EX1A-6 MAT CTRCT 7 vbco-1aex6z2.htm EXHIBIT 6.2

 

 

 

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

VICTORYBASE HOLDINGS LLC

 

 

Dated as of December 9, 2020

 

 

 

 

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS 1
ARTICLE II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS 8
Section 2.1   Formation of Company. 8
Section 2.2   Limited Liability Company Agreement. 8
Section 2.3   Name. 9
Section 2.4   Purpose. 9
Section 2.5   Principal Office; Registered Office. 9
Section 2.6   Term. 9
Section 2.7   No State-Law Partnership. 9
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION 9
Section 3.1   Members. 9
Section 3.2   Units. 10
Section 3.3   Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units. 10
Section 3.4   Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units. 11
Section 3.5   Negative Capital Accounts 11
Section 3.6   No Withdrawal. 11
Section 3.7   Loans From Members. 11
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS 12
Section 4.1   Distributions. 12
Section 4.2   Restricted Distributions. 13
ARTICLE V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS 13
Section 5.1   Capital Accounts. 13
Section 5.2   Allocations. 14
Section 5.3   Regulatory Allocations. 14
Section 5.4   Final Allocations. 16
Section 5.5   Tax Allocations. 16
Section 5.6   Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member. 17
ARTICLE VI. MANAGEMENT 17
Section 6.1   Authority of Manager. 17
Section 6.2   Actions of the Manager. 18
Section 6.3   Resignation; No Removal. 18

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Section 6.4   Vacancies. 18
Section 6.5   Transactions Between Company and Manager. 18
Section 6.6   Reimbursement for Expenses. 18
Section 6.7   Delegation of Authority. 19
Section 6.8   Limitation of Liability of Manager. 19
Section 6.9   Investment Company Act. 20
ARTICLE VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS 20
Section 7.1   Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members. 20
Section 7.2   Lack of Authority. 21
Section 7.3   No Right of Partition. 21
Section 7.4   Indemnification. 21
Section 7.5   Members Right to Act. 22
Section 7.6   Inspection Rights. 23
ARTICLE VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 24
Section 8.1   Records and Accounting. 24
Section 8.2   Fiscal Year. 24
Section 8.3   Reports. 24
ARTICLE IX. TAX MATTERS 24
Section 9.1   Preparation of Tax Returns. 24
Section 9.2   Tax Elections. 25
Section 9.3   Partnership Representative. 25
ARTICLE X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHT 26
Section 10.1   Transfers by Members. 26
Section 10.2   Permitted Transfers. 26
Section 10.3   Restricted Units Legend. 26
Section 10.4   Transfer. 27
Section 10.5   Assignee’s Rights. 27
Section 10.6   Assignor’s Rights and Obligations. 27
Section 10.7   Overriding Provisions. 28
ARTICLE XI. EXCHANGE RIGHTS 29
Section 11.1   Exchange Rights for Class A Units. 29
Section 11.2   Reservation of Shares of VBC Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of VBC. 29
Section 11.3   Effect of Exercise of Exchange Right. 29

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Section 11.4   Tax Treatment. 29
ARTICLE XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS 30
Section 12.1   Substituted Members. 30
Section 12.2   Additional Members. 30
ARTICLE XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS 30
Section 13.1   Withdrawal and Resignation of Members. 30
ARTICLE XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION 30
Section 14.1   Dissolution. 30
Section 14.2   Liquidation and Termination. 31
Section 14.3   Deferment; Distribution in Kind. 31
Section 14.4   Certificate of Termination. 32
Section 14.5   Reasonable Time for Winding Up. 32
Section 14.6   Return of Capital. 32
ARTICLE XV. VALUATION 32
Section 15.1   Determination. 32
Section 15.2   Dispute Resolution. 32
ARTICLE XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS 33
Section 16.1   Power of Attorney. 33
Section 16.2   Confidentiality. 33
Section 16.3   Amendments. 34
Section 16.4   Title to Company Assets. 34
Section 16.5   Addresses and Notices. 34
Section 16.6   Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries. 35
Section 16.7   Creditors. 35
Section 16.8   Waiver. 35
Section 16.9   Counterparts. 36
Section 16.10   Applicable Law. 36
Section 16.11   Severability. 36
Section 16.12   Further Action. 36
Section 16.13   Delivery by Electronic Transmission. 36
Section 16.14   Right of Offset. 36
Section 16.15   Entire Agreement. 36
Section 16.16   Remedies. 37

 

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LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

VICTORYBASE HOLDINGS LLC

This LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) of VictoryBase Holdings LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “Company”) dated as of December 9, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among the Members (as defined herein) of the Company.

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability company with the name “VictoryBase Holdings LLC”, pursuant to and in accordance with the TBOC (as defined herein) by the filing of the Certificate (as defined herein) with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas on the Effective Date;

WHEREAS, the initial Members shall be VictoryBase RE, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“VBRE”), which shall hold Class A Units (as defined herein) and VictoryBase Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“VBC”), which shall hold Class B Units (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, as set forth herein, the Class A Units will be exchangeable at any time and from time to time for shares of VBC Class A Common Stock at a conversion ratio that results in the exchanging holder of Class A Units receiving VBC Class A Common Stock with an indirect economic ownership in the Company that is equal to the direct percentage economic interest in the Company that such Class A Units represented in the hands of such exchanging holder;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Members, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall be applied to the terms used in this Agreement for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary.

Additional Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2.

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means with respect to the Capital Account of any Member as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Member’s Capital Account balance shall be:

(a)       reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6); and

 
 

(b)       increased for any amount such Member is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i) (relating to minimum gain).

Admission Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6.

Affiliate” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Affiliated”) means, with respect to a specified Person, each other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. As used in this definition and the definition of Majority Member, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or other agreement).

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Appraisers” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.2.

Assignee” means a Person to whom a Company Interest has been transferred but who has not become a Member pursuant to ARTICLE XII.

