocation.

 

Section 4.7        Tax Allocations

 

(a)           Contributed Property

 

If any property is contributed to the capital of the Company, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such property shall be allocated solely for tax purposes among the Members in accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3 so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its initial Book Value. All decisions regarding the choice of allocation method under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3 with respect to assets contributed to the Company shall be made by the Manager, subject to the prior written consent of Class B Members holding a majority of the total outstanding Class B Percentages, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

 

(b)       Revalued Property

 

If the Company assets are revalued as set forth in the definition of “Book Value” in Section 1.1, then subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to revalued Company assets shall take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such assets for federal income tax purposes and their adjusted value in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the Code and in compliance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3. All decisions regarding the choice of allocation method under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3 with respect to revalued Company assets shall be made by the Members.

 

(c)       Allocations with Respect to Certain Securities

 

If the Company sells, exchanges or otherwise disposes of any investment security at a loss, to the extent such loss is specifically reimbursed by one or more Members, such reimbursed loss shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes among the Members in accordance with their respective reimbursements to the Company.

 

Section 4.8         Change in Members’ Interests

 

In the event there is any change in the Members’ respective Class A Percentages and/or Class B Percentages during any fiscal year, Profits, Losses, Nonrecourse Deductions and other items shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective Class A Percentages and/or Class B Percentages, as the case may be, from time to time during such fiscal year based on an interim closing of the books as of the close of business on the date of such change.

 

ARTICLE 5

ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS

 

Section 5.1        Fiscal Year

 

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the year ending December 31.

 

Section 5.2        Method of Accounting

 

Unless otherwise provided herein, the Company books of account shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP; provided that for purposes of making allocations with respect to items of Company income, gain, deduction, loss and credit to the Members, such items shall be allocated to the Members’ Capital Accounts pursuant to ARTICLE 4 and as required by Section 704 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

Section 5.3        Books and Records; Inspection

 

Proper and complete records and books of accounts of the Company business for tax and financial purposes, including all such transactions and other matters as are usually entered into records and books of account maintained by Persons engaged in businesses of like character or as are required by Applicable Law, shall be kept by the Company at the Company’s principal office and place of business. The Manager may delegate to a third party the duty to maintain and oversee the preparation and maintenance of such records and books of account. Books and records maintained for financial purposes shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP, and books and records maintained for tax purposes shall be maintained in accordance with the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations. Subject to Section 10.2, all records and documents described in Section 5.3 shall be open to inspection and copying by any of the Members or their representatives or agents at any reasonable time during normal business hours.

 

Section 5.4        Financial Statements; Internal Controls

 

(a)         Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, and thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter), the Manager shall cause to be furnished to each Member financial statements with respect to such fiscal year or fiscal quarter of the Company, consisting of (i) a consolidated balance sheet showing the Company’s financial position as of the end of such fiscal year or fiscal quarter; (ii) supporting consolidated profit and loss statements; (iii) a consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal year or fiscal quarter; and (iv) Member’s Capital Accounts. Such financial statements shall be prepared on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP and SEC Regulation S-X except, with respect to the quarterly financial statements which need not be separately audited, for the omission of certain footnotes and other presentation items required by GAAP with respect to audited financial statements. The annual financial statements of the Company, except for the annual financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, shall be audited (which audit shall be conducted in accordance with GAAP and SEC Regulation S-X) and certified by the Company’s independent accountants. Each Member shall receive a copy of all material financial reports and notices delivered by the Company to any third party pursuant to any other agreement.

 

(b)         At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained on their behalf, a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. From time to time, upon specific written notice thereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall promptly remedy any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in their internal accounting controls.

 

 

(c)         At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished on its behalf, to each Member that files public reports with the SEC, upon written request by such Member to the Manager, such financial statements and financial and other information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as may be necessary or reasonably required for such Member and its Affiliates to prepare their financial statements and related information in accordance with GAAP and applicable SEC rules and regulations, including without limitation, Regulations S-X and S -K promulgated by the SEC, and to have such information reviewed or audited from time to time, as applicable, by such Member’s or its Affiliates’ independent auditors (at such Member’s sole cost and expense and subject to all applicable confidentiality obligations). All such financial statements and financial and other information shall be furnished in such manner and at such times as may be necessary or reasonably required for such Member or its Affiliates to timely prepare and file any registration statements that they may file under the Securities Act and to timely prepare and file any and all current and periodic reports and proxy statements that they may file under the Exchange Act, in each case in accordance with GAAP and applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Regulations S-X and S-K promulgated by the SEC. The Company and its officers shall execute and deliver such certificates, affidavits, representation letters and similar documents as such Member or its Affiliates or their respective independent auditors may reasonably request in connection therewith.

 

(d)         At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall design, implement and maintain, or cause to be designed, implemented and maintained on their behalf, proper “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act). The Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and maintain, or cause to be prepared and maintained, adequate documentation of their internal control over financial reporting consistent with the requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act and Item 308 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, and shall make such documentation available to any such Member and its Affiliates and their independent auditors at such reasonable times as such Persons may reasonably request. Such internal control over financial reporting (and the documentation related thereto) shall be sufficient to permit each Member that files public reports with the SEC to assess and evaluate periodically the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to permit each independent auditor of each such Member to evaluate such assessment and to provide any required attestation report with respect thereto. From time to time, upon notice of any such condition, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall promptly remedy any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in their internal control over financial reporting.

 

Section 5.5        Taxation

 

(a)         Status of the Company. The Members acknowledge that this Agreement creates a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Furthermore, the Members hereby agree not to elect to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code or any similar state statute.

 

(b)          Tax Elections and Reporting

 

 

(i)        Generally. The Company shall make the following elections and take the following positions under United States income tax laws and Treasury Regulations and any similar state laws and regulations:

 

(A)          adopt the year ending December 31 as the annual accounting period (unless otherwise required by the Code and Treasury Regulations);

 

(B)          adopt the accrual method of accounting;

 

(C)          insofar as permissible, report the Company’s tax attributes and results using principles consistent with those assumed in connection with entering into this Agreement; and

 

(D)          have the Company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1-7701.

 

(ii)       Code Section 754 Election. The Manager shall, upon the written request of any Member, cause the Company to file an election under Section 754 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder to adjust the basis of the Company’s assets under Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code and a corresponding election under the applicable sections of state and local law.

 

(c)      Company Tax Returns

 

(i)        The Tax Matters Member will prepare or cause to be prepared all required domestic and foreign tax returns and information returns of the Company, drafts of which shall be furnished to the Members within ninety (90) days following the close of each fiscal year. Final returns shall be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days following each year end. The Company shall pay for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including accounting fees, if any) in connection with such preparation (it being understood that the Tax Matters Member shall not receive any compensation from the Company for preparing such returns). Any Member may, at its own expense, engage a third party to review the tax returns and information returns prepared by the Tax Matters Member pursuant to the preceding sentence. The Tax Matters Member shall not file any such return without the approval of any Member that constitutes a “notice partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code) of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Such “notice partner” Member shall be deemed to have given such approval if such Member does not indicate its written objection (which may be delivered by facsimile) to the Tax Matters Member within twenty (20) days of the date that such Member receives a draft of such return. If a “notice partner” Member does not approve of any proposed filing of a return by the Tax Matters Member, such Member and the Tax Matters Member shall seek, in good faith, to resolve their disagreement. If a “notice partner” Member and the Tax Matters Member cannot resolve their disagreement within ten (10) days of receipt of the “notice partner” Member’s written objection by the Tax Matters Member, either of such Member or the Tax Matters Member may request, in writing with a copy sent to the other Member, that the disagreement be resolved by the Company’s independent public accountants and the independent public accountants shall be instructed to resolve the dispute in such manner as they believe will properly maximize, in the aggregate, the United States federal, state and local income tax advantages and will properly minimize, in the aggregate, the United States federal, state, and local income tax detriments, available to the Company’s Members. The independent public accountants shall provide their written resolution of the disagreement to both the “notice partner” Member and the Tax Matters Member within fifteen (15) days from the date that the independent public accountants were requested to resolve such disagreement. Any and all other tax returns shall be prepared in a manner directed by the Tax Matters Member consistent with the terms of this Agreement. Each Member shall provide such information, if any, as may be reasonably requested by the Company for purposes of preparing such tax and information returns.

 

 

(ii)       The Tax Matters Member shall furnish a copy of all filed domestic and foreign tax returns and information returns for the Company to each of the Members. In addition, (A) within seventy five (75) days following the end of each fiscal year (and as otherwise required by Applicable Law), the Company shall furnish each Member with all information relating to the Company required to be reported in any United States federal, state or local tax return of such Member, including a report indicating such Member’s allocable share for United States federal income tax purposes of the Company’s income, gain, credits, losses and deductions, and including a Schedule K-1, and (B) within thirty (30)    days following the end of each fiscal quarter, the Company shall furnish each Member with a report of such Member’s allocable share of the Company’s estimated quarterly income for purposes of making estimated tax payments.

 

 (iii)       The Members agree that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes. The Members agree to (A) approve electing partnership status with respect to the Company with the United States Internal Revenue Service and such other state and local taxing authorities as may be appropriate and to cooperate in providing all consents, signatures, documents and such other information as may be required with respect thereto and (B) report all “partnership items” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(3) of the Code) of the Company consistent with such classification of the Company for United States federal, state and local tax purposes and with the returns filed by the Company; provided, however, that if any Member intends to file a notice of inconsistent treatment under Section 6222(b) of the Code, such Member shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to the filing of such notice, notify in writing the other Members of such intent and such Member’s intended treatment of the item which is (or may be) inconsistent with the treatment of that item by the Company.

 

  

(d)          Tax Audits. American III, for so long as it is a Member and, thereafter, the Manager shall be the “tax matters partner” of the Company, as that term is defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “Tax Matters Member”), with all of the rights, duties and powers provided for in sections 6221 through 6232, inclusive, of the Code, provided that the Tax Matters Member shall not pay or agree to pay (or make any agreement that would cause a Member to pay) any audit assessment, or any amount in settlement or compromise of any litigation, in respect of income tax liability of the Members attributable to the Interests in the Company, in excess of $500,000 in any one instance or series of related instances, unless approved by each Member whose financial interest in such matter exceeds $100,000 individually or in the aggregate. The Tax Matters Member, as an authorized representative of the Company, shall direct the defense of any tax claims made by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing jurisdiction to the extent that such claims relate to adjustment of Company items at the Company level and, in connection therewith, shall retain and cause the Company to pay the fees and expenses of counsel and other advisors chosen by the Tax Matters Member. The Tax Matters Member shall also be responsible for timely filing all elections made by the Company, subject to any applicable approval requirements set forth in this Agreement. The Tax Matters Member shall deliver to each Member and the Manager a semi-annual report on the status of all tax audits and open tax years relating to the Company, and shall consult with and keep all Members and the Manager advised of all significant developments in such matters coming to the attention of the Tax Matters Member. All reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Tax Matters Member and its Affiliates and other reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such defense shall be borne by the Company (it being understood that the Tax Matters Member shall not receive any compensation from the Company for acting in such capacity). Except as provided in ARTICLE 12, neither the Tax Matters Member nor the Company shall be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties payable by a Member or any costs of separate counsel chosen by such Member to represent the Member with respect to any aspect of such defense. The Tax Matters Member shall take any steps necessary pursuant to Section 6223(a) to designate American III and SNR as a “notice partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code). In addition, nothing in this Agreement is intended to waive any rights, including rights to participate in administrative and judicial proceedings, that a Member may have under Section 6221 through 6233 of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 5.5(c) and Section 5.5(d) shall survive the dissolution of the Company or the termination of any Member’s interest in the Company and shall remain binding on all Members for a period of time necessary to resolve with the United States Internal Revenue Service or any applicable state or local taxing authority all matters (including litigation) regarding the United States Federal, state and local income taxation, as the case may be, of the Company or any Member with respect to the Company.

  

(e)          Withholding

 

(i)          The Company shall comply with all withholding requirements under applicable United States federal, state, local and foreign tax laws and shall remit amounts withheld to, and file required forms with, the applicable taxing authorities. To the extent that the Company withholds and pays over any amounts to any taxing authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Member, the amount withheld shall be charged to the Capital Account of such Member. The Company shall notify each of the Members of any withholding with respect to such Member, designating such Member’s allocable share of such withholding tax. The Members hereby agree that they will not claim a credit in excess of the amount in such notice.

 

(ii)              In the event of any claimed over-withholding by the Company, the Member shall have no rights against the Company or any other Member. Anything in the previous sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Company is required to take any action in order to secure a refund or credit for the benefit of a Member in respect of any amount withheld by it, it shall take any such action including applying for such refund on behalf of the Member and paying it over to such Member.

 

 

(iii)             Except in the case of withholding pursuant to Section 1446 of the Code, if any amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual distributions that would have otherwise been made to a Member, the Company shall require the Member to which the withholding was credited to reimburse the Company for such withholding; provided that in the case of withholding pursuant to Section 1446 of the Code, no such reimbursement shall be necessary as long as the other Members are subject to withholding in amounts proportionate to their Capital Accounts or otherwise receive a distribution of an equivalent amount.

 

(iv)             In the event of any under-withholding by the Company, each Member agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Tax Matters Member from and against any liability, including interest and penalties, with respect thereto.

 

(v)              Each Member agrees to furnish the Company with any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Company to assist the Company in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, the Company’s withholding obligations.

 

(vi)              Upon the request of any Member, the Company shall make any filings, applications or elections to obtain any available exemption from, or any available refund of, any withholding or similar taxes imposed by any non-United States (whether sovereign or local) taxing authority with respect to amounts distributable or items of income allocable to such Member hereunder. Such Member shall cooperate with the Company in making any such filings, applications or elections to the extent the Company reasonably determines that such cooperation is necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Member must make any such filings, applications or elections directly, the Company, at the request of such Member, shall provide such information and take such other action as may reasonably be necessary to complete or make such filings, applications or elections.

 

ARTICLE 6

MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.1     Manager

 

The Manager at all times shall exercise control over the Company in compliance with FCC Rules. The Manager shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, have the exclusive right and power to manage, operate and control the Company and to make all decisions necessary or appropriate to carry on the business and affairs of the Company, including the authority to appoint, promote, demote and terminate executives who oversee the day-to-day activities of the Company and to select the financial institutions from which the Company may borrow money. In addition to the specific rights and powers herein granted to the Manager, the Manager shall possess and enjoy and may exercise all the rights and powers of a manager within the meaning of Section 18-101(10) of the Act, including the full and exclusive power and authority to act for and to bind the Company, but subject to the limitations of this Agreement. In addition to any other rights and powers that the Manager may possess, the Manager shall have all specific rights and powers required or appropriate for the day-to-day management of the Company’s business, which shall be managed by experienced professionals in accordance with the standards of first- rate operators of wireless communications companies. Except as determined by the Manager pursuant to this Agreement, no Member or representative shall have any right or authority to take any action on behalf of the Company with respect to third parties or to bind the Company.

  

 

Section 6.2     Removal of Manager

 

(a)           Removal of Manager

 

Subject to FCC approval, if required, SNR shall be removed as the Manager, and the management of the Company shall be transferred to a successor Manager in accordance with Section 6.2(b) and Section 6.2(c) if SNR (i) is unwilling or unable to serve as the Manager, (ii) would not be considered a Qualified Person if SNR itself were the applicant or licensee, as the case may be, in respect of the licenses held by the License Company or its Subsidiaries at any time prior to the fifth anniversary of the last Initial Grant Date and such failure is reasonably likely to materially impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits or result in the revocation or non-renewal of any license, or (iii) commits a Significant Breach at any time.

 

(b)          Successor Manager

 

If SNR is removed as the Manager pursuant to Section 6.2(a), the management of the Company shall be transferred to a successor Manager, which shall (i) be, if then required in order for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain the Auction Benefits, a Qualified Person, provided that SNR shall in no way be liable to the Company or to any other Member for the failure of any successor Manager to be a Qualified Person, and (ii) be subject to the prior approval of American III. SNR (or, if it fails to do so, the other Members by affirmative vote of a majority of Class B Percentages not held by SNR) shall designate the successor Manager as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days after notice from any other Member that one or more of the events specified in Section 6.2(a) has occurred. SNR shall continue to act as Manager until the successor Manager assumes the management of the Company. SNR shall take whatever steps are commercially reasonable to assist the successor Manager in assuming the management of the Company, including transferring to the successor Manager all historical financial, tax, accounting and other data and records in the possession of SNR, and giving such consents, assigning such permits and executing such instruments as may be necessary to vest in the successor Manager those rights that were necessary for SNR to perform its obligations.

 

(c)           Dispute Resolution

 

Any dispute over the removal of SNR as the Manager pursuant to Section 6.2(a) shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with Section 10.3; provided that (i) the arbitrators shall be instructed to render their decision within thirty (30) days after the commencement of any such proceeding and (ii) the losing Member shall pay the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses of the prevailing Member in connection with the proceeding.

  

 

Section 6.3     Supermajority Approval Rights

 

In addition to the approval of the Manager, Significant Matters shall require the prior written approval of American III, in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason; provided that no such approval shall be required solely with respect to the purchase and sale of Interests pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Interest Purchase Agreement or pursuant to the Put Right; provided, further, that transfers of assets of the License Company (other than the membership interests of any Subsidiaries that do not hold licenses) or of any of its Subsidiaries solely for the purpose of generating the funds required to satisfy the obligations of the Company under the Put Right or of the License Company and its Subsidiaries that are then due and payable under the Interest Purchase Agreement shall cease to require the approval of American III under any clause of the definition of Significant Matter at such time, subject to the provisions of the Senior Credit Facility and the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement.

 

Section 6.4     Separateness Covenants

 

(a)           SNR shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) to the extent that such entities have one or more deposit accounts, each maintain its own deposit account or accounts, separate from the accounts of American III and its Subsidiaries and joint ventures, with commercial banking institutions, and (ii) not commingle their funds with those of American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures;

 

(b)           SNR shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain separate addresses from the addresses of American III and its Subsidiaries and joint ventures, or to the extent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may have offices in the same location as American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures, to maintain a fair and appropriate allocation of overhead costs among them, with each such entity bearing its fair share of such expense;

 

(c)           SNR shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to issue, and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall issue, quarterly and annual consolidated financial statements from time to time as required by Section 5.4(a);

 

(d)          SNR shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) each maintain its separate status as a limited liability company and (ii) each conduct its affairs in accordance with its certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement and observe all necessary, appropriate and customary company formalities, including, but not limited to, holding all regular and special members’ and managers’ meetings appropriate to authorize company action, keeping separate and accurate minutes of its meetings, passing all resolutions or consents necessary to authorize actions taken or to be taken, and maintaining accurate and separate books, records and accounts, including, but not limited to, payroll and intercompany transaction accounts, to the extent applicable;

 

(e)           SNR shall not permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) assume or guarantee any of the liabilities of, or pledge any of its assets as security for the liabilities of, American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures, or (ii) hold out the credit of American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures as being able to satisfy the obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (which shall be deemed not to refer to any disclosure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any capital contributions or loans that American III or any of its Subsidiaries is required to make to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any other obligations that American III or any of its Subsidiaries is required to perform for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), except with respect to any guarantees or assumptions of indebtedness or other liabilities that have been expressly agreed to by American III or any of its Subsidiaries in writing;

 

 

(f)           SNR shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries not to, and the Company shall not and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, authorize the use of its name or trademarks or service marks by American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures, except pursuant to a written license agreement;

 

(g)           SNR shall not permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to conduct its own business with suppliers of goods and services, lenders or purchasers of securities in the name of American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures. SNR further acknowledges that it shall have no right to conduct any business in the name of American III or on behalf of American III unless specifically authorized herein; and

 

(h)          If SNR or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries obtains actual knowledge that American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures has represented or indicated to any supplier of goods and services to, lender to or purchaser of securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that the credit of American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures is available to satisfy the obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (which shall be deemed not to refer to any disclosure by American III or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures of any capital contributions or loans that American III or any of its Subsidiaries is required to make to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any other obligations that American III or any of its Subsidiaries is required to perform for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), other than with respect to any guarantees or assumptions of indebtedness or other liabilities that have been expressly agreed to by American III or any of its Subsidiaries in writing, then SNR shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, provide written notice to any person to whom such representation or indication was made to make clear that the credit of American III and its Subsidiaries and joint ventures is not available to satisfy the obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than with respect to any guarantees or assumptions of indebtedness or other liabilities that have been expressly agreed to by American III or any of its Subsidiaries in writing.

 

Section 6.5     Business Plans and Budgets

 

(a)       Five-Year Business Plan

 

On September 12, 2014, the Manager adopted the initial five-year high-level business plan (the “Five-Year Business Plan”) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which Five-Year Business Plan includes business forecasts, appropriate explanations of the Manager’s strategy, with details of assumptions used, and the general goals and parameters for the Business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries consistent with good business practice in the wireless broadband or communications industry. The Manager shall update the Five-Year Business Plan to address the next five-year period which update shall be distributed to American III not later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of the fifth fiscal year covered by the Five-Year Business Plan. In addition, the Manager may, from time to time, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, modify the Five-Year Business Plan to reflect any material changes affecting the Company and its Subsidiaries or their Business, including changes in availability of capital (including under the Senior Credit Facility).

  

 

(b)           Annual Business Plans and Budgets

 

The Manager shall prepare and adopt a detailed annual Business Plan and detailed annual budget no later than ninety (90) days following the Initial Grant Date. Each such annual Business Plan shall set forth the business and operational parameters and objectives for such year, including appropriate explanations of the Manager’s strategy. Each such budget shall include, without limitation, a detailed breakdown of the following, together with the details of the material assumptions used, for the Company and its Subsidiaries: (i) monthly revenue, operating expenses and interest expenses; (ii) quarterly capital expenditures and cash flow; (iii) balance sheet and income statement; and (iv) expected funding requirements and the methods of meeting such requirements. In addition, the Manager may, from time to time, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, modify the annual Business Plan and budget to reflect any modification made to the Five-Year Business Plan in accordance with Section 6.5(a).

 

(c)           No Other Business Plans or Budgets

 

No Business Plans or budgets shall be adopted except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.5.

 

Section 6.6     Management Fees

 

If the License Company acquires one or more licenses in the Auction (and American III has not been relieved of its obligation to make its capital contribution pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.2(c)(ii)), for so long as SNR continues to serve as the Manager, the Company shall cause the License Company to pay a management fee to SNR, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, equal to $500,000 per year (the “Management Fee”), payable in quarterly installments in arrears. It is and has always been the understanding of the parties hereto that the Management Fee is payable solely for the Manager’s management of the License Company’s assets, and not for salaries. To the extent that the Manager and/or the Company need to hire employees or consultants in order to perform services which are Manager’s responsibility pursuant to Section 6.1, the cost of such employees or consultants are not payable out of the Management Fee.

 

 

ARTICLE 7

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

 

No Member may Transfer all or any part of its Interests, including interests in any of its Subsidiaries that directly or indirectly own Interests, except in compliance with the following provisions of this ARTICLE 7.

 

Section 7.1     Restrictions

 

(a)           Transfers by Certain Members

 

The Members (other than American III) may Transfer Interests (i) at any time after the Initial Grant Date, to one or more Permitted Transferees; (ii) during the five (5) years after the Initial Grant Date with the consent of American III, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; (iii) to the License Company pursuant to the Interest Purchase Agreement or to the Company pursuant to ARTICLE 8 without the consent of American III but subject to Section 7.1(d); and (iv) following the fifth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date without the consent of American III, but in each case subject to Section 7.3(e) and the other provisions of this ARTICLE 7. American III may not Transfer all or a majority of its Interests until after the Initial Grant Date, and thereafter may Transfer all or a majority of its Interests to a creditworthy transferee, but only if the transferee thereof either (x) agrees to assume in a written agreement reasonably acceptable to SNR (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) American III’s obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement and all related agreements and agrees to be bound by the provisions thereof as if an original party thereto or (y) agrees to provide at least the same level of financing to the Company, the License Company and its Subsidiaries as available to them under the Senior Credit Facility on terms and conditions which are acceptable to SNR; provided that if the terms and conditions, individually and in the aggregate, are, in the reasonable judgment of SNR, no less favorable to SNR, the Company, the License Company and its Subsidiaries as those set forth in the Senior Credit Facility, the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement and such related agreements (including the priority of Liens set forth therein), then SNR shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay such consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the close of the Auction, the Manager may admit as new, non-controlling members of the Manager, one or more Persons to provide additional capital to the Manager, subject to American III’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and provided that such action does not result in SNR failing to qualify as a “very small business” as required by Section 11.3(a)(iii) of this Agreement.

 

(b)           No Transfer of Right to Manage

 

The right to manage the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall not be transferable with the Interests of SNR without the prior written consent of American III. Accordingly, subject to Section 7.1(a), if SNR Transfers twenty-five percent (25%) or more of its Interests (other than a Transfer of one hundred percent of SNR’s Interests to a Permitted Transferee), then, subject to FCC approval, the right to manage the Company shall be transferred to a successor Manager, which shall (i) be, if then required in order for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain the Auction Benefits, a Qualified Person; (ii) not be a competitor or an Affiliate of a competitor of American III (as determined by American III in its sole and absolute discretion) or its Affiliates and (iii) be subject to the prior written approval of American III.

 

(c)           No Transfers to Competitors

 

So long as American III owns an Interest, the Members other than American III may not Transfer any or all of their Interests to a competitor of American III or its Affiliates, or an Affiliate of any such competitor, without American III’s prior written consent, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion.

  

  

(d)           FCC      Compliance

 

All Transfers of Interests are subject to and must comply with all applicable FCC Rules.

 

Section 7.2     Exceptions

 

(a)           Transfers by Members of SNR

 

The provisions of Section 7.1 (other than Section 7.1(d)) shall not apply to (i) the Private Equity Investors, except with respect to Transfers of their interests in SNR, whether held directly by the Private Equity Investors or through one or more intermediaries (it being understood that this exception is intended to restrict Transfers of interests in SNR effected by the Private Equity Investors themselves and their Subsidiaries, rather than Transfers effected by direct and indirect owners of interests in the Private Equity Investors) and (ii) Transfers (except with respect to Transfers of their interests in SNR) or issuances of the Equity Interests of any other member of SNR, unless such Transfer results in a Change of Control of SNR or would impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits.

 

(b)          Transfers by American III Members

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to the provisions of Section 14.3, the restrictions set forth in Section 7.1 (other than Section 7.1(d)) shall not apply to (i) Transfers of Interests in the Company held by American III (or its Permitted Transferees) to any Affiliate of American III or (ii) Transfers of direct or indirect interests in American III or its Affiliates. In addition, American III (or its Permitted Transferees) may collaterally assign its Interests in the Company to any secured lender of American III or its Affiliates, and American III (or its Permitted Transferees) may Transfer its Interests in the Company held by American III (or its Permitted Transferees) at any time in accordance with Section 14.3.

 

(c)           Pledges by Certain Members

 

The members of SNR may pledge their Equity Interests in SNR to secure loans, provided that any such pledge and its terms (A) shall be subject to the prior approval of American III (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but solely with respect to compliance of any such pledge and its terms with FCC Rules, including with respect to the matters set forth in clause (B) below, and (B) shall in no event permit the lender to take any action that would impair the eligibility of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to hold any of the licenses won in the Auction or that could result in the License Company or any Subsidiary losing any Auction Benefits.

 

Section 7.3     [Intentionally omitted.]

 

(a)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(b)

[Intentionally omitted.]

  

 

(c)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(d)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(e)

Assumption of Agreements

 

At any closing with respect to a sale to a third party, the proposed transferee shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement and any Related Agreements to which the Sellers or their Affiliates are party and shall be bound by the provisions of and assume the obligations of the Sellers under all such Agreements. The Sellers and the proposed transferee shall execute such documents as American III may reasonably request to evidence such assumption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sellers shall not be relieved of any of their obligations under this Agreement or any Related Agreement arising prior to such sale, to the extent such obligations shall not be discharged by the third party.

 

Section 7.4     [Intentionally omitted.]

 

(a)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(b)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

Section 7.5 Substituted Members

 

Prior to any Transfer of Interests by a Member, the transferor shall deliver to other Members a notice setting forth the identity of the transferee, and shall provide such other information as the other Members may reasonably request in connection with such Transfer. A transferee of Interests Transferred in accordance with this ARTICLE 7 shall be admitted as a Member upon execution of a counterpart to this Agreement evidencing its agreement to be bound hereby. Upon the admission of any such transferee as a Member, the transferring Member or Members shall be relieved of any obligation arising under this Agreement subsequent to such Transfer with respect to the Interests being transferred (provided that the transferee shall assume all such obligations), and if the transferring Member no longer holds any Interests, the transferring Member shall be relieved of its obligations arising under this Agreement to the extent provided in Section 14.3. Prior to any Transfer of an Interest or any portion thereof (other than pursuant to the Interest Purchase Agreement or ARTICLE 8) and as a condition thereof, and prior to any admission of an assignee as a Member, the Member making such Transfer and the assignee shall furnish the Manager, and a majority in Class B Percentages of the non-transferring Members, with such documents regarding the Transfer as the Manager or such majority of the non-transferring Members may reasonably request (in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager or such majority, as applicable), including a copy of the Transfer instrument, a ratification by the assignee of this Agreement (if the assignee is to be admitted as a Member), reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Transfer will not cause the Company to be characterized for federal and applicable state income tax purposes as other than a partnership, reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Transfer complies with applicable federal and state securities laws and reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Transfer will not violate the FCC Rules (including adversely affecting the qualification of the License Company as a “very small business” under the relevant FCC Rules if, and to the extent, such qualification is then required for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain any Auction Benefits) or this Agreement.

 

 

In connection with any Transfer (other than pursuant to the Interest Purchase Agreement or ARTICLE 8), the Company shall, at the request of the Member making such Transfer and at such Member’s sole expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be made any filing required by the FCC.

 

Section 7.6     Invalid Transfers Void

 

Any purported Transfer of an Interest or any part thereof not in compliance with the provisions of this ARTICLE 7 shall be void and of no force or effect and the transferring Member shall be liable to the other Members and the Company for all liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) arising out of such non-complying Transfer.

 

Section 7.7     [Intentionally omitted.]

 

Section 7.8     Acceptance of Prior Acts

 

Any Permitted Transferee or other Person who becomes a Member of the Company, accepts, ratifies and agrees to be bound by all actions duly taken pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement by the Company prior to the date it became a Member and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, specifically ratifies and approves all agreements and other instruments as may have been executed and delivered on behalf of the Company prior to such date and which are in force and effect on such date.

 

ARTICLE 8

PUT RIGHT

 

Section 8.1     Put

 

(a)           Put Windows

 

For the ninety (90) day period beginning on the fifth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date (the “First Put Window”) and for the ninety (90) day period beginning on the sixth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date (the “Second Put Window”), SNR shall have the right (the “Put Right”) to require the Company to purchase all (but not less than all) of the collective Interests held by the SNR Members in exchange for the payment of the Put Price in the manner specified in this Section 8.1. In addition, in the event of a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event before the expiration of the Second Put Window, the Company shall be required to provide written notice of such event to SNR and SNR shall have the right to exercise its Put Right during the ten (10) days following its receipt of the written notice of the Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event.

 

(b)           Put Price

 

Should SNR exercise its Put Right pursuant to Section 8.1(a), the collective Interests held by the SNR Members shall be purchased by the Company at a price (the “Put Price”) equal to (i) the sum of all cash contributions made by the SNR Members to the equity capital of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement (the “SNR Capital”), plus (ii) an amount equal to a twenty percent (20%) per annum return on the contributions described in clause (i) above, from and including the respective dates on which such contributions were made until the date the Put Price is actually paid, calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed from the applicable contribution date to the date the Put Price is actually paid, compounded annually, minus (iii) all distributions (other than tax distributions made pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) previously made or deemed made to the SNR Members by the Company (collectively, the “SNR Return”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Put Right is not exercised pursuant to Section 8.1(a) during the First Put Window, but is exercised during the Second Put Window, then the SNR Return shall be calculated as per above, except that (i) solely for the purposes of calculating that portion of the SNR Return generated during the period commencing on the first day after the end of the First Put Window and until the date of exercise of the Put Right, the twenty percent (20%) per annum annual compounded return in effect will be reduced for such calculation period to twelve percent (12%) per annum, compounded annually, and (ii) solely for the purposes of calculating that portion of the SNR Return generated during the period commencing on the date on which the Put Right is exercised and to the date the Put Price is actually paid, the twenty percent (20%) per annum annual compound return in effect for such calculation period will be reduced for such calculation period to the weighted average per annum return on the SNR Capital as calculated as of the date the Put Right is exercised, compounded annually.

