Limited Liability Company Agreement - MarketWatch.com LLC and CBS Inc.
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LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
of
MARKETWATCH.COM, LLC
between
CBS INC.
and
DATA BROADCASTING CORPORATION
Dated as of October 29, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Definitions ................................................................................1
SECTION 1.02. Definitions Generally.......................................................................4
ARTICLE II
General Provisions
SECTION 2.01. Formation...................................................................................4
SECTION 2.02. Name .......................................................................................4
SECTION 2.03. Term .......................................................................................4
SECTION 2.04. Purpose ....................................................................................4
SECTION 2.05. Registered Office/Agent.....................................................................5
SECTION 2.06. Principal Office............................................................................5
SECTION 2.07. Members ....................................................................................5
ARTICLE III
Capital Contributions
SECTION 3.01. Initial Capital Contributions...............................................................5
SECTION 3.02. Additional Capital Contributions............................................................5
SECTION 3.03. Withdrawals, Interest and Capital Accounts..................................................5
ARTICLE IV
Distributions
SECTION 4.01. Distributions...............................................................................5
SECTION 4.02. Distributions in Kind.......................................................................5
SECTION 4.03. Tax Withholding.............................................................................6
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ARTICLE V
Allocations and Other Tax Matters
SECTION 5.01. Capital Accounts............................................................................6
SECTION 5.02. Allocation of Net Profits and Net Losses....................................................7
SECTION 5.03. Definition of Net Profits and Net Losses....................................................7
SECTION 5.04. Federal Income Tax Allocations..............................................................7
SECTION 5.05. Elections...................................................................................8
SECTION 5.06. Fiscal Year.................................................................................8
SECTION 5.07. Tax Matters Partner.........................................................................8
SECTION 5.08. Other Tax Matters...........................................................................8
ARTICLE VI
Management
SECTION 6.01. Delegation of Authority.....................................................................9
SECTION 6.02. Management Committee........................................................................9
SECTION 6.03. Employees; Officers.........................................................................11
SECTION 6.04. Business Plan...............................................................................11
SECTION 6.05. Matters Requiring the Consent of All Members................................................12
ARTICLE VII
Dispute Resolution
SECTION 7.01. Negotiation.................................................................................12
SECTION 7.02. Dispute Resolution..........................................................................12
ARTICLE VIII
Books and Records
SECTION 8.01. Books and Records...........................................................................14
SECTION 8.02. Reports to Members; Budgets.................................................................14
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ARTICLE IX
Admission of Members; Transfers
SECTION 9.01. Admission of Substitute or Additional Members...............................................15
SECTION 9.02. Restriction on Transfer.....................................................................15
SECTION 9.03. Right of First Refusal......................................................................15
ARTICLE X
Exculpation and Indemnification
SECTION 10.01. Exculpation and Indemnification.............................................................16
SECTION 10.02. Liability of the Members....................................................................17
ARTICLE XI
Dissolution, Liquidation and Transfer
SECTION 11.01. Dissolution.................................................................................17
SECTION 11.02. Liquidation.................................................................................17
SECTION 11.03. Time Limitation.............................................................................18
SECTION 11.04. Mandatory Transfers.........................................................................18
SECTION 11.05. Claims of Members...........................................................................19
ARTICLE XII
DBC Loan
SECTION 12.01. DBC Loan ...................................................................................19
ARTICLE XIII
Agreement Not To Compete
SECTION 13.01. Agreement Not To Compete....................................................................19
SECTION 13.02. Enforcement.................................................................................21
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ARTICLE XIV
Miscellaneous
SECTION 14.01. Amendments..................................................................................21
SECTION 14.02. Notices ....................................................................................21
SECTION 14.03. Counterparts................................................................................21
SECTION 14.04. Severability................................................................................21
SECTION 14.05. No Third-Party Beneficiaries................................................................22
SECTION 14.06. Governing Law...............................................................................22
SECTION 14.07. Publicity...................................................................................22
SECTION 14.08. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL........................................................................22
SECTION 14.09. Consent to Jurisdiction.....................................................................22
SECTION 14.10. Headings ...................................................................................22
SECTION 14.11. Survival ...................................................................................22
SECTION 14.12. No Waiver...................................................................................23
SECTION 14.13. Entire Agreement............................................................................23
SECTION 14.14. Further Assurance...........................................................................23
EXHIBIT A Addresses for Notices
EXHIBIT B Management Committee
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LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT dated as of October 29,
1997, between CBS INC., a New York corporation ("CBS"), and DATA BROADCASTING
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("DBC").
Preliminary Statement
WHEREAS, having formed a limited liability company with the
name "Marketwatch.Com, LLC" (the "Company") under the Act (as hereinafter
defined) by the filing of a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware on the date hereof, the parties hereto now desire to
enter into this Agreement to govern their rights and obligations as members
thereof;
WHEREAS, immediately following the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, CBS ad DBC are entering into the Contribution Agreement dated as
of the date hereof (the "Contribution Agreement"), among CBS, DBC and the
Company; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the
Contribution Agreement, CBS and the Company are entering into the License
Agreement and DBC and the Company are entering into the DBC Services Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual agreements herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound by the terms hereof applicable to each of them,
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Definitions. When used herein, the following
terms have the following meanings:
"Act" means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act as in
effect from time to time, or any successor statute.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controlling
or Controlled by or under common Control with such Person.
"Agreement" means this Limited Liability Company Agreement as
it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Arbitrator" has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
7.02.
"Business" means the business conducted by the Company, which
shall be the businesses conducted with the assets contributed to the Company by
DBC pursuant to the
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Contribution Agreement as such businesses may be expanded or otherwise changed
from time to time by the Company pursuant to the terms hereof.
"Business Day" means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized
or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.
"Business Plan" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 6.04.
"Capital Account" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 5.01.
"CBS" has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble.
"CBS Competitive Activities" has the meaning assigned to that
term in Section 13.01(b).
"Certificate of Formation" means the Certificate of Formation
of the Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
the date hereof, as the same may be amended, modified or otherwise supplemented
from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
"Company" has the meaning assigned to that term in the
preamble.
"Contribution Agreement" has the meaning assigned to that term
in the preamble.
"Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or general
partnership or managing member interests, by contract or otherwise, and
"Controlling" and "Controlled" shall have meanings correlative thereto. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to Control
any other Person in which it owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the
ownership interests or a majority of all outstanding voting stock of such
Person.
"DBC" has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble.
"DBC Change of Control" has the meaning assigned to that term
in Section 11.04.
"DBC Competitive Activities" has the meaning assigned to that
term in Section 13.01(a)(i).
"DBC Loan" has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
12.01.