Assumed Tax Liability” means the estimated or actual taxable income of the Company, as determined for federal income tax purposes, allocated to a Member pursuant to Section 5.4 for the period to which the Assumed Tax Liability relates as determined for federal income tax purposes multiplied by (i) with respect to a Member that is not taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the highest combined federal and state marginal income tax rate then applicable to any individual in the United States, regardless of the actual tax rate applicable to such Member, and (ii) with respect to a Member that is taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, the highest combined federal and state marginal income tax rate then applicable to a corporation in the United States, as reasonably determined by the Manager; provided that, in the case of VBC, such Assumed Tax Liability shall be computed without regard to any increases to the tax basis of the Company’s property pursuant to Section 743(b) of the Code.

Base Rate” means, on any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.

Book Value” means, with respect to any Company property, the Company’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (d)-(g).

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banks located in Dallas, Texas generally are authorized or required by Law to close.

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Member in accordance with Section 5.1.

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Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property that such Member contributes (or is deemed to contribute) to the Company pursuant to ARTICLE III hereof.

Capital Transaction” means any sale, exchange, or other disposition of all or any part of any depreciable real property of the Company.

Certificate” means the Company’s Certificate of Formation as filed with the Secretary of State of Texas, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Change of Control Transaction” means (a) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets determined on a consolidated basis, (b) a sale of a majority of the Company’s outstanding Units (other than (i) to VBC or (ii) in connection with an Exchange in accordance with ARTICLE XI). or (c) a sale of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any Material Subsidiary of the Company; in any such case, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise; provided, however, that neither (w) a transaction solely between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, (x) nor a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of domicile of the Company, nor (y) a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the form of entity of the Company, nor (z) a sale of a majority of the outstanding shares of VBC Class A Common Stock, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise, shall in each case of clauses (w), (x), (y) and (z) constitute a Change of Control Transaction.

Class A Units” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of the Members and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Class A Units in this Agreement.

Class B Units” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of the Members and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Class B Units in this Agreement.

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Company Interest” means the interest of a Member in Profits, Losses and Distributions.

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2.

Conversion Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.

Depreciation” means, for any Fiscal Year, 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 Fiscal Year, except that (i) with respect to a Company asset the Book Value of which differs from its adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the “remedial allocation method” as defined in Regulations

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Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such period shall be the amount of the book basis recovered for such period under the rules prescribed in Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (ii) if the Book Value of a Company asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year, Depreciation shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning Book Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable for such Fiscal Year bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis, provided, however, that if the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of such Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Book Value using any reasonable method selected by the Manager.

Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.

Distributable Cash” shall mean, as of any relevant date on which a determination is being made by the Manager regarding a potential distribution pursuant to Section 4.1(a), the amount of cash of the Company remaining at such time after setting aside reasonable reserves determined by the Manager for working capital, capital expenditures, retirement of outstanding indebtedness and other present or future requirements of the Company, all in accordance with the purposes of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable

Distribution” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Distribute”) means each distribution made by the Company to a Member with respect to such Member’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities of the Company and whether by liquidating distribution or otherwise; provided, however, that none of the following shall be a Distribution: (a) any recapitalization that does not result in the distribution of cash or property to Members or any exchange of securities of the Company, and any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units or (b) any other payment made by the Company to a Member that is not properly treated as a “distribution” for purposes of Sections 731, 732, or 733 or other applicable provisions of the Code.

Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Equity Securities” means (a) Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including other classes or groups thereof having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established by the Manager pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including rights, powers and/or duties senior to existing classes and groups of Units and other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), (b) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and (c) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

Event of Withdrawal” means the expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company. “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that (a) terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, (ii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation

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of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or (iii) merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member) but that (b) does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).

Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.

Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, its fair market value determined according to ARTICLE XV.

Fiscal Period” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Company and which is permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code.

Fiscal Year” means the Company’s annual accounting period established pursuant to Section 8.2.

Governmental Entity” means (a) the United States of America, (b) any other sovereign nation, (c) any state, province, district, territory or other political subdivision of (a) or (b) of this definition, including any county, municipal or other local subdivision of the foregoing, or (d) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government on behalf of (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).

Investment Company Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

IPO” means any initial public offering of VBC or any other event or action by VBC which facilitates the public trading of VBC’s capital stock including without limitation the proposed issuance of additional shares of VBC Class A Common Stock to investors pursuant to the exemption from registration afforded by Regulation A+ Tier II, and the quotation of VBC Class A Common Stock on OTC Markets and/or any other registration or listing of such shares for potential public trading.

Law” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of the United States, any foreign country and each state, commonwealth, city, county, municipality, regulatory body, agency or other political subdivision thereof.

Losses” means items of Company loss or deduction determined according to Section 5.1(b).

Majority Members” means the Members (which may include the Manager) holding a majority of the Voting Units then outstanding.

Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

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Material Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that, as of any date of determination, represents more than (a) 50% of the consolidated net tangible assets of the Company or (b) 50% of the consolidated net income of the Company before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Member” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each of the members named on the Schedule of Members and (b) any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with ARTICLE XII, but in each case only so long as such Person is shown on the Company’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units.

Minimum Gain” means “partnership minimum gain” determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).

Net Loss” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Losses for such Fiscal Year over Profits for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3).

Net Profit” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Profits for such Fiscal Year over Losses for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3).

Officer” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b).

Other Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.

Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.

Partnership Tax Audit Rules” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.

Percentage Interest” means with respect to a Member at a particular time, such Member’s percentage interest in the Company determined by dividing such Member’s Units by the total Units of all Members at such time. The Percentage Interest of each Member shall be calculated to the 4th decimal place.

Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

Person” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.

Pro rata,” “pro rata portion,” “according to their interests,” “ratably,” “proportionately,” “proportional,” “in proportion to,” “based on the number of Units held,” “based upon the percentage of Units held,” “based upon the number of Units outstanding,” and other terms with similar meanings, when used in the context of a number of Units of the Company relative to other Units, means as amongst an individual class of Units, pro rata based upon the number of such Units within such class of Units.

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Profits” means items of Company income and gain determined according to Section 5.1(b).

Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(g).