 

  

(c)           Option to Require Appraisal

 

(i)            In the event that SNR does not exercise its Put Right prior to the expiration of the Second Put Window, then, for a two (2) year period beginning on the seventh anniversary of the Initial Grant Date, SNR shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require a determination of the Fair Market Value of the Company as of the end of the preceding month (“Appraisal Anniversary”). SNR shall exercise this right by providing notice to American III, which notice shall state that it is notice of exercise of SNR’s right pursuant to this Section 8.1(c)(i).

 

(ii)           In the event that SNR provides American III with the notice provided for in Section 8.1(c)(i), the Members shall thereafter proceed to determine the purchase price for the collective Interests held by the SNR Members. Upon determination of the Fair Market Value of the Company, American III shall have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the collective Interests held by the SNR Members. Such purchase price for the Interests shall be equal to the product derived by (A) subtracting the value of the Liquidation Preference as of the Appraisal Anniversary from the Fair Market Value of the Company as of the Appraisal Anniversary, determined as set forth in Section 8.1(c)(i), and (B) multiplying the result by the Class B Percentage, which product shall in no event be less than zero. In payment for the collective Interests held by the SNR Members, American III shall deliver to the SNR Members cash payable by bank check or wire transfer.

 

(iii)          In the notice referred to in Section 8.1(c)(i), SNR shall set forth its good faith estimate of the Fair Market Value. In the event that, no later than sixty (60) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, American III provides notice to SNR of its agreement to SNR's estimate of the Fair Market Value (the “American III FMV Acceptance Notice”), such determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on SNR and American III (the “Appraisal Option Parties”) as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

  

(iv)          In the event that (A) American III provides notice to SNR no later than sixty (60) days after the Appraisal Anniversary of its rejection of SNR's estimate of the Fair Market Value or (B) American III fails to provide any notice to SNR within sixty

(60) days after the Appraisal Anniversary with regard to SNR's estimate of the Fair Market Value, the Appraisal Option Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to appoint within seventy-five (75) days after the Appraisal Anniversary a mutually acceptable appraiser (the “Joint Appraiser”) for the purpose of determining the Fair Market Value. In the event of such appointment, the Joint Appraiser shall determine the Fair Market Value and submit a written report setting forth such Fair Market Value as determined by the Joint Appraiser, the methodologies for valuation employed by the Joint Appraiser, all information pertinent to the determination of such Fair Market Value with regard to each such methodology and the relative weights afforded to each such methodology by the Joint Appraiser (an “FMV Report”) to each of the Appraisal Option Parties no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the Appraisal Anniversary. All costs and expenses of such appraisal shall be borne equally by the Appraisal Option Parties. The Joint Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

(v)           If the Appraisal Option Parties are unable to agree on a Joint Appraiser within seventy-five (75) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, each of the Appraisal Option Parties shall independently appoint, within ninety (90) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, an appraiser (the “Independent Appraisers”) for the purpose of determining such Fair Market Value. Each Independent Appraiser shall determine the Fair Market Value and submit an FMV Report to each of the Appraisal Option Parties no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the Appraisal Anniversary. All costs and expenses for each such appraisal shall be borne by the party on behalf of which the appraisal is being performed. In the event that the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value are equal, such determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value differ such that the greater exceeds the lesser by no more than ten percent (10%) of the lesser, the average of the two determinations shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that either of the Independent Appraisers fails to make a determination of the Fair Market Value and to submit an FMV Report no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, the determination of the Fair Market Value by the other of the Independent Appraisers shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

 

(vi)          In the event that the Independent Appraisers' determinations of the Fair Market Value differ such that the greater exceeds the lesser by more than ten percent (10%) of the lesser, then the Independent Appraisers shall jointly appoint no later than one hundred thirty (130) days after the Appraisal Anniversary an additional appraiser (the “Additional Appraiser”) for the purpose of determining the Fair Market Value. The Additional Appraiser shall determine the Fair Market Value and submit an FMV Report no later than one hundred sixty (160) days after the Appraisal Anniversary. In the event that the Independent Appraisers fail to jointly appoint the Additional Appraiser no later than one hundred thirty (130) days after the Appraisal, either of the Appraisal Option Parties may initiate an arbitration proceeding with JAMS in the District of Columbia for the purpose of appointing a replacement for the Additional Appraiser. The appointment of such replacement for the Additional Appraiser (who, for the purposes of the remainder of this Section 8.1(c), shall also be known as the “Additional Appraiser”) and the determination of the Fair Market Value and the submission of an FMV Report to each of the Appraisal Option Parties by such appraiser shall occur as promptly as reasonably practicable. All costs and expenses for the appraisal performed by the Additional Appraiser shall be borne equally by the Appraisal Option Parties. In the event that the Additional Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value is no more than ten percent (10%) greater than the higher and no more than ten percent (10%) less than the lower of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value, the average of the three (3) determinations shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that the Additional Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value is no more than ten percent (10%) greater than or no more than ten percent (10%) less than one of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value and is more than ten percent (10%) greater than or more than ten percent (10%) less than the other of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value (the “Non-Conforming Appraisal”), the Non-Conforming Appraisal shall be discarded, and the average of the remaining determinations shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that the Additional Appraiser’s determination of the Fair Market Value is more than ten percent (10%) greater than the higher or more than ten percent (10%) less than the lower of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value, the closer of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value to the Additional Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

(vii)        Any appraiser appointed hereunder shall be a member of a nationally recognized business appraisal organization and shall have experience in valuing wireless telecommunications enterprises. In determining the Fair Market Value, any appraiser appointed hereunder shall determine the value of the Company as a whole and shall not apply any valuation premiums or discounts to the value of the Interests (such as for minority interest, control or lack of marketability). At any time prior to final determination of the Fair Market Value as set forth hereunder, each of the Appraisal Option Parties shall be entitled to submit to any appraiser (and, if such right is exercised, shall also submit to the other of the Appraisal Option Parties) any information related to the valuation of the Company that such Appraisal Option Party considers relevant, and such information shall be accorded the weight that such appraiser deems appropriate. Each of the Appraisal Option Parties shall have an opportunity to comment on all information provided to any appraiser by the other of the Appraisal Option Parties.

  

 

The closing of any purchase of Interests pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) shall take place on the twentieth (20th) day after (i) in the event of determination of the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(iii), the effective date of American III FMV Acceptance Notice or (ii) in the event of determination of the Fair Market Value pursuant to Sections 8.1(c)(iv)-(vi), the effective date of the submission of the FMV Report applicable to the final determination of the Fair Market Value; provided, however, that (i) if the transaction is subject to any prior regulatory approval, then the closing shall take place on the tenth (10th) day following the receipt of such regulatory approval, (ii) if the date of the closing falls on a weekend or on a federal holiday, the closing shall take place on the next regular Business Day, and (iii) if SNR and American III agree to another time for the closing, the closing may take place at such other time as mutually agreed.

 

Section 8.2       Conditions to Closing

 

(a)          The Company’s obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Put Right shall be subject to the satisfaction (or express waiver by the Company) of each of the following conditions:

 

(i)            The parties shall have obtained all required consents, approvals, notices and waivers from governmental or regulatory bodies, including without limitation, any required FCC approval of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right by an effective order, decision, or public notice of the FCC or a duly-authorized bureau or division thereof (or, at the Company’s and American III’s election, within five (5) Business Days after such order, decision, or public notice shall have become final and no longer subject to further reconsideration, review or appeal);

 

(ii)           The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, if applicable, shall have expired or been terminated; and

 

(iii)          At the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right, all of the collective Interests held by the SNR Members shall be transferred to the Company free and clear of all Liens, and the SNR Members shall have furnished to the Company documentation reasonably satisfactory to American III providing for the release of all then-existing Liens on such Interests.

 

(b)           SNR’s obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Put Right shall be subject to the satisfaction (or express waiver by SNR) of each of the following conditions:

 

(i)           The parties shall have obtained all required consents, approvals, notices and waivers from governmental or regulatory bodies, including without limitation, FCC approval of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right by an effective order, decision, or public notice of the FCC or a duly-authorized bureau or division thereof; and

 

(ii)           The applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, shall have expired or been terminated.

  

 

(c)           Each of the parties hereto agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties hereto in doing, all the things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable, in the most expeditious manner practicable, to satisfy the conditions set forth in this Section 8.2 and to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Put Right and this ARTICLE 8.

 

Section 8.3     Closing

 

(a)           At the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid the Put Price, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of SNR (which shall be designated by SNR at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of payment), against execution and delivery by each SNR Member of an instrument of assignment (“Instrument of Assignment”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, on a date not later than five (5) Business Days following the satisfaction (or express waiver by American III) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) and the satisfaction (or express waiver by SNR) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(b), or at such other time and place as the parties may agree. Upon closing of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right, the Members other than American III shall automatically cease to be (i) Members of the Company and (ii) parties to this Agreement, in each case without any further action required of the parties hereto; provided that no such transfer shall relieve any such SNR Member from liability for any prior breach of this Agreement.

 

(b)           The Put Price shall not be subject to any set-off or offset of whatsoever nature.

 

(c)           American III may fund the Put Price through a capital contribution immediately prior to the Closing of a Put transaction.

 

Section 8.4     Terminated Auction Purchase

 

If (a) the Auction is cancelled by the FCC, or the results of the Auction are dismissed in full by the FCC, because of a failure to meet both of the FCC’s aggregate reserve prices applicable to the Auction; (b) the License Company fails to timely submit all of the applications for all licenses for which it was the Winning Bidder (i.e., long-form applications) as a result of any action or inaction of American III or any of its Affiliates; (c) all of the License Company’s applications for the licenses for which it was the Winning Bidder (i.e., long-form applications) are dismissed by final action of the FCC; (d) all licenses for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder and that were granted to, and are still held by, the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries are cancelled by the FCC; or (e) the License Company does not bid in the Auction (including as a result of a termination pursuant to Section 13.1(b)) or is not the Winning Bidder for any license, then, in each instance, the License Company shall apply as promptly as practicable and permitted under the FCC Rules to obtain a refund from the FCC of all of the Auction funds previously paid by the License Company to the FCC for the Auction, and, to the extent that any upfront payments, down payments or final payments for such licenses are refunded by the FCC, (i) the License Company shall, on behalf of the Company, first pay to the SNR Members an amount equal to (A) the SNR Members’ capital contributions plus (B) a twenty percent (20%) per annum return on the aggregate amount of capital contributions provided by the SNR Members from the date of their capital contributions through the date that such return is paid to the SNR Members (or, if earlier with respect to some or all of such equity capital contributions, the date of the return of all or part of any such equity capital contributions excluding any tax distributions made pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), compounded annually, and taking into account all distributions (including any returns of equity capital contributions but excluding any tax distributions made pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) previously made to the SNR Members by the Company plus (C) an amount equal to SNR’s reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and not otherwise previously paid or reimbursed pursuant to Section 14.11 (in the event the License Company does not have adequate capital to pay any portion of the foregoing (A), (B) or (C), then American III shall pay to the SNR Members the amount of such shortfall); (ii) the License Company shall then, to the extent any funds remain after making the payments under the foregoing (i), repay amounts due to American III under the Senior Credit Facility; and (iii) the License Company shall then, to the extent any funds remain after making the payments under the foregoing (i) and (ii), on behalf of the Company, return to the Members (other than the SNR Members) their respective amounts of equity capital previously provided by them to the Company; provided that if the License Company’s applications for all licenses for which it was the Winning Bidder (i.e., long-form applications) are dismissed by the FCC or the authorizations for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder and that were granted to, and are still held by, the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries are cancelled by the FCC as the result of a breach by SNR of its representations or covenants in Section 11.3(a), then the SNR Members shall not be entitled to any payment under clause (i)(B) of this Section 8.4. For the avoidance of doubt, if this Section 8.4 applies, then the rest of this ARTICLE 8 shall not apply.

 

ARTICLE 9

REGISTRATION RIGHT

 

Section 9.1     Registration Right

 

At any time after the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Initial Grant Date, the SNR Members may elect to cause the Company (a) to convert to a corporation (“Newco”) and (b) subject to the following provisions of this ARTICLE 9, to register for sale in an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) shares of capital stock of Newco issued to such Members upon conversion, so long as the anticipated gross proceeds to the SNR Members from the Offering are greater than $1,000,000 in the aggregate. If the SNR Members make such election, the Members and the Company shall promptly take such steps as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the provisions of this ARTICLE 9.

 

Section 9.2     Right to Purchase—Preliminary Range

 

The underwriters of the Offering (who shall be selected by the SNR Members and shall be reasonably acceptable to American III) will, within thirty (30) days after delivery of such election, in good faith establish a preliminary range for the price to the public in the Offering. American III may elect to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Interests of the Company (i.e., prior to the conversion into Newco) then held by the Members other than American III, at a price equal to the midpoint of the preliminary range. If American III fails to make such election, the Offering will proceed.

 

 

Section 9.3     Right to Purchase—IPO Price

 

If the final price per share at which shares of capital stock of Newco are to be offered to the public (the “IPO Price”) is lower than the midpoint of the preliminary range by three percent or more of the midpoint price, American III may elect, within twenty-four (24) hours after the determination of the IPO Price (during which time the registration statement shall not become effective), to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Interests of the Company (i.e., prior to the conversion into Newco) then held by the Members other than American III at a price equal to the IPO Price. If American III fails to make such election, the Members other than American III shall (subject to Section 9.4) have ninety (90) days to complete the Offering.

 

Section 9.4     Right to Defer the Offering

 

If American III determines that a registration pursuant to this ARTICLE 9 would interfere with any pending or contemplated material acquisition, disposition, financing or other material transaction involving the Company or American III or any of its Affiliates or would require the Company to disclose material information that would otherwise not be disclosed at such time (and such disclosure would be prejudicial to the Company or American III), the Company will defer such registration at the request of American III; provided that the aggregate of all such deferrals shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days in any three hundred sixty-day period.

 

Section 9.5     Registration Expenses

 

Except as hereinafter provided, all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this ARTICLE 9 shall be borne by the Company. In addition, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Members participating in the Offering (the “Participating Members”) for the reasonable fees and expenses of one attorney to the Participating Members selected by SNR incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to this ARTICLE 9. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, each Participating Member shall bear the costs and expenses of any underwriters’ discounts and commissions or other fees, brokerage fees or transfer taxes relating to the Interests in the Company or shares of capital stock of Newco sold by such Member and the fees and expenses of any other attorneys, accountants or other representatives retained by such Member.

 

Section 9.6     Registration Procedures

 

If Newco is required to effect the Offering, Newco shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable:

 

(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate form, and thereafter use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and to remain effective and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement until the lesser of (i) such time as all of such securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Participating Members set forth in such registration statement and (ii) ninety (90) days; provided that Newco shall, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish to each Participating Member and American III copies of such registration statement or prospectus (or amendment or supplement) as proposed to be filed (including, upon the request of any Participating Member or American III, documents to be incorporated by reference therein) which documents shall be subject to the reasonable review and comments of such Participating Member (and its attorneys) and American III during such ten-Business Day period and Newco shall not file any registration statement, any prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (or any such documents incorporated by reference) containing any statements with respect to such Participating Member to which such Participating Member shall reasonably object in writing or any statements with respect to the Company, the License Company or Newco to which American III shall reasonably object in writing;

 

 

(b)              furnish to American III and each Participating Member and to any underwriter such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 or Rule 430A under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, documents incorporated by reference in such registration statement, amendment, supplement or prospectus and such other documents (in each case including all exhibits) as American III or a Participating Member or underwriter may reasonably request;

 

(c)              after the filing of the registration statement, promptly notify American III and each Participating Member of the effectiveness thereof and of any stop order issued or threatened by the SEC and take all reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered and promptly notify American III and such Participating Member of such lifting or withdrawal of such order;

 

(d)              use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify all shares held by the Participating Members and other securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Participating Members holding a majority of the shares to be included in such registration or the underwriter shall reasonably request, to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains in effect, and take any other action which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Participating Members to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the securities owned by such Participating Members, except that Newco shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this Section 9.6(d) be obligated to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

(e)              use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Participating Members to consummate the disposition of such shares;

 

 

 

(f)              furnish to each Participating Member and to each underwriter, if any, a signed counterpart of (i) an opinion of counsel for Newco addressed to such Participating Member and such underwriter on which opinion both such Participating Member and such underwriter are entitled to rely and (ii) a “comfort” letter signed by the independent public accountants who have certified Newco’s financial statements included in such registration statement, each in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as the managing underwriter therefor reasonably requests. Newco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such comfort letters addressed to each Participating Member;

 

(g)             immediately notify American III and each Participating Member at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, and as promptly as practicable under the circumstances prepare and furnish to American III and each such Participating Member a reasonable number of copies of any supplement to or amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made;

 

(h)             make available for inspection by any Participating Member, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any such Participating Member or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of Newco (collectively, the “Records”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and shall cause Newco’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors in connection with such registration statement. Each such Participating Member agrees that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed or used by it as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of Newco or its Affiliates unless and until such information is made generally available to the public. Each such Participating Member further agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to Newco and allow Newco, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

 

(i)             use its reasonable best efforts to list all shares covered by such registration statement on any securities exchange or quotation system on which any of Newco’s shares are then listed or traded; and

 

(j)             otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement or such other document that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

  

 

Newco may require each Participating Member to promptly furnish to Newco, as a condition precedent to including such Participating Member’s shares in the Offering, such written information regarding such Participating Member and the distribution of such securities as Newco may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

Each Participating Member agrees that upon receipt of any notice from Newco of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 9.6(g), such Participating Member shall forthwith discontinue such Participating Member’s disposition of shares pursuant to the registration statement relating to such shares until such Participating Member’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 9.6(g) and, if so directed by Newco, shall deliver to Newco (at Newco’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Participating Member’s possession, of the prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto relating to such shares current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event Newco shall give such notice, Newco shall extend the period during which the effectiveness of such registration statement shall be maintained by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of notice pursuant to Section 9.6(g) to the date when Newco shall make available to the Participating Members a prospectus supplemented or amended to conform with the requirements of Section 9.6(g).

 

ARTICLE 10

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Section 10.1     Exclusivity

 

(a)       American III

 

American III’s and its Affiliates’ participation in the Auction shall not be limited in any way by American III’s participation in the Auction through the License Company. Nothing herein shall be construed or interpreted to limit American III or its Affiliates from participating or not participating in the Auction without an investment in a Designated Entity.

 

(b)       SNR

 

None of John Muleta, SNR, or any Affiliates that any of the foregoing control shall participate directly or indirectly in the Auction (including by providing debt or equity financing or other assistance to a bidder) except as a Member of the Company and through the License Company, or the ownership of up to one percent (1%) of any public company.

 

 

Section 10.2 Confidentiality

 

(a)       Non-Disclosure

 

Each party hereto agrees that it shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates, and each of its and their respective partners, members, managers, shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, “Agents”) to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information disclosed to it by the other party or the definitive agreements contemplated herein or through its interest in the Company or the operation of its business or the use or ownership of its assets, by limiting internal disclosure of any such information to those who have an actual need to know such information in connection with the Auction or the transactions contemplated hereby (which shall include disclosure to a party’s attorneys, accountants, potential lenders, lenders, potential investors, investors, financial advisors and consultants), and shall not, without the prior written consent of the disclosing party, use such information other than in connection with the transactions contemplated herein; provided, however, that the confidentiality obligations in this Section 10.2(a) do not apply to information that (i) was or becomes available to the public through no action by the receiving party or (ii) was or becomes available to such receiving party on a non-confidential basis.

 

(b)        Exceptions

 

Notwithstanding Section 10.2(a), any party hereto may disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (i) to federal and state regulatory agencies in connection with applications for approval of such transactions (or, in the case of any regulated Affiliate of a Member, in connection with audits by the applicable regulatory authorities), including to the FCC as part of any application to participate in the Auction and/or any application for a license or licenses won in the Auction, it being understood and agreed that the contents of such applications are generally available to the public, (ii) to financial institutions in connection with financings of the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) if counsel for any party advises that a press release or public disclosure is required by Applicable Law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange, then the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause a mutually acceptable press release to be issued, and in all events the party required to make such disclosure shall be free to do so; provided that in each case (other than clause (iii) above and to the extent submitted to the FCC as part of the contents of an application to participate in the Auction or a post-Auction application for licenses on which the License Company is the Winning Bidder) commercially reasonable efforts are used to seek confidential treatment from any such person to whom such information is disclosed and the other parties hereto are notified contemporaneously of such disclosure; provided, further, that the parties acknowledge that the Bidding Protocol constitutes valuable trade secrets of the Company and is extremely sensitive and confidential, and shall not be disclosed by the parties hereto unless disclosure is compelled by regulatory or other legal process and then only upon adequate prior notice to the other party, which party shall have an opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order, and such disclosure shall be made only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of the regulatory or legal process under which it is so compelled.

 

 

Section 10.3 Arbitration

 

(a)        Arbitration

 

Except as set forth in Section 5.5(c) and in Section 8.1(c)(vi), any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Within fifteen (15) days after the commencement of arbitration, each party shall select one person to act as arbitrator and the two selected shall select a third arbitrator within ten (10) days of their appointment. If the arbitrators selected by the parties are unable or fail to agree upon the third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association. The place of arbitration shall be Chicago, Illinois or such other place as the parties may agree. The arbitrators shall be knowledgeable in the wireless broadband industry and public auctions of FCC licenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the arbitration is consolidated with a then pending arbitration proceeding pursuant to Section 10.3(d), then the arbitrators and the place of arbitration for such then pending proceeding shall be the arbitrators and place of arbitration hereunder.

 

(b)        Interim Relief

 

Either party may apply to the arbitrators seeking injunctive relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is otherwise resolved. Either party also may, without waiving any remedy under this agreement, seek from any court having jurisdiction any interim or provisional relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that party, pending the establishment of the arbitral tribunal (or pending the arbitral tribunal’s determination of the merits of the controversy).

 

(c)        Award

 

The award shall be made within ninety (90) days of the filing of the notice of intention to arbitrate, and the arbitrators shall agree to comply with this schedule before accepting appointment. However, this time limit may be extended by agreement of the parties and the arbitrators if necessary.

 

(d)        Consent to Consolidation of Arbitrations

 

Each party hereto irrevocably consents to consolidating before the same arbitrators any arbitration proceeding under this Agreement with any other arbitration proceedings involving any party hereto that may be then pending or that are brought under the Senior Credit Facility or any other Related Agreement.

 

(e)        Venue

 

Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the United States District Courts located in the State of Delaware for entering of any judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrators; provided that if such courts do not have jurisdiction to enforce such judgment, then the parties may enter such judgment in any other court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

 Section 10.4 [Intentionally omitted.]

 

(a)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(b)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

	(c)	[Intentionally omitted.]
	(d)	[Intentionally omitted.]

 

 

ARTICLE 11

REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS

 

Section 11.1 Representations of the Members

 

Each of the Members represents and warrants to the Company and to each other Member as follows:

 

(a)           It is a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

(b)           It has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a party and each other instrument, document, certificate and agreement required or contemplated to be executed, delivered and performed by it hereunder.

 

(c)           This Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a party have each been duly executed and delivered by it and constitute its valid and binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

(d)          Neither its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, nor its consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under the Related Agreements to which it is a party, shall (i) conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, any provision of its constituent documents; (ii) constitute, with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, a material breach, violation or default, create a material Lien, or give rise to any right of termination, modification, cancellation, prepayment or acceleration, under (A) any Applicable Law or license except as may be provided under the FCC Rules or (B) any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement or other instrument, in each case which is applicable to or binding upon it or any of its assets or (iii) require any consent which has not already been obtained except as may be required under the FCC Rules.

 

(e)           Other than as has been disclosed to the Company and such other Members it has no knowledge of any (i) action, claim, proceeding, investigation or controversy pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against it or any of its properties or assets or (ii) judgment, order, award or consent decree outstanding against or affecting it, in either event that could have a material adverse effect on its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement or to fulfill its obligations hereunder.

 

(f)           It shall have on each date it is required to make a capital contribution under this Agreement cash available to it in an amount sufficient to fully fund such capital contribution.

 

 

Section 11.2 Covenants of the Members

 

Each Member shall (a) timely furnish, and shall cause its Affiliates to timely furnish, such information as may be required to be provided under FCC Rules in, or in connection with, the License Company’s short-form application to participate in the Auction and post-Auction long-form application and associated filings; (b) subject to Section 10.1, not participate, and shall cause Affiliates that it controls to refrain from participating, directly or indirectly, in the Auction or in connection with any other actual or potential bidder in the Auction, to the extent such action would disqualify, restrict or limit the License Company from participating fully in the Auction or otherwise would violate any applicable FCC Rule; and (c) shall take measures to comply with the FCC’s anti-collusion rule at Section 1.2105 of the FCC Rules and the FCC’s anonymous bidding procedures applicable to the Auction.

 

Section 11.3 Representations and Covenants of SNR and American III

 

(a)           SNR hereby represents and covenants that:

 

(i)            it shall cause the License Company to take all actions necessary and proper under FCC Rules for the License Company to timely file the post-Auction long-form application and any other filings required to be filed under FCC Rules in connection therewith or with the License Company’s short-form application to participate in the Auction; provided that the parties acknowledge and agree that SNR’s ability to comply with this Section 11.3(a)(i) depends upon American III’s compliance with its obligations under this Agreement, the Senior Credit Facility and the other Related Agreements, including Section 2.2 and Section 11.2 of this Agreement and the funding obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, and, if American III breaches its obligations (including under Section 2.2 or Section 11.2 or its funding obligations under the Senior Credit Facility) and such breach results in SNR’s failure to comply with this Section 11.3(a)(i), then SNR shall not be in breach of this Section 11.3(a)(i);

 

(ii)           other than as set forth on Schedule 11.3(a)(ii), neither it, its Affiliates, its controlling interests, nor Affiliates of its controlling interests (A) is now, or has ever been, in default on any FCC license and (B) is now, or has ever been, delinquent on any non-tax debt owed to any federal agency; and

 

(iii)          on the Initial Application Date and for so long thereafter as SNR is the Manager and to the extent as may be required under FCC Rules in order for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain the Auction Benefits, SNR shall qualify as, and will not knowingly take any action without American III’s consent to cause it to lose the status of, a Qualified Person, as if SNR itself was the applicant (or licensee).

 

(b)          SNR shall not permit the amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of its certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement, nor shall SNR enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Person that could reasonably be expected to result in a material breach or default of any representation or covenant of SNR contained in this Agreement.

 

 

(c) American III hereby represents and covenants that, solely for the purposes of computing a deemed liquidation of the Company as of the date of the Exchange, the aggregate fair market value of the assets of the Company is at least $4.271 billion as of the date of the Exchange.

 

Section 11.4 Failure to Qualify as a Qualified Person

 

(a)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(i)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(ii)

[Intentionally omitted.]

 

(b)           If SNR fails to qualify and remain qualified as a Qualified Person as required under Section 11.3(a)(iii), whether or not as a result of a change in applicable FCC rules, then the parties shall promptly take reasonable steps to enable SNR to so qualify; provided that the relative economic and other rights and benefits expected to be derived by the parties hereunder are preserved. Should such failure to so qualify have resulted from a Significant Violation, the SNR Members shall be obligated to pay to American III $100,000 (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty).

 

ARTICLE 12

EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 12.1 No Personal Liability

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided by the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Indemnified Person (as defined in Section 12.1(b)) shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being an Indemnified Person.

 

(b)          No Member or its Affiliates, or any of their respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers or partners (each, an “Indemnified Person”) shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Company or to any other Indemnified Person for any act or omission performed or omitted by an Indemnified Person in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, whether for mistake of judgment or negligence or other action or inaction, unless such action or omission constitutes willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. Each Indemnified Person may consult with counsel, accountants and other experts in respect of the affairs of the Company and such Indemnified Person shall be fully protected and justified in any action or inaction which is taken in good faith in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel, accountants or other experts, provided that they shall have been selected with reasonable care.

 

 

Section 12.2 Indemnification by Company

 

To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company shall protect, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Indemnified Person for any acts or omissions performed or omitted by an Indemnified Person (in its capacity as such) unless such action or omission constituted willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. The indemnification authorized under this Section 12.2 shall include payment on demand (with appropriate evidence of the amounts claimed) of reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred in connection with, or in settlement of, any legal proceedings between the Indemnified Person and a third party and the removal of any Liens affecting any property of the Indemnified Person. Such indemnification rights shall be in addition to any and all rights, remedies and recourse to which any Indemnified Person shall be entitled, whether or not pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, at law or in equity. The indemnities provided for in this Section 12.2 shall be recoverable only from the assets of the Company, and there shall be no recourse to any Member or other Person for the payment of such indemnities.

 

Section 12.3 Notice and Defense of Claims

 

(a)           Notice of Claim. If any action, claim or proceeding (each, a “Claim”) shall be brought or asserted against any Indemnified Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought from the Company under Section 12.2, the Indemnified Person shall give prompt written notice of such Claim to the Company, which may assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person and the payment of all of such counsel’s fees and expenses; provided that any delay or failure to so notify the Company shall relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder only to the extent, if at all, that it is prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure. Any such notice shall refer to Section 12.2 and describe in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of the Claim being asserted.

 

(b)           Defense by the Company. If the Company undertakes the defense of the Claim, the Company shall keep the Indemnified Person advised as to all material developments in connection with any Claim, including by promptly furnishing the Indemnified Person with copies of all material documents filed or served in connection therewith. The Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ one separate firm per jurisdiction with respect to any of the foregoing Claims and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such firm shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Person unless both the Indemnified Person and the Company are named as parties and representation by the same counsel is inappropriate due to actual differing interests between them; provided that under no circumstances shall the Company be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one law firm per jurisdiction in any of the foregoing Claims for the Indemnified Persons, taken collectively and not separately. The Company may, without the Indemnified Person’s consent, settle or compromise any Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment if such settlement, compromise or judgment involves only the payment of money damages by the Company (which payment is made or adequately provided for at the time of such settlement, compromise or judgment) or provides for the unconditional release by the claimant or plaintiff of the Indemnified Person and its Affiliates from all liability in respect of such Claim, does not impose injunctive relief against any of them and does not involve any admissions of wrongdoing by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person or any of his or its Affiliates. The Indemnified Person shall provide reasonable assistance to the Company in the defense of the Claim. As between the Company, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Persons, on the other hand, any matter that is not agreed to unanimously by the Indemnified Persons shall be determined by the Indemnified Person that is a party to this Agreement.

 

 

(c)           Defense by the Indemnified Person. If the Company, within twenty (20) Business Days after receiving written notice of any such Claim, fails to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Person shall have the right, subject to the right of the Company at any time thereafter to assume such defense pursuant to the provisions of this ARTICLE 12, to undertake the defense, compromise or settlement of such Claim for the account of the Company.

 

(d)          Advancement of Expenses. Unless the indemnifying party shall have assumed the defense of any Claim pursuant to Section 12.3(b), the Company shall advance to the Indemnified Person any of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any such Claim. Each Indemnified Person shall agree in writing prior to any such advancement, that if it receives any such advance, such Indemnified Person shall reimburse the Company for such fees, costs, and expenses to the extent that it shall be determined that it was not entitled to indemnification under this ARTICLE 12.

 

(e)           Contribution. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the provisions of this ARTICLE 12 shall not be construed so as to provide for the indemnification of any Indemnified Person for any liability to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in violation of Applicable Law or to the extent such liability may not be waived, modified or limited under Applicable Law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of this ARTICLE 12 to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law; provided that, if and to the extent that the Company’s indemnification obligation under this ARTICLE 12 is unenforceable for any reason, then the Company hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution permissible under Applicable Law to the payment and satisfaction of the losses of the Indemnified Person, except to the extent such losses are found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith.