"DBC Offer" has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
11.04.
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"DBC Services Agreement" means the Services Agreement dated as
of the date hereof, among DBC and the Company.
"Definitive Documents" means this Agreement, the Contribution
Agreement, the License Agreement, the DBC Services Agreement and all other
agreements and documents contemplated by any of the foregoing , as the same may
be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms
hereof or thereof, as applicable.
"Detrimental Activities" has the meaning assigned to that term
in Section 13.01.
"Initial Capital Contributions" has the meaning assigned to
that term in Section 3.01.
"Interest" means the interest of a Member in the Company at
any particular time, including the right of such Member to any and all benefits
to which such Member may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together
with the obligations of such Member to comply with all the terms and provisions
of this Agreement.
"License Agreement" means the License Agreement dated as of
the date hereof, among CBS and the Company.
"Management Committee" has the meaning assigned to that term
in Section 6.01.
"Member Nonrecourse Debt" means any Company liability (or
portion thereof) that is a "partner nonrecourse debt" within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
"Members" means CBS and DBC and any Persons admitted as
additional or substitute Members of the Company pursuant to Section 9.01.
"Membership Percentages" means, with respect to each Member,
such Member's ownership Interest in the Company, expressed as a percentage. The
initial Membership Percentages are 50% with respect to CBS and 50% with respect
to DBC.
"Negotiation Period" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 7.02.
"Net Losses" has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
5.03.
"Net Profits" has the meaning assigned to that term in Section
5.03.
"Nonselling Member" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 9.03.
"Offer Notification" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 9.03.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other organization,
whether or not a legal entity, and any governmental authority.
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"Section 704(c) Property" means any property that is
contributed to the Company at a time when its adjusted tax basis differs from
its fair market value and any Company property that is the subject of a
revaluation pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) at a
time when its adjusted tax basis differs from its fair market value.
"Selling Member" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 9.03.
"Submission Date" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 7.02.
"Third Party Offer" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 9.03.
"Transfer" means, with respect to any item of property, any
direct or indirect sale, assignment, disposition of or other transfer, pledge or
encumbrance of such item, and "Transferred" has a meaning correlative to the
foregoing.
"Triggering Event" has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 11.04.
SECTION 1.02. Definitions Generally. Definitions in this
Agreement apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the defined
terms. The words "include" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase "without limitation" when such phrase does not otherwise appear. The
terms "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or
subdivision. The article and section titles appear as a matter of convenience
only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. All article,
section, paragraph, clause, exhibit or schedule references not attributed to a
particular document shall be references to such parts of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
General Provisions
SECTION 2.01. Formation. The Company has been formed as a
limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Act by the filing of
the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware. Each member hereby adopts, confirms and ratifies the Certificate of
Formation and all acts taken in connection therewith.
SECTION 2.02. Name. The name of the Company is
"Marketwatch.Com, LLC". The Management Committee may change the name of the
Company or adopt such trade or fictitious names as it may determine with the
approval of the Members.
SECTION 2.03. Term. The term of the Company began on the date
hereof and shall continue in perpetuity or until terminated in accordance with
the terms hereof.
SECTION 2.04. Purpose. The purpose of the Company shall be to
carry on any lawful business, purpose or activity for a limited liability
company under the Act.
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SECTION 2.05. Registered Office/Agent. The registered office
of the Company in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Company,
Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The
name and address of the registered agent of the Company for service of process
on the Company in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Company,
Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
SECTION 2.06. Principal Office. The Company's principal place
of business will be at 1900 South Norfolk Street, San Mateo, CA 94403, or such
other address as the Management Committee shall specify from time to time by
written notice to the Members.
SECTION 2.07. Members. The addresses of the initial Members
are as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.
ARTICLE III
Capital Contributions
SECTION 3.01. Initial Capital Contributions. Pursuant to the
Contribution Agreement, each of the Members will make an initial capital
contribution (the "Initial Capital Contributions") as set forth in the
Contribution Agreement in exchange for the their respective Interests. The
Initial Capital Contributions made by each of the Members are deemed to have
equal discounted present values.
SECTION 3.02. Additional Capital Contributions. Upon request
from the Management Committee, and subject to the unanimous consent and approval
of the Members, the Members will make additional capital contributions to the
Company pro rata in accordance with their respective Membership Percentages.
SECTION 3.03. Withdrawals, Interest and Capital Accounts. No
member shall have the right to withdraw any part of its capital contribution or
to receive any distribution except in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement. No interest shall be paid on any capital contribution to the Company
except as may be set forth in this Agreement. A member shall not have any
obligation to the Company or to any other Member to restore any negative balance
in the Capital Account of such Member.
ARTICLE IV
Distributions
SECTION 4.01. Distributions. The Company will make cash
distributions to the Members in accordance with their Membership Percentages at
such times and in such amounts as the Management Committee shall determine in
its sole discretion.
SECTION 4.02. Distributions in Kind. The Company shall not
distribute any assets in kind unless approved by all of the Members. Such
property distributions shall be distributed based upon their fair market value
in the same proportions as if cash were distributed.
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If cash and property in kind are to be distributed simultaneously, the Company
shall distribute such cash and property in kind in the same proportion to each
Member, unless otherwise agreed by the Members.
SECTION 4.03. Tax Withholding. Notwithstanding any provision
herein to the contrary, the Management Committee may take any and all actions
that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to ensure that the Company
satisfies any and all withholding and tax payment obligations under Section
1441, 1445 or 1446 of the Code or any other provision of the Code or other
applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Management
Committee may withhold any amount of taxes that it determines is required to be
withheld from amounts otherwise distributable to any Member pursuant to this
Article IV; provided, however, that such amount shall be deemed to have been
distributed to such Member for purposes of applying this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
Allocations and Other Tax Matters
SECTION 5.01. Capital Accounts. (a) There shall be established
for each Member on the books of the Company an account (a "Capital Account") to
be maintained pursuant to this Agreement. The Capital Account of each Member
shall be credited with (i) the amount of all cash contributed by a Member to the
Company, (ii) the fair market value of any property contributed to the Company
(net of any liabilities secured by such property that the Company is considered
to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code) and (iii) the amount
of any Net Profits (or items of income) allocated to a Member pursuant to
Section 5.02, and shall be decreased by (a) the amount of any cash distributed
to a Member by the Company, (b) the fair market value of any property
distributed to a Member by the Company (net of any liabilities secured by such
distributed property that such Member is considered to assume or take subject to
under Section 752 of the Code), (c) the amount of any expenditure of the Company
described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code (or treated as a Section
705(a)(2)(B) expenditure for purposes of Section 704(b) of the Code) that is
allocable to a Member and (d) the amount of any Net Losses (or item of loss or
deduction) allocated to a Member pursuant to Section 5.02. The Capital Accounts
of the Members shall also be adjusted appropriately for their respective shares
of any other adjustment required under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)
and 1.704-2.