Schedule of Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of the voting interests thereof are at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of the Company shall be given effect only at such times that the Company has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.

Substituted Member” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 12.1.

Tax Distribution Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b)(i).

Tax Distributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b)(i).

Taxable Year” means the Company’s accounting period for U.S. federal income tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 9.2.

TBOC” means the Texas Business Organizations Code and any successor code or statute, as amended from time to time.

Transfer” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Transferring”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of Law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any Equity Securities or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any Member if substantially all of the assets of such Member consist solely of Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, a change in entity

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classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member.

Treasury Regulations” means the income tax regulations promulgated under the Code and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.

Unit” means a Company Interest of a Member or a permitted Assignee in the Company representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of all Members and Assignees as may be established by the Manager from time to time in accordance with Section 3.2; provided, however, that any class or group of Units issued shall have the relative rights, powers and duties set forth in this Agreement, and the Company Interest represented by such class or group of Units shall be determined in accordance with such relative rights, powers and duties.

VBC” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

VBC Class A Common Stock” means VBC’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001.

VBC Class B Common Stock” means VBC’s Class B Non-Economic Voting Common Stock, par value $0.001.

Voting Units” means any Units other than Units that by their express terms do not entitle the record holder thereof to vote on any matter presented to the Members generally under this Agreement for approval; provided that (i) no vote by Voting Units shall have the power to override any action taken by the Manager or to remove or replace the Manager, (ii) the Voting Units have no ability to take part in the conduct or control of the Company’s business, and (iii) notwithstanding any vote by Voting Units hereunder, the Manager shall retain exclusive management power over the business and affairs of the Company in accordance with Section 6.1(a).

ARTICLE II.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

Section 2.1 Formation of Company. The Company was formed on the Effective Date pursuant to the provisions of the TBOC.

Section 2.2 Limited Liability Company Agreement. The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the TBOC. The Members hereby agree that during the term of the Company set forth in Section 2.6 the rights and obligations of the Members with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the TBOC. On any matter upon which this Agreement is silent, the TBOC shall control. No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the TBOC and to the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the TBOC, such provision shall be void and of no

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effect to the extent of such violation without affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that where the TBOC provides that a provision of the TBOC shall apply “unless otherwise provided in a limited liability company agreement” or words of similar effect, the provisions of this Agreement shall in each instance control.

Section 2.3 Name. The name of the Company shall be “VictoryBase Holdings LLC.” The Manager in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such change shall be given to all of the Members and, to the extent practicable, to all of the holders of any Equity Securities then outstanding. The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Manager.

Section 2.4 Purpose. The primary business and purpose of the Company shall be to engage in such activities as are permitted under the TBOC and determined from time to time by the Manager in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Section 2.5 Principal Office; Registered Office. The principal office of the Company shall be at such place as the Manager may from time to time designate. The address of the initial registered office of the Company in the State of Texas shall be as set forth in the Certificate, and the initial registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Texas at such registered office shall be as set forth in the Certificate. The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent and registered office in the State of Texas.

Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate in accordance with the TBOC and shall continue in existence until termination and dissolution of the Company in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE XIV.

Section 2.7 No State-Law Partnership. The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including, without limitation, a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.7, and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Member relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and, if applicable, state or local income tax purposes, and that each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.

 

ARTICLE III.
MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

Section 3.1 Members.

(a)       The Company shall maintain as Schedule A attached hereto a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address of each Member; (ii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units and the number and class of Units held by each Member; (iii) the aggregate amount of cash Capital

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Contributions that has been made by the Members with respect to their Units; and (iv) the Fair Market Value of any Capital Contribution consisting of property other than cash (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject) (such schedule, the “Schedule of Members”). The Schedule of Members shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the TBOC.

(b)       No Member shall be required or, except as approved by the Manager pursuant to Section 6.1 and in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, permitted to loan any money or property to the Company or borrow any money or property from the Company.

Section 3.2 Units. Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Manager may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. The Units will initially consist of Class A Units and Class B Units. The Manager may create one or more additional classes or series of Units.

Section 3.3 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.

(a)       If permitted by the Manager, from time to time VBC may make additional cash contributions to the Company. Upon any such contribution, the Company will issue additional Class B Units to VBC in an amount equal to the result of (i) the aggregate number of Units outstanding immediately prior to the capital contribution; multiplied by (ii) the amount of the capital contribution; divided by (iii) the fair market value of the Company as a whole immediately prior to the capital contribution, as reasonably determined by the Manager.

(b)        If permitted by the Manager, from time to time VBRE may contribute additional cash or other property (which may include interests in one or more business entities) to the Company. Upon any such contribution, the Company will issue additional Class A Units to VBRE in an amount equal to the result of (i) the aggregate number of Units outstanding immediately prior to the capital contribution; multiplied by (ii) the fair market value of the cash or other property contributed to the Company, as reasonably determined by the Manager; divided by (iii) the fair market value of the Company as a whole immediately prior to the capital contribution, as reasonably determined by the Manager.

(c)       The Company shall only be permitted to issue additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company to the Persons and on the terms and conditions provided for in Section 3.2 and this Section 3.3. Subject to the foregoing, the Manager may cause the Company to issue additional Units authorized under this Agreement at such times and upon such terms as the Manager shall determine and the Manager shall amend this Agreement as necessary in connection with the issuance of additional Units and admission of additional Members under this Section 3.3 without the requirement of any consent or acknowledgement of any other Member.

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Section 3.4 Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units.

(a)       Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Manager. If the Manager determines that one or more Units shall be certificated, each such certificate shall be signed by or in the name of the Company, by the Chief Executive Officer and any other officer designated by the Manager, representing the number of Units held by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the Manager may determine. Any or all of such signatures on any certificate representing one or more Units may be a facsimile, engraved or printed, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The Manager agrees that it shall not elect to treat any Unit as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code unless thereafter all Units then outstanding are represented by one or more certificates.