 

ARTICLE 13

DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 13.1 No Withdrawal

 

(a)             Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or as otherwise provided by Applicable Law, (i) no Member shall have the right, and each Member hereby agrees not, to dissolve, terminate or liquidate the Company, or to resign or withdraw as a Member and (ii) SNR shall have no right, and SNR hereby agrees not to, resign or withdraw as the Manager.

 

 

(b)             If (i) there is any generally applicable change in FCC Rules that is effective prior to the date on which the first round of bidding in the Auction commences and that has the effect of eliminating or substantially reducing the Auction Benefits to be derived by the License Company in the Auction or (ii) the first round of bidding in the Auction has not commenced on or before March 31, 2015, then either Member may at any time prior to the date that is two (2) Business Days prior to the date on which the first round of bidding in the Auction commences, give written notice to the other Member that American III shall withdraw as a Member. Upon the delivery of such notice, (A) this Agreement and all Related Agreements shall terminate, (B) the provisions of Section 8.4 shall apply, and (C) American III and its Affiliates shall be free (subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 and such other provisions that survive the termination of this Agreement) to participate in the Auction without further obligation to SNR, the Company or the License Company, it being understood that the rights under Section 4 of the Bidding Protocol shall continue in force and effect in accordance with its terms; provided, further, that if the License Company has made the upfront payment to the FCC, and if the License Company applies as promptly as practicable and permitted under the FCC Rules to obtain a refund from the FCC of all of the Auction funds previously paid by the License Company to the FCC for the Auction, then the amounts due to the SNR Members and American III under (B) above shall not be due until the License Company receives such refund.

 

Section 13.2 Dissolution

 

The Company shall be dissolved upon the written determination of the Manager to dissolve the Company, if approved by American III if required pursuant to Section 6.3, but only on the effective date of dissolution specified by the Manager in such determination.

 

Section 13.3 Procedures Upon Dissolution

 

(a)             General. If the Company dissolves, it shall commence winding up pursuant to the appropriate provisions of the Act and the procedures set forth in this Section 13.3. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Company, until the winding up of the Company’s affairs is completed, the business of the Company and the affairs of the Members, as such, shall continue to be governed by this Agreement.

 

(b)             Control of Winding Up. The winding up of the Company shall be conducted under the direction of the Manager or such other Person as may be designated by a court of competent jurisdiction (herein sometimes referred to as the “Liquidator”); provided that any Member whose breach of this Agreement shall have caused the dissolution of the Company (and the representatives appointed by such Member) shall not participate in the control of the winding up of the Company; and provided, further, that if the dissolution is caused by entry of a decree of judicial dissolution, the winding up shall be carried out in accordance with such decree.

 

(c)             Manner of Winding Up. The Company shall engage in no further business following dissolution other than that necessary for the orderly winding up of business and distribution of assets. The Company’s maintenance of offices shall not be deemed a continuation of business for purposes of this Section 13.3. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Liquidator shall, subject to Section 13.3(a), first attempt to distribute assets in kind if it can obtain the consent of each of the Members and, to the extent necessary, the creditors of the Company. If such consent is not obtained, the Liquidator shall sell the Company or all the Company’s property in such manner and on such terms as it deems fit, consistent with its fiduciary responsibility and having due regard to the activity and condition of the relevant market and general financial and economic conditions. Each Member shall share Profits, Losses and other items after the dissolution of the Company and during the period of winding up in the same manner as described in ARTICLE 4.

 

 

(d) Application of Assets. Upon dissolution of the Company or in the event of a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event, the Company’s assets (which shall, after the sale or sales referenced in Section 13.3(c), consist of the proceeds thereof) shall be applied as follows in the following order of priority:

 

(i)             Trade Creditors. To trade creditors, including Members who are trade creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by Applicable Law, in satisfaction of amounts due and owing in respect of the Company’s ordinary course trade payables. Any reserves set up by the Liquidator may be paid over by the Liquidator to an escrow agent or trustee, to be held in escrow or trust for the purpose of paying any such contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations, and, at the expiration of such period as the Liquidator may deem advisable, such reserves shall be distributed to the Members or their assigns in the manner set forth in this Section 13.3(d).

 

(ii)             Put Right. To SNR in an amount equal to the Put Price, in the event that the Put Right has been exercised pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and has not then been consummated and the Put Price paid to SNR. In order to provide SNR with sufficient time to exercise its Put Right in accordance with Section 8.1, under no circumstances shall the application of assets pursuant to Section 13.3(d) occur, nor shall any allocation pursuant to Section 13.3(e) occur, in each case until the expiration of the ten (10) day period following the notice of a Liquidation Event or a Deemed Liquidation Event given pursuant to Section 8.1(a).

 

(iii)            Creditors. To creditors for borrowed money and interest accrued thereon, including Members who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by Applicable Law, in satisfaction of liabilities of the Company (whether by payment or the reasonable provision for the payment thereof). Any reserves set up by the Liquidator may be paid over by the Liquidator to an escrow agent or trustee, to be held in escrow or trust for the purpose of paying any such contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations, and, at the expiration of such period as the Liquidator may deem advisable, such reserves shall be distributed to the Members or their assigns in the manner set forth in this Section 13.3(d).

 

(iv)           Class A Members. To the Class A Members in accordance with the Liquidation Preference of the Class A Preferred Interests.

 

(v)            Class B Members. Immediately following the payment of the Liquidation Preference to the Class A Preferred Members, to the extent there are remaining funds available for distribution, to the Class B Members, in proportion to the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments for the taxable year during which the Liquidation or Deemed Liquidation event occurs (other than those made pursuant to this Section 13.3(d)(v)).

 

(vi)           Incorporation. In the event the Company is incorporated in connection with an IPO or otherwise, each Member shall receive shares in the resulting corporation based on the amount it would receive in liquidation of the Company pursuant to Section 13.3(d)(iv) and Section 13.3(d)(v).

 

 

(e)             Deemed Liquidation Event. The Company shall not voluntarily effect a Deemed Liquidation Event unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation or other agreement for such transaction provides that the consideration payable to the Members shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Section 13.3(d), and as if the consideration payable to the Members were all assets of the Company available for distribution to the Members.

 

(f)              Amount Deemed Paid or Distributed. The amount of consideration paid by the Company upon a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be the amount of the cash or the value of the property, rights or securities paid or distributed to the Members by the Company or the acquiring person, firm or other entity, with the value of such property, rights or securities determined in good faith by the Manager.

 

Section 13.4 Deficit Capital Accounts

 

If the Company is “liquidated” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), distributions shall be made pursuant to this ARTICLE 13 to the Members who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2). No Member shall have an obligation to restore a negative Capital Account.

 

Section 13.5 Termination

 

Upon completion of the winding up of the Company and the distribution of all Company assets, the Company’s affairs shall terminate and the Members shall cause to be executed and filed any and all documents required by the Act to effect the termination of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 14

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 14.1 Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement and the Related Agreements, together with any schedules and exhibits hereto and thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the Members and any of their affiliated entities with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and all contemporaneous oral or written negotiations, proposals, offers, agreements, commitments and understandings relating to such subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, that certain Appeal Contingency Agreement dated as of October 1, 2015 by and among the parties hereto shall continue to apply, provided, however, that (i) any references therein to the Credit Agreement shall instead be references to the Senior Credit Facility effective as of the Effective Date, (ii) any references therein to the LLC Agreement shall instead be references to this Agreement; and (iii) any references therein to the Interest Purchase Agreement shall instead be references to the Second Amended and Restated Interest Purchase Agreement effective as of June 7, 2018.

 

 

Section 14.2 Amendment; Waiver

 

Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be amended, modified, or waived except in a writing signed by SNR and American III. No failure or delay of any Member in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right or power, preclude any other further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. No waiver by any Member of any departure by any other Member from any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless the same shall be in a writing signed by the Member against which enforcement of such waiver or consent is sought, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice or similar communication by any Member to another shall entitle such other Member to any other or further notice or similar communication in similar or other circumstances, except as specifically provided herein.

 

Section 14.3 Successors and Assigns

 

This Agreement may not be assigned without the prior written consent of all the parties hereto and any assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void and without force or effect; provided that, subject to ARTICLE 7, American III may assign its Interests and this Agreement in whole or in part (provided that American III shall not be relieved of its obligations under this Agreement) to (a) any Affiliate of American III and (b) secured lenders of American III or its Affiliates (as a collateral assignment). Any such assignment shall be subject to compliance with the requirements of all applicable FCC Rules.

 

Section 14.4 No Third Party Beneficiaries

 

This Agreement is entered into solely for the benefit of the Members and no Person other than the Members, their respective successors and permitted assigns, their Affiliates to the extent expressly provided herein, and (to the extent provided in ARTICLE 12) the Persons entitled to indemnification pursuant to ARTICLE 12, may exercise any right or enforce any obligation hereunder, and nothing herein expressed or implied will create or be construed to create any other third-party beneficiary rights hereunder.

 

Section 14.5 Disposition of Interests

 

Upon the sale or other disposition by a Person of all its Interests in the Company, following which such Person and Affiliate thereof is no longer a Member of the Company, this Agreement shall terminate as to such Member and its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 14.3 or Section 14.6.

 

Section 14.6 Survival of Rights and Duties

 

Termination of this Agreement for any reason, and any Member ceasing to be a Member or a party to this Agreement for any reason, shall not relieve any Member of any liability which at the time of termination or cessation has already accrued to such Member or which thereafter may accrue in respect of any act or omission prior to such termination or cessation, nor shall any such termination or cessation affect in any way the Related Agreements or the survival of any right, duty or obligation of any Member which is expressly stated elsewhere in this Agreement to survive termination or cessation hereof. The provisions of ARTICLE 8, Section 10.2, Section 10.3, Section 11.4, ARTICLE 12, ARTICLE 13 and ARTICLE 14 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and any Member ceasing to be a Member or a party to this Agreement for any reason.

 

 

Section 14.7 Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, without regard to principles of conflicts of law provisions of that or of any other state, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

Section 14.8 Specific Performance

 

The Members acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for violations of this Agreement and that any Member may, in its sole discretion, in an arbitration or a court of competent jurisdiction, to the extent permitted hereunder, apply for specific performance or injunctive or other relief as such arbitration or court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement or to prevent violation hereof. Each Member hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law and any other defense which might be asserted to bar the remedy of specific performance in any action which may be brought by a Member, as the case may be.

 

Section 14.9 Remedies Cumulative

 

All rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, shall not be mutually exclusive and shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any one or more right, power or remedy thereof by a Member shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such Member hereunder or under Applicable Law or the principles of equity.

 

Section 14.10 Further Assurances

 

Each Member shall execute and deliver any such further documents and shall take such further actions as any other Member may at any time or times reasonably request, at the expense of the requesting Member, consistent with the provisions hereof in order to carry out and effect the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 14.11 Expenses

 

Unless otherwise specifically agreed to in writing and except as set forth in this Section 14.11, the parties will bear their own costs and expenses (including all legal, accounting and investment expenses) incurred prior to the execution and delivery of the Original Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whether or not the Company acquires any licenses, (a) upon the filing with the FCC of the short-form application to participate in the Auction, American III shall pay or reimburse SNR for all of SNR’s, John Muleta’s, and the Private Equity Investor’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (including any such expenses incurred prior to the date of the Original Agreement) and SNR’s proposed participation in the Auction incurred up to such date, up to a maximum aggregate reimbursement of $200,000 and (b) after such payment or reimbursement, American III shall reimburse SNR, from time to time within thirty (30) days of American III’s receipt of a reasonably detailed invoice from SNR, for all of SNR’s reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and SNR’s proposed participation in the Auction incurred from and after the date on which such short-form application is filed with the FCC. In addition, the Company shall (or shall cause the License Company to) pay directly, or shall (or shall cause the License Company to) reimburse the Members for, the costs and expenses the Members incur (or have incurred) for the benefit of the Company or the License Company in connection with the License Company’s participation in the Auction (e.g., the cost of bidding facilities and related computer hardware and software); provided that such costs and expenses are consistent with the DISH Network Corporation travel policy; provided, further, that the other Members receive documentation of such expenses in a form reasonably acceptable to such Members. SNR shall be solely responsible for any investment banking fees and expenses paid or payable to any investment bank hired by SNR.

 

 

Section 14.12 Notices

 

All notices or requests that are required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be sent by facsimile transmission, or by first-class certified mail, postage prepaid, or by overnight courier service, charges prepaid, to the party to be notified, addressed to such party at the address(es) set forth below, or sent by facsimile to the fax number(s) set forth below, or such other address(es) or fax number(s) as such party may have substituted by written notice (given in accordance with this Section 14.12) to the other party. The sending of such notice with confirmation of receipt of the complete transmission (in the case of facsimile transmission) or receipt of such notice (in the case of delivery by first-class certified mail or by overnight courier service) shall constitute the giving thereof.

 

If to be given to SNR or the Company:	If to be given to American III:
SNR Wireless Management, LLC SNR	American AWS-3 Wireless III L.L.C.
Wireless HoldCo, LLC	Attn: EVP, Corporate Development
John Muleta
Attn: John Muleta
If by overnight courier service:	If by overnight courier service:
200 Little Falls Street, Suite 102 Falls Church,
VA 22046	9601 South Meridian Blvd. Englewood, Colorado 80112
If by first-class certified mail:	If by first-class certified mail:
200 Little Falls Street, Suite 102	P.O. Box 6655
Falls Church, VA 22046	Englewood, Colorado 80155
If by facsimile:	If by facsimile:
Fax #: (888) 804-0321	Fax #: (303) 723-2020

 

 

cc: Venable LLP	cc: Office of the General Counsel
101 California Street	American AWS-3 Wireless III L.L.C.
Suite 3800
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Arthur E. Cirulnick	If by overnight courier service:
Fax #: (415) 653-3755	Same address as noted above for American III
	overnight courier delivery
	If by first-class certified mail:
	Same address as noted above for American
	III first- class certified mail delivery
	If by facsimile:
	Fax #: (303) 723-2050

 

Section 14.13 Severability

 

Subject to Section 14.14, each provision of this Agreement shall be construed as separable and divisible from every other provision and the enforceability of any one provision shall not limit the enforceability, in whole or in part, of any other provision. In the event that a court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal, void or less than fully enforceable as to time, scope or otherwise, the parties agree that such provision shall be construed by limiting and reducing it so that such provision is valid, legal, and fully enforceable while preserving to the greatest extent permissible the original intent of the parties; the remaining terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such alteration, and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 14.14 Reformation

 

(a)           If the FCC should (i) change any FCC Rule in a manner that would adversely affect the enforceability of this Agreement; (ii) directly or indirectly reject or take action to challenge the enforceability of this Agreement or (iii) take any other steps whatsoever, on its own initiative or by petition from another Person, to challenge or deny the transactions contemplated hereby, or the eligibility of the License Company to hold any of the licenses won in the Auction or the ability of the License Company to realize the Auction Benefits (each, an “Adverse FCC Action”), then the Members shall promptly consult with each other and negotiate in good faith to reform and amend this Agreement so as to eliminate or amend to make unobjectionable any portion that is the subject of any Adverse FCC Action (each, an “Adverse FCC Action Reformation”). Furthermore, subject to consent in writing by American III, in the event of an Adverse FCC Action, the Members other than American III (the “Non-American III Members”) shall use their best efforts with respect to all aspects of the Adverse FCC Action to agree upon an Adverse FCC Action Reformation with American III; provided, however, that in the event that an element of any such Adverse FCC Action materially adversely impacts the material economic benefits of the Non-American III Members (each, an “Economic Element”), then the Non-American III Members may use commercially reasonable efforts solely with respect to the Economic Element of the Adverse FCC Action to agree upon an Adverse FCC Action Reformation with American III. None of the parties hereto shall take any action that is reasonably likely to contribute to such Adverse FCC Action.

 

 

(b)           If the FCC should determine that a portion of this Agreement, after having been reformed pursuant to paragraph (a) above, continues to violate FCC Rules, then such provisions shall be null and void and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect, provided that the relative economic and other rights and benefits expected to be derived by the parties hereunder are preserved.

 

Section 14.15 Relationship of Parties

 

Each Member shall perform services hereunder as an independent contractor and nothing herein shall be construed as creating any other relationship between the Members, except as expressly set forth herein. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement will constitute a Member as a legal representative or agent of the other Member, nor will a Member have the right or authority to assume, create or incur any liability or any obligation of any kind, express or implied, against or in the name of or on behalf of the other Member or hold itself out as agent for the other Member, unless otherwise expressly permitted by such other Member.

 

Section 14.16 No Right to Partition

 

No Member shall have the right to bring an action for partition against the Company. Each of the Members hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights which it may have to maintain an action to partition Company property or to compel any sale or transfer thereof.

 

Section 14.17 Construction

 

(a)           The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.

 

(b)          A reference to Applicable Law includes any amendment or modification to such Applicable Law, and all regulations, rulings and other Applicable Law promulgated under such Applicable Law.

 

(c)           A reference to a Person includes its permitted successors and permitted assigns.

 

(d)          Accounting terms have the meanings assigned to them by GAAP, as applied by the accounting entity to which they refer.

 

(e)           The words “include,” “includes” and “including” are not limiting.

 

(f)           Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.

 

(g)          A reference in a document to an Article, Section, Exhibit, Schedule, Annex or Appendix is to the Article, Section, Exhibit, Schedule, Annex or Appendix of such document unless otherwise indicated. Exhibits, Schedules, Annexes or Appendices to any document shall be deemed incorporated by reference in such document. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement (exclusive of the Exhibits, Schedules, Annexes and Appendices thereto) and any Exhibit, Schedule, Annex or Appendix thereto, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

 

(h)           References to any document, instrument or agreement (i) shall include all exhibits, schedules and other attachments thereto; (ii) shall include all documents, instruments or agreements issued or executed in replacement thereof and (iii) shall mean such document, instrument or agreement, or replacement or predecessor thereto, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and in effect at any given time.

 

(i)            The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any document shall refer to such document as a whole and not to any particular provision of such document.

 

(j)            References to “days” shall mean calendar days, unless the term “Business Days” shall be used. References to a time of day shall mean such time in New York, New York, unless otherwise specified.

 

(k)           The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the

word “shall.”

 

(l)            Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it has reviewed this Agreement and that the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement or any amendments hereto.

 

(m)          All section and descriptive headings and the recitals herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement, and no construction or reference shall be derived therefrom.

 

Section 14.18 Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

[END OF PAGE]

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	MEMBERS:
	AMERICAN AWS-3 WIRELESS III L.L.C.
	By:
	By:	/s/ Charles W. Ergen
		Name:	Charles W. Ergen
		Title:	Chairman

 

	SNR WIRELESS MANAGEMENT, LLC
	By:	Atelum LLC, Its Manager
	By:	/s/ John Muleta
		Name:	John Muleta
		Title:	Managing Member
	NON-MEMBER PARTIES:
	JOHN MULETA
	By:	/s/ John Muleta
	COMPANY:
	SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC
	By:	SNR Wireless Management, LLC, Its Manager
	By:	Atelum LLC, lts Manager
	By:	/s/ John Muleta
		Name:	John Muleta
		Title:	Managing Member

 

 

SCHEDULE 11.3(a)(ii)

 

1.

As documented in Letter from Ari Q. Fitzgerald, Counsel for SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, to Jean L. Kiddoo, Deputy Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, FCC ULS File No. 0006670667 (filed Oct. 1, 2015); Letter to Ari Q. Fitzgerald, Counsel for SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, from Roger C. Sherman, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 30 FCC Rcd 10704 (WTB rel. Oct. 1, 2015).

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

INSTRUMENT OF ASSIGNMENT

 

INSTRUMENT OF ASSIGNMENT, dated as of__________, 20__, by and between SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Assignee”), and SNR WIRELESS MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Assignor”).

 

This Instrument of Assignment is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Assignee, dated as of June 7, 2018, by and between American AWS-3 Wireless III L.L.C. and Assignor (as such Agreement may have been or may be hereafter amended, modified, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “LLC Agreement”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth in the LLC Agreement, including the payment of the Put Price as of the date hereof, and other valuable consideration to Assignor, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows (capitalized terms used herein without definition herein having the meanings ascribed to them in the LLC Agreement):

 

1.              Assignment. Assignor does hereby assign, convey, transfer and deliver (such assignment, conveyance, transfer and delivery being referred to herein as “Delivery”) to Assignee, its successors and assigns all of its right, title and interest in and to, free and clear of Liens (other than restrictions imposed pursuant to the LLC Agreement or under any applicable securities laws and other than Liens under or pursuant to the Senior Credit Facility and the other Loan Documents (as defined therein)), its entire Interest in the Company.

 

2.              Representations and Warranties. Assignor hereby represents and warrants to Assignee that, subject to the FCC Rules, Assignor (a) is the sole beneficial and record owner of the Interests being delivered by it hereby and has good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions imposed pursuant to the LLC Agreement or under any applicable securities laws and other than Liens under or pursuant to the Senior Credit Facility and the other Loan Documents (as defined therein)) and (b) has full power and authority to deliver such Interests without conflict with the terms of any Applicable Law, order or material agreement or instrument binding upon it or its assets.

 

3.              Further Assurances. Each of the parties agrees that at any time and from time to time upon the request of another party hereto, it shall execute and deliver such further documents and shall take such further actions as such other party may at any time or times reasonably request, at the expense of such requesting party, consistent with the provisions hereof in order to carry out and effect the intent and purposes of this Instrument of Assignment, and to vest in Assignee, and put Assignee in possession of, all the Interests and any portion thereof to be delivered hereunder.

 

4.              Successors. This Instrument of Assignment is executed by, and shall be binding upon, Assignee and Assignor, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

 

5.              Counterparts. This Instrument of Assignment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

6.              Governing Law. This Instrument of Assignment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, without regard to principles of conflicts of law provisions of that or of any other state, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Instrument of Assignment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	SNR WIRELESS MANAGEMENT, LLC
	By:	Atelum LLC, Its Manager
	By:
		Name:	John Muleta
		Title:	Managing Member
	SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC
	By:	SNR Wireless Management, LLC, Its Manager
	By:	Atelum LLC, Its Manager
	By:
		Name:	John Muleta
		Title:	Managing Member

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.15

 

Document must be filed electronically. Paper documents will not be accepted.		Colorado Secretary of State Date and Time: 06/07/2011 02:35 PM ID Number: 20111330216
Document processing fee $50.00 Fees & forms/cover sheets are subject to change. To access other information or print copies of filed documents, visit www.sos.state.co.us and select Business Center.	$50.00	Document number: 20111330216 Amount Paid: $50.00

 

ABOVE SPACE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

 

Articles of Organization
filed pursuant to § 7-80-203 and § 7-80-204 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.)

 

1. The domestic entity name of the limited liability company is

 

	Gamma Acquisition L.L.C.
	(The name of a limited liability company must contain the term or abbreviation “limited liability company”, “ltd. liability company”, “limited liability co.”, “ltd. liability co.”, “limited”, “l.l.c.”, “llc”, or “ltd.”. See §7-90-601, C.R.S.)

 

(Caution: The use of certain terms or abbreviations are restricted by law. Read instructions for more information.)

 

2. The principal office address of the limited liability company’s initial principal office is

 

Street address	9601 S. Meridian Blvd.
	(Street number and name)

	Englewood		CO		80112
	(City)		(State)		(ZIP/Postal Code)

United States

(Province – if applicable)

(Country)

  

Mailing address	P.O. BOX 6655
(leave blank if same as street address)	(Street number and name or Post Office Box information)

	Englewood		CO		80155
	(City)		(State)		(ZIP/Postal Code)

United States

.

(Province – if applicable)

(Country)

 

3. The registered agent name and registered agent address of the limited liability company’s initial registered agent are

 

Name (if an individual)	Dodge		R.		Staton
OR	(Last)		(First)		(Middle)		(Suffix)

 

(if an entity)
(Caution: Do not provide both an individual and an entity name.)

 

Street address	9601 S. Meridian Blvd.
	(Street number and name)

	Englewood		CO		80112
	(City)		(State)		(ZIP Code)

 

 

Mailing address	P.O. BOX 6655
(leave blank if same as street address)	(Street number and name or Post Office Box information)

	Englewood		CO		80155
	(City)		(State)		(ZIP Code)

 

(The following statement is adopted by marking the box.)
x The person appointed as registered agent has consented to being so appointed.

 

4. The true name and mailing address of the person forming the limited liability company are

 

Name (if an individual)	Ehrhart		Brandon
OR	(Last)		(First)		(Middle)		(Suffix)

 

(if an entity)
(Caution: Do not provide both an individual and an entity name.)

 

Mailing address	9601 S. Meridian Blvd.
	(Street number and name or Post Office Box information)

	Englewood		CO		80112
	(City)		(State)		(ZIP/Postal Code)

United States

.

(Province – if applicable)

(Country)

 

(If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by marking the box and include an attachment.)

 

¨

The limited liability company has one or more additional persons forming the limited liability company and the name and mailing address of each such person are stated in an attachment.

 

5.	The management of the limited liability company is vested in

(Mark

the applicable box.)

¨

one or more managers.

	OR
	x	the members.
6.	(The following statement is adopted by marking the box.)
	x	There is at least one member of the limited liability company.
7.	(If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by marking the box and include an attachment.)
	¨	This document contains additional information as provided by law.
8.	(Caution: Leave blank if the document does not have a delayed effective date. Stating a delayed effective date has significant legal consequences. Read instructions before entering a date.)
	(If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by entering a date and, if applicable, time using the required format.) The delayed effective date and, if applicable, time of this document is/are__________________________  .
		(mm/dd/yyyy hour:minute am/pm)

 

 

Notice:

 

Causing this document to be delivered to the Secretary of State for filing shall constitute the affirmation or acknowledgment of each individual causing such delivery, under penalties of perjury, that the document is the individual's act and deed, or that the individual in good faith believes the document is the act and deed of the person on whose behalf the individual is causing the document to be delivered for filing, taken in conformity with the requirements of part 3 of article 90 of title 7, C.R.S., the constituent documents, and the organic statutes, and that the individual in good faith believes the facts stated in the document are true and the document complies with the requirements of that Part, the constituent documents, and the organic statutes.

 

This perjury notice applies to each individual who causes this document to be delivered to the Secretary of State, whether or not such individual is named in the document as one who has caused it to be delivered.

 

9. The true name and mailing address of the individual causing the document to be delivered for filing are

 

	Strickland		Tracy		A.
	(Last)		(First)		(Middle)		(Suffix)

 

	P.O. BOX 6655
	(Street number and name or Post Office Box information)

	Englewood		CO		80155
	(City)		(State)		(ZIP/Postal Code)

United States

.

(Province – if applicable)

(Country)

 

(If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by marking the box and include an attachment.)

¨

This document contains the true name and mailing address of one or more additional individuals causing the document to be delivered for filing.

 

Disclaimer:

 

This form/cover sheet, and any related instructions, are not intended to provide legal, business or tax advice, and are furnished without representation or warranty. While this form/cover sheet is believed to satisfy minimum legal requirements as of its revision date, compliance with applicable law, as the same may be amended from time to time, remains the responsibility of the user of this form/cover sheet. Questions should be addressed to the user’s legal, business or tax advisor(s).

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.16

 

OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

This Operating Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into by the undersigned sole member (the "Member") amends and restates any and all prior operating agreements effective as of October 5, 2024.

 

The Member having formed a limited liability company (the "Company") in accordance with the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 7-80-101, et seq., as amended from time to time (the "Act") hereby agrees as follows:

 

Name. The Company's name is set forth on the signature page.

 

Member. The Member holds 100% of the membership interests.

 

Purpose. The Company is authorized to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Act and any and all activities necessary or incidental thereto.

 

Member Managed. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Member. The Member will have full power and authority to do any and all acts necessary or convenient to or for the furtherance of the purposes described herein and to approve, execute and deliver any and all agreements, certificates or any other documents for and on behalf of the Company in its full discretion.

 

Officers. The Member or any person that controls a Member (directly or indirectly) acting by and on behalf of the Member may, from time to time, designate one or more persons to be officers of the Company ("Officers"). Any officers so designated shall have such authority to perform such duties as the Member may, from time to time, delegate to them, and to the extent not so delegated or limited an Officer shall have such authority as is typically provided to an officer in a corporation organized under the Act with a similar title. Member may remove an Officer at any time, with or without cause. The Member hereby appoints the individuals set forth on the Officers Exhibit to hold the positions as Officers as set forth therein. Unless expressly set forth otherwise, the appointment by the ultimate controlling parent entity of the Company of a person to one or more of the positions set forth on the Officers Exhibit at such controlling entity (e.g., Secretary), such person will automatically be appointed to such position at the Company without the need for any additional act or writing by the Company or its Member.

 

Banking. The Company is authorized and directed to operate, maintain and close such bank accounts and/or brokerage accounts at one or more banks or similar institutions as designated by the Officers of the of the Company, from time to time, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Officers as may be deemed necessary or required for the operation of the Company'sbusiness.

 

Limitation of Liability. Except as otherwise required in the Act, the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company, and the Member shall not be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation, or liability of the Company solely by reason of being the Member or participating in the management of the Company.

 

Indemnification. To the fullest extent not prohibited by the Act and except as otherwise explicitly agreed, the Member (irrespective of the capacity in which it acts), any and all Officers of the Company, (the "Covered Persons") shall be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses from the Company for and against any loss, damage, claim, or expense (including attorneys'fees) whatsoever incurred by a Covered Person relating to or arising out of any act or omission or alleged acts or omissions (whether or not constituting negligence or gross negligence) performed or omitted by such Covered Person on behalf of the Company; provided, however, that any indemnity under this Section 8 shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only, and the Member shall have no personal liability on account thereof.

 

Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of Colorado, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

Prior Actions. All actions taken by the Company, its Members and Officers prior to the date hereof are hereby authorized, approved, ratified and confirmed by the Member.

 

Signatures. This Agreement may be signed and delivered by electronic means that complies with applicable law. Any counterpart executed and delivered in accordance with these terms will be deemed to have been duly and validly executed and delivered by such party.

 

Signature Page to Follow

 

 

The undersigned being the sole Member of the Company named "Gamma Acquisition, L.L.C." and intending to be legally bound hereby has duly executed and delivered this Operating Agreement effective as of the date above first written.

 

	Member: Gamma Acquisition HoldCo L.L.C.
	By:	/s/ Dean A. Manson
	Name:    Dean A. Manson
	Title:      Secretary

  

Officers Exhibit to Operating Agreement

 

 

Officers Exhibit

 

Officer Title:		Officer Name:
President		Hamid Akhavan
Treasurer		Paul Orban
Secretary		Dean A. Manson

 

Officers Exhibit to Operating Agreement

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.17

 

ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION

OF

GAMMA ACQUISITION HOLDCO, L.L.C.

 

I, the undersigned natural person of the age of eighteen years or more, acting as organizer of a limited liability company under the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act, as amended, adopt the following Articles of Organization (the "Articles of Organization") for such limited liability company:

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of the limited liability company is Gamma Acquisition HoldCo, L.L.C. (the "Company").

 

ARTICLE II

 

The principal place of business of the Company is 9601 S. Meridian Blvd., Englewood, Colorado 80112.

 

ARTICLE III

 

The street address of the initial registered office of the Company is 1900 W. Littleton Boulevard, Littleton, Colorado 80120.

 

The mailing address of the initial registered office of the Company is 1900 W. Littleton Boulevard, Littleton, Colorado 80120. The name of the proposed initial registered agent of the Company in Colorado at the address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

The purpose for which the Company is organized and its powers are as follows:

 

4.1

To engage in the transaction of all business or pursue any other lawful purpose or purposes for which a limited liability company may be organized under Colorado law.

 

4.2

To have, enjoy, and exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges conferred upon limited liability companies organized pursuant to Colorado law, whether now or hereafter in effect, and whether or not herein specifically mentioned.

 

The foregoing enumeration of purposes and powers shall not limit or restrict in any manner the transaction of other business, the pursuit of other purposes, or the exercise of other and further rights and power that may now or hereafter be permitted to provide by law.

 

ARTICLEV

 

The management of the company is initially vested in its sole member.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

The name and the business address of the initial member is:

 

EchoStar Wireless Holding L.L.C.