(b) In the event that any Interest in the Company is
Transferred, the transferee of such Interest shall succeed to the pro rata
portion of the transferor's Capital Account attributable to such Interest.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) (2) (iv) (f), the Management Committee may cause
the Capital Accounts of the Members to be adjusted to reflect the fair market
value of the Company's property at such time, as provided in such regulation.
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SECTION 5.02. Allocation of Net Profits and Net Losses. (a)
Subject to Section 5.02(b), the Net Profits and Net Losses of the Company for
each taxable year shall be allocated among the Members pro rata in proportion to
their respective Membership Percentages.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.02(a), special allocations of
Net Profits, Net Losses or specific items of income, gain, loss or deduction may
be required for any taxable year as follows:
(i) The Company shall allocate items of Company income and
gain among the Members at such times and in such amounts as necessary
to satisfy the minimum gain chargeback requirements of Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).
(ii) Any deductions attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt
shall be allocated among the Members that bear the economic risk of
loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt in accordance with the ratios in
which such Members share such economic risk of loss and in a manner
consistent with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections
1.704-2(c), 1.704-2(i)(2) and 1.704-2(j) (1).
(iii) The Company shall specially allocate Net Losses and
items of income and gain when and to the extent required to satisfy the
"qualified income offset" requirement within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii) (d).
(iv) During the taxable year in which a liquidation occurs,
the Company shall allocate Net Profits or Net Losses and any other item
allocable to such taxable year such that the balance in each Member's
Capital Account equals the amount to be distributed to that Member
pursuant to Section 11.02(b).
(v) In the event a Member's contribution to the Company causes
any Member to recognize income for Federal income tax purposes, the
entire amount of any deductions associated with such contribution shall
be allocated to the Member that recognizes income or, if more than one
Member recognizes income as a result of such contributions to the
Company, shall be allocated proportionately based upon the amount of
income so recognized by each Member.
SECTION 5.03. Definition of Net Profits and Net Losses. The
"Net Profits" or "Net Losses" of the Company, as appropriate, shall be the
taxable income or tax loss of the Company as determined for Federal income tax
purposes for a given taxable year, taking into account any separately stated
items, increased by the amount of any tax exempt income of the Company during
such taxable year and decreased by the amount of any Code Section 705(a)(2)(B)
expenditures (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i)) of the Company during such taxable year; provided,
however, that items of income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to Section
704(c) Property shall be determined in accordance with the principles of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).
SECTION 5.04. Federal Income Tax Allocations. Section 5.02
provides for the allocation of Net Profits and Net Losses for accounting and
Capital Account maintenance
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purposes. The Company's ordinary income and losses and capital gains and losses
as determined for Federal income tax purposes (and each item of income, gain,
loss or deduction entering into the computation thereof) shall be allocated to
the Members in the same proportions as the corresponding "book" items are
allocated pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Article V; provided,
however, that items of income, gain, loss and deduction relating to Section
704(c) Property shall be allocated in accordance with Section 704(c)(1)(A) of
the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Items described in this
Section shall neither be credited nor charged to the Members' Capital Accounts.
SECTION 5.05. Elections. (a) The Management Committee shall
cause the Company to make an election under Section 754 of the Code upon receipt
of a written request therefor from any transferee of an Interest permitted
hereunder.
(b) The Members intend that the Company be treated as a
partnership for Federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, neither the Management
Committee nor any Member shall file any election on behalf of the Company that
is inconsistent with that intent.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any tax
elections required or permitted to be made by the Company under the Code or
otherwise shall be made in such manner as may be reasonably determined by the
Management Committee.
SECTION 5.06. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company
shall end on the last day of December of each year.
SECTION 5.07. Tax Matters Partner. DBC, or such other Member
as shall be designated by a majority in Membership Percentage, shall be the "tax
matters partner" of the Company within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the
Code and shall act in any similar capacity under state or local tax law. The
designated Member shall keep each other Member fully informed regarding matters
for which it is responsible while acting in such capacity. The designated Member
shall perform only ministerial duties in its capacity as "tax matters partner"
and shall not take any material action in such capacity without the consent of
the Management Committee. All reasonable expenses incurred by the "tax matters
partner" while acting in such capacity shall be paid or reimbursed by the
Company.
SECTION 5.08. Other Tax Matters. The Members agree to treat
contributions made pursuant to the Contribution Agreement as governed by Section
721 of the Code, unless a final determination (which shall include the execution
of a Form 870-AD or successor form) requires a different treatment for U.S.
Federal income tax purposes. In the event that any taxing authority contests
such agreed treatment of the contributions or the treatment of any other item as
agreed to by the Members in the Definitive Documents, a Member receiving notice
of such contest from such taxing authority shall promptly give written notice of
such contest to each other Member. Such other Members may, at their own expense,
participate in the defense of such contest. The Members shall reasonably
cooperate in defending any such contest, and no Member shall settle or otherwise
compromise such a contest without the written consent of the other Members
(which shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld). In the event of a
Member's refusal to consent to a settlement, such Member shall, to the extent
permitted by law,
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assume control of the defense of such contest, and such Member shall bear any
legal fees incurred by such Member in undertaking such defense to the extent
incurred after the assumption.
ARTICLE VI
Management
SECTION 6.01. Delegation of Authority. Except as otherwise
provided herein, each of the Members agree that the power to direct and control
the Company shall be delegated to a management committee (the "Management
Committee"). Approval or action taken by the Management Committee in accordance
with this Agreement shall constitute approval or action by the Company and shall
be binding on each Member.
SECTION 6.02. Management Committee. (a) Voting and Members.
(i) CBS shall appoint three members of the Management Committee and DBC shall
appoint three members of the Management Committee. Each member of the Management
Committee, including any alternate member designated by any Member, shall be an
employee of the Member making such appointment or an employee of the Company.
The initial members and alternative members of the Management Committee and
their respective telephone and telecopier numbers are set forth in Exhibit B.
(ii) For purposes of any approval or action taken by the
Management Committee, each member of the Management Committee shall have one
vote. Except as set forth herein, a majority vote of all of the members of the
Management Committee shall constitute action on that matter that is binding upon
the Company and the Members. In the event that the Vote of the Management
Committee is evenly divided, and the members of the Management Committee cannot
resolve such conflict by good faith negotiation within 15 days, the Management
Committee shall, by written notice to the Members, submit such issue for
resolution as set forth in Article VII hereof.