(b)       If Units are certificated, the Manager may direct that a new certificate representing one or more Units be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Manager of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The Manager may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

(c)       Upon surrender to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company, if any, of a certificate for one or more Units, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, in compliance with the provisions hereof, the Company shall issue a new certificate representing one or more Units to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.

Section 3.5 Negative Capital Accounts. No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Member’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company).

Section 3.6 No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

Section 3.7 Loans From Members. Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1(b), the amount of any such advances shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.

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ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 4.1 Distributions.

(a)       Distributable Cash; Other Distributions. To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Members may be declared by the Manager out of Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor, on a pro rata and pari passu basis, to the Members.

(b)       Tax Distributions.

(i)       On or about each date (a “Tax Distribution Date”) that is five (5) Business Days prior to each due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of an individual calendar year taxpayer (without regard to extensions) (or, if earlier, the due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of VBC, as determined without regard to extensions), the Company shall use its best efforts to make a cash Distribution to each Member in accordance with its Percentage Interest in an amount equal to the excess of such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability, if any, for such taxable period over the Distributions previously made to such Member pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) with respect to such taxable period (the “Tax Distributions”).

(ii)       If, on a Tax Distribution Date, there are insufficient funds on hand to distribute to the Members the full amount of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) shall be made on a pro rata and pari passu basis to the Members to the extent of available funds in accordance with their Percentage Interests and the Company shall use its best efforts to make future Tax Distributions as soon as funds become available sufficient to pay the remaining portion of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled.

(iii)       In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for any taxable year, or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest or penalties). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Members and former Members received for the relevant taxable years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability to be promptly distributed to such Members and the successors of such former Members, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Members and former Members pursuant to Section 4.1(a) and this Section 4.1(b) in the relevant taxable years sufficient to cover such shortfall.

(iv)       Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.1(b), if any, shall be made to a Member only to the extent all previous Distributions to such Member pursuant to Section 4.1(a) with respect to the Fiscal Year are

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less than the Distributions such Member otherwise would have been entitled to receive with respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant to this Section 4.1(b).

Section 4.2 Restricted Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any Distribution to any Member on account of any Company Interest if such Distribution would violate any applicable Law.

ARTICLE V.
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

Section 5.1 Capital Accounts.

(a)       The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member according to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulation and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of Company property.

(b)       For purposes of computing the amount of any item of Company income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to this ARTICLE V and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Members, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however, that:

(i)       The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(l)(B) or Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(ii)       If the Book Value of any Company property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) (2)(iv)(f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property.

(iii)       Items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property.

(iv)       Items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).

(v)       To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury

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Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis).

Section 5.2 Allocations. Except as otherwise provided in and after having given effect to the special allocations of Section 5.3, Net Profits and Net Losses for any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members as follows.

(a)       Net Profits. Net Profits shall be allocated:

(i)       first, to the Members in proportion to and to the extent of the excess, if any, of: (A) the cumulative Net Losses allocated to each such Member pursuant to Section 5.2(b) hereof for all prior Fiscal Years, over (B) the cumulative Net Profits allocated to each such Member under this Section 5.2(a)(i) for all prior Fiscal Years; and

(ii)       the balance, if any, among the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

(b)       Net Losses. Net Losses shall be allocated:

(i)       first, among the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests in an amount equal to the excess, if any of (1) the cumulative Net Profits allocated to the Members pursuant to Section 5.2(a) for all prior Fiscal Years, over (2) the cumulative Net Losses allocated to the Members pursuant to this Section 5.2(b)(i) for all prior Fiscal Years;

(ii)       second, among the Members in proportion to and to the extent of their Capital Account balances (after taking into account all distributions and contributions during such Fiscal Year) until the Capital Account balance of each such Member is reduced to zero;

(iii)       the balance, if any, among the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

Section 5.3 Regulatory Allocations.

(a)       If there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Member shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.3(a) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

(b)       Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum

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gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(3)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4). This Section 5.3(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistently therewith.

(c)       If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Section 5.3(a) and Section 5.3(b) but before the application of any other provision of this ARTICLE V, then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Member in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 5.3(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

(d)       Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

(e)       If the allocation of Net Losses to a Member as provided in Section 5.2 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The Net Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member shall be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section 5.3(e).

(f)       Profits and Losses described in Section 5.1(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).

(g)       The allocations set forth in Section 5.3(a) through and including Section 5.3(f) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this ARTICLE V, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss shall be reallocated among the Members so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero. In addition, if in any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership minimum gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain, and application of the minimum gain chargeback requirements

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set forth in Section 5.3(a) or Section 5.3(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Members, the Members may, if they do not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such minimum gain chargeback requirements. If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such minimum gain chargeback requirement.

Section 5.4 Final Allocations. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement except Section 5.3, the Manager shall make appropriate adjustments to allocations of Profits and Losses to (or, if necessary, allocate items of gross income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company among) the Members upon the liquidation of the Company (within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations), the transfer of substantially all the Units (whether by sale or exchange or merger) or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such that, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Accounts of the Members are proportionate to the amounts that otherwise would be distributable to each Member under Section 4.1. In each case, such adjustments or allocations shall occur, to the maximum extent possible, in the Fiscal Year of the event requiring such adjustments or allocations.

Section 5.5 Tax Allocations.

(a)       The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company will be allocated, for federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Members in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Members for computing their Capital Accounts; provided that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Company’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.

(b)       Items of Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Code Section 704(c) 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 Book Value using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

(c)       If the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.1(b), subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

(d)       Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members pro rata as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).

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(e)       For purposes of determining a Member’s pro rata share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in income and gain shall be in proportion to the Units held by such Member.

(f)       Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.5 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other Company items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

Section 5.6 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member. If the Company is obligated to pay any amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Member’s status as such (including federal withholding taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes, but excluding payments such as professional association fees and the like made voluntarily by the Company on behalf of any Member based upon such Member’s status as an employee of the Company), then such Person shall indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). The Manager may offset Distributions to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.6. A Member’s obligation to make contributions to the Company under this Section 5.6 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company, and for purposes of this Section 5.6, the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section 5.6, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus 300 basis points (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law). Each Member hereby agrees to furnish to the Company such information and forms as required or reasonably requested in order to comply with any laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Member is legally entitled.