9601 S. Meridian Blvd.

Englewood, Colorado 80112

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

The Company shall have perpetual existence.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

The Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect from time to time, any person, and the estate and personal representative of any such person, against all liability and expense (including attorneys' fees) incurred by reason of the fact that such person is or was a manager, officer, employee or fiduciary of the Company or, while serving as manager, officer, employee, or fiduciary of the Company, such person is or was serving at the request of the Company as manager, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of, or in any similar managerial or fiduciary position of, another domestic or foreign entity or other individual or entity or of an employee benefit plan. The Company shall also indemnify any person, and the estate and personal representative of any such person, who is serving or has served the Company as man.ager, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent, to the extent and in the manner provided in any article of organization, resolution of any of the Company's members, contract or otherwise, so long as such provision is legally permissible.

  

[Signature page follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and acknowledged the Articles of Organization this 30^th day of September, 2024.

 

Echostar Wireless Holding L.L.C.
Organizer
By:	/s/ Paul W. Orban
Name:	Paul W. Orban
Title:	Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Gamma Acquisition HoldCo, L.L.C. - Articles of Organization]

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.18

 

OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

This Operating Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into by the undersigned sole member (the “Member”) amends and restates any and all prior operating agreements effective as of September 30, 2024.

 

The Member having formed a limited liability company (the “Company”) in accordance with the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act, Colo. Rev. Stat.§ 7-80-101 , et seq., as amended from time to time (the “Act”) hereby agrees as follows:

 

1.

Name. The Company’s name is set forth on the signature page.

 

2.

Member. The Member holds 100% of the membership interests.

 

3.

Purpose. The Company is authorized to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Act and any and all activities necessary or incidental thereto.

 

4.

Member Managed. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Member. The Member will have full power and authority to do any and all acts necessary or convenient to or for the furtherance of the purposes described herein and to approve, execute and deliver any and all agreements, certificates or any other documents for and on behalf of the Company in its full discretion.

 

5.

Officers. The Member or any person that controls a Member {directly or indirectly) acting by and on behalf of the Member may, from time to time, designate one or more persons to be officers of the Company (“Officers”). Any officers so designated shall have such authority to perform such duties as the Member may, from time to time, delegate to them, and to the extent not so delegated or limited an Officer shall have such authority as is typically provided to an officer in a corporation organized under the Act with a similar title. Member may remove an Officer at any time, with or without cause. The Member hereby appoints the individuals set forth on the Officers Exhibit to hold the positions as Officers as set forth therein. Unless expressly set forth otherwise, the appointment by the ultimate controlling parent entity of the Company of a person to one or more of the positions set forth on the Officers Exhibit at such controlling entity (e.g., Secretary), such person will automatically be appointed to such position at the Company without the need for any additional act or writing by the Company or its Member.

 

6.

Banking. The Company is authorized and directed to operate, maintain and close such bank accounts and/or brokerage accounts at one or more banks or similar institutions as designated by the Officers of the of the Company, from time to time, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Officers as may be deemed necessary or required for the operation of the Company’s business.

 

7.

Limitation of Liability. Except as otherwise required in the Act, the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company, and the Member shall not be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation, or liability of the Company solely by reason of being the Member or participating in the management of the Company.

 

8.

Indemnification. To the fullest extent not prohibited by the Act and except as otherwise explicitly agreed, the Member (irrespective of the capacity in which it acts), any and all Officers of the Company, (the “Covered Persons”) shall be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses from the Company for and against any loss, damage, claim, or expense (including attorneys’fees) whatsoever incurred by a Covered Person relating to or arising out of any act or omission or alleged acts or omissions (whether or not constituting negligence or gross negligence) performed or omitted by such Covered Person on behalf of the Company; provided, however, that any indemnity under this Section 8 shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only, and the Member shall have no personal liability on account thereof.

 

9.

Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of Colorado, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

10.

Prior Actions. All actions taken by the Company, its Members and Officers prior to the date hereof are hereby authorized, approved, ratified and confirmed by the Member.

 

11.

Signatures. This Agreement may be signed and delivered by electronic means that complies with applicable law. Any counterpart executed and delivered in accordance with these terms will be deemed to have been duly and validly executed and delivered by such party.

 

Signature Page to Follow

 

 

The undersigned being the sole Member of the Company named “Gamma Acquisition HoldCo, L.L.C.” and intending to be legally bound hereby has duly executed and delivered this Operating Agreement effective as of the date above first written.

 

	Member: EchoStar Wireless Holding L.L.C.
	By:	/s/ Paul W. Orban
	Name: Paul W. Orban
	Title: Treasurer

  

Signature Page to Operating Agreement

 

 

 

Officers Exhibit

 

Officer Title:	Officer Name:
President	Hamid Akhavan
Treasurer	Paul Orban
Secretary	Dean A. Manson

 

Officers Exhibit to Operating Agreement

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.19

 

State of Delaware Secretary of State Division of Corporations Delivered 05:04 PM 08/29/2014 FILED 04:47 PM 08/29/2014 SRV 141127462 - 5595378 FILE

 

SNR WIRELESS LICENSECO, LLC

 

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

 

This Certificate of Formation of SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, dated August 29, 2014, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as an authorized person, to form a limited liability company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

 

FIRST:      The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter, the "LLC") formed hereby is:

 

SNR Wireless LicenscCo, LLC

 

SECOND: The address of the registered office of the LLC in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808. The name of the registered agent as such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

-Signature page follows-

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Formation as of the date first above written.

 

	/s/Andrea Barr Cohen
	Authorized Person

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.20

 

Execution

 

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

SNR WIRELESS LICENSECO, LLC

 

This Limited Liability Company Agreement (this “Agreement”) of SNR WIRELESS LICENSECO, LLC is entered into as of September 12, 2014 by SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC (the “Member”).

 

The Member hereby forms a limited liability company pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del.C. § 18-101, et seq.), as amended from time to time (the “Act”), and hereby agrees as follows:

 

1. Name. The name of the limited liability company formed hereby (the “Company”) is “SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC”.

 

2. Purpose. The Company is formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature of the business to be conducted and promoted by the Company is limited to, (a) the business of acquiring licenses in the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) Auction Number 97; (b)   the deployment of such licenses in a manner consistent with applicable law and FCC rules, whether by (A) owning, constructing and operating systems to provide wireless broadband services; (B) entering into one or more joint venture, lease, wholesale or other agreements or (C) any other means, in any case using technology fully compatible and interoperable with the technology or technologies employed by American AWS-3 Wireless III L.L.C. and its affiliates from time to time (without limiting the vendors from whom the equipment comprising such systems may be acquired); (c)  marketing and offering the services and features described in clause (b), including advertising such services and features using broadcast and other media; (d) any other activities upon which the Member may agree and (e) any and all activities necessary or incidental to the foregoing.

 

3. Sole Member. The name and mailing address of the Member is as follows:

 

Name	Address
SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC	c/o John Muleta
	200 Little Falls Street, Suite 102
	Falls Church, VA 22046
	Attention: John Muleta
	Fax: (888) 804-0321

 

 

4. Powers. The Member of the Company shall manage the Company. The actions of the Member taken in such capacity and in accordance with this Agreement shall bind the Company.

 

i. SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC shall be the sole “manager” (as that term is used in the Act) of the Company.

 

ii. The Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be entitled to remuneration for acting in the Company business.

 

5. Capital Contributions. The Member may make contributions to the capital of the Company from time to time. The membership interests of the Company held by the Member will be deemed to be “securities” within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(15) and as provided by section 8-103(c) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware or analogous provisions in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in any other jurisdiction.

 

6. Tax Elections. The taxable year shall be the Fiscal Year. The “Fiscal Year” shall be any year ending on December 31.

 

7. Dissolution. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of the following (a) the written consent of the Member or (b) the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership of the Member in the Company.

 

8. Allocation of Profits and Losses. The Company’s profits and losses shall be allocated to the Member.

 

9. Liability of the Member. The Member shall not have any liability for the obligations or liabilities of the Company except to the extent provided in the Act.

 

10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, without regard to principles of conflicts of law provisions of that or of any other state, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

[END OF PAGE]

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF SNR WIRELESS LICENSECO, LLC

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, has duly executed this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	SNR WIRELESS HOLDCO, LLC
	By SNR Wireless Management, LLC, Its Manager
	By Atelum LLC, Its Manager
	By	/s/ John Muleta
	Name: John Muleta
	Title: Managing Member

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.21

 

STATE OF DELAWARE

 

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

 

OF

 

NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC

 

(Pursuant to Section 18-201 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act)

 

 

The undersigned, as an authorized person, in order to form a limited liability company pursuant to the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:

 

1.            The name of the company is Northstar Spectrum, LLC (the "Company").

 

2.            The address of the registered office and the name and address of the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware required to be maintained by Section 18-104 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act are: Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned authorized person has executed this Certificate of Formation on the 3^rd day of September, 2014.

 

	By:	/s/ Joseph Mignone
		Name: Joseph Mignone
		Title: Authorized Person

 

State of Delaware Secretary of State Division of Corporations Delivered 02:05 PM 09/03/2014 FILED 01:51 PM 09/03/2014 SRV 141136413 - 5596612 FILE

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.22

 

Execution Copy

 

  

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

of

 

NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC

 

by and between

 

NORTHSTAR MANAGER, LLC

 

and

 

AMERICAN AWS-3 WIRELESS II L.L.C.

  

Dated as of June 7, 2018

 

  

THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

 

THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT.

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND ORGANIZATION		2
Section 1.1.	Definitions	2
Section 1.2.	Formation	17
Section 1.3.	Name	17
Section 1.4.	Principal Place of Business	17
Section 1.5.	Registered Office; Registered Agent	17
Section 1.6.	Term	17
Section 1.7.	Purpose and Powers	17
Section 1.8.	Filings	17
Section 1.9.	Sole Agreement	17
ARTICLE 2 CAPITALIZATION		18
Section 2.1.	Capital Accounts	18
Section 2.2.	Capital Contributions	19
Section 2.3.	No Withdrawals	20
Section 2.4.	No Interest	21
Section 2.5.	Interests are Securities	21
Section 2.6.	Certification of Interests	21
Section 2.7.	Failure to Fund	22
ARTICLE 3 DISTRIBUTIONS		22
Section 3.1.	Mandatory Quarterly Distribution	22
Section 3.2.	Non-Liquidating Distributions	23
Section 3.3.	Liquidating Distributions	24
Section 3.4.	Interest Purchase Agreement, Security Agreement and Pledge Agreement	24
ARTICLE 4 ALLOCATIONS		25
Section 4.1.	Profits and Losses	25
Section 4.2.	Losses	26
Section 4.3.	Special Allocations	26
Section 4.4.	Curative Allocations	28
Section 4.5.	Special Allocations in the Event of Company Audit Adjustments	28
Section 4.6.	Allocation of Credits	29
Section 4.7.	Tax Allocations	30
Section 4.8.	Change in Members' Interests	30
ARTICLE 5 ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS		31
Section 5.1.	Fiscal Year	31
Section 5.2.	Method of Accounting	31
Section 5.3.	Books and Records; Inspection	31
Section 5.4.	Financial Statements; Internal Controls	31
Section 5.5.	Taxation	33

 

  

ARTICLE 6 MANAGEMENT		37
Section 6.1.	Manager	37
Section 6.2.	Removal of Manager	37
Section 6.3.	Supermajority Approval Rights	38
Section 6.4.	Separateness Covenants	38
Section 6.5.	Business Plans and Budgets	40
Section 6.6.	Management Fees	41
ARTICLE 7 TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS		41
Section 7.1.	Restrictions	41
Section 7.2.	Exceptions	42
Section 7.3.	Assumption of Agreements	43
Section 7.4.	Substituted Members	43
Section 7.5.	Invalid Transfers Void	44
Section 7.6.	Acceptance of Prior Acts	44
ARTICLE 8 PUT RIGHT		44
Section 8.1.	Put	44
Section 8.2.	Conditions to Closing	48
Section 8.3.	Closing	49
Section 8.4.	Terminated Auction Purchase	50
ARTICLE 9 REGISTRATION RIGHT		50
Section 9.1.	Registration Right	50
Section 9.2.	Right to Purchase—Preliminary Range	51
Section 9.3.	Right to Purchase—IPO Price	51
Section 9.4.	Right to Defer the Offering	51
Section 9.5.	Registration Expenses	51
Section 9.6.	Registration Procedures	52
ARTICLE 10 OTHER AGREEMENTS		54
Section 10.1.	Exclusivity	54
Section 10.2.	Confidentiality	55
Section 10.3.	Arbitration	56
ARTICLE 11 REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS		57
Section 11.1.	Representations of the Members	57
Section 11.2.	Covenants of the Members	58
Section 11.3.	Representations and Covenants of NSM	58
Section 11.4.	Failure to Qualify as a Qualified Person	59
ARTICLE 12 EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION		59
Section 12.1.	No Personal Liability	59
Section 12.2.	Indemnification by Company	59
Section 12.3.	Notice and Defense of Claims	60

 

  

ARTICLE 13 DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION		61
Section 13.1.	No Withdrawal	61
Section 13.2.	Dissolution	62
Section 13.3.	Procedures Upon Dissolution	62
Section 13.4.	Deficit Capital Accounts	64
Section 13.5.	Termination	64
ARTICLE 14 MISCELLANEOUS		64
Section 14.1.	Entire Agreement	64
Section 14.2.	Amendment; Waiver	64
Section 14.3.	Successors and Assigns	65
Section 14.4.	No Third-Party Beneficiaries	65
Section 14.5.	Disposition of Interests	65
Section 14.6.	Survival of Rights and Duties	65
Section 14.7.	Governing Law	65
Section 14.8.	Specific Performance	66
Section 14.9.	Remedies Cumulative	66
Section 14.10.	Further Assurances	66
Section 14.11.	Expenses	66
Section 14.12.	Notices	67
Section 14.13.	Severability	68
Section 14.14.	Reformation	68
Section 14.15.	Relationship of Parties	69
Section 14.16.	No Right to Partition	69
Section 14.17.	Construction	69
Section 14.18.	Counterparts	70

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), effective as of June 7, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), by and between AMERICAN AWS-3 WIRELESS II L.L.C., a Colorado limited liability company (“American II”), and NORTHSTAR MANAGER, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NSM”).

 

WHEREAS, the FCC announced the auction of licenses to use spectrum in the 1695-1710 MHz and 1755-1780/2155-2180 MHz bands in an auction designated by the FCC as Auction Number 97 (the “Auction”);

 

WHEREAS, Congress directed the FCC to promote economic opportunity and competition by disseminating licenses among a wide variety of applicants, including small businesses and businesses owned by members of minority groups, and to ensure that small businesses and businesses owned by members of minority groups are given the opportunity to participate in the provision of spectrum-based services;

 

WHEREAS, NSM includes Alaska Native Corporations formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 who participated in the provision of spectrum-based services to secure economic opportunity for their shareholders, to develop telecommunications industry expertise for and on behalf of its shareholders and to provide innovative new wireless service offerings;

 

WHEREAS, in pursuit of these goals, NSM desired to participate in the Auction together with American II and was awarded certain licenses to use spectrum in the Auction;

 

WHEREAS, License Company, American II and the Company were party to the Original Credit Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to which License Company borrowed $7,370,492,660 from American II and the Company guaranteed License Company’s obligations thereunder;

 

WHEREAS, American II exchanged six billion eight hundred seventy million four hundred ninety two thousand and six hundred sixty Dollars ($6,870,492,660) of outstanding indebtedness owed to it by License Company under the Original Credit Agreement for 6,870,493 Class A Preferred Interests (as defined below) effective as of March 31, 2018;

 

WHEREAS, the FCC issued an order, Northstar Wireless, LLC, SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, Applications for New Licenses in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz and 2155-2180 MHz Bands, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 30 FCC Rcd 8887 (2015), resulting in the denial of bidding credits to License Company;

 

WHEREAS, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC, et al. v. Federal Communications Commission, 868 F.3d 1021 (D.C. Cir. 2017) affirmed the FCC’s decision, in part, and remanded the matter to the FCC to give NSM an opportunity to seek to negotiate a cure of the issues identified by the FCC in its order;

 

  

WHEREAS, as of September 12, 2014, American II and NSM entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement of Northstar Spectrum, LLC relating to the matters set forth herein (“Original Agreement”), which was amended and restated in the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of October 13, 2014 (the “First Amended Agreement”), and further amended and restated in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of March 31, 2018 (the “Second Amended Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the FCC has stated that Baker Creek Communications, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 18709, 18715 (1998), sets forth an illustrative list of typical investor protections, which the Company and American II adopted in the Second Amended Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“WTB”) of the FCC determined that the investor protections rights specified in the application of Advantage Spectrum, L.P. (ULS File No. 0006668843, granted July 5, 2016), did not preclude the grant of bidding credits to that Auction applicant; and the Company and American II adopted materially similar contract rights in the Second Amended Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the WTB expressed concerns with certain provisions related to the sale of NSM’s Interest, sales of licenses, rights of first refusals, tag-along rights, and the Put Right, and American II and NSM seek to amend this Agreement in response to those concerns; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14.2 of the Second Amended Agreement, American II and NSM wish to amend and restate the Second Amended Agreement to read as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND ORGANIZATION

 

Section 1.1.        Definitions

 

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without other definition shall, unless expressly stated otherwise, have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1.

 

“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time.

 

“Additional Appraiser” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(vi).

 

“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in such Member's Capital Account as of the end of the relevant fiscal year, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

 

(i)        such Capital Account shall be deemed to be increased by any amounts which such Member is obligated to restore to the Company (pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the second to last sentence of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) (relating to allocations attributable to nonrecourse debt); and

 

 

(ii)        such Capital Account shall be deemed to be decreased by the items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6).

 

The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted and applied consistently therewith.

 

“Adverse FCC Action” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Adverse FCC Action Reformation” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person that either directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person at any time during the period for which the determination of affiliation is being made; provided, that the Members shall be deemed not to be Affiliates of the Company for purposes of this Agreement; provided, further, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, EchoStar Corporation and EchoStar Corporation’s direct and indirect subsidiaries will not be considered or deemed to be Affiliates of American II. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, American II is not an Affiliate of the Company.

 

“Agents” is defined in Section 10.2(a).

 

“Agreement” means this Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

“American II” is defined in the preamble.

 

“American II FMV Acceptance Notice” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iii).

 

“American II Members” means American II and its transferees.

 

“Applicable Law” means with respect to any Person, any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, Judgment, order, injunction or decree or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by any Governmental Authority, whether in effect as of the date of execution of this Agreement or thereafter, and in each case as amended, applicable to such Person or its Affiliates or their respective assets, including the FCC Rules.

 

“Appraisal Anniversary” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(i).

 

“Appraisal Option Parties” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iii).

 

“Auction” is defined in the preamble.

 

  

“Auction Benefits” means the eligibility of the License Company and its Subsidiaries to hold any of the licenses for which the License Company is the Winning Bidder in the Auction the ability of the License Company and each of its Subsidiaries to realize the twenty five percent (25%) Bidding Credits that it derives from its status as a Qualified Person without the payment of unjust enrichment penalties with respect to such Bidding Credits.

 

“Auction Purchase Price” is defined in Section 2.2(c)(i).

 

“Bankruptcy” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(i)         the filing by such Person of a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, rearrangement, readjustment or similar relief, in any form, of its debts under Title 11 of the United States Code (or corresponding provisions of future laws) or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, or such Person's filing an answer consenting to, or acquiescing in any such petition, or the adjudication of such Person as a bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(ii)        the making by such Person of any assignment for the benefit of its creditors or any similar action for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by such Person in writing of its inability to pay its debts as they mature;

 

(iii)       the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Code (or corresponding provisions of future laws), an application for the appointment of a receiver for the assets of such Person, or an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, rearrangement or readjustment of its debts or similar relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, provided that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such sixty (60) day period;

 

(iv)      the giving of notice by such Person to any Governmental Authority of insolvency or pending insolvency or suspension or pending suspension of operations;

 

(v)        the appointment (or such Person's seeking or acquiescing to such appointment) of any trustee, receiver, conservator or liquidator of such Person of all or any substantial part of its properties; or

 

(vi)       the entry of an order for relief against such Person under Title 11 of the United States Code (or corresponding provisions of future laws) or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law.

 

The foregoing is intended to supersede and replace the events listed in Section 18-304(a) of the Act.

 

“Bidding Credit” means, with respect to any license for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder, an amount equal to the excess of the gross winning bid placed in the Auction by the License Company for such license over the net winning bid placed in the Auction by the License Company for such license.

 

 

 

“Bidding Protocol” means the Bidding Protocol and Joint Bidding Arrangement, dated as of September 12, 2014 (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms), by and among Doyon, Limited, NSM, American II, the Company, the License Company and, for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 thereof only, American AWS-3 Wireless I L.L.C.

 

“Book Value” means, with respect to any asset of the Company, the asset's adjusted basis as of the relevant date for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

(i)        the initial Book Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the Fair Market Value of such asset, as determined by the contributing Member and the Company with the concurrence of the Members other than the contributing Member;

 

(ii)        the Book Values of all Company assets (including intangible assets, such as goodwill) shall be adjusted to equal their respective Fair Market Values (as adjusted by Section 7701(g) of the Code) as of the following times:

 

(A)         the acquisition of an additional Interest by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis capital contribution or for services;

 

(B)          the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of money or other Company property as consideration for an interest in the Company;

 

(C)          the termination of the Company for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 708(b) of the Code; and

 

(D)          immediately prior to incorporation of the Company (however effected, in connection with an initial public offering);

 

(iii)       the Book Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be the Fair Market Value of such asset (as adjusted by Section 7701(g) of the Code) on the date of distribution;

 

(iv)       if the Book Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) above, such Book Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses, and other items allocated pursuant to ARTICLE 4; and

 

(v)        the Book Value of Company assets shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate, to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted tax bases of such assets pursuant to Sections 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (v) of the definition of “Profits” and “Losses” set forth below; provided, however, that Book Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (v) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) hereof is required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (v).

 

 

The foregoing definition of Book Value is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and shall be interpreted and applied consistently therewith.

 

“Business” means the business (conducted through the License Company and its Subsidiaries) of (i) acquiring licenses in the Auction; (ii) the deployment of such licenses in a manner consistent with Applicable Law, including FCC Rules, whether by (A) owning, constructing and operating systems to provide wireless services, (B) entering into one or more joint venture, lease, wholesale or other agreements or (C) any other means, (iii) marketing and offering the services and features described in clause (ii), including advertising such services and features using broadcast and other media, and (iv) any other activities which the Manager reasonably determines to be in the best interests of the Company.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required to close under the laws of the State of New York.

 

“Business Plan” means the Five-Year Business Plan and each annual business plan adopted in accordance with Section 6.5.

 

“Business Purpose” is defined in Section 1.7.

 

“Capital Account” is defined in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Cash Equity Investor” means each member of NSM other than Doyon, Limited, and each such member's successors and Permitted Transferees.

 

“Change of Control of NSM” means (i) any circumstance, event or transaction following which any Person or group (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), other than the members of NSM as of October 10, 2014, and such members' Affiliates, is the “beneficial owner” (as such term is used in Rules 13d-3, 13d-5 or 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) of at least 50.1% of the Voting Securities of NSM or otherwise has the power to control NSM; (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of NSM’s membership interests, business or assets (including through a merger or otherwise); (iii) a change of the sole managing member of NSM; or (iv) any amendment or modification of the limited liability company agreement of NSM which would have the effect of vesting control or management of NSM in any entity other than the sole managing member of NSM.

 

“Claim” is defined in Section 12.3(a).

 

“Class A Member” means, initially, American II as long as it has not ceased to be a Class A Member, and any Person who, at the time of the reference thereto, has been admitted to the Company as a Class A Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and has not ceased to be a Class A Member.

 

  

“Class A Percentage” means, as to a Class A Member, such Class A Member’s percentage ownership of the Class A Preferred Interests as set forth herein. The current Class A Percentage of American II is one hundred percent (100%).

 

“Class A Preferred Interest” is defined in Section 2.2(e).

 

“Class B Common Interest” means the Interest of a Class B Member in its capacity as such.

 

“Class B Member” means, initially, American II and NSM as long as they have not ceased to be Class B Members, and any Person who, at the time of the reference thereto, has been admitted to the Company as a Class B Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and has not ceased to be a Class B Member.

 

“Class B Percentage” means, as to a Class B Member, such Class B Member’s percentage ownership of the Class B Common Interests as set forth herein. The current Class B Percentage of American II is eighty-five percent (85%), and the current Class B Percentage of NSM is fifteen percent (15%).

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Company” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Company Minimum Gain” means the aggregate of the amounts of gain, if any, determined for each nonrecourse liability of the Company, that would be realized by the Company for federal income tax purposes if it disposed of the Company property subject to such liability in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction thereof and for no other consideration. To the extent the foregoing is inconsistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d) or incomplete with respect to such regulation, Company Minimum Gain shall be computed in accordance with such regulation.

 

“control,” “controlled” and “controlling” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Deemed Liquidation Event” means: (i) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company is a constituent party (except any such merger, consolidation, or similar transaction in which the Company’s Members prior to such transaction own a majority of the equity securities of the surviving, resulting or acquiring entity in approximately the same relative percentages after such transaction as before such transaction); or (ii) the sale, license or lease of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions.

 

 

“Depreciation” means, for each fiscal year or part thereof, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such year or other period, except that if the Book Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Book Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year bears to such adjusted tax basis; provided that if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such Book Value using any reasonable method selected by the Manager.

 

“Economic Element” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Effective Date” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Equity Interests” means capital stock, partnership interests, limited liability company interests or other ownership or beneficial interests of any Person.

 

“Excess Cash” means all cash and cash equivalents held by the Company at the time of determination in excess of such amount required for the Company and its Subsidiaries to retain to satisfy the then current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to provide a reasonable reserve for the future liabilities and then current and future operating expenses and capital expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Face Amount” means the Initial Face Amount plus the value of any and all amounts added to the Initial Face Amount pursuant to Section 3.1 minus all Non-Liquidating Distributions paid pursuant to Section 3.2(a) to the Class A Members in accordance with their Liquidation Preference.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, as of the date of determination, the cash price at which a willing seller would sell and a willing buyer would buy such asset in a transaction negotiated at arm's length, each being apprised of and considering all relevant facts, circumstances and factors, and neither acting under compulsion, with the parties being unaffiliated third parties acting without time constraints.

 

“FCC” means the Federal Communications Commission or any successor agency or entity performing substantially the same functions.

 

“FCC Rules” means the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by, inter alia, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, codified at 47 U.S.C. § 151 et seq., as it may be amended in the future, including the rules and regulations established by the FCC and codified in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time hereafter, and effective orders, rulings, and public notices of the FCC.

 

“First Amended Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

“First Put Window” is defined in Section 8.1(a).

 

 

 

“Five-Year Business Plan” is defined in Section 6.5(a), as the same may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“FMV Report” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iv).

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and/or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any government or political subdivision thereof, whether domestic or foreign, including any national, state, regional, provincial, county, city, municipal, local or other governmental department, ministry, commission, board, bureau, agency, regulatory body or authority, instrumentality, judicial or administrative body, having jurisdiction over the matter or matters in question, including the FCC.

 

“Indemnified Person” is defined in Section 12.1(b).

 

“Independent Appraisers” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(v).

 

“Initial Application Date” means September 12, 2014.

 

“Initial Face Amount” is defined in Section 2.2(e).

 

“Initial Grant Date” means October 27, 2015.

 

“Inspectors” is defined in Section 9.6(h).

 

“Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement effective as of March 31, 2018 and entered into by American II and NSM (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms).

 

“ Interest” means the interest of a Member (or a Permitted Transferee of a Member pursuant to ARTICLE 7 which has not been admitted as a Member of the Company) in the aggregate distributions by the Company, and the aggregate allocations by the Company of Profits, Losses, income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item, and all other rights and interests of a Member of the Company.

 

“Interest Purchase Agreement” is defined in Section 3.4.

 

“IPO Price” is defined in Section 9.3.

 

“Joint Appraiser” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(iv).

 

“Judgment” means any judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of any court, judge, justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court, or arbiter, and any order of or by any other Governmental Authority.

 

 

“license” means a license issued by the FCC authorizing the licensee to construct and operate radio transmitting facilities. Unless otherwise indicated, references to licenses in this Agreement shall refer to licenses to use spectrum in the 1695-1710 MHz and/or 1755-1780/2155-2180 MHz bands.

 

“License Company” means Northstar Wireless, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“License Company System(s)” means the fixed or mobile wireless system(s) licensed to, constructed and operated by, or to be constructed and operated by, the License Company and/or any License Company Subsidiaries for the purpose of providing service authorized under a license or licenses in each of the Markets.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any lien (including, without limitation, judgment liens and liens arising by operation of Applicable Law), mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge, right of first refusal or rights of others therein, or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature thereof) in respect of such asset.

 

“Liquidation Event” means a liquidation, dissolution or cessation of the business of the Company.

 

“Liquidation Preference” means the sum of the then-current Face Amount of the Class A Preferred Interests and all accrued but unpaid distributions on such Class A Preferred Interests.

 

“Liquidator” is defined in Section 13.3(b).

 

“Management Fee” is defined in Section 6.6.

 

“Manager” means NSM for so long as it serves as the “manager” of the Company (within the meaning of the Act) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and, thereafter, any manager of the Company duly appointed in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Mandatory Quarterly Distributions” is defined in Section 3.1.

 

“Markets” shall mean the geographic area(s) in which License Company or any of its Subsidiaries is authorized by the FCC to provide fixed or mobile wireless services.

 

“Member” means each Person who has been admitted to the Company as a Class A Member and/or Class B Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and has not ceased to be a Member, in such Person’s capacity as a member (within the meaning of the Act) of the Company.

 

“Member Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Member Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).

 

 

“Member Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4), and generally means any nonrecourse debt of the Company for which any Member bears the economic risk of loss (such as a nonrecourse loan to the Company by a Member or certain Affiliates of a Member).

 

“Member Nonrecourse Deduction” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deduction” in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2). The amount of the Member Nonrecourse Deductions with respect to a Member Nonrecourse Debt for a Company fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt during that fiscal year, reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate amount of any distributions during that fiscal year to the Member that bears the economic risk of loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt to the extent such distributions are from the proceeds of such Member Nonrecourse Debt and are allocable to an increase in Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt.

 

“Newco” is defined in Section 9.1.

 

“Non-American II Members” is defined in Section 14.14(a).

 

“Non-Conforming Appraisal” is defined in Section 8.1(c)(vi).

 

“Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain during that fiscal year, reduced (but not below zero) by any Nonrecourse Distributions during such year.

 

“Nonrecourse Distributions” means the aggregate amount, as determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c), of any distributions during the fiscal year of proceeds of a nonrecourse liability, as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3), that are allocable to an increase in Company Minimum Gain.

 

“Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date” means, with respect to any Non-Liquidating Distribution declared and paid pursuant to Section 3.2(a), the date that such Non-Liquidating Distribution is declared by the Company.

 

“Non-Liquidating Distributions” is defined in Section 3.2(a).

 

“NSM” is defined in the preamble.

 

“NSM Capital” is defined in Section 8.1(b).

 

“NSM Members” means NSM and its Permitted Transferees.

 

“NSM Pledge Agreement” is defined in Section 3.4.

 

“NSM Return” is defined in Section 8.1(b).

 

“NSM Security Agreement” is defined in Section 3.4.

  

 

“Offering” is defined in Section 9.1.

 

“Original Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Original Credit Agreement” is defined in Section 2.2(e).

 

“Participating Members” is defined in Section 9.5.

 

“Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to a Member, an Affiliate, a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Member, and a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Person of which such Member is a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, incorporated or unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

“Profits” and “Losses” means, for each fiscal year or part thereof, the Company's taxable income or loss for such year determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss and deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss) with the following adjustments:

 

(i)         any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

 

(ii)        any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or treated as such pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

 

(iii)       in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, Depreciation for such fiscal year shall be taken into account;

 

(iv)        if the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition of Book Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;

 

(v)        gain or loss resulting from the disposition of any Company asset with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed with reference to the Book Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted basis of such asset differs from the Book Value of such asset;

 

(vi)       to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset under Section 734(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member's interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the adjusted tax basis of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the adjusted tax basis of the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits and Losses; and

 

 

(vii)     such taxable income or loss shall not be deemed to include items of income, gain, loss, or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) (to comply with Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) of the Code), Section 4.3, Section 4.4 or Section 4.5.

  

“Put Price” is defined in Section 8.1(b).

