Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2011

Registration No. 333-174993

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   6282   26-0174894
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)  

(I. R. S. Employer

Identification No.)

333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90071

(213) 830-6300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Todd E. Molz

General Counsel and Managing Director

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90071

(213) 830-6300

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

 

Thomas A. Wuchenich

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

1999 Avenue of the Stars, 29th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90067

(310) 407-7500

 

Patrick S. Brown

Jay Clayton

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

1888 Century Park East, 21st Floor

Los Angeles, California 90067

(310) 712-6600

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this form are being offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.   ¨

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨     Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion. Dated August 1, 2011.

LOGO

            Class A Units

Representing Limited Liability Company Interests

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

 

 

This is an initial public offering of Class A units of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC.

We are offering             Class A units to be sold in this offering. We intend to use a portion of the proceeds from this offering to acquire interests in our business from Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., an entity owned by our principals, employees and other investors. The selling unitholders identified in this prospectus are offering an additional              Class A units. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of Class A units being sold by the selling unitholders.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A units. The initial public offering price of our Class A units is expected to be between $             and $             per unit. We intend to apply to list our Class A units on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol “OAK.”

Investing in our Class A units involves risks. You should read the section entitled “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 17 of this prospectus for a discussion of risk factors you should consider before investing in our Class A units. Among others, these risks include the following:

 

  Ÿ  

We have built our business by putting our clients’ interests first and by forsaking short-term advantage for the long-term good of our business. Our highest priority is to generate superior risk-adjusted returns for our clients. We limit our assets under management as appropriate to help us achieve that goal and do not intend to change our approach following consummation of this offering.

 

  Ÿ  

Given the nature of our business, as well as our client focus, you should anticipate that our financial results will fluctuate significantly and that we will forgo near-term profit when appropriate, in our judgment, to further our clients’ interests and the long-term good of our business.

 

  Ÿ  

In light of the foregoing, you should plan to hold our Class A units for a number of years to maximize your opportunity to profit from your investment.

 

  Ÿ  

Our principals will control the appointment and removal of all of our directors and will indirectly control 100% of our Class B units. Accordingly, our principals will determine all matters submitted to our board and will be able to determine the outcome of all matters submitted to a vote of our unitholders.

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and you may therefore be subject to taxation on your allocable share of net taxable income of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC. You may not receive cash distributions in an amount sufficient to pay the tax liability that results from that income.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

    Per Class A Unit     Total  

Initial public offering price

  $                   $                

Underwriting discount on units sold by Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

  $        $     

Underwriting discount on units sold by selling unitholders

  $        $     

Aggregate proceeds, before expenses, to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

  $        $     

Aggregate proceeds we will retain

  $        $     

Aggregate proceeds we will use to acquire Oaktree Operating Group units from OCGH

  $        $     

Aggregate proceeds, before expenses, to the selling unitholders

  $        $     

 

 

To the extent that the underwriters sell more than             Class A units, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional             Class A units from us and             Class A units from the selling unitholders at the initial public offering price less the applicable underwriting discount. Any proceeds that we receive from the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Class A units will be used to acquire interests in our business from Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P.

The underwriters expect to deliver the units against payment in New York, New York on or about                     , 2011.

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.    Morgan Stanley

Prospectus dated                     , 2011.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus

 

     Page  

Prospectus Summary

     1   

Risk Factors

     17   

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     58   

Organizational Structure

     59   

Use of Proceeds

     65   

Capitalization

     66   

Dilution

     67   

Cash Distribution Policy

     69   

Selected Financial Data

     71   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     74   

Industry

     127   

Business

     132   

Management

     163   

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

     183   

Description of Our Indebtedness

     190   

Principal Unitholders

     194   

Selling Unitholders

     195   

Description of Our Units

     196   

Units Eligible for Future Sale

     209   

Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations

     212   

Certain ERISA Considerations

     229   

Underwriting

     231   

Legal Matters

     237   

Experts

     237   

Where You Can Find More Information

     237   

Glossary

     238   

Index to Financial Statements

     F-1   

Appendix A

     A-1   

 

 

Through and including                     , 2011 (25 days after the commencement of this offering), all dealers that effect transactions in our Class A units, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

Neither we, the selling unitholders, nor any of the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our Class A units and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States.

 

i


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our Class A units. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the more detailed information regarding us and our Class A units, the section entitled “Risk Factors” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus before you decide to invest in our Class A units. See the section entitled “Glossary” for definitions of certain terms included in this prospectus.