ARTICLE VI.
MANAGEMENT

Section 6.1 Authority of Manager.

(a)       Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in VBC, as the sole managing member of the Company (VBC, in such capacity, the “Manager”) and (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company. The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the TBOC. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of all such powers and rights conferred on the Members by the TBOC with respect to the management and control of the Company. Any vacancies in the position of Manager shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.4.

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(b)       The day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Company (each, an “Officer” and collectively, the “Officers”), subject to the limitations imposed by the Manager. An Officer may, but need not, be a Member. Each Officer shall be appointed by the Manager and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any one Person may hold more than one office. Subject to the other provisions in this Agreement (including in Section 6.7 below), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager. The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall include, but not be limited to, such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them and the carrying out of the Company’s business and affairs on a day-to-day basis. All Officers shall be, and shall be deemed to be, officers and employees of the Company. An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer of the Manager.

(c)       The Manager shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity.

Section 6.2 Actions of the Manager. The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.7.

Section 6.3 Resignation; No Removal. The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Members, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager.

Section 6.4 Vacancies. Vacancies in the position of Manager occurring for any reason shall be filled by VBC (or, if VBC has ceased to exist without any successor or assign, then by the holders of a majority in interest of the voting capital stock of VBC immediately prior to such cessation). For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager.

Section 6.5 Transactions Between Company and Manager. The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager, provided such contracts and dealings are on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing at arm’s length.

Section 6.6 Reimbursement for Expenses. The Manager shall not be compensated for its services as Manager of the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Members acknowledge and agree that, upon consummation of any IPO, the VBC Class A Common Stock will be publicly traded and therefore VBC will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company

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and all Members; therefore, VBC shall be reimbursed by the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, including without limitation all fees, expenses and costs associated with such IPO and all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including without limitation public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, stock exchange fees, transfer agent fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining VBC’s corporate existence. In the event that shares of VBC Class A Common Stock are sold to underwriters in any IPO (or in any subsequent public offering) at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of VBC Class A Common Stock are sold to the public in such IPO (or in such subsequent public offering, as applicable) after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (such difference, the “Discount”), the Company shall reimburse VBC for such Discount by treating such Discount as an additional Capital Contribution made by VBC to the Company and increasing VBC’s Capital Account by the amount of such Discount. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by VBC on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company and, if and to the extent any reimbursements to VBC or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.6 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Code Section 707(c) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts.

Section 6.7 Delegation of Authority. The Manager (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the Manager may deem advisable, and (b) may assign titles (including, without limitation, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officers, chief operating officer, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time. Any number of titles may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.

Section 6.8 Limitation of Liability of Manager.

(a)       Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, neither the Manager nor any of the Manager’s Affiliates shall be liable to the Company or to any Member that is not the Manager for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager in its capacity as the sole managing member of the Company pursuant to authority granted to the Manager by this Agreement; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the Manager’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company. The Manager may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith and with reasonable care). The Manager shall be entitled to rely upon the advice of legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts, including financial advisors, and any

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act of or failure to act by the Manager in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the Manager to liability to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager.

(b)       Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the Manager shall act in a manner which is, or provide terms which are, “fair and reasonable” to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager, the Manager shall determine such appropriate action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the relative interests of each party to such agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable United States generally accepted accounting practices or principles.

(c)       Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” with “complete discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the Manager shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or other Members.

(d)       Whenever in this Agreement the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Manager shall act under such express standard and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as the Manager acts in good faith, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Manager shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or impose liability upon the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates.

Section 6.9 Investment Company Act. The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

ARTICLE VII.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

Section 7.1 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members.

(a)       Except as provided in this Agreement or in the TBOC, no Member (including without limitation, the Manager) shall be obligated personally for any debts, obligation or liability solely by reason of being a Member or acting as the Manager of the Company. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the TBOC shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members for liabilities of the Company.

(b)       In accordance with the TBOC and the laws of the State of Texas, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member.

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It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to ARTICLE IV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the TBOC. The payment of any such money or Distribution of any such property to a Member shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 101.154 of the TBOC, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.

(c)       Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (subject to Section 6.8 with respect to the Manager), to the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member (or any Member’s Affiliate or any manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Member or of any Affiliate of a Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to the Manager, to another Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby limited, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any. The limitation of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.

Section 7.2 Lack of Authority. No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company. The Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.

Section 7.3 No Right of Partition. No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any Company property, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.

Section 7.4 Indemnification.

(a)       Subject to Section 5.7, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each an “Indemnified Person”) to the fullest extent permitted under the TBOC, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the Company is providing immediately prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member or is or was serving as the Manager, Officer, employee, Partnership Representative or other agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company

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as a manager, officer, director, principal, member, employee, Partnership Representative or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for any expenses, liabilities and losses suffered that are attributable to such Indemnified Person’s or its Affiliates’ gross negligence, willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company. Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, including any appeal therefrom, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

(b)       The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 7.4 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the Manager or otherwise.

(c)       The Company may maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, or substantially equivalent insurance, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person (and the investment funds, if any, they represent) against any expense, liability or loss described in Section 7.4(a) whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Section 7.4. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase and maintain property, casualty and liability insurance in types and at levels customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar lines of business, as determined in good faith by the Manager, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (including employment practices coverage) with a carrier and in an amount determined necessary or desirable as determined in good faith by the Manager.

(d)       If this Section 7.4 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.4 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.4 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

Section 7.5 Members Right to Act. For matters that require the approval of the Members, the Members shall act through meetings and written consents as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) below:

(a)       Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, acts by the Members holding a majority of the Units, voting together as a single class, shall be the acts of the Members. Any Member entitled to vote at a meeting of Members or to express consent or dissent to Company action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for it by proxy. An electronic mail, telegram, telex, cablegram or similar transmission by the Member, or a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing executed by the Member shall (if stated thereon) be treated as a proxy executed in writing for purposes of this Section 7.5(a).