 

“Put Right” is defined in Section 8.1(a).

 

“Qualified Person” means a Person that qualifies as a “very small business” under the terms of FCC Rules applicable to the Auction in effect on the Initial Application Date, including but not limited to Sections 1.2110(b)(1) and 27.1106(a)(2) of the FCC Rules in effect on the Initial Application Date.

 

“Quarterly Distribution Payment Date” means January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year commencing April 15, 2018 (for the period from March 31, 2018 to, but excluding, April 15, 2018); provided, however, if any Quarterly Distribution Payment Date would fall on a date that is not a Business Day, that Quarterly Distribution Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day.

 

“Quarterly Distribution Period” means the period from, and including, a Quarterly Distribution Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Quarterly Distribution Payment Date, except that the initial Quarterly Distribution Period shall commence on, and include, March 31, 2018 and shall end on, and exclude, the first Quarterly Distribution Payment Date occurring after March 31, 2018.

 

“Quarterly Distribution Record Date” means, with respect to any Quarterly Distribution Payment Date, the first day of the month in which that Quarterly Distribution Payment Date occurs. These Quarterly Distribution Record Dates shall apply regardless of whether a particular Quarterly Distribution Record Date is a Business Day.

 

“Records” is defined in Section 9.6(h).

 

“Related Agreements” means the Bidding Protocol.

 

“Required Tax Amount” is defined in Section 3.2(b).

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor commission or agency having similar powers.

 

“Second Amended Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

“Second Put Window” is defined in Section 8.1(a).

 

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Sellers” means NSM and, to the extent applicable, any other owners of NSM’s Interests.

 

“Senior Credit Facility” means the secured credit facility created by that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the License Company and American II, including all schedules, attachments and exhibits thereto and the note, the pledge agreements, the security agreement and the other agreements ancillary thereto, as any of the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their terms.

 

“Significant Breach” means (i) fraud, embezzlement or any other conduct by the Manager related to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries constituting a criminal or other material violation of Applicable Law; (ii) gross negligence, any knowingly dishonest act, or knowing bad faith or willful misconduct (in each case, which has a material negative impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken together as a whole), (A) by the Manager in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, or (B) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance of their respective obligations under any material agreement to which the Company or any such Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound; (iii) voluntary or involuntary insolvency or Bankruptcy of the Manager; (iv) any action or omission by the Manager or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any violation of or failure to comply with FCC Rules) that is reasonably likely to materially impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits or result in the revocation or non-renewal of any FCC license; or (v) any material breach by the Manager of its obligations under this Agreement, unless such breach is cured within thirty (30) days following notice thereof by American II or other Members holding at least fifteen percent (15%) of the Class B Percentages, which notice shall specify in reasonable detail such alleged breach; provided that if such breach cannot be cured within thirty (30) days, then ninety (90) days as long as the Manager is diligently acting in good faith to cure such deviation or failure as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that in the case of (ii)(B), (iv) and (v), such (x) gross negligence, knowingly dishonest act, or knowing bad faith or willful misconduct, (y) action or omission or (z) material breach was not caused (directly or indirectly, and whether as the lender under the Senior Credit Facility or otherwise) or expressly approved or authorized in writing by American II.

 

“Significant Matter” means each of the following matters, in each case to the extent consistent with the decision in Baker Creek Communications, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 18709, 18715 (1998) and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s determination that the contractual rights specified in Advantage Spectrum, L.P. Form 601, ULS File No. 0006668843, LP Agreement – Advantage Spectrum (filed Mar. 20, 2015, Agreement Establishing Advantage Spectrum L.P., By and Between Frequency Advantage, L.P. and USCC Wireless Investment, Inc. entered into as of August 29, 2014, § 5.3), granted July 5, 2016, did not preclude the grant of bidding credits to that Auction applicant:

 

(i)        the reclassification of Interests and the issuance of Interests in the Company directly from the Company to any Person and the admission of any such Person to the Company as a Member; provided, however, that this provision shall not restrict any issuance of additional Class A Preferred Interests in connection with any distributions made to Class A Members in respect of their Class A Preferred Interests pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion, or transfers of existing Interests in the Company, which shall be governed by ARTICLE 7;

 

 

(ii)        setting compensation for senior management (provided that this shall not include compensation that is market-based);

 

(iii)       the incurrence of any significant indebtedness in the name of the Company; the modification, extension, renewal, refinancing or restructuring of any significant debt; the pledge, assignment or otherwise use of any assets of the Company as security for any significant indebtedness or the action to obligate the Company as a surety, guarantor or accommodation party to any obligation or to any other Person (in each case, other than the obligations of the License Company and its Subsidiaries under the Interest Purchase Agreement and the NSM Security Agreement and the related Subsidiary guarantees and security agreement supplements);

 

(iv)       the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the filing of a petition for bankruptcy, the consolidation or merger of the Company into or with any other Person or acquisition of any interest in any other Person or any significant portion of the assets of any other Person or agree to enter into any partnership or joint venture, except in the ordinary course of business;

 

(v)        the making of any expenditure, or the agreement to make any expenditure, which would significantly affect the Company’s market capitalization; and

 

(vi)       the sale, transfer, exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge or assignment or entry into any agreement for the sale, transfer, exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge or assignment of any major asset (where assets include, but are not limited to, licenses), or of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (including assets held by the Company’s subsidiaries) (in each case, other than pursuant to the Interest Purchase Agreement, NSM Pledge Agreement and NSM Security Agreement).

 

“Significant Violation” means (i) fraud, embezzlement or any other conduct by the Manager related to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries constituting a criminal or other material violation of Applicable Law, (ii) gross negligence, any knowingly dishonest act, or knowing bad faith or willful misconduct, (a) by the Manager in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, or (b) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance of their respective obligations under any material agreement to which the Company or any such Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) voluntary or involuntary insolvency or Bankruptcy of the Manager, (iv) any action or omission by the Manager or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any violation of or failure to comply with FCC Rules) that is reasonably likely to materially impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits or result in the revocation or non-renewal of any FCC license owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (v) any material breach by the Manager of its obligations under this Agreement, unless such breach is cured within thirty (30) days following notice thereof by American II or other Members holding at least twenty percent (20%) of the Class B Percentages, which notice shall specify in reasonable detail such alleged breach; provided that if such breach is capable of being cured but cannot be cured within thirty (30) days, then ninety (90) days as long as the Manager is diligently acting in good faith to cure such deviation or failure as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that in the case of any of the foregoing in (i) through (v), such event has a material negative impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken together as a whole and was not caused (directly or indirectly, and whether as the lender under the Senior Credit Facility or otherwise) or expressly approved or authorized in writing by American II or any of its Affiliates.

 

 

“Subsidiary” of any Person means any other Person with respect to which either (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors or individuals having similar functions of such other Person (irrespective of whether at the time interests of any other class or classes of such Person shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) or (ii) more than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests of such other Person is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person's other Subsidiaries.

 

“Tax Matters Member” is defined in Section 5.5(d).

 

“Tax Shortfall Amount” is defined in Section 3.2(b).

 

“Transfer” means any direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means regulations issued by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Code.

 

“Voting Securities” means Equity Interests of a Person having the right to vote generally in the election of the directors (or persons performing equivalent functions) of such Person.

 

“Winning Bidder” shall mean a Person who is the winning bidder in the Auction for a license offered by the FCC therein (i) as set forth in the FCC's post-Auction public notice identifying Auction winning bidders or (ii) by virtue of having accepted the FCC's offer of a license for the amount of its final Auction net bid therefor following the default of the winning bidder for that license described in clause (i) of this definition; provided, that, for purposes of this Agreement, the License Company shall be deemed to not have been the winning bidder for the licenses in respect of which the License Company did not pay the gross winning bid amounts (as more fully described in that letter dated October 1, 2015 from Mark F. Dever (then of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP) to Jean L. Kiddoo, Deputy Bureau Chief, Office of the Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the FCC, and set forth on Attachment 2 to such letter).

 

“WTB” is defined in the preamble.

  

 

Section 1.2.        Formation

 

The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company by filing a certificate of formation under the Act on September 3, 2014. The certificate of formation is in all respects approved and the Members hereby agree to continue the Company.

 

Section 1.3.        Name

 

The name of the Company shall be Northstar Spectrum, LLC.

 

Section 1.4.        Principal Place of Business

 

The Company's principal office and place of business shall be located at c/o Doyon, Limited, 1 Doyon Place, Suite 300, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701-2941.

 

Section 1.5.        Registered Office; Registered Agent

 

The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808 or such other address as the Manager may determine. The name and address of the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware shall be Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808.

 

Section 1.6.        Term

 

The term of the Company commenced on September 3, 2014 and, unless terminated in accordance with this Agreement, shall be perpetual.

 

Section 1.7.        Purpose and Powers

 

The purposes of the Company are to establish and conduct the Business and to do any and all things reasonably necessary or advisable in connection therewith (the “Business Purpose”). The Company shall have the power and authority to take any and all actions necessary or advisable to or for the furtherance of said purposes.

 

Section 1.8.       Filings

 

The Manager shall cause to be executed, filed and published all such certificates, notices, statements or other instruments, and amendments thereto, under the laws of the State of Delaware and other applicable jurisdictions as the Manager may deem necessary or advisable for the operation of the Company and to enable the Company to conduct business in each applicable jurisdiction.

 

Section 1.9.        Sole Agreement

 

The Members intend that their obligations to each other with respect to the Company and the scope of the Company's activities, including any activities of its Subsidiaries, be as set forth in this Agreement, and that no further authority to bind the other or the Company or any liabilities to each other or any third party be inferred from the relationships described herein.

 

 

ARTICLE 2

CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 2.1.        Capital Accounts

 

(a)  Establishment

 

A separate capital account (“Capital Account”) was established for each Member as of the date of the Original Agreement.

 

(b)  General Rules for Adjustment of Capital Accounts

 

The Capital Account of each Member shall be:

 

(i)

increased by:

 

(A)        the aggregate amount of such Member's cash contributions to the Company;

 

(B)         the initial Book Value of property contributed by such Member to the Company;

 

(C)          such Member's allocable share of Profits and items of income and gain allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) or ARTICLE 4 (other than Section 4.6 and Section 4.7(a));

 

(D)          any positive adjustment to such Capital Account by reason of an adjustment to the Book Value of the Company assets; and

 

(E)          the amount of Company liabilities assumed by such Member or which are secured by any property distributed to such Member; and

 

(ii)

decreased by:

 

(A)

cash distributions to such Member from the Company;

 

(B)

the Book Value of property distributed in kind to such Member;

 

(C)          such Member's allocable share of Losses and items of loss or deduction allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(iii) or ARTICLE 4 (other than Section 4.7(a));

 

(D)           any negative adjustment to such Capital Account by reason of an adjustment to the Book Value of Company assets;

 

 

(E)           any amount charged to the Capital Account of such Member pursuant to Section 5.5(e); and

 

(F)           the amount of any liabilities of such Member assumed by the Company or which are secured by property contributed by such Member to the Company.

 

(c)

Special Rules

 

(i)         Time of Adjustment for Capital Contributions. For purposes of computing the balance in a Member's Capital Account, no credit shall be given for any capital contribution which such Member is obligated to make until such contribution is actually made.

 

(ii)        Capital Account for Transferred Interest. If any Interest in the Company or part thereof is Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the Transferred Interest.

 

(iii)       Intent to Comply with Treasury Regulations. The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulation. To the extent the provisions of this Agreement are inconsistent with such regulation or are incomplete with respect thereto, the Capital Accounts of the Members shall be maintained in accordance with such regulation except to the extent that doing so would materially distort the timing or amount of an allocation or distribution to a Member.

 

Section 2.2.        Capital Contributions

 

(a)           Initial Contribution

 

On September 12, 2014, NSM contributed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and American II contributed eight hundred fifty dollars ($850) to the equity capital of the Company.

 

(b)           Upfront Payment

 

On October 14, 2014, NSM contributed Eleven Million Four Hundred Thirty Thousand and No Dollars ($11,430,000.00) in cash to the equity capital of the Company, and on October 15, 2014, American II contributed Sixty Four Million Seven Hundred Seventy Thousand and No Dollars ($64,770,000.00) in cash to the equity capital of the Company, both via direct payment to the FCC on behalf of the License Company. The Company, in turn, immediately contributed such amounts to the equity capital of the License Company, which used such proceeds to make the upfront payment necessary to permit the License Company to bid on licenses in the Auction in accordance with the Bidding Protocol, and the balance of the capital needs of the License Company to fund such upfront payment was funded through the Senior Credit Facility.

  

 

(c)          Auction Purchase Price Payment

 

(i)         On or prior to February 13, 2015, NSM contributed $100,313,836.50 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, and American II contributed $568,445,073.50 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, which contributions were made via direct payment to the FCC on behalf of the License Company, and constituted capital contributions hereunder. For purposes of Section 8.1, NSM’s $100,313,836.50 capital contribution shall be deemed to have been deposited on February 11, 2015. Immediately following such contributions, the Company contributed such cash to the equity capital of the License Company.

 

(ii)           On or prior to March 2, 2015, NSM contributed $20,641,540.88 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, and American II contributed $116,968,731.62 in cash to the equity capital of the Company, which contributions were made via direct payment to the FCC on behalf of the License Company, and constituted capital contributions hereunder. For purposes of Section 8.1, NSM’s $20,641,540.88 capital contribution shall be deemed to have been deposited on February 11, 2015. Immediately following such contributions, the Company contributed such cash to the equity capital of the License Company.

 

(d)          No Additional Commitments

 

Other than as set forth in this Section 2.2, neither NSM nor American II shall be required to contribute any additional capital to the Company.

 

(e)          Exchange of Indebtedness for Preferred Equity

 

As of March 31, 2018, American II exchanged six billion eight hundred seventy million four hundred ninety two thousand and six hundred sixty Dollars ($6,870,492,660) (the “Initial Face Amount”) of the amounts outstanding and owed to it under the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among License Company, American II and the Company dated as of October 13, 2014, (as amended through March 31, 2018, the “Original Credit Agreement”), for 6,870,493 Class A Preferred Interests, par value $1,000 (the “Class A Preferred Interests”), with the rights and preferences described in this Section 2.2(e). The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Initial Face Amount of indebtedness under the Original Credit Agreement was exchanged for 6,870,493 Class A Preferred Interests and was extinguished and discharged with immediate effect as of March 31, 2018. American II released the Company and License Company from all obligations with respect to the Initial Face Amount of indebtedness exchanged for Class A Preferred Interests. The Class A Preferred Interests shall be non-voting and non-participating. The Class A Preferred Interests shall not have any preemptive rights or co-sale rights, though American II shall retain its consent rights over Significant Matters pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof.

 

Section 2.3.        No Withdrawals

 

Except as expressly set forth herein, no Member shall be entitled to withdraw any portion of its capital contribution or Capital Account balance.

 

 

 

Section 2.4.        No Interest

 

Except as expressly set forth herein, no Member shall be entitled to receive any interest or similar return on its capital contributions or Capital Account balance.

 

Section 2.5.        Interests are Securities

 

Each Interest shall constitute a “security” within the meaning of and shall be governed by

(a) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (including Section 8-102(a)(15) thereof) as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware and (b) the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction that now or hereafter substantially includes the 1994 revisions to Article 8 thereof as adopted by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association on February 14, 1995.

 

Section 2.6.        Certification of Interests

 

Interests shall be issued in non-certificated form; provided that at the request of any Member, the Manager shall cause the Company to issue certificates to the Members representing the Interests held by the Members. If any Interest certificate is issued, then such certificate shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:

 

This certificate evidences a membership interest representing an interest in Northstar Spectrum, LLC and shall constitute a “security” within the meaning of and shall be governed by (i) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (including Section 8-102(a)(15) thereof) as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware, and (ii) the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction that now or hereafter substantially includes the 1994 revisions to Article 8 thereof as adopted by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association on February 14, 1995.

 

The membership interest in Northstar Spectrum, LLC represented by this certificate is subject to restrictions on transfer set forth in that certain Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Northstar Spectrum, LLC, dated as of June 7, 2018, by and among the members from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

The membership interest in Northstar Spectrum, LLC represented by this certificate has not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under any other applicable securities laws. Such membership interest may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise disposed of at any time without effective registration under such Act and laws or, in each case, exemption therefrom.

 

 

Section 2.7.        Failure to Fund

 

American II acknowledges that if the License Company is the Winning Bidder for one or more licenses and (a) it is determined in any arbitration proceeding (whether under this Agreement or under the Senior Credit Facility or any Related Agreement) or (b) if American II admits in writing, in either case (a) or (b), that American II failed to fund any amounts required to be funded by it under this Agreement or the Senior Credit Facility and that such failure to fund caused the License Company to be or become in default under the FCC Rules (including, without limitation, the provisions of 47 C.F.R. Section 1.2109), then NSM, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have all remedies available to them in law and in equity (including specific performance).

 

ARTICLE 3

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 3.1.        Mandatory Quarterly Distribution

 

The Class A Preferred Interests will accrue distributions during each Quarterly Distribution Period at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum until the Effective Date, and the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum from and after the Effective Date, calculated based on actual days elapsed in a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, on the then-current Face Amount of the Class A Preferred Interests. Distributions on the Class A Preferred Interests will be made on a mandatory basis each quarter. Each Class A Member on the applicable Quarterly Distribution Record Date shall be entitled to receive (regardless of whether such Class A Member remains a Class A Member of record on the applicable Quarterly Distribution Payment Date), distributions accrued to but excluding the applicable Quarterly Distribution Payment Date (“Mandatory Quarterly Distributions”), by 5:00 pm, New York City time, on such Quarterly Distribution Payment Date in respect of the Quarterly Distribution Period then ended. Any and all such Mandatory Quarterly Distributions may be paid either (i) in cash, (ii) by adding such amounts to the then-current Face Amount or (iii) in a combination of cash and additional Face Amount, and the method of payment will be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Manager. In the event that the Manager elects to pay all or part of any Mandatory Quarterly Distribution in cash, the Company shall request wire transfer instructions from each Class A Member as of the relevant Quarterly Distribution Record Date at least five (5) Business Days prior to the relevant Quarterly Distribution Payment Date. All such Mandatory Quarterly Distributions paid in cash shall be paid by wire transfer of funds legally available for the payment of distributions under Delaware law to the accounts designated by the Class A Members entitled to payment. Upon a Liquidation Event or a Deemed Liquidation Event, the Liquidation Preference shall become due and payable to the Class A Members, subject to the limitations contained in this Section 3.1, Section 8.1 and Section 13.3(d)(i).

 

 

Section 3.2.        Non-Liquidating Distributions

 

(a)        The Company may at any time, other than in connection with a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event, and separately from and in addition to the Mandatory Quarterly Distributions and the distributions provided for in Section 3.2(b), declare and pay cash distributions to the Class A Members out of funds legally available for the payment of distributions under Delaware law (“Non- Liquidating Distributions”). The Company shall request wire transfer instructions from each Class A Member as of the relevant Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date that the Company sets for the payment of such Non-Liquidating Distributions. Non-Liquidating Distributions shall be made first, to the Class A Members as of the Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date in respect of any unpaid distributions under this Agreement with respect to their Class A Preferred Interests until all such unpaid distributions have been paid, second, to the Class A Members as of the Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date in accordance with their Liquidation Preference until the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full and third, to the Class B Members as of the Non-Liquidating Distribution Record Date in proportion to their Class B Percentages. The Manager shall have the sole and absolute discretion to declare and pay any Non- Liquidating Distributions. For the avoidance of doubt, Mandatory Quarterly Distributions paid pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be mandatory and not subject to the Company’s discretion, except that the Manager shall have sole discretion on the method of payment.

 

(b)        Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.2(a), within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal quarter other than the fiscal quarter in which the proceeds from a liquidation are distributed in accordance with Section 3.3, the Company shall make distributions to each Member in amounts that are at least sufficient to allow each Member to pay income tax obligations arising from its respective membership interests in the Company (the “Required Tax Amount”), which shall be calculated based on the Assumed Tax Rate. “Assumed Tax Rate” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a fiscal year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) and Section 68 of the Code, (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short- term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income, and (c) the extent to which state and local income taxes are deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Members and items of loss or deduction previously allocated to a Member and not taken into account in a manner that reduced tax distributions to such Member shall be taken into account in determining a Member’s income tax obligations arising from their respective membership interests in the Company for purposes of this provision. The total amount of such tax distributions shall not exceed the amount of Excess Cash then held by the Company (except that the Manager may, in its discretion, cause the License Company to borrow amounts available for such purpose under the Senior Credit Facility and cause the License Company to distribute such borrowed amounts to the Company, to enable the Company to make tax distributions hereunder); provided, further, that, in the event that the amount otherwise required to be distributed to the Members pursuant to this Section 3.2(b) for such fiscal quarter, as estimated by the Manager, exceeds the amount of Excess Cash then held by the Company, such that the aggregate distributions made pursuant to this Section 3.2(b) with respect to such fiscal quarter are less than such amount otherwise required to be distributed to the Members pursuant to this Section 3.2(b) for such fiscal quarter (such shortfall, the “Tax Shortfall Amount”), then the Company shall make initial tax distributions under this Section 3.2(b) to the members in proportion to their rights to tax distributions and shall make additional tax distributions in an aggregate amount equal to the Tax Shortfall Amount to the Members at such time as the Company holds sufficient Excess Cash to fund, in whole or in part, such remaining Tax Shortfall Amount (or portion thereof). Distributions to a Member under this Section 3.2(b) shall be treated as advances in respect of amounts subsequently distributable to such Member (or a successor to such Member) under Section 3.1, Section 3.2(a), Section 13.3(d)(iii) and Section 13.3(d)(iv) and shall reduce such amounts on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

 

 

Section 3.3.        Liquidating Distributions

 

Subject to Section 6.3, distributions to the Members of cash or property in connection with a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event shall be made in accordance with Section 13.3.

 

Section 3.4.        Interest Purchase Agreement, Security Agreement and Pledge Agreement

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that, effective as of June 7, 2018, the License Company executed and delivered in favor of NSM a Second Amended and Restated Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Interest Purchase Agreement”), and on September 12, 2014 executed and delivered in favor of NSM a Security Agreement (the “ NSM Security Agreement”) and a Pledge Agreement (the “NSM Pledge Agreement”). Within one (1) Business Day of the date upon which any Subsidiary of the License Company is formed, the Company shall cause the License Company to cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver to NSM (a) a guarantee of the License Company's obligations under the Interest Purchase Agreement in the form attached as an exhibit to the Interest Purchase Agreement and (b) a security agreement supplement in the form attached as an exhibit to the NSM Security Agreement. In addition, within one (1) Business Day of the date upon which any Subsidiary of the License Company holding licenses is formed, the Company shall cause the License Company to take the actions required under the NSM Pledge Agreement to perfect NSM’s first priority Lien in the outstanding equity interests of such Subsidiary. The parties hereto also acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.2, the License Company and its Subsidiaries may make payments to NSM in exchange for membership interests in the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Interest Purchase Agreement, the NSM Security Agreement and the NSM Pledge Agreement and such related Subsidiary guarantees and security agreement supplements when due, subject to the provisions of the Senior Credit Facility and the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement. All such payments to NSM in respect of the obligations of the License Company and its Subsidiaries under the Interest Purchase Agreement or related guarantees, and all proceeds received by NSM in connection with its exercise of remedies under the NSM Security Agreement or related security agreement supplements, shall be credited against the obligations of the License Company and its Subsidiaries under the Interest Purchase Agreement and related guarantees, and, if necessary to avoid duplication in respect of any payments or distributions by the Company to the NSM Members in respect of their Interests, the amount of all such payments or proceeds, as applicable, shall be deemed to be a distribution to the Company (and by the Company to NSM) constituting a return of the NSM Members' capital contributions to the Company on a pro rata basis. NSM shall not amend or waive, nor shall the Company permit the License Company or its Subsidiaries to amend or waive, any term or provision of the Interest Purchase Agreement, the NSM Security Agreement or the NSM Pledge Agreement or the related Subsidiary guarantees or security agreement supplements, without the prior written consent of American II in its sole discretion.

  

 

ARTICLE 4

ALLOCATIONS

 

Section 4.1.        Profits and Losses

 

(a)        After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 4.3 through Section 4.5, Profits with respect to any fiscal year shall be allocated as follows:

 

(i)        Profits shall first be allocated to those Members that have Capital Accounts that are in deficit, in proportion to their deficits, until there are no remaining deficits;

 

(ii)        Any remaining Profits shall be allocated to the Class A Member until the aggregate amount allocated to the Class A Member for all periods pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(ii) equals the sum of (1) the excess of (x) the sum of (I) the Face Amount (as determined without regard to any Non-Liquidating Distributions under Section 3.2(a)), (II) any Mandatory Quarterly Distributions that have been paid in cash and (III) any accrued but unpaid Mandatory Quarterly Distributions over (y) the Initial Face Amount and (2) the aggregate amount of prior allocations of Losses for all periods pursuant to Section 4.1(b)(iii); and

 

(iii)         Any remaining Profits shall be allocated to the Class B Members in accordance with their Class B Percentages.

 

(b)         After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 4.3 through Section 4.5, Losses with respect to any fiscal year shall be allocated in the following order:

 

(i)         Losses shall first be allocated to the Class B Members in proportion to their Class B Percentages until the aggregate amount allocated under this Section 4.1(b)(i) for all periods equals the aggregate amount allocated pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(iii) for all periods;

 

(ii)        Remaining Losses shall be allocated to the Class B Members in proportion to their Capital Accounts as of the Effective Date (determined after taking into account allocations under Section 4.1(d) of items arising through the Effective Date and any Profit or Losses attributable to the revaluation for Book Value purposes of the Company’s assets in connection with the conversion described in Section 2.2(e), but not taking into account any portion of a Capital Account attributable to the contribution associated with the conversion provided for in Section 2.2(e)) until the aggregate amount allocated under this Section 4.1(b)(ii) for all periods equals the excess of (x) the sum of the Members’ Capital Accounts as of the Effective Date (determined as described above) over (y) the aggregate amount of any Non-Liquidating Distributions made after the Effective Date to the Class B Members in proportion to their Class B Percentages;

 

(iii)       Remaining Losses shall be allocated to the Class A Members until the aggregate amount allocated under this Section 4.1(b)(iii) for all periods equals the sum of (x)  the Face Amount and (y) the aggregate amounts allocated to the Class A Members for all periods under Section 4.1(a)(ii);

 

 

(iv)       Any remaining Losses shall be allocated to the Class B Members in proportion to their Class B Percentages.

 

(c)          In the event that there is more than one Class A Member, any allocations to the Class A Members pursuant to this ARTICLE 4 shall be made to the Class A Members in proportion to their Class A Percentages.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Profits and Losses through the Effective Date shall be allocated under the provisions of the Company’s limited liability company agreement as in effect prior to this Agreement and (ii) in no event shall, prior to such time as NSM’s Put Right under Section 8.1 has expired unexercised, an amount of Profits be allocated to NSM that would cause NSM’s Capital Account to exceed the Put Price described in Section 8.1.

 

(e)          References to a Member in this Section 4.1 shall be treated as including references to a predecessor or successor to such Member as necessary to effectuate the intent of this Section 4.1.

 

Section 4.2.        Losses

 

(a)           Limitation on Losses

 

Losses allocable to any Member pursuant to Section 4.1 with respect to any fiscal year shall not exceed the maximum amount of Losses that may be so allocated without causing such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of such fiscal year. All Losses in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section 4.2(a) shall be allocated: (i) first, to the Class B Members that will not be subject to this limitation, ratably based on the aggregate of their Class B Percentages, to the extent possible until such Class B Members become subject to this limitation; (ii) second, to the Class A Member to the extent it will not be subject to this limitation, to the extent possible until such Class A Member becomes subject to this limitation, and (iii) any remaining amount, to the Class B Members, ratably based on their Class B Percentages, unless otherwise required by the Code or Treasury Regulations.

 

Section 4.3.        Special Allocations

 

The following special allocations shall be made for any fiscal year of the Company in the following order of priority:

 

(a)           Minimum Gain Chargeback

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this ARTICLE 4, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain (determined without regard to Member Nonrecourse Debts) during any fiscal year, each Member shall, subject to the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), be specially allocated items of income and gain for such fiscal year (and, if necessary, subsequent fiscal years) equal to such Member's share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain (determined without regard to Member Nonrecourse Debts) within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(6) and 1.704-2(i)(2). To the extent that this Section 4.3(a) is inconsistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), the Minimum Gain Chargeback provided for herein shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with such Treasury Regulation.

 

 

 

(b)           Member Minimum Gain Chargeback

 

If there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt during any Company fiscal year, each Member that, as of the beginning of such year, has a share of the Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall, subject to the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), be specially allocated items of income and gain for such fiscal year (and, if necessary, subsequent fiscal years) in an amount equal to such Member's share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(i)(2). To the extent that this Section 4.3(b) is inconsistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i), the Member Minimum Gain chargeback provided for herein shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with such regulation.

 

(c)           Qualified Income Offset

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but only if required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) in order for the allocations provided for herein to be considered to have substantial economic effect or to be deemed to be in accordance with the Member's Interests, if, for any fiscal year, a Member unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), and such adjustment, allocation or distribution causes or increases an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit with respect to such Member, then, before any other allocations are made, such Member shall be allocated items of income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Company income, including gross income and gain) in the amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as quickly as possible. This Section 4.3(c) is intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(d)          Nonrecourse Deductions

 

Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to American II; provided, that any allocation of Losses pursuant to the preceding clause that would cause American II's Capital Account to be less than an amount equal to (i) American II's cash contributions to the equity capital of the Company that are credited to American II's Capital Account less (ii) any distributions to American II in excess of American II's cumulative share of Profits, shall instead be made to the Class B Members in proportion to their Class B Percentages.

  

 

(e)           Member Nonrecourse Deductions

 

Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any fiscal year or other period shall be allocated 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 Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).

 

Section 4.4.        Curative Allocations

 

The allocations set forth in Section 4.3(a) through (e) are intended to comply with certain regulatory requirements under Section 704(b) of the Code. The Members intend that, to the extent possible, all allocations made pursuant to such Sections will, over the term of the Company, be offset either with other allocations pursuant to Section 4.3 or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss, or deduction pursuant to this Section 4.4. Accordingly, the Manager is hereby authorized and directed to make offsetting allocations of Company income, gain, loss or deduction under this Section 4.4 in whatever manner the Manager determines is appropriate so that, after such offsetting special allocations are made, the Capital Accounts of the Members are, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Accounts each would have if the provisions of Section 4.3 were not contained in this Agreement and all income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company were instead allocated pursuant to Section 4.1 and Section 4.2.

 

Section 4.5.        Special Allocations in the Event of Company Audit Adjustments

 

Notwithstanding the allocation provisions of Section 4.1 and Section 4.2, and prior to making any of the allocations specified in Section 4.3, the following special allocations shall be made in the following order and in a manner, taking into consideration any tiered partnership structure that the Company may be part of, that reflects the relative economic interests of each Member in the Company:

 

(a)           If for any fiscal year of the Company, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company is deemed to have additional income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, to or involving any Member or Affiliate of any Member, such additional income shall be allocated to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that received such services, license or sublicense (or the Member whose Affiliate was involved in such loan transaction or received such services, license or sublicense) and any related deemed cash distribution shall be treated as having been made to the same Member.

 

(b)           If for any fiscal year of the Company, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company is deemed to have a reduction in income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, to or involving any Member or Affiliate of any Member, such reduction in income shall be allocated to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that received such services, license or sublicense (or the Member whose Affiliate was involved in such loan transaction or received such services, license or sublicense) and any related deemed cash contribution shall be treated as having been made by the same Member.

 

 

(c)           If for any taxable period of a Member, such Member or any Affiliate of the Member is deemed to have additional income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by such Member or any Affiliate of such Member, to or involving the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, any increase in the amount of a Company deduction associated with such re-determination of such Member's or any Affiliate of such Member's income shall be allocated (in the appropriate fiscal year) to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that provided such services, license or sublicense (either directly or through an Affiliate), and any related deemed cash contribution shall be treated as having been made by the same Member.