(iii) The quorum necessary for any meeting of the Management
Committee shall be those members entitled to cast all of the votes held by the
members of the Management Committee. A quorum shall be deemed not be present at
any meeting for which notice was not properly given as provided for herein,
unless the member or members as to whom such notice was not properly given
attend such meeting without protesting the lack of notice or duly execute and
deliver a written waiver of notice or a written consent to the holding of such
meeting.
(iv) Each Member shall be entitled to name an alternate member
to serve in the place of any member of the Management Committee appointed by
such Member should any such member not be able to attend a meeting or meetings
of the Management Committee. Each member or alternate member shall serve at the
request of the designating Member and may be removed as such by the designating
Member with or without cause. Each Member shall bear any cost incurred by any
member designated by it to serve on the Management Committee, and no member of
the Management Committee shall be entitled to compensation from the Company for
serving in such capacity. Each member shall notify the other Member and the
Company of the
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name, business address and business telephone and facsimile numbers of each
member and each alternate member that such Member has appointed to the
Management Committee. Each Member shall promptly notify the other Member and the
Company of any change in such Member's appointments or of any change in any such
address or number. Each appointment by a Member to the Management Committee
shall remain in effect until the Member making such appointment notifies the
Company of a change in such appointment. The resignation or removal of a member
of the Management Committee shall not invalidate any act of such member taken
before the giving of such written notice of the removal or resignation of such
member.
(v) Any action taken by a member of the Management Committee
in such member's capacity as such shall, so far as the Members are concerned, be
deemed to have been duly authorized by the Member that appointed such member;
provided, however, that any such action shall not be deemed to be an approval,
consent or agreement of such Member for any purposes of this Agreement for which
approval, consent or agreement must be separately obtained from such Member
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(vi) CBS shall be entitled to appoint the Chairman of the
Management Committee.
(b) Meetings and Notices. (i) Meetings of the Management
Committee, which shall be led by the Chairman of the Management Committee, shall
be held at the principal offices of the Company or at such other place as may be
determined by the Management Committee. A meeting of the Management Committee
may be held by conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means
of which all members participating in the meeting can be heard by all other
participants. Regular meetings of the Management Committee shall be held at
least semi-annually on such dates and at such times as shall be determined by
the Management Committee. Notice of any regular meeting shall be given to each
member of the Management Committee by the Company or any Member at least five
Business Days prior to such meeting. Special meetings of the Management
Committee may be called by any Member on at least five Business Days' notice to
each member and alternate member thereof, which notice shall state the purpose
or purposes for which such meeting is being called. The failure to identify
specifically any action to be taken or business to be transacted at a special
meeting shall not invalidate any action taken or business transacted at such
special meeting.
(ii) The actions taken by the Management Committee at any
meeting, 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 member or members as to whom it was
improperly held duly executes and delivers a written waiver of notice or a
written consent to the holding of such meeting. A vote of the Management
Committee may be taken either in a meeting of the members thereof or by
unanimous written consent without a meeting.
(iii) Unless otherwise determined by the Management Committee
with respect to any meeting of the Management Committee, any member of the
Management Committee may bring a reasonable number of nonvoting observers
(including lawyers and accountants) to any meeting of the Management Committee.
The Management Committee may establish reasonable
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rules and regulations to limit the number and participation of observers and
require them to observe confidentiality obligations.
(iv) The Management Committee may establish reasonable rules
and regulations to provide for the keeping of minutes and other internal
Management Committee governance not inconsistent with the terms of this
Agreement.
(c) Nothing in this Section shall derogate from the power of
the Members, which is absolute, to mutually agree in writing to cause the
Company to act or refrain from acting.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Company may enforce its rights under any agreement with any Member without such
Member's consent and without the approval of the members of the Management
Committee appointed by such Member.
SECTION 6.03. Employees; Officers. (a) General. (i) The
Management Committee shall retain and employ officers, including a Chief
Executive Officer and such other officers as shall be deemed necessary or
advisable to operate the Company; provided, however, that CBS shall be entitled
to appoint the Chairman of the Management Committee (pursuant to clause
6.01(a)(iv)) and DBC shall be entitled to appoint the Chief Executive Officer,
who shall be one of the members of the Management Committee appointed by DBC
hereunder.
(ii) The Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the
Management Committee shall jointly approve the appointment of all key personnel
of the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer, subject, in each case, to
the ratification of such appointments by the Management Committee. The officers
of the Company shall be subject to removal with or without cause by the
Management Committee; provided, however, that the Chief Executive Officer shall
be subject to removal without cause only by DBC, and the Chairman shall be
subject to removal without cause only by CBS.
(iii) All officers of the Company (other than the Chief
Executive Officer) shall (A) report to the Chief Executive Officer or another
officer designated by the Chief Executive Officer and (B) attend meetings of the
Management Committee as requested.
(b) The Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer
shall be the most senior officer of the Company and shall be responsible for the
day to day operation of the Company, subject to the control of the Management
Committee. He or she shall report to the Management Committee.
SECTION 6.04. Business Plan. The Chief Executive Officer will
prepare annually a business plan for the Company which will be submitted to the
Management Committee for approval (the business plan so approved, the "Business
Plan"). If any annual update of the Business Plan is not approved as set forth
herein, then the prior Business Plan then in effect in accordance with this
Section will continue in effect.
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SECTION 6.05. Matters Requiring the Consent of All Members.
(a) Each Member shall designate one individual who shall be authorized to act on
behalf of such Member in connection with consents or approvals necessary or
appropriate pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided that all such acts
on behalf of a Member shall be in writing. Each Member agrees to give any
consent or approval required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or to
indicate that such consent or approval will not be given, within 30 days of
written request by the other Member or the Company.
(b) Each provision of this Agreement that requires the vote,
consent or approval of the Members shall require the vote, consent or approval
of each Member, notwithstanding the size of such Member's Interest in the
Company or its entitlement to allocations or distributions.
ARTICLE VII
Dispute Resolution
SECTION 7.01. Negotiation. (a) The Members shall attempt in
good faith to resolve promptly any impasse on any issue before the Management
Committee by referring such matters to negotiation between Bill Korn, Executive
Vice President, Planning and Operations of CBS, and Mark Imperiale, Chief
Operating Officer of DBC, or, in the event that either of such officers is no
longer serving in such position or a comparable senior executive position, a
senior executive of such Member designated by such member.