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No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven months from the date thereof, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and that the proxy is coupled with an interest. Should a proxy designate two or more Persons to act as proxies, unless that instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority of such Persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or, if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, the Company shall not be required to recognize such proxy with respect to such issue if such proxy does not specify how the votes that are the subject of such proxy are to be voted with respect to such issue.

(b)       The actions by the Members permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the Manager or by the Members holding a majority of the Units entitled to vote on such matter on at least 120 hours’ prior written notice to the other Members entitled to vote, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. The actions taken by the Members entitled to vote or consent at any meeting (as opposed to by written consent), however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if (but not until), either before, at or after the meeting, the Members entitled to vote or consent as to whom it was improperly held signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. The actions by the Members entitled to vote or consent may be taken by vote of the Members entitled to vote or consent at a meeting or by written consent, so long as such consent is signed by Members having not less than the minimum number of Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Members entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the action so taken, which shall state the purpose or purposes for which such consent is required and may be delivered via email, without a meeting shall be given to those Members entitled to vote or consent who have not consented in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action taken by such written consent. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent of the Members shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Members at a meeting thereof.

Section 7.6 Inspection Rights. The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives to (i) visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, (ii) examine the corporate and financial records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom, (iii) consult with the managers, officers, employees and independent accountants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The presentation of an executed copy of this Agreement by any Member to the Company’s independent accountants shall constitute the Company’s permission to its

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independent accountants to participate in discussions with such Persons and their respective designated representatives.

ARTICLE VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Section 8.1 Records and Accounting. The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 8.3 or pursuant to applicable Laws. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to ARTICLE III and ARTICLE IV, and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error.

Section 8.2 Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on December 31st each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.

Section 8.3 Reports. The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, all information reasonably necessary for the preparation of such Person’s United States federal and applicable state income tax returns.

ARTICLE IX.
TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1 Preparation of Tax Returns. The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. On or before March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each Fiscal Year, the Company shall use its best efforts to send to each Person who was a Member at any time during the prior quarter, an estimate of such Member’s state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for the prior quarter, which estimate shall have been reviewed by the Company’s outside tax accountants. In addition, no later than the later of (i) March 15 following the end of the prior Fiscal Year, and (ii) thirty (30) Business Days after the issuance of the final financial statement report for a Fiscal Year by the Company’s auditors, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, a statement showing such Member’s final state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Fiscal Year and a completed IRS Schedule K-1. Each Member shall notify the other Members upon receipt of any notice of tax examination of the Company by federal, state or local authorities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in its capacity as Partnership Representative, the Manager shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including without limitation the use of any

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permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Company Interests of its Members.

Section 9.2 Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.2. The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, shall not thereafter revoke such election. Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections. Such election shall be effective solely for federal (and, if applicable, state and local) income tax purposes and shall not result in any adjustment to the Book Value of any Company asset or to the Members’ Capital Accounts (except as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)) or in the determination or allocation of Profit or Loss for purposes other than such tax purposes.

Section 9.3 Partnership Representative. The Manager shall designate each year a “partnership representative” of the Company for purposes of Section 6223 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Partnership Representative”), which may be the Manager and shall be the Manager if no other person is designated. The Partnership Representative shall have all of the powers and responsibilities of such position as provided in the Code and any Treasury Regulations thereunder and may take any action contemplated by Sections 6222 through 6241 of the Code, any Treasury Regulations or other guidance thereunder and any comparable state or local law (the “Partnership Tax Audit Rules”). All expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative in connection with the Company shall be borne by the Company. Any amounts paid by the Partnership Representative on behalf of the Company shall constitute an advance to the Company subject to reimbursement and not a contribution to its capital. The Partnership Representative is authorized to employ such accountants, attorneys and agents as it determines are necessary to or useful in the performance of its duties. Any person who serves as Partnership Representative shall not be liable to the Company or any Member for any action it takes or fails to take in such capacity, unless such action or failure to act constitutes bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence, fraud or a material breach of this Agreement. Upon the Company’s request, each Member shall provide to the Company within the required time frame any information that the Partnership Representative believes may be necessary or appropriate to resolve any tax issue relating to the Company or comply with or be eligible to invoke any aspect of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any taxes, penalties, and interest payable by the Company under the Partnership Tax Audit Rules shall be treated as attributable to the Members, and, to the extent possible, the Partnership Representative shall allocate the burden of any such amounts to those Members to whom such amounts are reasonably attributable. To the extent that any such amount is payable by the Company, at the option of the Partnership Representative, the Members to whom such amounts are reasonably attributable, including persons that were Members in the year that is the subject of such audit, shall (a) be promptly paid to the Company by such Member or (b) be paid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Member. The Company shall indemnify the Partnership Representative as provided in Section 7.4. In the event of a Transfer of a Member’s Membership Interest, the transferor Member’s obligations under this Section 9.3 shall survive such transfer and such transferor Member shall continue to be liable for any taxes, penalties, and interest payable by the

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Company under the Partnership Audit Rules that are reasonably attributable to such transferor Member.

ARTICLE X.
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHT

Section 10.1 Transfers by Members. No holder of Units may Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.2 or (b) approved in writing by the Manager.

Section 10.2 Permitted Transfers. The restrictions contained in Section 10.1 shall not apply to any Transfer (each, a “Permitted Transfer”) pursuant to (i)(A) a Change of Control Transaction, (B) an Exchange in accordance with ARTICLE XI hereof or (C) a Transfer by a Member to VBC or any of its Subsidiaries (ii) a Transfer by any Member to such Member’s spouse, any lineal ascendants or descendants or trusts or other entities in which such Member or Member’s spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants hold (and continue to hold while such trusts or other entities hold Units) 50% or more of such entity’s beneficial interests, (iii) pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution and (iv) a Transfer to a partner, shareholder, member or Affiliated investment fund of such Member; provided, however, that (A) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, and (B) in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), the transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed transferee. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.7(b).