 

(d)           If for any taxable period of a Member, such Member or any Affiliate of the Member is deemed to have a reduction in income for tax purposes as a result of a re-determination by a taxing authority of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to a loan transaction, the provision of services, or the grant of a license or sublicense in intangible property by such Member or any Affiliate of such Member, to or involving the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, any reduction in the amount of a Company deduction associated with such re-determination of such Member's or any Affiliate of such Member's income shall be allocated (in the appropriate fiscal year) to the Member involved in such loan transaction or that provided such services, license or sublicense (either directly or through an Affiliate), and any related deemed cash distribution shall be treated as having been made to the same Member.

 

(e)           A re-determination by a taxing authority shall only be given effect for purposes of this Section 4.5 if such re-determination is (i) a decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction, which has become final and is either no longer subject to appeal or for which a determination not to appeal has been made; (ii) a closing agreement made under Section 7121 of the Code or any comparable foreign, state, local or other income tax statute; (iii)  a final disposition by a taxing authority of a claim for refund; or (iv) any other written agreement made with respect to a tax re-determination the execution of which is final and prohibits the taxing authority, relevant Member (or any Affiliate of such Members) or the Company (or any Affiliate of the Company) from seeking any further legal or administrative remedies with respect to such tax re-determination.

 

Section 4.6.        Allocation of Credits

 

All tax credits shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective allocations of Profits and Losses in accordance with this Agreement or in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code or Treasury Regulations to the extent any such provision is inconsistent with such allocation.

  

 

Section 4.7.        Tax Allocations

 

(a)           Contributed Property

 

If any property is contributed to the capital of the Company, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such property shall be allocated solely for tax purposes among the Members in accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3 so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its initial Book Value. All decisions regarding the choice of allocation method under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3 with respect to assets contributed to the Company shall be made by the Manager, subject to the prior written consent of Class B Members holding a majority of the total outstanding Class B Percentages, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(b)           Revalued Property

 

If the Company assets are revalued as set forth in the definition of “Book Value” in Section 1.1, then subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to revalued Company assets shall take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such assets for federal income tax purposes and their adjusted value in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the Code and in compliance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3. Except as otherwise provided herein, all decisions regarding the choice of allocation method under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3 with respect to revalued Company assets shall be made by the Members. The Company shall use the “traditional method” without curative allocations under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b) for reverse Section 704(c) allocations resulting from the revaluation of the Company’s assets for Book Value purposes in connection with initial issuance of Class A Preferred Interests.

 

(c)          Allocations with Respect to Certain Securities

 

If the Company sells, exchanges or otherwise disposes of any investment security at a loss, to the extent such loss is specifically reimbursed by one or more Members, such reimbursed loss shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes among the Members in accordance with their respective reimbursements to the Company.

 

Section 4.8.        Change in Members' Interests

 

In the event there is any change in the Members' respective Class A Percentages and/or Class B Percentages during any fiscal year, Profits, Losses, Nonrecourse Deductions and other items shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective Class A Percentages and/or Class B Percentages, as the case may be, from time to time during such fiscal year based on an interim closing of the books as of the close of business on the date of such change.

  

 

ARTICLE 5

ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS

 

Section 5.1.        Fiscal Year

 

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the year ending December 31.

 

Section 5.2.        Method of Accounting

 

Unless otherwise provided herein, the Company books of account shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP; provided that for purposes of making allocations with respect to items of Company income, gain, deduction, loss and credit to the Members, such items shall be allocated to the Members' Capital Accounts pursuant to ARTICLE 4 and as required by Section 704 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Section 5.3.        Books and Records; Inspection

 

Proper and complete records and books of accounts of the Company business for tax and financial purposes, including all such transactions and other matters as are usually entered into records and books of account maintained by Persons engaged in businesses of like character or as are required by Applicable Law, shall be kept by the Company at the Company's principal office and place of business. The Manager may delegate to a third party the duty to maintain and oversee the preparation and maintenance of such records and books of account. Books and records maintained for financial purposes shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP, and books and records maintained for tax purposes shall be maintained in accordance with the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations. Subject to Section 10.2, all records and documents described in Section 5.3 shall be open to inspection and copying by any of the Members or their representatives or agents at any reasonable time during normal business hours.

 

Section 5.4.        Financial Statements; Internal Controls

 

(a)          Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, and thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter), the Manager shall cause to be furnished to each Member financial statements with respect to such fiscal year or fiscal quarter of the Company, consisting of (i) a consolidated balance sheet showing the Company's financial position as of the end of such fiscal year or fiscal quarter; (ii) supporting consolidated profit and loss statements; (iii) a consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal year or fiscal quarter; and (iv) Member's Capital Accounts. Such financial statements shall be prepared on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP and SEC Regulation S-X except, with respect to the quarterly financial statements which need not be separately audited, for the omission of certain footnotes and other presentation items required by GAAP with respect to audited financial statements. The annual financial statements of the Company, except for the annual financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, shall be audited (which audit shall be conducted in accordance with GAAP and SEC Regulation S-X) and certified by the Company's independent accountants. Each Member shall receive a copy of all material financial reports and notices delivered by the Company to any third party pursuant to any other agreement.

 

 

(b)         At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained on their behalf, a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. From time to time, upon specific written notice thereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall promptly remedy any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in their internal accounting controls.

 

(c)         At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished on its behalf, to each Member that files public reports with the SEC, upon written request by such Member to the Manager, such financial statements and financial and other information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as may be necessary or reasonably required for such Member and its Affiliates to prepare their financial statements and related information in accordance with GAAP and applicable SEC rules and regulations, including without limitation, Regulations S-X and S-K promulgated by the SEC, and to have such information reviewed or audited from time to time, as applicable, by such Member's or its Affiliates’ independent auditors (at such Member's sole cost and expense and subject to all applicable confidentiality obligations). All such financial statements and financial and other information shall be furnished in such manner and at such times as may be necessary or reasonably required for such Member or its Affiliates to timely prepare and file any registration statements that they may file under the Securities Act and to timely prepare and file any and all current and periodic reports and proxy statements that they may file under the Exchange Act, in each case in accordance with GAAP and applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Regulations S-X and S-K promulgated by the SEC. The Company and its officers shall execute and deliver such certificates, affidavits, representation letters and similar documents as such Member or its Affiliates or their respective independent auditors may reasonably request in connection therewith.

 

(d)         At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall design, implement and maintain, or cause to be designed, implemented and maintained on their behalf, proper “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act). The Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and maintain, or cause to be prepared and maintained, adequate documentation of their internal control over financial reporting consistent with the requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act and Item 308 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, and shall make such documentation available to any such Member and its Affiliates and their independent auditors at such reasonable times as such Persons may reasonably request. Such internal control over financial reporting (and the documentation related thereto) shall be sufficient to permit each Member that files public reports with the SEC to assess and evaluate periodically the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to permit each independent auditor of each such Member to evaluate such assessment and to provide any required attestation report with respect thereto. From time to time, upon notice of any such condition, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall promptly remedy any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in their internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Section 5.5.        Taxation

 

(a)           Status of the Company. The Members acknowledge that this Agreement creates a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Furthermore, the Members hereby agree not to elect to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code or any similar state statute.

 

(b)           Tax Elections and Reporting

 

(i)         Generally. The Company shall make the following elections and take the following positions under United States income tax laws and Treasury Regulations and any similar state laws and regulations:

 

(A)         adopt the year ending December 31 as the annual accounting period (unless otherwise required by the Code and Treasury Regulations);

 

(B)         adopt the accrual method of accounting;

 

(C)         insofar as permissible, report the Company's tax attributes and results using principles consistent with those assumed in connection with entering into this Agreement; and

 

(D)         have the Company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulations Sections 301.7701-2 and -3.

 

(ii)        Code Section 754 Election. The Manager shall, upon the written request of any Member, cause the Company to file an election under Section 754 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder to adjust the basis of the Company's assets under Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code and a corresponding election under the applicable sections of state and local law.

 

 

(c)           Company Tax Returns

 

(i)         The Tax Matters Member will prepare or cause to be prepared all required domestic and foreign tax returns and information returns of the Company, drafts of which shall be furnished to the Members within ninety (90) days following the close of each fiscal year. Final returns shall be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days following each year end. The Company shall pay for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including accounting fees, if any) in connection with such preparation (it being understood that the Tax Matters Member shall not receive any compensation from the Company for preparing such returns). Any Member may, at its own expense, engage a third party to review the tax returns and information returns prepared by the Tax Matters Member pursuant to the preceding sentence. The Tax Matters Member shall not file any such return without the approval of any Member that constitutes a “notice partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code) (as in effect for tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2018 and determined without regard to whether any informational or procedural steps associated with obtaining such status have been complied with) of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Such “notice partner” Member shall be deemed to have given such approval if such Member does not indicate its written objection (which may be delivered by facsimile) to the Tax Matters Member within twenty (20) days of the date that such Member receives a draft of such return. If a “notice partner” Member does not approve of any proposed filing of a return by the Tax Matters Member, such Member and the Tax Matters Member shall seek, in good faith, to resolve their disagreement. If a “notice partner” Member and the Tax Matters Member cannot resolve their disagreement within ten (10) days of receipt of the “notice partner” Member's written objection by the Tax Matters Member, either of such Member or the Tax Matters Member may request, in writing with a copy sent to the other Member, that the disagreement be resolved by the Company's independent public accountants and the independent public accountants shall be instructed to resolve the dispute in such manner consistent with this Agreement as they believe will properly maximize, in the aggregate, the United States federal, state and local income tax advantages and will properly minimize, in the aggregate, the United States federal, state, and local income tax detriments, available to the Company's Members. The independent public accountants shall provide their written resolution of the disagreement to both the “notice partner” Member and the Tax Matters Member within fifteen (15) days from the date that the independent public accountants were requested to resolve such disagreement. Any and all other tax returns shall be prepared in a manner directed by the Tax Matters Member consistent with the terms of this Agreement. Each Member shall provide such information, if any, as may be reasonably requested by the Company for purposes of preparing such tax and information returns.

 

(ii)            The Tax Matters Member shall furnish a copy of all filed domestic and foreign tax returns and information returns for the Company to each of the Members. In addition, upon reasonable written notice provided to the Company by a Member (and as otherwise required by Applicable Law), the Company shall furnish such Member, on a timely basis, with all information relating to the Company required to be reported in any United States federal, state or local tax return of such Member, including a report indicating such Member's allocable share for United States federal income tax purposes of the Company's income, gain, credits, losses and deductions.

 

(iii)          The Members agree that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes. The Members agree to (A) approve electing partnership status with respect to the Company with the United States Internal Revenue Service and such other state and local taxing authorities as may be appropriate and to cooperate in providing all consents, signatures, documents and such other information as may be required with respect thereto and (B) report all “partnership items” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(3) of the Code) (as in effect for tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2018) of the Company consistent with such classification of the Company for United States federal, state and local tax purposes and with the returns filed by the Company; provided, however, that if any Member intends to file a notice of inconsistent treatment under Section 6222(b) of the Code, such Member shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to the filing of such notice, notify in writing the other Members of such intent and such Member's intended treatment of the item which is (or may be) inconsistent with the treatment of that item by the Company.

 

 

(d)          Tax Audits. American II, for so long as it is a Member and, thereafter, the Manager shall be the “tax matters partner” of the Company, as that term is defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (as in effect for tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2018) (the “Tax Matters Member”), with all of the rights, duties and powers provided for in sections 6221 through 6232, inclusive, of the Code (as in effect for tax years prior to January 1, 2018), provided that the Tax Matters Member shall not pay or agree to pay (or make any agreement that would cause a Member to pay) any audit assessment, or any amount in settlement or compromise of any litigation, in respect of income tax liability of the Members attributable to the Interests in the Company, in excess of $500,000 in any one instance or series of related instances, unless approved by each Member whose financial interest in such matter exceeds $100,000 individually or in the aggregate. The Tax Matters Member, as an authorized representative of the Company, shall direct the defense of any tax claims made by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing jurisdiction to the extent that such claims relate to adjustment of Company items at the Company level and, in connection therewith, shall retain and cause the Company to pay the fees and expenses of counsel and other advisors chosen by the Tax Matters Member. The Tax Matters Member shall also be responsible for timely filing all elections made by the Company, subject to any applicable approval requirements set forth in this Agreement. The Tax Matters Member shall deliver to each Member and the Manager a semi-annual report on the status of all tax audits and open tax years relating to the Company, and shall consult with and keep all Members and the Manager advised of all significant developments in such matters coming to the attention of the Tax Matters Member. All reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Tax Matters Member and its Affiliates and other reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such defense shall be borne by the Company (it being understood that the Tax Matters Member shall not receive any compensation from the Company for acting in such capacity). Except as provided in ARTICLE 12, neither the Tax Matters Member nor the Company shall be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties payable by a Member or any costs of separate counsel chosen by such Member to represent the Member with respect to any aspect of such defense. The Tax Matters Member shall take any steps necessary to designate American II and NSM as a “notice partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code) (as in effect for tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2018). In addition, nothing in this Agreement is intended to waive any rights, including rights to participate in administrative and judicial proceedings, that a Member may have under Section 6221 through 6233 of the Code (as in effect for tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2018). Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 5.5(c) and Section 5.5(d) shall survive the dissolution of the Company or the termination of any Member's interest in the Company and shall remain binding on all Members for a period of time necessary to resolve with the United States Internal Revenue Service or any applicable state or local taxing authority all matters (including litigation) regarding the United States Federal, state and local income taxation, as the case may be, of the Company or any Member with respect to the Company.

  

 

(e)

Withholding

 

(i)            The Company shall comply with all withholding requirements under applicable United States federal, state, local and foreign tax laws and shall remit amounts withheld to, and file required forms with, the applicable taxing authorities. To the extent that the Company withholds and pays over any amounts to any taxing authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Member, the amount withheld shall be charged to the Capital Account of such Member. The Company shall notify each of the Members of any withholding with respect to such Member, designating such Member's allocable share of such withholding tax. The Members hereby agree that they will not claim a credit in excess of the amount in such notice.

 

(ii)           In the event of any claimed over-withholding by the Company, the Member shall have no rights against the Company or any other Member. Anything in the previous sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Company is required to take any action in order to secure a refund or credit for the benefit of a Member in respect of any amount withheld by it, it shall take any such action including applying for such refund on behalf of the Member and paying it over to such Member.

 

(iii)          Except in the case of withholding pursuant to Section 1446 of the Code, if any amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual distributions that would have otherwise been made to a Member, the Company shall require the Member to which the withholding was credited to reimburse the Company for such withholding.

 

(iv)         In the event of any under-withholding by the Company, each Member agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Tax Matters Member from and against any liability, including interest and penalties, with respect thereto.

 

(v)          Each Member agrees to furnish the Company with any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Company to assist the Company in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, the Company's withholding obligations.

 

(vi)          Upon the request of any Member, the Company shall make any filings, applications or elections to obtain any available exemption from, or any available refund of, any withholding or similar taxes imposed by any non-United States (whether sovereign or local) taxing authority with respect to amounts distributable or items of income allocable to such Member hereunder. Such Member shall cooperate with the Company in making any such filings, applications or elections to the extent the Company reasonably determines that such cooperation is necessary or desirable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Member must make any such filings, applications or elections directly, the Company, at the request of such Member, shall provide such information and take such other action as may reasonably be necessary to complete or make such filings, applications or elections.

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6

MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.1.     Manager

 

The Manager at all times shall exercise control over the Company in compliance with FCC Rules. The Manager shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, have the exclusive right and power to manage, operate and control the Company and to make all decisions necessary or appropriate to carry on the business and affairs of the Company, including the authority to appoint, promote, demote and terminate executives who oversee the day-to-day activities of the Company and to select the financial institutions from which the Company may borrow money. In addition to the specific rights and powers herein granted to the Manager, the Manager shall possess and enjoy and may exercise all the rights and powers of a manager within the meaning of Section 18-101(10) of the Act, including the full and exclusive power and authority to act for and to bind the Company, but subject to the limitations of this Agreement. In addition to any other rights and powers that the Manager may possess, the Manager shall have all specific rights and powers required or appropriate for the day-to-day management of the Company's business, which shall be managed by experienced professionals in accordance with the standards of first-rate operators of wireless communications companies. Except as determined by the Manager pursuant to this Agreement, no Member or representative shall have any right or authority to take any action on behalf of the Company with respect to third parties or to bind the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Manager shall have the sole right to select the wireless technologies and standards used in, and to determine the nature and type of services offered by, the License Company Systems, the terms upon which the License Company Systems’ services are offered, and the prices charged for its services.

 

Section 6.2.      Removal of Manager

 

(a)       Removal of Manager

 

Subject to FCC approval, if required, NSM shall be removed as the Manager, and the management of the Company shall be transferred to a successor Manager in accordance with Section 6.2(b) and Section 6.2(c) if NSM (i) is unwilling or unable to serve as the Manager, (ii) would not be considered a Qualified Person if NSM itself were the applicant or licensee, as the case may be, in respect of the licenses held by the License Company or its Subsidiaries at any time prior to the fifth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date and such failure is reasonably likely to materially impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits or result in the revocation or non-renewal of any license, or (iii) commits a Significant Breach at any time.

 

(b)       Successor Manager

 

If NSM is removed as the Manager pursuant to Section 6.2(a), the management of the Company shall be transferred to a successor Manager, which shall (i) be, if then required in order for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain the Auction Benefits, a Qualified Person, provided that NSM shall in no way be liable to the Company or to any other Member for the failure of any successor Manager to be a Qualified Person, and (ii) be subject to the prior approval of American II. NSM (or, if it fails to do so, the other Members by affirmative vote of a majority of Class B Percentages not held by NSM) shall designate the successor Manager as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than thirty (30) days after notice from any other Member that one or more of the events specified in Section 6.2(a) has occurred. NSM shall continue to act as Manager until the successor Manager assumes the management of the Company. NSM shall take whatever steps are commercially reasonable to assist the successor Manager in assuming the management of the Company, including transferring to the successor Manager all historical financial, tax, accounting and other data and records in the possession of NSM, and giving such consents, assigning such permits and executing such instruments as may be necessary to vest in the successor Manager those rights that were necessary for NSM to perform its obligations.

 

 

(c)       Dispute Resolution

 

Any dispute over the removal of NSM as the Manager pursuant to Section 6.2(a) shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with Section 10.3; provided that (i) the arbitrators shall be instructed to render their decision within thirty (30) days after the commencement of any such proceeding and (ii) the losing Member shall pay the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses of the prevailing Member in connection with the proceeding.

 

Section 6.3.     Supermajority Approval Rights

 

All Significant Matters shall require the prior written approval of American II, in its sole and absolute discretion for any reason or no reason; provided that no such approval shall be required solely with respect to the purchase and sale of Interests pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Interest Purchase Agreement or pursuant to the Put Right; provided, further, that transfers of assets of the License Company (other than the membership interests of any Subsidiaries that do not hold licenses) or of any of its Subsidiaries solely for the purpose of generating the funds required to satisfy the obligations of the License Company and its Subsidiaries that are then due and payable under the Interest Purchase Agreement shall cease to require the approval of American II under any clause of the definition of Significant Matter at such time, subject to the provisions of the Senior Credit Facility and the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement.

 

Section 6.4.      Separateness Covenants

 

(a)              NSM shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) to the extent that such entities have one or more deposit accounts, each maintain its own deposit account or accounts, separate from the accounts of American II and its Subsidiaries and joint ventures, with commercial banking institutions, and (ii) not commingle their funds with those of American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures;

 

(b)              NSM shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain separate addresses from the addresses of American II and its Subsidiaries and joint ventures, or to the extent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may have offices in the same location as American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures, to maintain a fair and appropriate allocation of overhead costs among them, with each such entity bearing its fair share of such expense;

 

 

(c)               NSM shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to issue, and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall issue, quarterly and annual consolidated financial statements from time to time as required by Section 5.4(a);

 

(d)               NSM shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) each maintain its separate status as a limited liability company and (ii) each conduct its affairs in accordance with its certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement and observe all necessary, appropriate and customary company formalities, including, but not limited to, holding all regular and special members' and managers' meetings appropriate to authorize company action, keeping separate and accurate minutes of its meetings, passing all resolutions or consents necessary to authorize actions taken or to be taken, and maintaining accurate and separate books, records and accounts, including, but not limited to, payroll and intercompany transaction accounts, to the extent applicable;

 

(e)               NSM shall not permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) assume or guarantee any of the liabilities of, or pledge any of its assets as security for the liabilities of, American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures, or (ii) hold out the credit of American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures as being able to satisfy the obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (which shall be deemed not to refer to any disclosure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any capital contributions or loans that American II or any of its Subsidiaries is required to make to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any other obligations that American II or any of its Subsidiaries is required to perform for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), except with respect to any guarantees or assumptions of indebtedness or other liabilities that have been expressly agreed to by American II or any of its Subsidiaries in writing;

 

(f)               NSM shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries not to, and the Company shall not and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, authorize the use of its name or trademarks or service marks by American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures, except pursuant to a written license agreement;

 

(g)               NSM shall not permit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to conduct its own business with suppliers of goods and services, lenders or purchasers of securities in the name of American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures. NSM further acknowledges that it shall have no right to conduct any business in the name of American II or on behalf of American II unless specifically authorized herein; and

 

 

(h)               If NSM or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries obtains actual knowledge that American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures has represented or indicated to any supplier of goods and services to, lender to or purchaser of securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that the credit of American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures is available to satisfy the obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (which shall be deemed not to refer to any disclosure by American II or any of its Subsidiaries or joint ventures of any capital contributions or loans that American II or any of its Subsidiaries is required to make to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any other obligations that American II or any of its Subsidiaries is required to perform for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), other than with respect to any guarantees or assumptions of indebtedness or other liabilities that have been expressly agreed to by American II or any of its Subsidiaries in writing, then NSM shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to, and the Company shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, provide written notice to any person to whom such representation or indication was made to make clear that the credit of American II and its Subsidiaries and joint ventures is not available to satisfy the obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than with respect to any guarantees or assumptions of indebtedness or other liabilities that have been expressly agreed to by American II or any of its Subsidiaries in writing.

 

Section 6.5.     Business Plans and Budgets

 

(a)       Five-Year Business Plan

 

On September 12, 2014, the Manager adopted the initial five-year high-level business plan (the “ Five-Year Business Plan”) of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Manager shall update the Five-Year Business Plan to address the next five-year period which update shall be distributed to American II not later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of the fifth fiscal year covered by the Five-Year Business Plan. In addition, the Manager may, from time to time, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, modify the Five-Year Business Plan to reflect any material changes affecting the Company and its Subsidiaries or their Business, including changes in availability of capital (including under the Senior Credit Facility).

 

(b)       Annual Business Plans and Budgets

 

The Manager shall prepare and adopt a detailed annual Business Plan and detailed annual budget no later than ninety (90) days following the Initial Grant Date. Each such annual Business Plan shall set forth the business and operational parameters and objectives for such year, including appropriate explanations of the Manager's strategy. Each such budget shall include, without limitation, a detailed breakdown of the following, together with the details of the material assumptions used, for the Company and its Subsidiaries: (i) monthly revenue, operating expenses and interest expenses; (ii) quarterly capital expenditures and cash flow; (iii) balance sheet and income statement; and (iv) expected funding requirements and the methods of meeting such requirements. In addition, the Manager may, from time to time, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, modify the annual Business Plan and budget to reflect any modification made to the Five-Year Business Plan in accordance with Section 6.5(a).

 

(c)       No Other Business Plans or Budgets

 

No Business Plans or budgets shall be adopted except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.5. All such Business Plans and budgets shall be adopted or modified in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.5 by the Manager in its sole and unilateral judgment. The Manager shall promptly deliver to American II each annual Business Plan and budget which the Manager may hereafter adopt (including any amendments thereto).

 

 

Section 6.6.      Management Fees

 

For so long as NSM continues to serve as the Manager, the Company shall cause the License Company to pay a management fee to NSM, by wire transfer of immediately available funds equal to $700,000 per year (the “Management Fee”), payable in quarterly installments in arrears. For the avoidance of doubt, the Management Fee is meant solely as a payment to the Manager in lieu of a board of managers fee which would typically be payable to a managing member of a board in connection with its oversight and control of the Company, and is not meant to cover the operating, overhead or employee compensation expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all of which will be payable directly by the Company and its Subsidiaries (and not by the Manager itself).

 

ARTICLE 7

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

 

No Member may Transfer all or any part of its Interests, including interests in any of its Subsidiaries that directly or indirectly own Interests, except in compliance with the following provisions of this ARTICLE 7.

 

Section 7.1.      Restrictions

 

(a)       Transfers by Certain Members

 

The Members (other than American II) may Transfer Interests (i) at any time after the Initial Grant Date, to one or more Permitted Transferees; (ii) during the five (5) years after the Initial Grant Date with the consent of American II, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; (iii) to the License Company pursuant to the Interest Purchase Agreement or to the Company pursuant to ARTICLE 8 without the consent of American II but subject to Section 7.1(d); and (iv) following the fifth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date without the consent of American II, but in each case subject to Section 7.3 and the other provisions of this ARTICLE 7. American II may not Transfer all or a majority of its Interests unless the transferee thereof either (x) agrees to assume in a written agreement reasonably acceptable to NSM (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) American II’s obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement and all related agreements and agrees to be bound by the provisions thereof as if an original party thereto or (y) agrees to provide at least the same level of financing to the Company, the License Company and its Subsidiaries as available to them under the Senior Credit Facility on terms and conditions which are acceptable to NSM; provided that if the terms and conditions, individually and in the aggregate, are, in the reasonable judgment of NSM, no less favorable to NSM, the Company, the License Company and its Subsidiaries as those set forth in the Senior Credit Facility, the Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement and such related agreements (including the priority of Liens set forth therein), then NSM shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay such consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the close of the Auction, the Manager may admit as new, non-controlling members of the Manager, one or more Persons to provide additional capital to the Manager, subject to American II’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and provided that such action does not result in NSM failing to qualify as a “very small business” as required by Section 11.3(a)(iii).

 

 

(b)       No Transfer of Right to Manage

 

The right to manage the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall not be transferable with the Interests of NSM without the prior written consent of American II. Accordingly, subject to Section 7.1(a), if NSM Transfers twenty-five percent (25%) or more of its Interests (other than a Transfer of one hundred percent of NSM's Interests to a Permitted Transferee), then, subject to FCC approval, the right to manage the Company shall be transferred to a successor Manager, which shall (i) be, if then required in order for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain the Auction Benefits, a Qualified Person; (ii) not be a competitor or an Affiliate of a competitor of American II (as determined by American II in its sole and absolute discretion) or its Affiliates and (iii) be subject to the prior written approval of American II.

 

(c)       No Transfers to Competitors

 

So long as American II owns an Interest, the Members other than American II may not Transfer any or all of their Interests to a competitor of American II or its Affiliates, or an Affiliate of any such competitor, without American II's prior written consent, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(d)       FCC Compliance

 

All Transfers of Interests are subject to and must comply with all applicable FCC Rules.

 

Section 7.2.      Exceptions

 

(a)       Transfers by Members of NSM

 

The provisions of Section 7.1 (other than Section 7.1(d)) shall not apply to (i) the Cash Equity Investors, except with respect to Transfers of their interests in NSM, whether held directly by the Cash Equity Investors or through one or more intermediaries (it being understood that this exception is intended to restrict Transfers of interests in NSM effected by the Cash Equity Investors themselves and their Subsidiaries, rather than Transfers effected by direct and indirect owners of interests in the Cash Equity Investors) and (ii) Transfers (except with respect to Transfers of their interests in NSM) or issuances of the Equity Interests of any other member of NSM, unless such Transfer results in a Change of Control of NSM or would impair the ability of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to realize the Auction Benefits.

 

(b)       Transfers by American II Members

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to the provisions of Section 14.3, the restrictions set forth in Section 7.1 (other than Section 7.1(d)) shall not apply to (i) Transfers of Interests in the Company held by American II (or its Permitted Transferees) to any Affiliate of American II or (ii) Transfers of direct or indirect interests in American II or its Affiliates. In addition, American II (or its Permitted Transferees) may collaterally assign its Interests in the Company to any secured lender of American II or its Affiliates, and American II (or its Permitted Transferees) may Transfer its Interests in the Company held by American II (or its Permitted Transferees) at any time in accordance with Section 14.3.

 

 

(c)       Pledges by Certain Members

 

The members of NSM may pledge their Equity Interests in NSM to secure loans, provided that any such pledge and its terms (A) shall be subject to the prior approval of American II (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but solely with respect to compliance of any such pledge and its terms with FCC Rules, including with respect to the matters set forth in clause (B) below, and (B) shall in no event permit the lender to take any action that would impair the eligibility of the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries to hold any of the licenses won in the Auction or that could result in the License Company or any Subsidiary losing any Auction Benefits.

 

Section 7.3.      Assumption of Agreements

 

At any closing with respect to a sale to a third party, the proposed transferee shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement and any Related Agreements to which the Sellers or their Affiliates are party and shall be bound by the provisions of and assume the obligations of the Sellers under all such Agreements. The Sellers and the proposed transferee shall execute such documents as American II may reasonably request to evidence such assumption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sellers shall not be relieved of any of their obligations under this Agreement or any Related Agreement arising prior to such sale, to the extent such obligations shall not be discharged by the third party.

 

Section 7.4.      Substituted Members

 

Prior to any Transfer of Interests by a Member, the transferor shall deliver to other Members a notice setting forth the identity of the transferee, and shall provide such other information as the other Members may reasonably request in connection with such Transfer. A transferee of Interests Transferred in accordance with this ARTICLE 7 shall be admitted as a Member upon execution of a counterpart to this Agreement evidencing its agreement to be bound hereby. Upon the admission of any such transferee as a Member, the transferring Member or Members shall be relieved of any obligation arising under this Agreement subsequent to such Transfer with respect to the Interests being transferred (provided that the transferee shall assume all such obligations), and if the transferring Member no longer holds any Interests, the transferring Member shall be relieved of its obligations arising under this Agreement to the extent provided in Section 14.3. Prior to any Transfer of an Interest or any portion thereof (other than pursuant to the Interest Purchase Agreement or ARTICLE 8) and as a condition thereof, and prior to any admission of an assignee as a Member, the Member making such Transfer and the assignee shall furnish the Manager, and a majority in Class B Percentages of the non-transferring Members, with such documents regarding the Transfer as the Manager or such majority of the non-transferring Members may reasonably request (in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager or such majority, as applicable), including a copy of the Transfer instrument, a ratification by the assignee of this Agreement (if the assignee is to be admitted as a Member), a legal opinion that the Transfer will not cause the Company to be characterized for federal and applicable state income tax purposes as other than a partnership, a legal opinion that the Transfer complies with applicable federal and state securities laws and a legal opinion that the Transfer will not violate the FCC Rules (including adversely affecting the qualification of the License Company as a “very small business” under the relevant FCC Rules if, and to the extent, such qualification is then required for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain any Auction Benefits) or this Agreement. In connection with any Transfer (other than pursuant to the Interest Purchase Agreement or ARTICLE 8), the Company shall, at the request of the Member making such Transfer and at such Member's sole expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be made any filing required by the FCC.

 

 

Section 7.5.      Invalid Transfers Void

 

Any purported Transfer of an Interest or any part thereof not in compliance with the provisions of this ARTICLE 7 shall be void and of no force or effect and the transferring Member shall be liable to the other Members and the Company for all liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs) arising out of such non-complying Transfer.

 

Section 7.6.      Acceptance of Prior Acts

 

Any Permitted Transferee or other Person who becomes a Member of the Company, accepts, ratifies and agrees to be bound by all actions duly taken pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement by the Company prior to the date it became a Member and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, specifically ratifies and approves all agreements and other instruments as may have been executed and delivered on behalf of the Company prior to such date and which are in force and effect on such date.

 

ARTICLE 8

PUT RIGHT

 

Section 8.1.      Put

 

(a)       Put Windows

 

For (i) the ninety (90) day period beginning on the fifth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date (the “First Put Window”) and (ii) the ninety (90) day period beginning on the sixth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date (the “Second Put Window”), or, in either case, the ten-day period following the announcement of a Liquidation Event or a Deemed Liquidation Event if such announcement precedes the expiration of the period set forth in clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if such announcement precedes the fifth or sixth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date), NSM shall have the right (the “Put Right”) to require the Company to purchase all (but not less than all) of the collective Interests held by the NSM Members in exchange for payment of the Put Price in the manner specified in this Section 8.1.