Business

Our Company

Oaktree is a leading global investment management firm focused on alternative markets. We are experts in credit and contrarian, value-oriented investing. Over the past five years, we have more than doubled our assets under management, or AUM, to over $80 billion as of March 31, 2011 and grown to over 600 employees in 13 offices around the world. Since our founding in 1995, our foremost priority has been to provide superior risk-adjusted investment performance for our clients. We have built Oaktree by putting our clients’ interests first and by forsaking short-term advantage for the long-term good of our business.

Unlike other leading alternative investment managers, our roots are in credit. A number of our senior investment professionals started investing together in high yield bonds in 1986 and convertible securities in 1987. From those origins, we have expanded into a broad array of complementary strategies in six asset classes: distressed debt, corporate debt, control investing, convertible securities, real estate and listed equities. We pursue these strategies through closed-end, open-end and evergreen funds.

The following charts depict our AUM by asset class and fund structure as of March 31, 2011:

 

LOGO    LOGO

Our investment professionals have generated impressive investment performance through multiple market cycles, almost entirely without the use of fund-level leverage. Our closed-end funds have produced an aggregate gross internal rate of return, or IRR, of 20.4% on over $50 billion of drawn capital, and our since-inception risk-adjusted returns (as measured by the Sharpe Ratio) for all seven of our open-end strategies have exceeded their Relevant Benchmarks.

 

 

1


Table of Contents

In our investing activities, we adhere to the following fundamental tenets:

 

  Ÿ  

Focus on Risk-Adjusted Returns .    Our primary goal is not simply to achieve superior investment performance, but to do so with less-than-commensurate risk. We believe that the best long-term records are built more through the avoidance of losses in bad times than the achievement of superior relative returns in good times. Thus, our overriding belief is that “if we avoid the losers, the winners will take care of themselves.”

 

  Ÿ  

Focus on Fundamental Analysis .    We employ a bottom-up approach to investing, based on proprietary, company-specific research. We seek to generate outperformance from in-depth knowledge of companies and their securities, not from macro-forecasting. Our more than 200 investment professionals have developed a deep and thorough understanding of a wide number of companies and industries, providing us with a significant institutional knowledge base.

 

  Ÿ  

Specialization .    We offer a broad array of specialized investment strategies. We believe this offers the surest path to the results we and our clients seek. Clients interested in a single investment strategy can limit themselves to the risk exposure of that particular strategy, while clients interested in more than one investment strategy can combine investments in our funds to achieve their desired mix. Our focus on specific strategies has allowed us to build investment teams with extensive experience and expertise. At the same time, our teams access and leverage each other’s expertise, affording us both the benefits of specialization and the strengths of a larger organization.

Since our founding in 1995, our AUM has grown significantly, even as we have distributed more than $38 billion from our closed-end funds. Although we have limited our AUM when appropriate to generate superior risk-adjusted returns, we have a long-term record of organically growing our investment strategies, increasing our AUM and expanding our client base. We manage assets on behalf of many of the most significant institutional investors in the world, including 69 of the 100 largest U.S. pension plans, 36 states in the United States, over 350 corporations, approximately 300 university and charitable endowments and foundations, and over 150 non-U.S. institutional investors, including six of the top 10 sovereign wealth funds.

As shown in the chart below, AUM grew to $82.7 billion as of December 31, 2010 from $17.9 billion as of December 31, 2000 (representing a compound annual growth rate of 16.5%). Over the same period, the portion of our AUM that generates management fees, or management fee-generating AUM, grew from $16.7 billion to $66.2 billion, and the portion of our AUM that potentially generates incentive income, or incentive-creating AUM, increased from $6.7 billion to $39.4 billion.

LOGO

 

 

2


Table of Contents

Our business generates segment revenue from three sources: management fees, incentive income and investment income. Management fees are calculated as a fixed percentage of the capital commitments (as adjusted for distributions during the liquidation period) or NAV of a particular fund. Incentive income represents our share (typically 20%) of the profits earned by certain of our funds, subject to applicable hurdle rates or high-water marks. Investment income is the return on our investments in each of our funds and, to a growing extent, funds and businesses managed by third parties with whom we have strategic relationships. Our business is comprised of one segment, our investment management segment, which consists of the investment management services that we provide to our clients.

For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and for the three months ended March 31, 2011, our net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC (on a consolidated basis) was $127.3 million, $57.1 million, $49.5 million and $10.1 million, respectively. Our adjusted net income, or ANI, for our investment management segment, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $207.3 million, $675.6 million, $763.9 million and $207.4 million, respectively. See note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation of ANI to net let loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and a discussion of our segment’s revenues and total assets.