(b) If any Member determines in good faith that there is a
disagreement among the Members as to the need for additional capital
contributions to the Company or as to the scope of the business or activities to
be conducted by the Company or any other fundamental strategic matter relating
to the Company, such Member shall give written notice to the other Members of
such disagreement. Such disagreement shall be referred for negotiation between
Bill Korn, Executive Vice President, Planning and Operations of CBS, and Mark
Imperiale, Chief Operating Officer of DBC, or, in the event that either of such
officers is no longer serving in such position or a comparable senior executive
position, a senior executive of such Member designated by such Member. In the
event that such disagreement has not been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of
each Member within 30 days after the delivery notice of such disagreement, any
Member may give notice in writing to the other Members of its election to
trigger the mandatory transfer provisions of Section 11.04.
SECTION 7.02. Dispute Resolution. Any claim or controversy
with respect to a matter which is within the authority of the Management
Committee and which is not resolved within 15 days (the "Negotiation Period")
after the Members receive written notice of the impasse of the Management
Committee pursuant to Section 6.02(a)(ii), will, upon the request of either
Member, be resolved by arbitration as set forth below. The Members agree that
the dispute resolution procedure described in this Section 7.02 shall not apply
to any matter other than those specifically contemplated by the previous
sentence, including, without limitation, any dispute regarding the
interpretation of this Agreement, the rights and obligations of the Members
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under this Agreement or other matters not involving the management of the
business, operations or affairs of the Company. Such arbitration shall be
conducted in accordance with the following:
(a) As promptly as practicable (and in any event within 10
days) after the expiration of the Negotiation Period, the Company shall appoint
an arbitrator from the list attached hereto as Schedule 7.02. The arbitrator
appointed shall be the first name listed on such Schedule or if such person does
not consent to serve as the arbitrator, the next such person on such Schedule
who so consents to serve (the "Arbitrator"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event that the Arbitrator so selected has already served as an arbitrator
under this Agreement, then such Arbitrator shall be disqualified if any of the
Members so elect and the next name listed on such Schedule (provided such next
person has not served in the capacity of arbitrator (as set forth above)) shall
be considered to be the "first name listed" for purposes of the selection of the
Arbitrator. The foregoing disqualification shall not occur if such disqualified
but otherwise consenting Arbitrator is the only consenting person on such
Schedule, or if all other persons on such Schedule are similarly disqualified
(i.e., have served as arbitrator an equal number of times). The Arbitrator shall
then proceed under the procedures outlined in this Section 7.02.
(b) Following the designation of the Arbitrator, the Members,
together with the Arbitrator, shall promptly undertake appropriate informal
efforts to mediate and negotiate a solution to the matter covered by the
original notice.
(c) If a negotiated solution cannot be achieved within 10
Business Days after the date on which the Arbitrator is appointed, then the
Arbitrator shall promptly notify the Members of such fact and the matter will be
resolved as set forth below.
(i) Each of the Members will submit to the Arbitrator (and
provide copies of the same to the other Member), in writing, within 5
Business Days after such notice from the Arbitrator (the date by which
both Members shall have made such submissions is referred to herein as
the "Submission Date"), its statement of facts with respect to the
disputed matter, together with its proposed resolution of the matter,
all in reasonable detail and containing such supporting materials as it
may choose to submit. The Arbitrator will resolve the dispute by
choosing one of the proposed resolutions, without modification, using
the principles set forth in subclause (ii) below to make such
determination:
(ii) In resolving the dispute, the Arbitrator shall select the
proposed resolution that it believes to be in the best interests of the
Company;
(iii) No hearings or other form of discovery shall be
conducted, provided that each Member shall make itself available to
respond to inquiries from, and provide information requested by, the
Arbitrator;
(iv) The Arbitrator shall issue a decision within 15 Business
Days after the Submission Date; and
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(v) The fees and expenses of the Arbitrator will be shared
equally between the Members. All other costs incurred by a Member in
connection with such arbitration shall be borne by the Member incurring
such cost.
(d) In connection with the enforcement of the mediation and
arbitration provisions of this Section 7.02, any agreement, decision or award
shall be final and conclusive as to any such claim.
ARTICLE VIII
Books and Records
SECTION 8.01. Books and Records. The Management Committee
shall keep or cause to be kept complete and accurate books of account and
records with respect to the Company's business. The books of the Company shall
at all times be maintained by the Management Committee. Each Member and its duly
authorized representatives shall have the right to examine and copy the
Company's books, records and documents during normal business hours. The
Company's books of account shall be kept in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, consistently applied. The Company's independent auditors
shall be an independent public accounting firm selected by the Management
Committee.
SECTION 8.02. Reports to Members; Budgets. (a) Within 60 days
after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each year, the
Company shall prepare and mail to the Members an unaudited report setting forth:
(i) a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such fiscal quarter and (ii)
an income statement of the Company for such fiscal quarter, comparing actual
results to the budget for such period.
(b) The Company shall use diligent efforts to prepare (or
cause to be prepared) and mail to the Members, within 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year, an audited report setting forth: (i) a balance sheet of the
Company as of the end of such fiscal year, (ii) an income statement of the
Company for such fiscal year, and (iii) a statement of such Member's Capital
Account as of the end of such fiscal year.
(c) The Company shall use reasonable efforts to prepare or
cause the Company's independent accountants to prepare and transmit to each
Member within 90 days following each calendar quarter a Federal income tax
schedule and such other tax information as may be reasonably necessary to enable
such Member to prepare its Federal, state and local income tax returns as they
relate to the Company for such fiscal year. The Company will provide estimates
of the Company's taxable income as may be reasonably requested by any Member in
writing from time to time.
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ARTICLE IX
Admission of Members; Transfers
SECTION 9.01. Admission of Substitute or Additional Members.
No substitute or additional Member shall be admitted to the Company without the
prior written approval of each of the other Members.
SECTION 9.02. Restrictions on Transfer. (a) No Member shall
Transfer its Interest in the Company except for Transfers in accordance with
Sections 9.02(b) or 11.04. Any purported Transfer of all or any part of any
Interest in the Company in violation of this Section 9.02(a) shall be null and
void ab initio and of no force or effect.
(b) The Interest of a Member in the Company may be Transferred
only in whole and not in part, may only be Transferred by a sale of such
Member's entire Interest in the Company and, other than Transfers by CBS
pursuant to the exception to the immediately succeeding sentence, may only be
transferred following the fifth anniversary of the date hereof. A Member may
Transfer its Interest only pursuant to a sale after such Member has fully
complied with the provisions of Section 9.03 with respect to such sale, except
that CBS may Transfer its Interest to any entity controlling, controlled by or
under common control with, CBS, or to any entity that acquires CBS by purchase
of stock or by merger or otherwise, or by acquiring all or substantially all of
CBS's assets, without complying with such provisions. Regardless of whether a
Transfer of an Interest in the Company is permitted hereunder, such Transfer
will not release the transferor from any liability under this Agreement, whether
arising before or after such Transfer, unless and until the transferee is
admitted as a Member of the Company in accordance with Section 9.01.