 

 

(b)       Put Price

 

Should NSM exercise its Put Right pursuant to Section 8.1(a), then the collective Interests held by the NSM Members shall be purchased by the Company at a price (the “Put Price”) equal to (i) the sum of all cash contributions made by the NSM Members to the equity capital of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement (the “NSM Capital”), plus (ii) an amount equal to a twenty percent (20.0%) per annum return on the contributions described in clause (i) above, from and including the respective dates on which such contributions were made until the date the Put Price is actually paid, calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed from the applicable contribution date to the date the Put Price is actually paid, compounded annually, minus (iii) all distributions (other than tax distributions made pursuant to Section 3.2(b)) previously made or deemed made to the NSM Members by the Company (collectively, the “NSM Return”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Put Right is not exercised pursuant to Section 8.1(a) during the First Put Window, but is exercised during the Second Put Window, then the NSM Return shall be calculated as per above, except that (i) solely for the purposes of calculating that portion of the NSM Return generated during the period commencing on the first day after the end of the First Put Window and until the date of exercise of the Put Right, the twenty percent (20%) per annum annual compounded return in effect will be reduced for such calculation period to ten percent (10%) per annum, compounded annually, and (ii) solely for the purposes of calculating that portion of the NSM Return generated during the period commencing on the date on which the Put Right is exercised and to the date the Put Price is actually paid, the twenty percent (20%) per annum annual compounded return in effect for such calculation period will be reduced for such calculation period to the weighted average per annum return on the NSM Capital as calculated as of the date the Put Right is exercised, compounded annually.

 

(c)

Option to Require Appraisal

 

(i)           If NSM does not exercise its Put Right prior to the expiration of the Second Put Window, then, for a two (2) year period beginning on the seventh anniversary of the Initial Grant Date, NSM shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require a determination of the Fair Market Value of the Company as of the end of the preceding month (“Appraisal Anniversary”). NSM shall exercise this right by providing notice to American II, which notice shall state that it is notice of exercise of NSM’s right pursuant to this Section 8.1(c)(i).

 

(ii)          If NSM provides American II with the notice provided for in Section 8.1(c)(i), then the Members shall thereafter proceed to determine the purchase price for the collective Interests held by the NSM Members (and any Permitted Transferees of the NSM Members) as set forth herein. Upon determination of the Fair Market Value of the Company, American II shall have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the collective Interests held by the NSM Members (and any Permitted Transferees of the NSM Members). Such purchase price for such Interests shall be equal to the product derived by (A) subtracting the value of the Liquidation Preference as of the Appraisal Anniversary from the Fair Market Value of the Company as of the Appraisal Anniversary, determined as set forth in this Section 8.1(c), and (B) multiplying the result by the collective Class B Percentage of the NSM Members (and any Permitted Transferees of the NSM Members), which product shall in no event be less than zero. American II shall pay the purchase price for the Interests by bank check or wire transfer, against execution and delivery by each NSM Member of an instrument of assignment in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

 

(iii)            In the notice referred to in Section 8.1(c)(i), NSM shall set forth its good faith estimate of the Fair Market Value. In the event that, no later than sixty (60) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, American II provides notice to NSM of its agreement to NSM's estimate of the Fair Market Value (the “American II FMV Acceptance Notice”), such determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on NSM and American II (the “Appraisal Option Parties”) as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

(iv)             In the event that (A) American II provides notice to NSM no later than sixty (60) days after the Appraisal Anniversary of its rejection of NSM's estimate of the Fair Market Value or (B) American II fails to provide any notice to NSM within sixty (60) days after the Appraisal Anniversary with regard to NSM's estimate of the Fair Market Value, the Appraisal Option Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to appoint within seventy-five (75) days after the Appraisal Anniversary a mutually acceptable appraiser (the “Joint Appraiser”) for the purpose of determining the Fair Market Value. In the event of such appointment, the Joint Appraiser shall determine the Fair Market Value and submit a written report setting forth such Fair Market Value as determined by the Joint Appraiser, the methodologies for valuation employed by the Joint Appraiser, all information pertinent to the determination of such Fair Market Value with regard to each such methodology and the relative weights afforded to each such methodology by the Joint Appraiser (an “FMV Report”) to each of the Appraisal Option Parties no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the Appraisal Anniversary. All costs and expenses of such appraisal shall be borne equally by the Appraisal Option Parties. The Joint Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

(v)               If the Appraisal Option Parties are unable to agree on a Joint Appraiser within seventy-five (75) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, each of the Appraisal Option Parties shall independently appoint, within ninety (90) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, an appraiser (the “Independent Appraisers”) for the purpose of determining such Fair Market Value. Each Independent Appraiser shall determine the Fair Market Value and submit an FMV Report to each of the Appraisal Option Parties no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the Appraisal Anniversary. All costs and expenses for each such appraisal shall be borne by the party on behalf of which the appraisal is being performed. In the event that the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value are equal, such determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value differ such that the greater exceeds the lesser by no more than ten percent (10%) of the lesser, the average of the two determinations shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that either of the Independent Appraisers fails to make a determination of the Fair Market Value and to submit an FMV Report no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the Appraisal Anniversary, the determination of the Fair Market Value by the other of the Independent Appraisers shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

 

(vi)             In the event that the Independent Appraisers' determinations of the Fair Market Value differ such that the greater exceeds the lesser by more than ten percent (10%) of the lesser, then the Independent Appraisers shall jointly appoint no later than one hundred thirty (130) days after the Appraisal Anniversary an additional appraiser (the “Additional Appraiser”) for the purpose of determining the Fair Market Value. The Additional Appraiser shall determine the Fair Market Value and submit an FMV Report no later than one hundred sixty (160) days after the Appraisal Anniversary. In the event that the Independent Appraisers fail to jointly appoint the Additional Appraiser no later than one hundred thirty (130) days after the Appraisal, either of the Appraisal Option Parties may initiate an arbitration proceeding with JAMS in the District of Columbia for the purpose of appointing a replacement for the Additional Appraiser. The appointment of such replacement for the Additional Appraiser (who, for the purposes of the remainder of this Section 8.1(c), shall also be known as the “Additional Appraiser”) and the determination of the Fair Market Value and the submission of an FMV Report to each of the Appraisal Option Parties by such appraiser shall occur as promptly as reasonably practicable. All costs and expenses for the appraisal performed by the Additional Appraiser shall be borne equally by the Appraisal Option Parties. In the event that the Additional Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value is no more than ten percent (10%) greater than the higher and no more than ten percent (10%) less than the lower of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value, the average of the three (3) determinations shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that the Additional Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value is no more than ten percent (10%) greater than or no more than ten percent (10%) less than one of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value and is more than ten percent (10%) greater than or more than ten percent (10%) less than the other of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value (the “Non-Conforming Appraisal”), the Non-Conforming Appraisal shall be discarded, and the average of the remaining determinations shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof. In the event that the Additional Appraiser’s determination of the Fair Market Value is more than ten percent (10%) greater than the higher or more than ten percent (10%) less than the lower of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value, the closer of the Independent Appraisers’ determinations of the Fair Market Value to the Additional Appraiser's determination of the Fair Market Value shall be final and binding on the Appraisal Option Parties as the Fair Market Value for the purposes hereof.

 

 

(vii)          Any appraiser appointed hereunder shall be a member of a nationally recognized business appraisal organization and shall have experience in valuing wireless telecommunications enterprises. In determining the Fair Market Value, any appraiser appointed hereunder shall determine the value of the Company as a whole and shall not apply any valuation premiums or discounts to the value of the Interests (such as for minority interest, control or lack of marketability). At any time prior to final determination of the Fair Market Value as set forth hereunder, each of the Appraisal Option Parties shall be entitled to submit to any appraiser (and, if such right is exercised, shall also submit to the other of the Appraisal Option Parties) any information related to the valuation of the Company that such Appraisal Option Party considers relevant, and such information shall be accorded the weight that such appraiser deems appropriate. Each of the Appraisal Option Parties shall have an opportunity to comment on all information provided to any appraiser by the other of the Appraisal Option Parties.

 

(viii)          The closing of any purchase of Interests pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) shall take place on the twentieth (20th) day after (A) in the event of determination of the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(iii), the effective date of American II FMV Acceptance Notice or (B) in the event of determination of the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(iv)-(vi), the effective date of the submission of the FMV Report applicable to the final determination of the Fair Market Value; provided, however, that (x) if the transaction is subject to any prior regulatory approval, then the closing shall take place on the tenth (10th) day following the receipt of such regulatory approval, (y) if the date of the closing falls on a weekend or on a federal holiday, the closing shall take place on the next regular Business Day, and (z) if NSM and American II agree to another time for the closing, the closing may take place at such other time as mutually agreed.

 

Section 8.2.      Conditions to Closing

 

(a)       The Company's obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Put Right shall be subject to the satisfaction (or express waiver by the Company) of each of the following conditions:

 

(i)              The parties shall have obtained all required consents, approvals, notices and waivers from governmental or regulatory bodies, including without limitation, any required FCC approval of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right by an effective order, decision, or public notice of the FCC or a duly-authorized bureau or division thereof (or, at the Company's and American II’s election, within five (5) Business Days after such order, decision, or public notice shall have become final and no longer subject to further reconsideration, review or appeal);

 

(ii)             The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, if applicable, shall have expired or been terminated; and

 

(iii)            At the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right, all of the collective Interests held by the NSM Members shall be transferred to the Company free and clear of all Liens, and the NSM Members shall have furnished to the Company documentation reasonably satisfactory to American II providing for the release of all then-existing Liens on such Interests.

 

 

(b)            NSM’s obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Put Right shall be subject to the satisfaction (or express waiver by NSM) of each of the following conditions:

 

(i)              The parties shall have obtained all required consents, approvals, notices and waivers from governmental or regulatory bodies, including without limitation, FCC approval of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right by an effective order, decision, or public notice of the FCC or a duly-authorized bureau or division thereof; and

 

(ii)             The applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c)            Each of the parties hereto agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties hereto in doing, all the things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable, in the most expeditious manner practicable, to satisfy the conditions set forth in this Section 8.2 and to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Put Right and this ARTICLE 8.

 

Section 8.3.      Closing

 

(a)           At the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid the Put Price, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of NSM (which shall be designated by NSM at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of payment), against execution and delivery by each NSM Member of an instrument of assignment in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, on a date not later than five (5) Business Days following the satisfaction (or express waiver by American II) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) and the satisfaction (or express waiver by NSM) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(b), or at such other time and place as the parties may agree. Upon closing of the transactions contemplated by the Put Right, the Members other than American II shall automatically cease to be (i) Members of the Company and (ii) parties to this Agreement, in each case without any further action required of the parties hereto; provided that no such transfer shall relieve any such NSM Member from liability for any prior breach of this Agreement.

 

(b)           The Put Price shall not be subject to any set-off or offset of whatsoever nature.

 

 

Section 8.4.     Terminated Auction Purchase

 

If (a) the Auction is cancelled by the FCC, or the results of the Auction are dismissed in full by the FCC, because of a failure to meet both of the FCC's aggregate reserve prices applicable to the Auction; (b) the License Company fails to timely submit all of the applications for all licenses for which it was the Winning Bidder (i.e., long-form applications) as a result of any action or inaction of American II or any of its Affiliates; (c) all of the License Company's applications for the licenses for which it was the Winning Bidder (i.e., long- form applications) are dismissed by final action of the FCC; (d) all licenses for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder and that were granted to, and are still held by, the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries are cancelled by the FCC; or (e) the License Company does not bid in the Auction (including as a result of a termination pursuant to Section 13.1(b)) or is not the Winning Bidder for any license, then, in each instance, the License Company shall apply as promptly as practicable and permitted under the FCC Rules to obtain a refund from the FCC of all of the Auction funds previously paid by the License Company to the FCC for the Auction, and, to the extent that any upfront payments, down payments or final payments for such licenses are refunded by the FCC, (i) the License Company shall, on behalf of the Company, first pay to the NSM Members an amount equal to (A) the NSM Members' capital contributions plus (B) a twenty percent (20.0%) per annum return on the aggregate amount of capital contributions provided by the NSM Members from the date of their capital contributions through the date that such return is paid to the NSM Members (or, if earlier with respect to some or all of such equity capital contributions, the date of the return of all or part of any such equity capital contributions excluding any tax distributions made pursuant to Section 3.2(b)), compounded annually, and taking into account all distributions (including any returns of equity capital contributions but excluding any tax distributions made pursuant to Section 3.2(b)) previously made to the NSM Members by the Company plus (C) an amount equal to NSM’s reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and not otherwise previously paid or reimbursed pursuant to Section 14.11 (in the event the License Company does not have adequate capital to pay any portion of the foregoing (A), (B) or (C), then American II shall pay to the NSM Members the amount of such shortfall); (ii) the License Company shall then, to the extent any funds remain after making the payments under the foregoing (i), repay amounts due to American II under the Senior Credit Facility; and (iii) the License Company shall then, to the extent any funds remain after making the payments under the foregoing (i) and (ii), on behalf of the Company, return to the Members (other than the NSM Members) their respective amounts of equity capital previously provided by them to the Company; provided that if the License Company's applications for all licenses for which it was the Winning Bidder (i.e., long-form applications) are dismissed by the FCC or the authorizations for which the License Company was the Winning Bidder and that were granted to, and are still held by, the License Company or any of its Subsidiaries are cancelled by the FCC as the result of a breach by NSM of its representations or covenants in Section 11.3(a), then the NSM Members shall not be entitled to any payment under clause (i)(B) of this Section 8.4. For the avoidance of doubt, if this Section 8.4 applies, then the rest of this ARTICLE 8 shall not apply.

 

ARTICLE 9

REGISTRATION RIGHT

 

Section 9.1.      Registration Right

 

At any time after the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Initial Grant Date, the NSM Members may elect to cause the Company (a) to convert to a corporation (“Newco”) and (b) subject to the following provisions of this ARTICLE 9, to register for sale in an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) shares of capital stock of Newco issued to such Members upon conversion, so long as the anticipated gross proceeds to the NSM Members from the Offering are greater than $1,000,000 in the aggregate. If the NSM Members make such election, the Members and the Company shall promptly take such steps as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the provisions of this ARTICLE 9.

 

 

Section 9.2.      Right to Purchase—Preliminary Range

 

The underwriters of the Offering (who shall be selected by the NSM Members and shall be reasonably acceptable to American II) will, within thirty (30) days after delivery of such election, in good faith establish a preliminary range for the price to the public in the Offering. American II may elect to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Interests of the Company (i.e., prior to the conversion into Newco) then held by the Members other than American II, at a price equal to the midpoint of the preliminary range. If American II fails to make such election, the Offering will proceed.

 

Section 9.3.      Right to Purchase—IPO Price

 

If the final price per share at which shares of capital stock of Newco are to be offered to the public (the “IPO Price”) is lower than the midpoint of the preliminary range by three percent or more of the midpoint price, American II may elect, within twenty-four (24) hours after the determination of the IPO Price (during which time the registration statement shall not become effective), to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Interests of the Company (i.e., prior to the conversion into Newco) then held by the Members other than American II at a price equal to the IPO Price. If American II fails to make such election, the Members other than American II shall (subject to Section 9.4) have ninety (90) days to complete the Offering.

 

Section 9.4.      Right to Defer the Offering

 

If American II determines that a registration pursuant to this ARTICLE 9 would interfere with any pending or contemplated material acquisition, disposition, financing or other material transaction involving the Company or American II or any of its Affiliates or would require the Company to disclose material information that would otherwise not be disclosed at such time (and such disclosure would be prejudicial to the Company or American II), the Company will defer such registration at the request of American II; provided that the aggregate of all such deferrals shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days in any three hundred sixty-day period.

 

Section 9.5.      Registration Expenses

 

Except as hereinafter provided, all expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this ARTICLE 9 shall be borne by the Company. In addition, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Members participating in the Offering (the “Participating Members”) for the reasonable fees and expenses of one attorney to the Participating Members selected by NSM incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to this ARTICLE 9. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, each Participating Member shall bear the costs and expenses of any underwriters' discounts and commissions or other fees, brokerage fees or transfer taxes relating to the Interests in the Company or shares of capital stock of Newco sold by such Member and the fees and expenses of any other attorneys, accountants or other representatives retained by such Member.

 

 

Section 9.6.      Registration Procedures

 

If Newco is required to effect the Offering, Newco shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable:

 

(a)              prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate form, and thereafter use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and to remain effective and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement until the lesser of (i) such time as all of such securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Participating Members set forth in such registration statement and (ii) ninety (90) days; provided that Newco shall, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish to each Participating Member and American II copies of such registration statement or prospectus (or amendment or supplement) as proposed to be filed (including, upon the request of any Participating Member or American II, documents to be incorporated by reference therein) which documents shall be subject to the reasonable review and comments of such Participating Member (and its attorneys) and American II during such ten-Business Day period and Newco shall not file any registration statement, any prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (or any such documents incorporated by reference) containing any statements with respect to such Participating Member to which such Participating Member shall reasonably object in writing or any statements with respect to the Company, the License Company or Newco to which American II shall reasonably object in writing;

 

(b)              furnish to American II and each Participating Member and to any underwriter such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 or Rule 430A under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, documents incorporated by reference in such registration statement, amendment, supplement or prospectus and such other documents (in each case including all exhibits) as American II or a Participating Member or underwriter may reasonably request;

 

(c)              after the filing of the registration statement, promptly notify American II and each Participating Member of the effectiveness thereof and of any stop order issued or threatened by the SEC and take all reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered and promptly notify American II and such Participating Member of such lifting or withdrawal of such order;

 

(d)              use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify all shares held by the Participating Members and other securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Participating Members holding a majority of the shares to be included in such registration or the underwriter shall reasonably request, to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains in effect, and take any other action which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Participating Members to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the securities owned by such Participating Members, except that Newco shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this Section 9.6(d) be obligated to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

 

(e)              use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Participating Members to consummate the disposition of such shares;

 

(f)              furnish to each Participating Member and to each underwriter, if any, a signed counterpart of (i) an opinion of counsel for Newco addressed to such Participating Member and such underwriter on which opinion both such Participating Member and such underwriter are entitled to rely and (ii) a “comfort” letter signed by the independent public accountants who have certified Newco's financial statements included in such registration statement, each in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as the managing underwriter therefor reasonably requests. Newco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such comfort letters addressed to each Participating Member;

 

(g)             immediately notify American II and each Participating Member at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, and as promptly as practicable under the circumstances prepare and furnish to American II and each such Participating Member a reasonable number of copies of any supplement to or amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made;

 

(h)             make available for inspection by any Participating Member, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any such Participating Member or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of Newco (collectively, the “Records”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and shall cause Newco's officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors in connection with such registration statement. Each such Participating Member agrees that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed or used by it as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of Newco or its Affiliates unless and until such information is made generally available to the public. Each such Participating Member further agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to Newco and allow Newco, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

 

 

(i)        use its reasonable best efforts to list all shares covered by such registration statement on any securities exchange or quotation system on which any of Newco's shares are then listed or traded; and

 

(j)        otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement or such other document that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

 

Newco may require each Participating Member to promptly furnish to Newco, as a condition precedent to including such Participating Member's shares in the Offering, such written information regarding such Participating Member and the distribution of such securities as Newco may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

Each Participating Member agrees that upon receipt of any notice from Newco of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 9.6(g), such Participating Member shall forthwith discontinue such Participating Member's disposition of shares pursuant to the registration statement relating to such shares until such Participating Member's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 9.6(g) and, if so directed by Newco, shall deliver to Newco (at Newco's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Participating Member's possession, of the prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto relating to such shares current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event Newco shall give such notice, Newco shall extend the period during which the effectiveness of such registration statement shall be maintained by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of notice pursuant to Section 9.6(g) to the date when Newco shall make available to the Participating Members a prospectus supplemented or amended to conform with the requirements of Section 9.6(g).

 

ARTICLE 10

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

Section 10.1.     Exclusivity

 

(a)       American II

 

American II’s and its Affiliates’ participation in the Auction shall not be limited in any way by American II’s participation in the Auction through the License Company. Nothing herein shall be construed or interpreted to limit American II or its Affiliates from participating or not participating in the Auction without an investment in a Designated Entity.

 

(b)       NSM

 

None of Doyon, Limited, NSM or any Affiliates that any of the foregoing control shall participate directly or indirectly in the Auction (including by providing debt or equity financing or other assistance to a bidder) except as a Member of the Company and through the License Company, or the ownership of up to one percent (1%) of any public company.

 

 

Section 10.2.       Confidentiality

 

(a)       Non-Disclosure

 

Each party hereto agrees that it shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates, and each of its and their respective partners, members, managers, shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, “Agents”) to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information disclosed to it by the other party or the definitive agreements contemplated herein or through its interest in the Company or the operation of its business or the use or ownership of its assets, by limiting internal disclosure of any such information to those who have an actual need to know such information in connection with the Auction or the transactions contemplated hereby (which shall include disclosure to a party's attorneys, accountants, potential lenders, lenders, potential investors, investors, financial advisors and consultants), and shall not, without the prior written consent of the disclosing party, use such information other than in connection with the transactions contemplated herein; provided, however, that the confidentiality obligations in this Section 10.2(a) do not apply to information that (i) was or becomes available to the public through no action by the receiving party or (ii) was or becomes available to such receiving party on a non-confidential basis.

 

(b)       Exceptions

 

Notwithstanding Section 10.2(a), any party hereto may disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (i) to federal and state regulatory agencies in connection with applications for approval of such transactions (or, in the case of any regulated Affiliate of a Member, in connection with audits by the applicable regulatory authorities), including to the FCC as part of any application to participate in the Auction and/or any application for a license or licenses won in the Auction, it being understood and agreed that the contents of such applications are generally available to the public, (ii) to financial institutions in connection with financings of the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) if counsel for any party advises that a press release or public disclosure is required by Applicable Law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange, then the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause a mutually acceptable press release to be issued, and in all events the party required to make such disclosure shall be free to do so; provided that in each case (other than clause (iii) above and to the extent submitted to the FCC as part of the contents of an application to participate in the Auction or a post-Auction application for licenses on which the License Company is the Winning Bidder) commercially reasonable efforts are used to seek confidential treatment from any such person to whom such information is disclosed and the other parties hereto are notified contemporaneously of such disclosure; provided, further, that the parties acknowledge that the Bidding Protocol constitutes valuable trade secrets of the Company and is extremely sensitive and confidential, and shall not be disclosed by the parties hereto unless disclosure is compelled by regulatory or other legal process and then only upon adequate prior notice to the other party, which party shall have an opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order, and such disclosure shall be made only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of the regulatory or legal process under which it is so compelled.

 

 

Section 10.3.     Arbitration

 

(a)       Arbitration

 

Except as set forth in Section 5.5(c) and in Section 8.1(c)(vi), any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Within fifteen (15) days after the commencement of arbitration, each party shall select one person to act as arbitrator and the two selected shall select a third arbitrator within ten (10) days of their appointment. If the arbitrators selected by the parties are unable or fail to agree upon the third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association. The place of arbitration shall be Chicago, Illinois or such other place as the parties may agree. The arbitrators shall be knowledgeable in the wireless broadband industry and public auctions of FCC licenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the arbitration is consolidated with a then pending arbitration proceeding pursuant to Section 10.3(d), then the arbitrators and the place of arbitration for such then pending proceeding shall be the arbitrators and place of arbitration hereunder.

 

(b)       Interim Relief

 

Either party may apply to the arbitrators seeking injunctive relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is otherwise resolved. Either party also may, without waiving any remedy under this agreement, seek from any court having jurisdiction any interim or provisional relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that party, pending the establishment of the arbitral tribunal (or pending the arbitral tribunal's determination of the merits of the controversy).

 

(c)       Award

 

The award shall be made within ninety (90) days of the filing of the notice of intention to arbitrate, and the arbitrators shall agree to comply with this schedule before accepting appointment. However, this time limit may be extended by agreement of the parties and the arbitrators if necessary.

 

(d)       Consent to Consolidation of Arbitrations

 

Each party hereto irrevocably consents to consolidating before the same arbitrators any arbitration proceeding under this Agreement with any other arbitration proceedings involving any party hereto that may be then pending or that are brought under the Senior Credit Facility or any other Related Agreement.

 

(e)       Venue

 

Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the United States District Courts located in the State of Delaware for entering of any judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrators; provided that if such courts do not have jurisdiction to enforce such judgment, then the parties may enter such judgment in any other court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

 

ARTICLE 11

REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS

 

Section 11.1.      Representations of the Members

 

Each of the Members represents and warrants to the Company and to each other Member as follows:

 

(a)           It is a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

(b)           It has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a party and each other instrument, document, certificate and agreement required or contemplated to be executed, delivered and performed by it hereunder.

 

(c)          This Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a party have each been duly executed and delivered by it and constitute its valid and binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

(d)           Neither its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, nor its consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under the Related Agreements to which it is a party, shall (i) conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, any provision of its constituent documents; (ii) constitute, with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, a material breach, violation or default, create a material Lien, or give rise to any right of termination, modification, cancellation, prepayment or acceleration, under (A) any Applicable Law or license except as may be provided under the FCC Rules or (B) any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement or other instrument, in each case which is applicable to or binding upon it or any of its assets or (iii) require any consent which has not already been obtained except as may be required under the FCC Rules.

 

(e)           Other than as has been disclosed to the Company and such other Members it has no knowledge of any (i) action, claim, proceeding, investigation or controversy pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against it or any of its properties or assets or (ii) judgment, order, award or consent decree outstanding against or affecting it, in either event that could have a material adverse effect on its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement or to fulfill its obligations hereunder.

 

(f)           It shall have on each date it is required to make a capital contribution under this Agreement cash available to it in an amount sufficient to fully fund such capital contribution.

 

 

Section 11.2.       Covenants of the Members

 

Each Member shall (a) timely furnish, and shall cause its Affiliates to timely furnish, such information as may be required to be provided under FCC Rules in, or in connection with, the License Company's short-form application to participate in the Auction and post-Auction long-form application and associated filings; (b) subject to Section 10.1, not participate, and shall cause Affiliates that it controls to refrain from participating, directly or indirectly, in the Auction or in connection with any other actual or potential bidder in the Auction, to the extent such action would disqualify, restrict or limit the License Company from participating fully in the Auction or otherwise would violate any applicable FCC Rule; and (c) shall take measures to comply with the FCC’s anti-collusion rule at Section 1.2105 of the FCC Rules and the FCC’s anonymous bidding procedures applicable to the Auction.

 

Section 11.3.      Representations and Covenants of NSM

 

(a)

NSM hereby represents and covenants that:

 

(i)              it shall cause the License Company to take all actions necessary and proper under FCC Rules for the License Company to timely file the post-Auction long-form application and any other filings required to be filed under FCC Rules in connection therewith or with the License Company's short-form application to participate in the Auction; provided that the parties acknowledge and agree that NSM’s ability to comply with this Section 11.3(a)(i) depends upon American II's compliance with its obligations under this Agreement, the Senior Credit Facility and the other Related Agreements, including Section 2.2 and Section 11.2 of this Agreement and the funding obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, and, if American II breaches its obligations (including under Section 2.2 or Section 11.2 or its funding obligations under the Senior

Credit Facility) and such breach results in NSM’s failure to comply with this Section 11.3(a)(i), then NSM shall not be in breach of this Section 11.3(a)(i);

 

(ii)             other than as set forth on Schedule 11.3(a)(ii), neither it, its Affiliates, its controlling interests, nor Affiliates of its controlling interests (A) is now, or has ever been, in default on any FCC license and (B) is now, or has ever been, delinquent on any non-tax debt owed to any federal agency; and

 

(iii)            on the Initial Application Date and for so long thereafter as NSM is the Manager and to the extent as may be required under FCC Rules in order for the License Company and its Subsidiaries to retain the Auction Benefits, NSM shall qualify as, and will not knowingly take any action without American II’s consent to cause it to lose the status of, a Qualified Person, as if NSM itself was the applicant (or licensee).

 

(b)           NSM shall not permit the amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of its certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement (as amended and restated on October 3, 2014 and as further amended on October 10, 2014 and on February 12, 2015), nor shall NSM enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Person that could reasonably be expected to result in a material breach or default of any representation or covenant of NSM contained in this Agreement.

 

 

Section 11.4.       Failure to Qualify as a Qualified Person

 

If NSM fails to qualify and remain qualified as a Qualified Person as required under Section 11.3(a)(iii), whether or not as a result of a change in applicable FCC rules, then the parties shall promptly take reasonable steps to enable NSM to so qualify; provided that the relative economic and other rights and benefits expected to be derived by the parties hereunder are preserved. Should such failure to so qualify have resulted from a Significant Violation, the NSM Members shall be obligated to pay to American II $100,000 (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty).

 

ARTICLE 12

EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 12.1.       No Personal Liability

 

(a)             Except as otherwise provided by the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Indemnified Person (as defined in Section 12.1(b)) shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being an Indemnified Person.

 

(b)             No Member or its Affiliates, or any of their respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, members, managers or partners (each, an “Indemnified Person”) shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Company or to any other Indemnified Person for any act or omission performed or omitted by an Indemnified Person in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, whether for mistake of judgment or negligence or other action or inaction, unless such action or omission constitutes willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. Each Indemnified Person may consult with counsel, accountants and other experts in respect of the affairs of the Company and such Indemnified Person shall be fully protected and justified in any action or inaction which is taken in good faith in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel, accountants or other experts, provided that they shall have been selected with reasonable care.

 

Section 12.2.       Indemnification by Company

 

To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company shall protect, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Indemnified Person for any acts or omissions performed or omitted by an Indemnified Person (in its capacity as such) unless such action or omission constituted willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. The indemnification authorized under this Section 12.2 shall include payment on demand (with appropriate evidence of the amounts claimed) of reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses incurred in connection with, or in settlement of, any legal proceedings between the Indemnified Person and a third party and the removal of any Liens affecting any property of the Indemnified Person. Such indemnification rights shall be in addition to any and all rights, remedies and recourse to which any Indemnified Person shall be entitled, whether or not pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, at law or in equity. The indemnities provided for in this Section 12.2 shall be recoverable only from the assets of the Company, and there shall be no recourse to any Member or other Person for the payment of such indemnities.

 

 

Section 12.3.       Notice and Defense of Claims

 

(a)             Notice of Claim. If any action, claim or proceeding (each, a “Claim”) shall be brought or asserted against any Indemnified Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought from the Company under Section 12.2, the Indemnified Person shall give prompt written notice of such Claim to the Company, which may assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person and the payment of all of such counsel's fees and expenses; provided that any delay or failure to so notify the Company shall relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder only to the extent, if at all, that it is prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure. Any such notice shall refer to Section 12.2 and describe in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances of the Claim being asserted.

 

(b)             Defense by the Company. If the Company undertakes the defense of the Claim, the Company shall keep the Indemnified Person advised as to all material developments in connection with any Claim, including by promptly furnishing the Indemnified Person with copies of all material documents filed or served in connection therewith. The Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ one separate firm per jurisdiction with respect to any of the foregoing Claims and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such firm shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Person unless both the Indemnified Person and the Company are named as parties and representation by the same counsel is inappropriate due to actual differing interests between them; provided that under no circumstances shall the Company be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one law firm per jurisdiction in any of the foregoing Claims for the Indemnified Persons, taken collectively and not separately. The Company may, without the Indemnified Person's consent, settle or compromise any Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment if such settlement, compromise or judgment involves only the payment of money damages by the Company (which payment is made or adequately provided for at the time of such settlement, compromise or judgment) or provides for the unconditional release by the claimant or plaintiff of the Indemnified Person and its Affiliates from all liability in respect of such Claim and does not impose injunctive relief against any of them. The Indemnified Person shall provide reasonable assistance to the Company in the defense of the Claim. As between the Company, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Persons, on the other hand, any matter that is not agreed to unanimously by the Indemnified Persons shall be determined by the Indemnified Person that is a party to this Agreement.

 

(c)             Defense by the Indemnified Person. If the Company, within twenty (20) Business Days after receiving written notice of any such Claim, fails to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Person shall have the right, subject to the right of the Company at any time thereafter to assume such defense pursuant to the provisions of this ARTICLE 12, to undertake the defense, compromise or settlement of such Claim for the account of the Company.