Section 10.3 Restricted Units Legend. The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is then available. To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units (if such securities remain Units as defined herein after such Transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF VICTORYBASE HOLDINGS LLC, AS MAY BE AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND VICTORYBASE HOLDINGS LLC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED

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BY VICTORYBASE HOLDINGS LLC TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”

The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units or notice of uncertificated Units, if applicable. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates (if any) evidencing any units which cease to be Units in accordance with the definition thereof.

Section 10.4 Transfer. Prior to Transferring any Units (other than pursuant to a Change of Control Transaction), the Transferring Holder of Units shall cause the prospective Transferee to be bound by this Agreement as provided in Section 10.2 and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate (collectively, the “Other Agreements”), and shall cause the prospective Transferee to execute and deliver to the Company and the other holders of Units counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) (a) shall be void, and (b) the Company shall not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported Transferee of such Units as the owner of such securities for any purpose.

Section 10.5 Assignee’s Rights.

(a)       The Transfer of a Company Interest in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of its assignment (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Company. Profits, Losses and other Company items shall be allocated between the transferor and the Assignee according to Code Section 706, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Manager. Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the transferor, and Distributions made after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.

(b)       Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Member pursuant to ARTICLE XII, the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Member hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that, without relieving the transferring Member from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section 10.6, such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Member contained herein that a Member would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Company Interest (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Company Interest).

Section 10.6 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations. Any Member who shall Transfer any Company Interest in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units or other interest and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.6, duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Section 6.8 and Section 7.4 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE XII (the “Admission Date”), (i) such assigning Member shall retain all of

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the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest, and (ii) the Manager may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units or other interest for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units or other interest in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Company Interest that may exist on the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the TBOC and incorporated into this Agreement or for any liability to the Company or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company.

Section 10.7 Overriding Provisions.

(a)       Any Transfer in violation of this ARTICLE X shall be null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Section 10.5 and Section 10.6 shall not apply to any such Transfers. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this ARTICLE X shall not become a Member, shall not be entitled to vote on any matters coming before the Members and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company. The approval of any Transfer in any one or more instances shall not limit or waive the requirement for such approval in any other or future instance. The Manager shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this ARTICLE X.

(b)       Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 10.1 and ARTICLE XI and ARTICLE XII), in no event shall any Member Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer would:

(i)       result in the violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;

(ii)       cause the Company to become an Investment Company under the Investment Company Act;

(iii)       in the reasonable determination of the Manager, be a violation of or a default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any indebtedness under, any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or the Manager is a party; provided that (x) the payee or creditor to whom the Company or the Manager owes such obligation is not an affiliate of the Company or the Manager and (y) such indebtedness, individually or in the aggregate, has an aggregate principal amount then outstanding that is greater than $25,000,000;

(iv)       cause the Company to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Transfer was effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Section 1.7704-1 of the Treasury Regulations;

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(v)       be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors);

(vi)       cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or successor provision of the Code; or

(vii)       result in the Company having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)).

ARTICLE XI.
EXCHANGE RIGHTS

Section 11.1 Exchange Rights for Class A Units. Each Class A Unit shall be exchangeable at any time and from time to time for shares of VBC Class A Common Stock. Such Class A Units shall be exchangeable pursuant to this Section 11.1 at a conversion ratio (the “Conversion Ratio”) that results in the exchanging holder of Class A Units receiving VBC Class A Common Stock such that the exchanging holder’s indirect economic ownership in the Company shall be equal to the direct percentage economic interest in the Company that such Class A Units represented in the hands of the exchanging holder.

Section 11.2 Reservation of Shares of VBC Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of VBC. At all times VBC shall use commercially reasonable efforts to seek to reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued VBC Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, such number of shares of VBC Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such exchange. VBC shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the VBC Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to Section 11.1 is registered for issuance under the Securities Act or issued pursuant to the exemption from registration afforded by Regulation A+ or other applicable exemption. VBC covenants that all VBC Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The provisions of this ARTICLE XI shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the corresponding provisions of VBC’s certificate of incorporation.

Section 11.3 Effect of Exercise of Exchange Right. This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of an Exchange and all governance or other rights set forth herein shall be exercised by the remaining Members. No Exchange shall relieve a Member of any prior breach of this Agreement.

Section 11.4 Tax Treatment. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that an Exchange will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal and

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applicable state and local income tax purposes whereby the exchanging holder of Class A Units will recognize gain or loss upon the receipt of VBC Class A Common Stock for its Class A Units.

ARTICLE XII.
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

Section 12.1 Substituted Members. Subject to the provisions of ARTICLE X hereof, in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Company Interest hereunder, the transferee shall become a substituted Member (“Substituted Member”) on the effective date of such Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company.

Section 12.2 Additional Members. Subject to the provisions of ARTICLE X hereof, any Person that is not a current Member may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “Additional Member”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as the Manager may deem appropriate in its reasonable discretion). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its reasonable discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company.

ARTICLE XIII.
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

Section 13.1 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members. No Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to ARTICLE XIV. Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to ARTICLE XIV, but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to ARTICLE XIV, shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member. Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.6, such Member shall cease to be a Member.

ARTICLE XIV.
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 14.1 Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted withdrawal or resignation of a Member. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a)       the approval of the Manager together with the Members that then hold a majority of the Voting Units to dissolve the Company; or

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(b)       the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company.

Except as otherwise set forth in this ARTICLE XIV, the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Likewise, a decision to revoke a decision to dissolve the Company shall require the approval of the Manager together with the Members that then hold a majority of the Voting Units.

Section 14.2 Liquidation and Termination. On dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidator or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidator. The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the TBOC. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Manager. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:

(a)       as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;

(b)       the liquidators shall cause the notice described in the TBOC to be mailed to each known creditor of and claimant against the Company in the manner described thereunder;

(c)       the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including, without limitation, the establishment of a cash fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine):

(i)       first, all expenses incurred in liquidation; and second, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company; and

(ii)       all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with their positive Capital Accounts.