SECTION 9.03. Right of First Refusal. If at any time a Member
shall desire to Transfer its Interest in the Company to a third party, then such
Member (the "Selling Member") shall obtain a bona fide written offer from an
unaffiliated third party (a "Third Party Offer") to purchase all, but not less
than all, the Interest of the Selling Member. No Third Party Offer shall
encompass or be conditioned upon the sale of any property other than all, but
not less than all, the Interest of the Selling Member in the Company. If the
Selling Member wishes to accept a Third Party Offer, it shall give a notice (an
"Offer Notification") to the other Member (the "Nonselling Member") which shall
include a copy of the Third Party Offer and shall set forth in reasonable detail
the name and address of the proposed buyer, the identities of the proposed
buyer's business principals, the nature of the proposed buyer's and its
Affiliates' business, and the amount, terms and conditions of the sales price.
The Nonselling Member shall then have 60 days to give notice to the Selling
Member that it wishes to a acquire all, but not less than all, the Interest of
the Selling Member at the price and on the terms and conditions set forth in
such Third Party Offer; provided, however, that if any consideration to be paid
to the Selling Member pursuant to the Third Party Offer is other than cash, the
Nonselling Member shall have the option to pay either such non-cash,
consideration or the fair market value thereof in connection with exercising its
right of first refusal hereunder. Such notice from the Nonselling Member shall
state a closing date no later than the later of 90 days after the date of such
notice and the closing
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date set forth in the Third Party Offer. If the Nonselling member (i) does not
give such notice within the 60-day period following the Offer Notification from
the Selling Member or (ii) does give such notice but fails to close the sale
within the time period stated in the immediately preceding sentence, then the
Selling Member may, no later than 120 days after the latter to occur of the
dates referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, sell all, but not less than
all, its Interest to the third party at the price and on terms and conditions no
less favorable to the Selling Member than those contained in the Third Party
Offer.
ARTICLE X
Exculpation and Indemnification
SECTION 10.01. Exculpation and Indemnification. (a) No Member
shall be liable to the Company or to any other Member for any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities arising from, relating to, or in connection with, this
Agreement or the business or affairs of the Company, except for any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities as are determined by final judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Member's gross negligence,
willful misconduct or from the failure by such Member to make a capital
contribution required to be made by it pursuant to Article III.
(b) The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless each Member against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which such Member may become subject in
connection with any matter arising from, relating to, or in connection with,
this Agreement or the business or affairs of the Company, except for any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities as are determined by final judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Member's gross negligence,
willful misconduct or from the failure by such Member to make a capital
contribution required to be made by it pursuant to Article III. If any Member
becomes involved in any capacity in any action, proceeding or investigation in
connection with any matter arising from, relating to, or in connection with this
Agreement or the business or affairs of the Company, whether or not pending or
threatened and whether or not any Member is a party thereto, the Company will
periodically reimburse such Member for its actual legal and other expenses
(including the cost of any investigation and preparation) incurred in connection
therewith upon submission by such Member of paid receipts or other evidence of
such expenses satisfactory to the Company; provided, however, that such Member
shall promptly repay to the Company the amount of any such reimbursed expenses
paid to it to the extent that it shall ultimately be determined that such Member
is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company in connection with such action,
proceeding or investigation as provided in the exception contained in the
immediately preceding sentence. If for any reason (other than the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Member) the foregoing indemnification
is unavailable to such Member, or insufficient to hold it harmless, then the
Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such member as a
result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and such Member on the other hand or, if such allocation is not permitted
by applicable law, to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above
but also any other relevant equitable considerations.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement,
the reimbursement, indemnity and contribution obligations of the Company under
paragraph (b) above shall (i) be in addition to any liability that the Company
may otherwise have, (ii) extend upon the same terms and conditions to the
directors, officers, trustees, committee members, employees, stockholders,
members, partners, agents and representatives of each Member and of each
Affiliate of each Member, (iii) be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any
successors or assigns permitted under this Agreement, heirs and personal
representatives of each member and (iv) be limited to the assets of the Company.
(d) The foregoing provisions of this Section shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 10.02. Liability of the Members. Except as otherwise
expressly provided in the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the
Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the
debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Member shall be
obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company
solely by reason of being a Member. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
the Act, the liability of each Member for capital contributions shall be limited
to the amount of capital contributions required to be made by such Member in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, but only when and to the
extent the same shall become due pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
In no event shall any Member enter into any agreement or instrument that would
create or purport to create personal liability on the part of any other Member
for any debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company without the prior
written consent of such other Member.
ARTICLE XI
Dissolution, Liquidation and Transfer
SECTION 11.01. Dissolution. The Company shall be dissolved and
its affairs shall be wound up upon the bankruptcy or dissolution of any Member,
unless within 90 days of such event a majority of the remaining Members
determine to continue the business of the Company.
SECTION 11.02. Liquidation. (a) Upon a dissolution pursuant to
Section 11.01, the Company's business and assets shall be liquidated in an
orderly manner. The Management Committee shall act as the liquidator to wind up
the affairs of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. If there shall be no
Management Committee, the remaining Members may approve one or more liquidators
to act as the liquidator in carrying out such liquidation. In performing its
duties, the liquidator shall be authorized to sell, distribute, exchange or
otherwise dispose of Company assets in accordance with the Act in any reasonable
manner that the liquidator shall determine to be in the best interest of the
Members.
(b) The proceeds of the liquidation of the Company shall be
distributed in the following order and priority:
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(i) first, to creditors of the Company that are not Members
(or Affiliates of Members) in order of priority as provided by law in
payment of unpaid liabilities of the Company to the extent required by
law or under agreement with such creditors;
(ii) second, to the setting of any reserves which the
liquidator reasonably deems necessary for any anticipated, contingent
or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company arising out of
or in connection with the conduct of the Company's business, provided
that at the expiration of such period the balance thereof shall be
distributed in accordance with the balance of this Section 11.02(b);
(iii) third, to any Member (or Affiliate of a Member) for any
other loans or debts owing to such Member (or Affiliate) by the Company
(including reimbursement of costs or expenses incurred on behalf of the
Company in accordance with the terms hereof);
(iv) fourth, the balance, if any, pro rata to each Member in
accordance with its Membership Percentage.