 

(d)             Advancement of Expenses. Unless the indemnifying party shall have assumed the defense of any Claim pursuant to Section 12.3(b), the Company shall advance to the Indemnified Person any of its reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any such Claim. Each Indemnified Person shall agree in writing prior to any such advancement, that if it receives any such advance, such Indemnified Person shall reimburse the Company for such fees, costs, and expenses to the extent that it shall be determined that it was not entitled to indemnification under this ARTICLE 12.

 

 

(e)             Contribution. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the provisions of this ARTICLE 12 shall not be construed so as to provide for the indemnification of any Indemnified Person for any liability to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in violation of Applicable Law or to the extent such liability may not be waived, modified or limited under Applicable Law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of this ARTICLE 12 to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law; provided that, if and to the extent that the Company's indemnification obligation under this ARTICLE 12 is unenforceable for any reason, then the Company hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution permissible under Applicable Law to the payment and satisfaction of the losses of the Indemnified Person, except to the extent such losses are found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith.

 

ARTICLE 13

DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 13.1.          No Withdrawal

 

(a)             Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or as otherwise provided by Applicable Law, (i) no Member shall have the right, and each Member hereby agrees not, to dissolve, terminate or liquidate the Company, or to resign or withdraw as a Member and (ii) NSM shall have no right, and NSM hereby agrees not to, resign or withdraw as the Manager.

 

(b)             If (i) there is any generally applicable change in FCC Rules that is effective prior to the date on which the first round of bidding in the Auction commences and that has the effect of eliminating or substantially reducing the Auction Benefits to be derived by the License Company in the Auction or (ii) the first round of bidding in the Auction has not commenced on or before March 31, 2015, then either Member may at any time prior to the date that is two (2) Business Days prior to the date on which the first round of bidding in the Auction commences, give written notice to the other Member that American II shall withdraw as a Member. Upon the delivery of such notice, (A) this Agreement and all Related Agreements shall terminate, (B) any amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility shall be repaid in full, (C) American II's Interests shall be redeemed for an aggregate amount equal to the sum of (1) $850 and (2) the capital contributed to the Company by American II on or prior to such date pursuant to Section 2.2(b), without any action required by American II and American II shall cease to be a Member upon such redemption; provided that such termination and redemption shall not cause a dissolution of the Company, (D) NSM, the Company, and the License Company shall be free (subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 and such other provisions that survive the termination of this Agreement) to participate in the Auction without further obligation to American II, it being understood that the rights under Section 4 of the Bidding Protocol shall continue in force and effect in accordance with its terms and (E) American II and its Affiliates shall be free (subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 and such other provisions that survive the termination of this Agreement) to participate in the Auction without further obligation to NSM, the Company or the License Company, it being understood that the rights under Section 4 of the Bidding Protocol shall continue in force and effect in accordance with its terms; provided, further, that if the License Company has made the upfront payment to the FCC, and if the License Company applies as promptly as practicable and permitted under the FCC Rules to obtain a refund from the FCC of all of the Auction funds previously paid by the License Company to the FCC for the Auction, then the amounts due to American II under (C) above shall not be due until the License Company receives such refund; provided, further, that such payments to American II and the other provisions set forth in this subsection shall be subject to Section 8.4 (if there is any conflict between this subsection and Section 8.4, Section 8.4 shall control).

 

 

Section 13.2.       Dissolution

 

The Company shall be dissolved upon the written determination of the Manager to dissolve the Company, if approved by American II if required pursuant to Section 6.3, but only on the effective date of dissolution specified by the Manager in such determination.

 

Section 13.3.       Procedures Upon Dissolution

 

(a)             General. If the Company dissolves, it shall commence winding up pursuant to the appropriate provisions of the Act and the procedures set forth in this Section 13.3. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Company, until the winding up of the Company's affairs is completed, the business of the Company and the affairs of the Members, as such, shall continue to be governed by this Agreement.

 

(b)             Control of Winding Up. The winding up of the Company shall be conducted under the direction of the Manager or such other Person as may be designated by a court of competent jurisdiction (herein sometimes referred to as the “Liquidator”); provided that any Member whose breach of this Agreement shall have caused the dissolution of the Company (and the representatives appointed by such Member) shall not participate in the control of the winding up of the Company; and provided, further, that if the dissolution is caused by entry of a decree of judicial dissolution, the winding up shall be carried out in accordance with such decree.

 

(c)             Manner of Winding Up. The Company shall engage in no further business following dissolution other than that necessary for the orderly winding up of business and distribution of assets. The Company's maintenance of offices shall not be deemed a continuation of business for purposes of this Section 13.3. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Liquidator shall, subject to Section 13.3(a), first attempt to distribute assets in kind if it can obtain the consent of each of the Members and, to the extent necessary, the creditors of the Company. If such consent is not obtained, the Liquidator shall sell the Company or all the Company's property in such manner and on such terms as it deems fit, consistent with its fiduciary responsibility and having due regard to the activity and condition of the relevant market and general financial and economic conditions. Each Member shall share Profits, Losses and other items after the dissolution of the Company and during the period of winding up in the same manner as described in ARTICLE 4.

 

 

(d)             Application of Assets. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Company's assets (which shall, after the sale or sales referenced in Section 13.3(c), consist of the proceeds thereof) shall be applied as follows:

 

(i)            Put Right. To NSM, to the extent the Put Right has been exercised pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and has not yet been satisfied. In order to provide NSM with sufficient time to exercise its Put Right in accordance with Section 8.1, under no circumstances shall the Company be dissolved within the ten-day period following the announcement of a Liquidation Event or a Deemed Liquidation Event.

 

(ii)           Creditors. To creditors for borrowed money and interest accrued thereon, including Members who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by Applicable Law, in satisfaction of liabilities of the Company (whether by payment or the reasonable provision for the payment thereof). Any reserves set up by the Liquidator may be paid over by the Liquidator to an escrow agent or trustee, to be held in escrow or trust for the purpose of paying any such contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations, and, at the expiration of such period as the Liquidator may deem advisable, such reserves shall be distributed to the Members or their assigns in the manner set forth in this Section 13.3(d).

 

(iii)          Class A Members. To the Class A Members, first in respect of any unpaid distributions on the Class A Preferred Interests as of the Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event and second, in accordance with the Liquidation Preference of the Class A Preferred Interests.

 

(iv)          Class B Members. To the extent there are remaining funds available for distribution, to the Class B Members, in proportion to the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments for the taxable year during which the Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event occurs (other than those made pursuant to this Section 13.3(d)(iv)).

 

(v)           Incorporation. In the event the Company is incorporated in connection with an IPO or otherwise, each Member shall receive shares in the resulting corporation based on the amount it would receive in liquidation of the Company pursuant to Section 13.3(d)(iii) and Section 13.3(d)(iv).

 

(e)             Deemed Liquidation Event. The Company shall not voluntarily effect a Deemed Liquidation Event unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation or other agreement for such transaction provides that the consideration payable to the Members shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Section 13.3(d), and as if the consideration payable to the Members were all assets of the Company available for distribution to the Members.

 

(f)             Amount Deemed Paid or Distributed. The amount of consideration paid by the Company upon a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be the amount of the cash or the value of the property, rights or securities paid or distributed to the Members by the Company or the acquiring person, firm or other entity, with the value of such property, rights or securities determined in good faith by the Manager.

 

 

Section 13.4.        Deficit Capital Accounts

 

If the Company is “liquidated” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), distributions shall be made pursuant to this ARTICLE 13 to the Members who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2). No Member shall have an obligation to restore a negative Capital Account.

 

Section 13.5.        Termination

 

Upon completion of the winding up of the Company and the distribution of all Company assets, the Company's affairs shall terminate and the Members shall cause to be executed and filed any and all documents required by the Act to effect the termination of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 14

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 14.1.        Entire Agreement

 

This Agreement and the Related Agreements, together with any schedules and exhibits hereto and thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the Members and any of their affiliated entities with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and all contemporaneous oral or written negotiations, proposals, offers, agreements, commitments and understandings relating to such subject matters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, that certain Appeal Contingency Agreement dated as of October 1, 2015 by and among the parties hereto shall continue to apply, provided, however, that (i) any references therein to the “Credit Agreement” shall instead be references to the Senior Credit Facility effective as of the Effective Date, (ii) any references therein to the LLC Agreement shall instead be references to this Agreement; and (iii) any references therein to the Interest Purchase Agreement shall instead be references to the Second Amended and Restated Interest Purchase Agreement effective as of June 7, 2018.

 

Section 14.2.        Amendment; Waiver

 

Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be amended, modified, or waived except in a writing signed by NSM and American II. No failure or delay of any Member in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right or power, preclude any other further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. No waiver by any Member of any departure by any other Member from any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless the same shall be in a writing signed by the Member against which enforcement of such waiver or consent is sought, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice or similar communication by any Member to another shall entitle such other Member to any other or further notice or similar communication in similar or other circumstances, except as specifically provided herein.

 

 

Section 14.3.         Successors and Assigns

 

This Agreement may not be assigned without the prior written consent of all the parties hereto, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, and any assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void and without force or effect; provided that, subject to ARTICLE 7, American II may assign its Interests and this Agreement in whole or in part (provided that American II shall not be relieved of its obligations under this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly set forth below) to (a) any Affiliate of American II and (b) secured lenders of American II or its Affiliates (as a collateral assignment). Any such assignment shall be subject to compliance with the requirements of all applicable FCC Rules. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Members hereto and their respective heirs or successors in interest.

 

Section 14.4.          No Third-Party Beneficiaries

 

This Agreement is entered into solely for the benefit of the Members, and no Person, other than the Members, their respective successors and permitted assigns, their Affiliates to the extent expressly provided herein, and (to the extent provided in ARTICLE 12) the Persons entitled to indemnification pursuant to ARTICLE 12, may exercise any right or enforce any obligation hereunder, and nothing herein expressed or implied will create or be construed to create any other third-party beneficiary rights hereunder.

 

Section 14.5.         Disposition of Interests

 

Upon the sale or other disposition by a Person of all its Interests in the Company, following which such Person and Affiliate thereof is no longer a Member of the Company, this Agreement shall terminate as to such Member and its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 14.3 or Section 14.6.

 

Section 14.6.         Survival of Rights and Duties

 

Termination of this Agreement for any reason, and any Member ceasing to be a Member or a party to this Agreement for any reason, shall not relieve any Member of any liability which at the time of termination or cessation has already accrued to such Member or which thereafter may accrue in respect of any act or omission prior to such termination or cessation, nor shall any such termination or cessation affect in any way the Related Agreements or the survival of any right, duty or obligation of any Member which is expressly stated elsewhere in this Agreement to survive termination or cessation hereof. The provisions of ARTICLE 8, Section 10.2, Section 10.3, Section 11.4, ARTICLE 12, ARTICLE 13 and ARTICLE 14 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and any Member ceasing to be a Member or a party to this Agreement for any reason.

 

Section 14.7.         Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, without regard to principles of conflicts of law provisions of that or of any other state, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

 

Section 14.8.          Specific Performance

 

The Members acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for violations of this Agreement and that any Member may, in its sole discretion, in an arbitration or a court of competent jurisdiction, to the extent permitted hereunder, apply for specific performance or injunctive or other relief as such arbitration or court may deem just and proper in order to enforce this Agreement or to prevent violation hereof. Each Member hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law and any other defense which might be asserted to bar the remedy of specific performance in any action which may be brought by a Member, as the case may be.

 

Section 14.9.          Remedies Cumulative

 

All rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, shall not be mutually exclusive and shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise of any one or more right, power or remedy thereof by a Member shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such Member hereunder or under Applicable Law or the principles of equity.

 

Section 14.10.        Further Assurances

 

Each Member shall execute and deliver any such further documents and shall take such further actions as any other Member may at any time or times reasonably request, at the expense of the requesting Member, consistent with the provisions hereof in order to carry out and effect the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 14.11.        Expenses

 

Unless otherwise specifically agreed to in writing and except as set forth in this Section 14.11, the parties will bear their own costs and expenses (including all legal, accounting and investment expenses) incurred prior to the execution and delivery of the Original Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whether or not the Company acquires any licenses, (a) upon the filing with the FCC of the short-form application to participate in the Auction, American II shall pay or reimburse NSM for all of NSM’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (including any such expenses incurred prior to the date of the Original Agreement) and NSM’s proposed participation in the Auction incurred up to such date, up to a maximum aggregate reimbursement of $175,000 and (b) after such payment or reimbursement, American II shall reimburse NSM, from time to time within thirty (30) days of American II's receipt of a reasonably detailed invoice from NSM, for all of NSM’s reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and NSM’s proposed participation in the Auction incurred from and after the date on which such short-form application is filed with the FCC. In addition, the Company shall (or shall cause the License Company to) pay directly, or shall (or shall cause the License Company to) reimburse the Members for, the costs and expenses the Members incur (or have incurred) for the benefit of the Company or the License Company in connection with the License Company's participation in the Auction (e.g., the cost of bidding facilities and related computer hardware and software); provided that the other Members receive documentation of such expenses in a form reasonably acceptable to such Members, and provided that NSM shall be solely responsible for the investment banking fees and expenses paid or payable to RBC Capital Markets, if any, pursuant to any arrangement entered into by NSM with RBC Capital Markets (it being understood that NSM has not entered into any such arrangement).

 

 

Section 14.12.         Notices

 

All notices or requests that are required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be sent by facsimile transmission, or by first-class certified mail, postage prepaid, or by overnight courier service, charges prepaid, to the party to be notified, addressed to such party at the address(es) set forth below, or sent by facsimile to the fax number(s) set forth below, or such other address(es) or fax number(s) as such party may have substituted by written notice (given in accordance with this Section 14.12) to the other party. The sending of such notice with confirmation of receipt of the complete transmission (in the case of facsimile transmission) or receipt of such notice (in the case of delivery by first-class certified mail or by overnight courier service) shall constitute the giving thereof.

 

If to be given to NSM or the Company:	If to be given to American II:
c/o Doyon, Limited	American AWS-3 Wireless II L.L.C.
Attn: Allen M. Todd, General Counsel	Attn: EVP, Corporate Development
If by overnight courier service:	If by overnight courier service:
Doyon, Limited	9601 South Meridian Blvd.
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300	Englewood, Colorado 80112
Fairbanks, AK 99701-2941
If by first-class certified mail:	If by first-class certified mail:
Doyon, Limited	P.O. Box 6655
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300	Englewood, Colorado 80155
Fairbanks, AK 99701-2941
If by facsimile:	If by facsimile:
Fax #: (907) 459-2075	Fax #: (303) 723-2020
cc: Lowenstein Sandler LLP	cc: Office of the General Counsel
1251 Avenue of the Americas	American AWS-3 Wireless II L.L.C.
New York, NY 10020
Attention: Michael A. Brosse	If by overnight courier service:
Fax:  (973) 422-6841	Same address as noted above for American
	II overnight courier delivery

 

 

	If by first-class certified mail:
	Same address as noted above for American
	II first- class certified mail delivery
	If by facsimile:
	Fax #: (303) 723-2050

 

Section 14.13.       Severability

 

Subject to Section 14.14, each provision of this Agreement shall be construed as separable and divisible from every other provision and the enforceability of any one provision shall not limit the enforceability, in whole or in part, of any other provision. In the event that a court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal, void or less than fully enforceable as to time, scope or otherwise, the parties agree that such provision shall be construed by limiting and reducing it so that such provision is valid, legal, and fully enforceable while preserving to the greatest extent permissible the original intent of the parties; the remaining terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such alteration, and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 14.14.        Reformation

 

(a)             If the FCC should (i) change any FCC Rule in a manner that would adversely affect the enforceability of this Agreement; (ii) directly or indirectly reject or take action to challenge the enforceability of this Agreement or (iii) take any other steps whatsoever, on its own initiative or by petition from another Person, to challenge or deny the transactions contemplated hereby, or the eligibility of the License Company to hold any of the licenses won in the Auction or the ability of the License Company to realize the Auction Benefits (each, an “Adverse FCC Action”), then the Members shall promptly consult with each other and negotiate in good faith to reform and amend this Agreement so as to eliminate or amend to make unobjectionable any portion that is the subject of any Adverse FCC Action (each, an “Adverse FCC Action Reformation”). Furthermore, subject to consent in writing by American II, in the event of an Adverse FCC Action, the Members other than American II (the “Non-American II Members”) shall use their best efforts with respect to all aspects of the Adverse FCC Action to agree upon an Adverse FCC Action Reformation with American II; provided, however, that in the event that an element of any such Adverse FCC Action materially adversely impacts the material economic benefits of the Non-American II Members (each, an “Economic Element”), then the Non-American II Members may use commercially reasonable efforts solely with respect to the Economic Element of the Adverse FCC Action to agree upon an Adverse FCC Action Reformation with American II. None of the Members hereto shall take any action that is reasonably likely to contribute to such Adverse FCC Action.

 

(b)             If the FCC should determine that a portion of this Agreement, after having been reformed pursuant to paragraph (a) above, continues to violate FCC Rules, then such provisions shall be null and void and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect, provided that the relative economic and other rights and benefits expected to be derived by the parties hereunder are preserved.

 

 

Section 14.15.        Relationship of Parties

 

Each Member shall perform services hereunder as an independent contractor and nothing herein shall be construed as creating any other relationship between the Members, except as expressly set forth herein. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement will constitute a Member as a legal representative or agent of the other Member, nor will a Member have the right or authority to assume, create or incur any liability or any obligation of any kind, express or implied, against or in the name of or on behalf of the other Member or hold itself out as agent for the other Member, unless otherwise expressly permitted by such other Member.

 

Section 14.16.        No Right to Partition

 

No Member shall have the right to bring an action for partition against the Company. Each of the Members hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights which it may have to maintain an action to partition Company property or to compel any sale or transfer thereof.

 

Section 14.17.        Construction

 

(a)          The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.

 

(b)          A reference to Applicable Law includes any amendment or modification to such Applicable Law, and all regulations, rulings and other Applicable Law promulgated under such Applicable Law.

 

(c)           A reference to a Person includes its permitted successors and permitted assigns.

 

(d)          Accounting terms have the meanings assigned to them by GAAP, as applied by the accounting entity to which they refer.

 

(e)           The words “include,” “includes” and “including” are not limiting.

 

(f)           Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.

 

(g)           A reference in a document to an Article, Section, Exhibit, Schedule, Annex or Appendix is to the Article, Section, Exhibit, Schedule, Annex or Appendix of such document unless otherwise indicated. Exhibits, Schedules, Annexes or Appendices to any document shall be deemed incorporated by reference in such document. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement (exclusive of the Exhibits, Schedules, Annexes and Appendices thereto) and any Exhibit, Schedule, Annex or Appendix thereto, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

(h)           References to any document, instrument or agreement (i) shall include all exhibits, schedules and other attachments thereto; (ii) shall include all documents, instruments or agreements issued or executed in replacement thereof and (iii) shall mean such document, instrument or agreement, or replacement or predecessor thereto, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and in effect at any given time.

 

 

(i)          The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any document shall refer to such document as a whole and not to any particular provision of such document.

 

(j)           References to “days” shall mean calendar days, unless the term “Business Days” shall be used. References to a time of day shall mean such time in New York, New York, unless otherwise specified.

 

(k)         The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

 

(l)           Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it has reviewed this Agreement and that the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement or any amendments hereto.

 

(m)         All section and descriptive headings and the recitals herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement, and no construction or reference shall be derived therefrom.

 

Section 14.18.        Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

[END OF PAGE]

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	MEMBERS:
	AMERICAN AWS-3 WIRELESS II L.L.C.
	By:	/s/ Charles W. Ergen
		Name: Charles W. Ergen
		Title: Chairman
	NORTHSTAR MANAGER, LLC
	By:	Doyon, Limited, its Manager
	By:	/s/ Allen M. Todd
		Name: Allen M. Todd
		Title: Authorized Representative
	COMPANY:
	NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC
	By:	Northstar Manager, LLC, its Manager
	By:	Doyon, Limited, its Manager
	By:	/s/ Allen M. Todd
		Name: Allen M. Todd
		Title: Authorized Representative

 

 

SCHEDULE 11.3(a)(ii)

 

1.

As documented in Letter from Mark F. Dever, Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP, Counsel for Northstar Wireless, LLC, to Jean L. Kiddoo, Deputy Bureau Chief, Office of the Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, FCC ULS File No. 0006670613 (filed Oct. 1, 2015); Letter to Mark F. Dever, Counsel for Northstar Wireless, LLC, from Roger C. Sherman, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 30 FCC Rcd 10700 (WTB rel. Oct. 1, 2015).

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

INSTRUMENT OF ASSIGNMENT

 

INSTRUMENT OF ASSIGNMENT, dated as of ___________, 20__, by and between NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Assignee”), and NORTHSTAR MANAGER, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Assignor”).

 

This Instrument of Assignment is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Assignee, dated as of June 7, 2018, by and between American AWS-3 Wireless II L.L.C. and Assignor (as such Agreement may have been or may be hereafter amended, modified, supplemented or amended and restated from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “LLC Agreement”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth in the LLC Agreement, including the payment of the Put Price as of the date hereof, and other valuable consideration to Assignor, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows (capitalized terms used herein without definition herein having the meanings ascribed to them in the LLC Agreement):

 

1.               Assignment. Assignor does hereby assign, convey, transfer and deliver (such assignment, conveyance, transfer and delivery being referred to herein as “Delivery”) to Assignee, its successors and assigns all of its right, title and interest in and to, free and clear of Liens (other than restrictions imposed pursuant to the LLC Agreement or under any applicable securities laws and other than Liens under or pursuant to the Senior Credit Facility and the other Loan Documents (as defined therein)), its entire Interest in the Company.

 

2.               Representations and Warranties. Assignor hereby represents and warrants to Assignee that, subject to the FCC Rules, Assignor (a) is the sole beneficial and record owner of the Interests being delivered by it hereby and has good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions imposed pursuant to the LLC Agreement or under any applicable securities laws and other than Liens under or pursuant to the Senior Credit Facility and the other Loan Documents (as defined therein)) and (b) has full power and authority to deliver such Interests without conflict with the terms of any Applicable Law, order or material agreement or instrument binding upon it or its assets.

 

3.               Further Assurances. Each of the parties agrees that at any time and from time to time upon the request of another party hereto, it shall execute and deliver such further documents and shall take such further actions as such other party may at any time or times reasonably request, at the expense of such requesting party, consistent with the provisions hereof in order to carry out and effect the intent and purposes of this Instrument of Assignment, and to vest in Assignee, and put Assignee in possession of, all the Interests and any portion thereof to be delivered hereunder.

 

4.               Successors. This Instrument of Assignment is executed by, and shall be binding upon, Assignee and Assignor, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

 

5.                Counterparts. This Instrument of Assignment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

6.                Governing Law. This Instrument of Assignment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed wholly within such jurisdiction, without regard to principles of conflicts of law provisions of that or of any other state, all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Instrument of Assignment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	NORTHSTAR MANAGER, LLC
	By:	Doyon, Limited, its Manager
	By:
		Name:
		Title:
	NORTHSTAR SPECTRUM, LLC
	By:	Northstar Manager, LLC, its Manager
	By:	Doyon, Limited, its Manager
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

 

 

 

Exhibit 22.1

 

EchoStar Corporation

 

List of Subsidiary Guarantors

 

The following subsidiaries of EchoStar Corporation are the guarantors of the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 and the 3.875% Convertible Secured Notes due 2030. The notes will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis.

 

Entity	Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization
NorthStar Wireless, LLC	Delaware
SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC	Delaware
DBSD Corporation	Colorado
Gamma Acquisition L.L.C.	Colorado
Northstar Spectrum LLC	Delaware
SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC	Delaware
DBSD Services Limited	United Kingdom
Gamma Acquisition HoldCo, L.L.C.	Colorado

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

	KPMG LLP Suite 800 1225 17th Street Denver, CO 80202-5598

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use of our report dated February 29, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of EchoStar Corporation, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

 

 

Denver, Colorado
October 10, 2024

 

 

KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of
the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with
KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

	KPMG LLP Suite 800 1225 17th Street Denver, CO 80202-5598

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use of our report dated March 29, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of DISH Network Corporation, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

 

 

Denver, Colorado
October 10, 2024

 

 

KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of
the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with
KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.

 

 

 

Exhibit 25.1

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2)           ¨

  

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	95-3571558 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Hope Street Suite 2525 Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	90071 (Zip code)

 

 

ECHOSTAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	26-1232727 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

Northstar Wireless, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1752452 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1718512 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

DBSD Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	35-2556718 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

Gamma Acquisition L.L.C.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	45-2507625 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

Northstar Spectrum, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1742770 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1719104 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

DBSD Services Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

United Kingdom (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	98-0230168 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

Gamma Acquisition HoldCo, L.L.C.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	33-1357351 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2030
(Title of the indenture securities) 

 

 

1.            General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

(a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

 

(b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Yes.

 

2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

 

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None.

 

16.

List of Exhibits.

 

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Act").

 

1.

A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

2.

A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.  333-121948).

 

3.

A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.  333-152875).

 

 

4.

A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229762).

 

6.

The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

7.

A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State Illinois, on the 9th day of October, 2024.

 

	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
	By:	/s/ Ann Dolezal
		Name:	Ann M. Dolezal
		Title:	Vice President

 

 

EXHIBIT 7

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. 

of 333 South Hope Street, Suite 2525, Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

At the close of business June 30, 2024, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

		Dollar amounts
		in thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin			5,196
Interest-bearing balances			320,481
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities			0
Available-for-sale debt securities			519
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading			0
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold in domestic offices			0
Securities purchased under agreements to resell			0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale			0
Loans and leases, held for investment			0
LESS: Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases			0
Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance			0
Trading assets			0
Premises and fixed assets (including right-of-use assets)			11,540
Other real estate owned			0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies			0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures			0
Intangible assets			856,313
Other assets			103,122
Total assets		$	1,297,171

  

 

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices			1,073
Noninterest-bearing			1,073
Interest-bearing			0
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased in domestic offices			0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase			0
Trading liabilities			0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)			0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures			0
Other liabilities			259,868
Total liabilities			260,941
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus			0
Common stock			1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)			106,831
Not available
Retained earnings			928,399
Accumulated other comprehensive income			0
Other equity capital components			0
Not available
Total bank equity capital			1,036,230
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries			0
Total equity capital			1,036,230
Total liabilities and equity capital			1,297,171

 

I, Shana Quinn, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

Shana Quinn     )     CFO

 

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

Antonio I. Portuondo, President		)
Loretta A. Lundberg, Managing Director		)		Directors (Trustees)
Jon M. Pocchia, Senior Director		)

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 25.2

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2)           ¨

  

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	95-3571558 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Hope Street Suite 2525 Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	90071 (Zip code)

 

 

ECHOSTAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	26-1232727 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

Northstar Wireless, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1752452 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1718512 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

DBSD Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	35-2556718 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

Gamma Acquisition L.L.C.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	45-2507625 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

Northstar Spectrum, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1742770 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	47-1719104 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

DBSD Services Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

United Kingdom (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	98-0230168 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

Gamma Acquisition HoldCo, L.L.C.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	33-1357351 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
9601 South Meridian Boulevard Englewood, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices)	80112 (Zip code)

 

 

3.875% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2030
(Title of the indenture securities) 

 

 

1.            General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

(a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

 

(b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Yes.

 

2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

 

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None.

 

16.

List of Exhibits.

 

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Act").

 

1.

A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

2.

A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.  333-121948).

 

3.

A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.  333-152875).

 

 

4.

A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229762).

 

6.

The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

7.

A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State Illinois, on the 9th day of October, 2024.

 

	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
	By:	/s/ Ann Dolezal
		Name:	Ann M. Dolezal
		Title:	Vice President

 

 

EXHIBIT 7

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. 

of 333 South Hope Street, Suite 2525, Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

At the close of business June 30, 2024, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

		Dollar amounts
		in thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin			5,196
Interest-bearing balances			320,481
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities			0
Available-for-sale debt securities			519
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading			0
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold in domestic offices			0
Securities purchased under agreements to resell			0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale			0
Loans and leases, held for investment			0
LESS: Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases			0
Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance			0
Trading assets			0
Premises and fixed assets (including right-of-use assets)			11,540
Other real estate owned			0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies			0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures			0
Intangible assets			856,313
Other assets			103,122
Total assets		$	1,297,171

  

 

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices			1,073
Noninterest-bearing			1,073
Interest-bearing			0
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased in domestic offices			0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase			0
Trading liabilities			0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)			0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures			0
Other liabilities			259,868
Total liabilities			260,941
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus			0
Common stock			1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)			106,831
Not available
Retained earnings			928,399
Accumulated other comprehensive income			0
Other equity capital components			0
Not available
Total bank equity capital			1,036,230
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries			0
Total equity capital			1,036,230
Total liabilities and equity capital			1,297,171

 

I, Shana Quinn, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

Shana Quinn     )     CFO

 

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

Antonio I. Portuondo, President		)
Loretta A. Lundberg, Managing Director		)		Directors (Trustees)
Jon M. Pocchia, Senior Director		)

 

 

 

 

v3.24.3

Submission	Oct. 09, 2024
Submission [Line Items]
Central Index Key	0001415404
Registrant Name	EchoStar CORP
Form Type	S-4
Submission Type	S-4
Fee Exhibit Type	EX-FILING FEES

v3.24.3

Offerings	Oct. 09, 2024 USD ($) shares
Offering: 1
Offering:
Fee Previously Paid	false
Other Rule	true
Security Type	Debt
Security Class Title	6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2030
Amount Registered | shares	2,381,000,000
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	$ 2,381,000,000.00
Fee Rate	0.01531%
Amount of Registration Fee	$ 364,531.10
Offering Note	(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee under Rule 457(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). (2) Represents the aggregate principal amount of 6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 of EchoStar Corporation (the "EchoStar Exchange Notes") to be offered in exchange offer to the holders of 0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 of DISH Network Corporation (the "DISH Network 2025 Notes") and to the holders of 3.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 of DISH Network Corporation (the "DISH Network 2026 Notes") to which the registration statement relates.
Offering: 2
Offering:
Fee Previously Paid	false
Other Rule	true
Security Type	Debt
Security Class Title	3.875% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2030
Amount Registered | shares	1,950,000,000
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	$ 1,950,000,000.00
Fee Rate	0.01531%
Amount of Registration Fee	$ 298,545.00
Offering Note	(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee under Rule 457(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). (3) Represents the aggregate principal amount of 3.875% Convertible Secured Notes due 2030 of EchoStar Corporation (the "EchoStar Convertible Notes") to be offered in exchange offer to the holders of DISH Network 2025 Notes and the holders of DISH Network 2026 Notes to which the registration statement relates.
Offering: 3
Offering:
Fee Previously Paid	false
Other Rule	true
Security Type	Debt
Security Class Title	Guarantees of the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2030
Fee Rate	0.01531%
Amount of Registration Fee	$ 0.00
Offering Note	(4) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate filing fee is required for the guarantees.
Offering: 4
Offering:
Fee Previously Paid	false
Other Rule	true
Security Type	Debt
Security Class Title	Guarantees of the 3.875% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2030
Fee Rate	0.01531%
Amount of Registration Fee	$ 0.00
Offering Note	(4) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate filing fee is required for the guarantees.
Offering: 5
Offering:
Fee Previously Paid	false
Other Rule	true
Security Type	Equity
Security Class Title	Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Fee Rate	0.01531%
Amount of Registration Fee	$ 0.00
Offering Note	(5) There is being registered hereunder the offer and sale of an indeterminate number of shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Class A Common Stock"), that may be issued upon conversion of all of the EchoStar Convertible Notes covered by this registration statement, assuming that EchoStar Corporation elects to settle all such conversions with shares of Class A Common Stock. No additional consideration shall be received for the Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the EchoStar Convertible Notes and therefore no additional registration fee is required pursuant to Rule 457(i) under the Securities Act. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock registered hereby shall include an indeterminate number of shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or other similar event.

v3.24.3

Fees Summary	Oct. 09, 2024 USD ($)
Fees Summary [Line Items]
Total Offering	$ 4,331,000,000.00
Previously Paid Amount	0.00
Total Fee Amount	663,076.10
Total Offset Amount	0.00
Net Fee	$ 663,076.10

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