Our Competitive Strengths

We believe the following strengths will create long-term value for our unitholders:

Superior Risk-Adjusted Investment Performance Across Market Cycles .    Our primary goal is not simply to achieve superior investment performance, but to do so with less-than-commensurate risk. We believe that the best records are built on a “high batting average,” rather than a mix of brilliant successes and dismal failures. Our since-inception risk-adjusted returns have exceeded the Relevant Benchmarks for all of our strategies that have a benchmark.

Expertise in Credit .    We are experts in credit and contrarian, value-oriented investing. Many of our most senior investment professionals started working together in credit markets over 15 years ago. Today, we are recognized as an industry leader in our areas of specialty and believe that our breadth of alternative credit-oriented strategies is one of the most extensive and diverse among asset managers.

Strong Earnings and Cash Flow.     Our business generates a high level of earnings and cash flow, reflecting our substantial locked-in capital, recurring incentive income, and the variable nature of a significant portion of our expenses. This has enabled us to make equity distributions every quarter since 1996. The sustainability of this performance is enhanced by our significant accrued incentives (fund level), which refers to the amount of incentive income that would be paid to us if our funds were liquidated at their reported asset values as of the date of our financial statements and the proceeds from such liquidations were distributed in accordance with the funds’ respective partnership agreements.

 

  Ÿ  

Consistent Profitability .     We have been consistently profitable, with positive adjusted net income for the last 15 years and 60 of the last 61 quarters (the exception being a segment loss of $6.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008). In the year ended December 31, 2010, we generated $375.4 million of fee-related earnings from $750.0 million of management fee revenues, and adjusted net income of $763.9 million from total segment revenues of $1.3 billion.

 

 

3


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

Significant Management Fees .    Our management fees have historically provided a recurring and significant source of revenues. Over 70% of our management fees are attributable to closed-end funds with terms of 10 to 11 years.

 

  Ÿ  

Recurring Incentive Income .    We have had incentive income for 14 consecutive years, and we expect to continue earning substantial amounts of this revenue. As of March 31, 2011, the potential future incentive income to us represented by accrued incentives (fund level) totaled $2.4 billion, or $1.4 billion net of direct incentive income compensation expense. We believe our eventual realization of this revenue is highly likely, given that our funds tend to invest in securities that are structurally senior and the substantial diversification of our funds and their investments.

Record of Long-Term Growth .    Since March 31, 2006, we have raised more than $60 billion in assets, including over $10 billion in each of the last four calendar years, despite a difficult fundraising environment. Our strong investment performance and our related success in raising capital from new and existing clients have increased our AUM from $35.6 billion as of December 31, 2006 to more than $80 billion as of March 31, 2011.

Client-First Organization.     Our clients’ trust is our most important asset, and we do everything we can to avoid jeopardizing that trust. In making decisions, we always strive to be conscious of the extraordinary responsibility of managing other people’s money, including the pension assets of millions of people around the world. As stated in our business principles: “It is our fundamental operating principle that if all of our practices were to become known, there must be no one with grounds for complaint.”

Alignment of Interests.     We seek to align our interests with our clients’ interests, even if it reduces our revenue in the short term. Since our inception, we have championed a number of investor-friendly terms, such as forgoing all transaction, monitoring and other ancillary fees; returning all capital and a preferred return to investors in our closed-end funds before taking incentive income; and adopting fair and transparent fee arrangements.

Broad Employee Ownership .     Our broad employee ownership and the resulting close alignment of interests with our clients and unitholders have been key to our success. Approximately 70% of the equity interests in the Oaktree Operating Group were indirectly owned by over 160 senior professionals.

Substantial Institutional Depth and Breadth .    Many of our senior professionals are widely recognized as industry leaders and pioneers in their respective fields. We benefit from longevity and stability among our senior management and investment professionals. For example, the original portfolio managers of our four largest and oldest investment strategies remain with us today.

Global Platform .     One quarter of our more than 600 employees are located outside of the United States. We believe this global footprint will continue to facilitate our growth over time. As of March 31, 2011, our non-U.S. investments represented $16.4 billion, or 24.3%, of our invested capital, and our capital from non-U.S. clients represented $27.3 billion, or 31.9%, of our AUM with a much larger percentage in our most recent funds.

 

 

4


Table of Contents

Our Strategy

Our strategy for the future is unchanged from our inception: we will seek to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns and focus on the interests of our clients. We intend to do this by adhering to the following tenets:

Investment Excellence .    We seek to generate superior investment performance through fundamental analysis in alternative investment specialties where we believe our expertise can create a competitive advantage.