SECTION 11.03. Time Limitation. Any liquidating distribution
pursuant to this Article XI (except pursuant to Section 11.02(b) (ii)) shall be
made no later than the later of (a) the end of the taxable year during which
such liquidation occurs and (b) 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
SECTION 11.04. Mandatory Transfers. (a) Not withstanding anything
herein to the contrary, and absent agreement of the Members to do otherwise, one
Member shall purchase the other Member's Interest in the Company pursuant to the
terms of Section 11.04(b) upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the mutual written
agreement by the Members to terminate the Company, (ii) CBS giving notice in
writing to DBC of its election to trigger the mandatory transfer provisions of
this Section 11.04 within 60 days after any Person has acquired ownership of
more than 30% of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per
share or securities representing, in the aggregate, more than 30% of the voting
power, of DBC, or all or substantially all of DBC's assets, (a "DBC Change of
Control"), without the prior written consent of CBS, (iii) the entry of a decree
of judicial dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 802 of the Act or
(iv) any Member giving notice in writing to the other Members of its election to
trigger the mandatory transfer provisions of this Section 11.04 pursuant to
Section 7.01(b) (each, a "Triggering Event"). The parties hereby agree that DBC
may give CBS confidential notice of its intent to enter into an agreement which
would cause a DBC Change of Control, together with a description of the party
with whom DBC intends to effect such a transaction. CBS shall have twenty (20)
days from receipt of such notice to respond to DBC in writing as to whether it
would elect to trigger the mandatory transfer provisions of this Section 11.04
with respect to such potential DBC Change of Control. If, and only if, CBS
notifies DBC that it would not make such election, CBS shall be deemed to have
waived its right to trigger such mandatory transfer provisions with respect to
such potential DBC Change of Control.
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(b) Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event and (i) prior to
the first anniversary of the date hereof, DBC shall pay CBS, within 45 days of
the occurrence of such event, the sum of 50% of the aggregate rate card value of
the advertising time actually contributed by CBS to the Company pursuant to the
terms of the Contribution Agreement (such amount not to exceed $5,000,000) and
30% of the net advertising revenue of the Company prior to such Triggering Event
in exchange for CBS's Interest, and (ii) on or after the first anniversary of
the date hereof, DBC shall, within 30 days of the date of the Triggering Event,
submit in writing to CBS and the Company an offer to purchase, within 45 days
from acceptance of such offer, for cash (the "DBC Offer") all of CBS's Interest;
thereafter, CBS shall have 30 days to accept such offer by written notice to DBC
and the Company or to purchase all of DBC's Interest for: (A) 245% of the DBC
Offer, if the Triggering Event occurred on or after the first anniversary and
before the second anniversary of the date hereof, (B) 163% of the DBC Offer, if
the Triggering Event occurred on or after the second anniversary and before the
third anniversary of the date hereof and (C) 100% of the DBC Offer, if the
Triggering Event occurred on or after the third anniversary of the date hereof.
Upon the consummation of a Transfer by either Member pursuant to the above, the
other Member shall be released from all of its rights and obligations hereunder
and under the Definitive Documents and shall no longer be a Member.
SECTION 11.05. Claims of Members. The Members shall look
solely to the Company's assets for the return of their capital contributions,
and if the assets of the Company remaining after payment of or reasonable
provision for the payment of all liabilities of the Company are insufficient to
return such capital contributions, the Member shall have no recourse against the
Company or any other Member.
ARTICLE XII
DBC Loan
SECTION 12.01. DBC Loan. Until the third anniversary of the
date hereof, DBC shall provide to the Company, on an unsecured, revolving basis,
loans in amounts up to an aggregate of $5,000,000 (the "DBC Loan") to be used by
the Company in connection with the Business, including but not limited to for
working capital financing. Any loans made by DBC to the Company pursuant to this
Article XII shall bear interest at a variable rate per annum equal to the rate
announced from time to time by The Chase Manhattan Bank as its prime rate in
effect at its principal office in New York City plus 2% (but in no event higher
than the highest lawful rate), and shall be repayable by the Company from time
to time as soon as possible at such time or times as the Company shall have
sufficient cash or cash equivalents to make such payment or payments after
taking into account the cash needs of the Company.
ARTICLE XIII
Agreement Not To Compete
SECTION 13.01. Agreement Not To Compete. (a) Agreement of DBC
Not To Compete. DBC understands that the Company shall be entitled to protect
and preserve the going concern value of the Business to the extent permitted by
law and, therefore, for a period ending
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on the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the date hereof and such date on
which neither DBC or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries is a Member, DBC shall
not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, without the
prior written consent of each other Member:
(i) (A) sell advertising on an Internet website that primarily
disseminates or delivers business or financial new or information or
(B) use the Internet to sell real time snap-quotes to institutional or
individual subscribers or customers who pay a fee for such information
("DBC Competitive Activities"), including assisting any person in any
way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by this clause; and
(ii) perform any action, activity or course of conduct that is
substantially detrimental to the Business or business reputation
("Detrimental Activities"), including (A) soliciting, recruiting or
hiring any employees of the Business or persons who have worked for the
Business, (B) soliciting or encouraging any employee of the Business to
leave the employment of the Business and (C) disclosing or furnishing
to anyone any confidential information relating to the Business or
otherwise using such confidential information for its own benefit or
the benefit of any other person;
The Company acknowledges that the maintenance and continued
operation of dbc.com by DBC shall not be considered to be a violation of this
Section 13.01(a) provided that dbc.com does not engage in any DBC Competitive
Activities or Detrimental Activities.
(b) Agreement of CBS Not To Compete. CBS understands that the
Company shall be entitled to protect and preserve the going concern value of the
Business to the extent permitted by law and, therefore, for a period ending on
the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the date hereof and such date on which
neither CBS or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries is a Member, CBS shall cause
the CBS Television Network (which, for purposes of this Section 13.01(b), shall
mean the News, Sports and Entertainment Divisions of CBS Inc.) not to engage in
or establish any new on-line businesses that primarily engage in delivering
comprehensive real-time or delayed stock market quotations or financial news in
the English language over the Internet to consumers ("CBS Competitive
Activities").
(c) Sections 13.01(a) and 13.01(b) shall be deemed not
breached as a result of the ownership by CBS or DBC or any of their respective
Affiliates of:
(i) less than an aggregate of 5% of any class of stock of a
Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in CBS or DBC Competitive
Activities, respectively;
(ii) less than 10% in value of any instrument of indebtedness
of a Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in CBS or DBC Competitive
Activities, respectively;
(iii) a Person that engages, directly or indirectly, in CBS or
DBC Competitive Activities, respectively, if such CBS or DBC
Competitive Activities account for less than 10% of such Person's
consolidated annual revenues; or
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(iv) a Person that engages, directly or indirectly, in CBS or
DBC Competitive Activities, respectively, if such CBS or DBC
Competitive Activities are not the predominant business of such Person
and if CBS or DBC, or their respective Affiliates, as applicable, uses
reasonable efforts to divest the business of such Person that
constitutes a CBS or DBC Competitive Activity, as applicable, and
actually divests itself of such business within 270 days of the
acquisition thereof.