Section 14.3 Deferment; Distribution in Kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.2, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy Company liabilities (other than loans to the Company by Members) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.2, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining Company assets in-kind in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.2(d), (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.2(d), undivided interests in all or any portion of such Company assets or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in kind shall be subject to (y) such conditions relating to the

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disposition and management of such assets as the liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any Company assets distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with ARTICLE V. The liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in accordance with the valuation procedures set forth in ARTICLE XV.

Section 14.4 Certificate of Termination. On completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Company is terminated (and the Company shall not be terminated prior to such time), and the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the TBOC may require or permit) shall file a certificate of termination with the Secretary of State of Texas, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company. The Company shall be deemed to continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 14.4.

Section 14.5 Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 14.2 and Section 14.3 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.

Section 14.6 Return of Capital. The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets).

ARTICLE XV.
VALUATION

Section 15.1 Determination. “Fair Market Value” of a specific Company asset will mean the amount which the Company would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the Manager (or, if pursuant to Section 14.2, the liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.

Section 15.2 Dispute Resolution. If any Member or Members dispute the accuracy of any determination of Fair Market Value in accordance with Section 15.1, and the Manager and such Member(s) are unable to agree on the determination of the Fair Market Value of any asset of the Company, the Manager and such Member(s) shall each select a nationally or regionally recognized valuation firm experienced in valuing similar assets or securities, as applicable, in the Company’s industry (the “Appraisers”), who shall each determine the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.1. The Appraisers shall be instructed to give written notice of their determination of the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) within thirty (30) days of their appointment as Appraisers. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is higher than Fair Market Value

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as determined by the other Appraiser by 10% or more, and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the original Appraisers shall designate a third Appraiser meeting the same criteria used to select the original two. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is within 10% of the Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser (but not identical), and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the Manager shall select the Fair Market Value of one of the Appraisers. The fees and expenses of the Appraisers shall be borne by the Company.

ARTICLE XVI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1 Power of Attorney.

(a)       Each Member who is an individual hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to:

(i)       execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Texas and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Member pursuant to ARTICLE XII or ARTICLE XIII; and

(ii)       sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

(b)       The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Member who is an individual and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Company Interest and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.

Section 16.2 Confidentiality. The Manager and each of the Members agree to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not use such information except in furtherance of the business of the Company or as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager or as required by law, including, without limitation, any disclosure required by the

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Securities Act. “Confidential Information” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Company’s business. With respect to the Manager and each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of the Manager or each Member at the time of disclosure by the Company; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to the Manager or each Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of the Manager or such Member, respectively, in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the CEO of the Company or of VBC; (d) is disclosed to the Manager or such Member or their representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of the Manager or such Member, respectively, in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company with respect to such information; or (e) is or becomes independently developed by the Manager or such Member or their respective representatives without use or reference to the Confidential Information.

Section 16.3 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified upon the consent of all of the Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification (a) to this Section 16.3 may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members, (b) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter, and (c) to any of the terms and conditions of ARTICLE VI or Section 14.1 (and related definitions as used directly or indirectly therein) may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager, which consent may be given or withheld in the Manager’s sole discretion.

Section 16.4 Title to Company Assets. Company assets shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof. The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Company assets is held. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.

Section 16.5 Addresses and Notices. Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be either personally delivered, or received by certified mail, return receipt requested, or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company at the address set forth below and to any other recipient and to any Member at the address set forth on Schedule A hereto or such other address as indicated by the Company’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered

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personally or sent by email (provided confirmation of email transmission is received), three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service. The Company’s address is:

 

VictoryBaseHoldings LLC

 

Physical address:

550 Reserve Street, Suite 190

Southlake, TX 76092.

Attn: Thomas Paquin

 

and

 

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 617,

Roanoke, TX 76262

Attn: Thomas Paquin

 

E-mail: tpaquin@victorybase.com

 

With copy to:

 

Cantey Hanger LLP

600 West 6th Street, Suite 300

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attn: Douglas W. Clayton, Esq.

E-mail: dclayton@canteyhanger.com

 

and

 

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

1445 Ross Ave, Suite 3700

Dallas, Texas 75202

Attn: Alexander McGeoch, Esq.

E-mail: amcgeoch@hunton.com

 

Section 16.6 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

Section 16.7 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as

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a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Company Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.

Section 16.8 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section 16.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.

Section 16.10 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas. Any dispute relating hereto shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Texas, and the parties agree to jurisdiction and venue therein.

Section 16.11 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

Section 16.12 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 16.13 Delivery by Electronic Transmission. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic transmission by a facsimile machine or via email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was

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transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

Section 16.14 Right of Offset. Whenever the Company is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to ARTICLE IV) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment.

Section 16.15 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein, any indemnity agreements entered into in connection herewith with any member of the board of managers and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

Section 16.16 Remedies. Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.

Section 16.17 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Wherever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict.

[Signature page follows.]

 

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       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.

MEMBERS:

 

VictoryBase RE, LLC

 

 

By:  /s/ Thomas Paquin                          

Thomas Paquin, President

 

 

VICTORYBASE CORPORATION

 

 

By:  /s/ Thomas Paquin                          

Thomas Paquin, President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Liability Company Agreement

of

VictoryBaseHoldings LLC

 
 

Schedule A

Schedule of Members

of

VictoryBase Holdings LLC

As of December 9, 2020

Name and Address of Member Number of Units Class of Units Capital Contributions

VictoryBase RE, LLC

 

Physical address:

550 Reserve Street, Suite 190

Southlake, TX 76092.

Attn: Thomas Paquin

 

and

 

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 617

Roanoke, TX 76262

Attn: Thomas Paquin

 

E-mail: tpaquin@victorybase.com

 

1 Class A $10.00

VictoryBase Corporation

 

Physical address:

550 Reserve Street, Suite 190

Southlake, TX 76092.

Attn: Thomas Paquin

 

and

 

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 617

Roanoke, TX 76262

Attn: Thomas Paquin

 

E-mail: tpaquin@victorybase.com

 

1 Class B $10.00