Recognition of Cycles .    We believe that successful investing requires recognition of market cycles. We adjust our fundraising in response to the investment environment, accepting more money when attractive opportunities are plentiful and less when they are not, even though this approach may reduce our AUM and profits in the short term.

Expansion of Offerings .    We expect to continue to expand the number of our strategies and to develop new distribution channels. We have a proven record of organic growth and anticipate that as a public company we will have more opportunities to grow over time by acquiring culturally compatible investment managers and recruiting talented individuals or investment teams to our organization.

Extension of Global Presence .    Our global stature and reputation enhance our ability to source investment opportunities, recruit talented individuals and develop client relationships worldwide. We intend to further develop our global presence by opportunistically expanding into new geographic regions and growing existing ones.

Adherence to Core Philosophy and Principles .    Above all, we will adhere to our founding investment philosophy and business principles. We will remain dedicated to the achievement of superior risk-adjusted returns through fundamental analysis and avoidance of loss, and we will continue to focus on the interests of our clients. We believe that our growth has been a byproduct of our clients’ success and that we will best serve the interests of our unitholders by continuing to deliver for our clients and forsaking short-term advantages for the long-term good of our business.

Our Investment Approach

At our core, we are contrarian, value-oriented investors focused on buying securities and companies at prices below their intrinsic value and selling or exiting those investments when they become fairly or fully valued. We have a long track record of achieving competitive returns in up markets and substantial outperformance in down markets. We believe this approach leads to significant outperformance over the long term.

In our distressed debt strategy, all 15 of our funds have achieved positive gross IRRs as of March 31, 2011, resulting in an aggregate gross IRR of 23.8%.

 

 

5


Table of Contents

LOGO

In our U.S. high yield bond strategy, we have produced a cumulative gross return that has outperformed its Relevant Benchmark by 262 percentage points since its inception.

LOGO

Our investment results are generally not dependent on the use of leverage to make investments or the strength of the equity capital markets to realize our investments. We invest throughout the capital structure because we seek the security that offers the best return for the risk we elect to bear. Most of our investment strategies focus on debt securities and many of our funds’ investments reside in the senior levels of an issuer’s capital structure, substantially reducing the downside risk of our investments and the volatility of our segment’s revenue and income. Debt securities by their nature require repayment of principal at par, typically generate current cash interest (reducing risk and augmenting investment returns) and, in cases where the issuer restructures, may provide an opportunity for conversion to equity in a company with a deleveraged balance sheet positioned for growth.

 

 

6


Table of Contents

Our Approach to Growth

Since March 31, 2006, we have raised more than $60 billion in assets, including over $10 billion in each of the last four calendar years, despite a difficult fundraising environment. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2011, we raised over $11 billion for 15 strategies from more than 300 different clients, reflecting the breadth of our product offerings and the depth of our client base. Our strong fundraising and investment performance have driven the growth of our business. AUM has increased from $35.6 billion as of December 31, 2006, to more than $80 billion as of March 31, 2011.

 

  Ÿ  

Sizing Funds for the Investment Environment.     We neither make nor rely on macro predictions about the economy, interest rates or financial markets. However, we believe it is critical to take into account our view of where we are in the economic cycle and to size our investment capital accordingly. When we believe opportunities are scarce, we limit the amount of capital we raise to avoid jeopardizing returns. When we believe the investment environment offers substantial opportunities, we raise more capital. Our largest closed-end funds in each economic cycle have been among our best performers, demonstrating our success in appropriately sizing our funds to the investment opportunities.

 

  Ÿ  

Disciplined and Opportunistic Approach to Expansion of Offerings.     Our decision to create a new product starts with the identification of a market with the potential for attractive returns, and is dependent on both our conviction that the market can be exploited in a manner consistent with our risk-controlled philosophy and access to an investment team that we believe is capable of producing the results we seek. Because of the high priority we place on these requirements, our new products usually represent step-outs into related strategies led by senior investment professionals with whom we have had extensive first-hand experience.

 

  Ÿ  

Building a Scalable Platform for Global Growth.     From our founding, we have built our firm with an eye to the future:

 

   

We have reinvested a substantial portion of our profits back into our business.

 

   

We have consistently broadened employee ownership to achieve a smooth and gradual transition of ownership and management, such that today we have over 160 employee-owners.

 

   

We recognized early on that European and Asian investors were potentially significant sources of capital, hiring our first marketing representative outside the United States in 2001. Our AUM from non-U.S. clients has grown from $753.8 million, or 4.2%, of AUM, as of December 31, 2000, to $25.5 billion, or 30.8%, of AUM as of December 31, 2010.