The Members and the Company acknowledge that the provisions of
this Section 13.01 shall terminate and cease to apply in the event that the
Company is dissolved or liquidated; provided, however, that the provisions of
this Section 13.01 or a successor provision mutually agreeable to CBS and DBC
shall continue to apply in the event that the Company's organization as a
limited liability company is terminated but the Business is continued by CBS and
DBC in the form of a new Person.
SECTION 13.02. Enforcement. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, it is understood and agreed that the remedies at
law would be inadequate in the case of any breach of the covenants contained in
Sections 13.01(a) and 13.01(b). Therefore, the Company shall be entitled to
equitable relief, including the remedy of specific performance, with respect to
any breach or attempted breach of such covenants.
ARTICLE XIV
Miscellaneous
SECTION 14.01. Amendments. This Agreement and the Certificate
of Formation may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified only by written
instrument executed by each Member.
SECTION 14.02. Notices. All notices or other communications
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
delivered by hand or sent, postage prepaid, by registered, certified or express
mail or reputable overnight courier service and shall be deemed given when so
delivered by hand or, if mailed, three days after mailing (one business day in
the case of express mail or overnight courier service), at the address for such
Person set forth in Exhibit A or at such other address as such Person may
hereafter specify.
SECTION 14.03. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have
been signed by each of the parties and delivered to each of the other parties.
SECTION 14.04. Severability. If any provision of this
Agreement (or any portion thereof) or the application of any such provision (or
any portion thereof) to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction,
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provision hereof (or the remaining portion thereof) or the application of such
provision to any other Persons or circumstances.
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SECTION 14.05. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as
provided in Article X, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties
hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing herein expressed or implied shall
give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and
such assigns, any legal or equitable rights hereunder.
SECTION 14.06. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State,
without regard to the conflicts of laws principles of such state.
SECTION 14.07. Publicity. No advertisement, press release or
other publicity concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will be made or disseminated without the consent of the Members.
SECTION 14.08. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE MEMBERS HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR
PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
SECTION 14.09. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each Member
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of (a) the Supreme Court of
the State of New York, New York County, and (b) the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, for the purposes of any suit, action or
other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any Definitive Document, or
any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby. Each Member agrees to commence
any such action, suit or proceeding either in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York or if such suit, action or other
proceeding may not be brought in such court for jurisdictional reasons, in the
Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. Each Member further
agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S.
registered mail to such party's respective address set forth in Exhibit A shall
be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in New York
with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this
Section 14.09. Each Member irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection
to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this
Agreement, any Definitive Document or the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby in (i) the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or
(ii) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and
hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not
to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
SECTION 14.10. Headings. The headings contained in this
Agreement, in any Exhibit or Schedule hereto and in the table of contents to
this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 14.11. Survival. The covenants contained in this
Agreement which, by their terms, require their performance after the expiration
or termination of this Agreement shall be enforceable notwithstanding the
expiration or other termination of this Agreement.
22
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SECTION 14.12. No Waiver. The failure of any Member to insist
in any one or more instances upon the strict performance of any one or more of
the agreements, terms, covenants, conditions or obligations of this Agreement,
or to exercise any right, remedy or election herein contained, shall not be
construed as a waiver or relinquishment for the future of the performance of any
one or more of said obligations of this Agreement or of the right to exercise
such election, but the same shall continue in full force and effect with respect
to any subsequent breach, act or omission, whether of a similar nature or
otherwise.
SECTION 14.13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the
Definitive Documents, along with the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and thereto,
contain the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings relating to such subject matter. Neither party shall be liable or
bound to any other party in any manner by any representations, warranties or
covenants relating to such subject matter except as specifically set forth
herein or in the Definitive Documents.
SECTION 14.14. Further Assurance. Each party hereto shall
execute and deliver all such other and additional instruments and documents and
do all such other acts and things as may be necessary more fully to effectuate
the terms of this Agreement.
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<PAGE> 29
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
CBS INC.,
by
/s/ FREDRIC G. REYNOLDS
-----------------------------------
Name: Fredric G. Reynolds
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
DATA BROADCASTING CORPORATION,
by
/s/ MARK F. IMPERIALE
-----------------------------------
Name: Mark F. Imperiale
Title: President
24
<PAGE> 30
EXHIBIT A
Addresses for Notices
(i) if to the Company,
c/o Data Broadcasting Corporation
1900 South Norfolk Street
San Mateo, CA 94403
Attention: Larry Kramer
with a copy to CBS and DBC as set forth below;
(ii) if to CBS,
CBS Inc.
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Derek Reisfield
with copies to:
CBS Inc.
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Sanford Kryle, and
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Peter S. Wilson, Esq.; and
(iii) if to DBC,
Data Broadcasting Corporation
1900 South Norfolk Street
San Mateo, CA 94403
Attention: Mark Imperiale
<PAGE> 31
with a copy to:
Camhy Karlinsky & Stein LLP
1740 Broadway
Sixteenth Floor
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Alan I. Annex, Esq.
2
<PAGE> 32
EXHIBIT B
Management Committee
DBC Management Committee Members:
Larry Kramer
Mark Imperiale
James Kaplan
DBC Alternate Management Committee Members:
Allan Tessler
CBS Management Committee Members:
Harry Fuller
Linda Fluger
Derek Reisfield
CBS Alternate Management Committee Members:
Tom Gentile
<PAGE> 33
Schedule 7.02
Arbitrators
1. Peter Vestal, Esq.
Law Offices of Peter Vestal
300 Montgomery Street (Suite 300)
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 956-2580
2. Mr. Leonard Toboroff
c/o Riddell
900 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 826-4300
3. Theodore A. Kury, Esq.
Debevoise & Plimpton
875 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 909-6388
4. Mr. Robert H. Lessin
Vice Chairman
Smith Barney, Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 816-7695
5. Robert McDowell, Esq.
9129 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna, VA
(703) 938-0128
6. Paulette Kendler, Esq.
Hutton Ingram Yuzek Gainen Carroll & Bertolotti
250 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10177
(212) 907-9600
7. Mr. Theodore MacVeagh
Bromberg & Sonstein LLP
125 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 661-6505
<PAGE> 34
8. Mr. Arthur Dubrof
Enhance Financial Services Inc.
335 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 983-3100
9. Mr. Chris Gerard
Reynolds, Richards LLP
67 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
10. Mr. John Castro
Merrill
1 Merrill Circle
St. Paul, MN 55108
(612) 646-4501
2