 

   

We have been investing in Europe and Asia for many years. We opened offices in London in 1998 and Tokyo and Singapore in 1999. Since then, we have also established offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Frankfurt and Paris and fund-affiliated offices in Luxembourg and Amsterdam.

Structure and Formation of Our Company

We were formed as a Delaware limited liability company on April 13, 2007, in connection with the May 2007 Restructuring. Our principal executive offices are located at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071. Our telephone number is (213) 830-6300. Our internet address is www.oaktreecapital.com . Information on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC is owned by its Class A and Class B unitholders. Holders of our Class A units and Class B units generally vote together as a single class on the limited set of matters

 

 

7


Table of Contents

on which our unitholders have a vote. Such matters include a proposed sale of all or substantially all of our assets, certain mergers and consolidations, certain amendments to our operating agreement and an election by our board of directors to dissolve the company. The Class B units do not represent an economic interest in Oaktree Capital Group, LLC. The number of Class B units held by OCGH, however, increases or decreases with corresponding changes in OCGH’s economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group.

We intend to preserve our current management structure with strong central control by our principals and to maintain our focus on achieving successful growth over the long term. This desire to preserve our existing management structure is one of the primary reasons why upon listing of our Class A units on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, if achieved, we have decided to avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exemption from certain of the NYSE governance rules. This exemption eliminates the requirements that we have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors and that we have a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors.

Our operating agreement provides that so long as our principals, or their successors or affiliated entities (other than us or our subsidiaries), including OCGH, collectively hold, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of the aggregate outstanding Oaktree Operating Group units, our manager, which is 100% owned and controlled by our principals, will be entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors. We refer to this ownership condition as the “Oaktree control condition.” Holders of our Class A units and Class B units have no right to elect our manager. So long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied, our manager will control the membership of our board of directors, which will manage all of our operations and activities and will have discretion over significant corporate actions, such as the issuance of securities, payment of distributions, sales of assets, making certain amendments to our operating agreement and other matters. See “Description of Our Units.”

 

 

8


Table of Contents

The diagram below depicts our organizational structure after the consummation of the offering. For more information, see “Organizational Structure.”

LOGO

 

(1) Holds 100% of the Class B units and     % of the Class A units, which together will represent     % of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B units upon the consummation of this offering. The Class B units have no economic interest in us. The general partner of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. is Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, which is controlled by our principals. Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC also acts as our manager and in that capacity has the authority to designate all the members of our board of directors for so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied.
(2) Assumes the conversion into Class A units on a one-for-one basis of all outstanding Class C units prior to completion of this offering.
(3) Assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Class A units.
(4) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC holds 1,000 shares of non-voting Class A common stock of Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., which are entitled to receive 100% of any dividends. Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. holds 100 shares of voting Class B common stock of Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., which do not participate in dividends or otherwise represent an economic interest in Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.
(5) Owned indirectly by Oaktree Holdings, LLC through an entity not reflected on this structure diagram that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Through this entity, each of Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. owns a less than 1% indirect interest in Oaktree Capital I, L.P.

 

 

9


Table of Contents

The May 2007 Restructuring and the 2007 Private Offering

On May 21, 2007, we sold 23,000,000 Class A units to qualified institutional buyers (as such term is defined for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and these Class A units began to trade on a private over-the-counter market developed by Goldman, Sachs & Co. for Tradeable Unregistered Equity Securities. We refer to this private over-the-counter market as the GSTrUE SM OTC market and the 2007 offering as the “2007 Private Offering.” Prior to the 2007 Private Offering, our business was operated through Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company, or OCM, which was 100% owned by our principals, senior employees and other investors. Immediately prior to the closing of the 2007 Private Offering, we reorganized our business so that:

 

  Ÿ  

100% of our business was contributed to the Oaktree Operating Group;

 

  Ÿ  

Our pre-2007 investors exchanged their interests in OCM for 100% of the limited partnership interests in Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., or OCGH, which received a direct economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group;

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC received an indirect economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group; and

 

  Ÿ  

OCGH received Class B units in Oaktree Capital Group, LLC.

Conversion of Class C Units

In 2008, we established a class of units designated as Class C units principally to provide a mechanism through which OCGH unitholders could exchange their OCGH units for a security that could later be converted into a Class A unit and sold on the GSTrUE OTC market. Holders of Class C units may convert such units on a one-for-one basis into Class A units upon approval by our board of directors. As of March 31, 2011, there were 13,000 Class C units issued and outstanding. We expect that prior to the completion of this offering, each of our Class C unitholders will request, and our board of directors will approve, the conversion of their Class C units into Class A units and, as a result, all of our outstanding Class C units will be converted into 13,000 Class A units and the Class C units will be eliminated as an authorized class of units.

 

 

10


Table of Contents

The Offering

 

Class A units being offered by us

                units

Class A units being offered by the selling unitholders

  

             units

Units to be outstanding after this offering

  

             Class A units

             Class B units

Use of proceeds

   We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be $             , assuming an initial public offering price of $             per Class A unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Of these net proceeds, approximately $             million will be retained by us and approximately $             million will be used by us to purchase Oaktree Operating Group units from OCGH. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of units in this offering by the selling unitholders, including any sale of units by the selling unitholders if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering that are retained by us for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.” Any proceeds that we receive from the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Class A units will be used to acquire interests in our business from OCGH.

Voting rights

  

Class A units are entitled to one vote per unit.

 

Class B units are entitled to ten votes per unit; however, if the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, our Class B units will be entitled to only one vote per unit.

 

Holders of our Class A units and Class B units will generally vote together as a single class on the limited set of matters on which our unitholders have a vote. As a Class A unitholder, you will have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our businesses and will have no right to elect our manager, which is owned and controlled by our principals and is entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors. Moreover, our principals, through their control of OCGH, will hold     % of the total combined voting power of our units entitled to vote immediately after the offering, and thus are able to exercise control over all matters requiring unitholder approval. See “Description of Our Units.”

Distribution policy

  

We expect to make distributions to our Class A unitholders quarterly, generally in the month following the quarter end. We intend to distribute to our unitholders substantially all of our share of the Oaktree Operating Group’s excess cash flow, as determined by our board of directors after taking into account factors it deems relevant, such as, but not limited to, working capital levels, known or anticipated cash needs, business and

 

 

11


Table of Contents
   investment opportunities, general economic and business conditions, our obligations under our debt instruments or other agreements, our compliance with applicable laws, the level and character of taxable income that flows through to our Class A unitholders, the availability and terms of outside financing, the possible repurchase of our Class A units in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, providing for future distributions to our Class A unitholders and growing our capital base. The declaration and payment of any distributions will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, and we may at any time modify our approach with respect to the proper metric for determining cash flow available for distribution. See “Cash Distribution Policy.”

Exchange agreement

   Subject to certain restrictions, each OCGH unitholder has the right to require OCGH to exchange his or her vested units following the expiration of any applicable lock-up period pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement. The exchange agreement provides that such OCGH units will be exchanged into Oaktree Operating Group units; those Oaktree Operating Group units may then be exchanged for a corresponding number of Class A units; and we will cancel a corresponding number of Class B units. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Exchange Agreement.”

Tax receivable agreement

   Subject to certain restrictions, each OCGH unitholder has the right to exchange his or her vested units for Oaktree Operating Group units. Our Intermediate Holding Companies will deliver Class A units, on a one-for-one basis, pursuant to an exchange agreement, in exchange for the applicable OCGH unitholder’s Oaktree Operating Group units. These exchanges, our purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units in connection with the 2007 Private Offering and our purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units in connection with this offering resulted in, and are expected to result in, increases in the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of the Oaktree Operating Group. These increases in tax basis have increased and will increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization deductions and reduce gain on sales of assets, and therefore reduce the taxes of Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.
   Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax law and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize the full tax benefit of the increased amortization of our assets, we expect that payments in respect of the 2007 Private Offering under a tax receivable agreement among us, the Intermediate Holding Companies and the OCGH unitholders, which we began to make in January 2009, will aggregate to $59.9 million over the next 17 years. In addition, we expect that payments under the tax receivable agreement in respect of this offering will

 

 

12


Table of Contents
   aggregate to $             million over a similar period. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

Risk factors

   See “Risk Factors” on page 17 for a discussion of risks you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our Class A units.

Proposed New York Stock Exchange symbol

  

“OAK”

The number of Class A units and Class B units that will be outstanding after this offering is based on                      Class A units and                      Class B units outstanding as of                     , 2011 and excludes:

 

  Ÿ  

             Class A units issuable upon exchange of          OCGH units (or, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional Class A units,          Class A units issuable upon exchange of          OCGH units) that will be held by certain of our existing owners immediately following this offering, which are entitled, subject to vesting and minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, to be exchanged for our Class A units on a one-for-one basis; and

 

  Ÿ  

             Class A units issuable upon exchange of         OCGH units reserved for future issuance under the 2007 Oaktree Capital Group Equity Incentive Plan, which are entitled, subject to vesting and minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, to be exchanged for our Class A units on a one-for-one basis.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

  Ÿ  

the conversion of all of our outstanding Class C units into 13,000 Class A units on a one-for-one basis in anticipation of this offering;

 

  Ÿ  

the adoption of our Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement; and

 

  Ÿ  

no exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase up to an additional          Class A units from us and the selling unitholders.

 

 

13


Table of Contents

Summary Historical Financial Information and Other Data

The following summary historical consolidated financial information and other data of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC should be read together with “Organizational Structure,” “Selected Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

We derived the Oaktree Capital Group, LLC summary historical consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the summary historical consolidated statements of financial condition data for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. We derived the summary historical consolidated statements of financial condition data of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2008 from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included within this prospectus. We derived the summary historical consolidated statements of income and financial condition data of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on substantially the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial position and results of operations.

The summary historical financial data is not indicative of the expected future operating results of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC following this offering.

 

    As of or for the
Year Ended December 31,
    As of or for the
Three Months Ended

March 31,
 
    2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands, except per unit data or as otherwise indicated)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

         

Total revenues

  $ 97,524      $ 153,132      $ 206,181      $ 57,908      $ 44,449   

Total expenses

    (1,364,009     (1,426,318     (1,580,651     (419,000     (410,647

Total other income (loss)

    (6,354,205     13,165,717        6,681,658        1,891,793        2,162,612   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (7,620,690     11,892,531        5,307,188        1,530,701        1,796,414   

Income taxes

    (17,341     (18,267     (26,399     (10,138     (7,010
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

    (7,638,031     11,874,264        5,280,789        1,520,563        1,789,404   

Less:

         

Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated funds

    6,885,433        (12,158,635     (5,493,799     (1,554,323     (1,826,401

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest

    625,285        227,313        163,555        22,135        26,870   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to OCG

  $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455   $ (11,625   $ (10,127
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions declared per Class A and Class C unit

  $ 0.76      $ 0.65      $ 2.17      $ 0.75      $ 0.90   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per Class A and Class C unit (1)

  $ (5.53   $ (2.50   $ (2.18   $ (0.51   $ (0.45
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of Class A and Class C units outstanding (1)

    23,002        22,821        22,677        22,677        22,677   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition:

         

Total assets

  $ 31,797,278      $ 43,195,731      $ 47,843,660      $ 45,541,105      $ 46,445,861   

Debt obligations

    536,849        700,342        494,716        686,061        839,080   

Segment Income Data: (2)

         

Management fees

  $ 544,520      $ 636,260      $ 750,031      $ 184,224      $ 185,259   

Total segment revenues

    567,147        1,100,326        1,312,720        374,449        369,165   

ANI

    207,278        675,587        763,878        210,015        207,354   

ANI-OCG

    20,590        88,510        95,930        24,124        25,981   

ANI-OCG per Class A and Class C unit

    0.90        3.88        4.23        1.06        1.15   

FRE

    255,933        290,231        375,362        84,506        86,697   

NFRE-OCG

    27,462        29,686        39,713        8,392        9,067   

NFRE-OCG per Class A and Class C unit

    1.19        1.30        1.75        0.37        0.40   

 

 

14


Table of Contents
    As of or for the
Year Ended December 31,
    As of or for the
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands, except per unit data or as otherwise
indicated)
 

Segment Statements of Financial Condition Data : (2)

         

Cash and cash-equivalents

  $ 141,590      $ 433,769      $ 348,502      $ 358,870      $ 597,907   

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity

    606,478        909,329        1,108,690        942,302        1,060,227   

Total assets

    913,757        1,702,403        1,944,801        1,629,189        2,111,708   

Total liabilities

    424,182        742,570        708,085        622,764        914,066   

Total capital

    489,575        959,833        1,236,716        1,006,425        1,197,642   

Operating Metrics:

         

AUM (in millions) (3)

  $ 49,866      $ 73,278      $ 82,672      $ 76,494      $ 85,691   

Management fee-generating AUM (in millions) (4)

    50,234        62,677        66,175        65,039        67,158   

Incentive-creating AUM (in millions) (5)

    22,197        33,339        39,385        34,651        37,476   

Uncalled capital commitments (in millions) (6)

    7,205        11,055        14,270        12,791        18,348   

Incentives created (fund level) (7)

    (223,328     1,239,314        889,721        248,160        433,751   

Accrued incentives (fund level) (7)

    526,116        1,590,365        2,066,846        1,688,956        2,369,708   

 

(1) See note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 7 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
(2) Our business is comprised of one segment, our investment management segment, which consists of the investment management services that we provide to our clients.

 

     Our chief operating decision maker uses adjusted net income, or ANI, to evaluate the financial performance of, and make resource allocations and other operating decisions for, our segment. The components of revenues and expenses used in the determination of ANI do not give effect to the consolidation of the funds that we manage. In addition, ANI excludes the effect of: (1) non-cash equity compensation charges, (2) income taxes, (3) expenses that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and (4) the adjustment for the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007. We expect that ANI will include non-cash equity compensation charges related to unit grants made after this offering. ANI is calculated at the Oaktree Operating Group level.

 

     ANI-OCG is a non-GAAP measure and represents ANI, including the effect of (1) the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007, (2) expenses, such as income tax expense, that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and (3) any Oaktree Operating Group income taxes attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC.

 

     A summary of ANI and ANI-OCG for our segment for the respective periods is presented below. For additional and more detailed information, see “Selected Financial Data,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Segment Analysis—Adjusted Net Income” and the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2009     2010      2010     2011  
     (in thousands)  

Total segment revenues

   $ 567,147      $ 1,100,326      $ 1,312,720       $ 374,449      $ 369,165   

Total segment expenses

     (353,432     (411,668     (533,912      (157,304     (152,328

Total segment interest and other expenses, net

     (6,437     (13,071     (14,930      (7,130     (9,483
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

     207,278        675,587        763,878         210,015        207,354   

OCGH non-controlling interest

     (174,752     (571,219     (646,910      (177,856     (175,785

Non-Operating Group expenses

     (969     (1,008     (1,113      (198     (184
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI-OCG before income taxes

     31,557        103,360        115,855         31,961        31,385   

Income taxes-OCG

     (10,967     (14,850     (19,925      (7,837     (5,404
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI-OCG

   $ 20,590      $ 88,510      $ 95,930       $ 24,124      $ 25,981   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     A reconciliation of ANI and ANI-OCG to their respective consolidated GAAP-basis results for the periods is presented below. For additional information regarding the reconciling ANI adjustments discussed above, see note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

 

15


Table of Contents
     For a reconciliation of segment total assets to our consolidated total assets, see note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
     (in thousands)  

Net loss attributable to OCG

   $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455   $ (11,625   $ (10,127

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

     941,566        940,683        949,376        233,439        237,157   

Income taxes

     17,341        18,267        26,399        10,138        7,010   

Non-Oaktree Operating Group expenses

     969        1,008        1,113        198        184   

OCGH non-controlling interest

     (625,285     (227,313     (163,555     (22,135     (26,870
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

   $ 207,278      $ 675,587      $ 763,878      $ 210,015      $ 207,354   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455   $ (11,625   $ (10,127

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units-OCG

     147,903        145,568        145,385        35,749        36,108   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI-OCG

   $ 20,590      $ 88,510      $ 95,930      $ 24,124      $ 25,981   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Fee-related earnings, or FRE, is a non-GAAP profit measure that we use to monitor the baseline earnings of our business. FRE is comprised of segment management fees less segment operating expenses other than incentive income compensation expense. This calculation is considered baseline because it applies all bonus and other general expenses to management fees, even though a significant portion of those expenses is attributable to incentive and investment income. We expect that FRE will include non-cash equity compensation charges related to unit grants made after this offering. FRE is presented before income taxes.

 

     Net fee-related earnings – OCG, or NFRE-OCG, is a non-GAAP measure of FRE applicable to the Class A unitholders. NFRE-OCG represents FRE, including the effect of (i) the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007, (2) expenses, such as income tax expense, that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly, and (3) any Oaktree Operating Group income taxes attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC. FRE income taxes-OCG are calculated, excluding any segment incentive or investment income (loss). For additional and more detailed information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Segment Analysis—Fee-Related Earnings.’’
(3) AUM represents the NAV of the assets we manage, plus the undrawn capital that we are entitled to call, at the end of the applicable period and fund-level leverage that generates management fees.
(4) Management-fee generating AUM reflects AUM on which we earn management fees. It excludes certain AUM, such as differences between AUM and committed capital or cost basis for most closed-end funds, the investments we make in our funds as general partner, undrawn capital commitments to funds for which management fees are based on NAV or contributed capital and capital commitments to closed-end funds that have not yet commenced their investment periods.
(5) Incentive-creating AUM refers to the AUM that may eventually produce incentive income. It represents the NAV of our closed-end and evergreen funds, excluding investments made by us and our employees (which are not subject to an incentive allocation).
(6) Uncalled capital commitments represent undrawn capital commitments by partners (including Oaktree as general partner) of our closed-end funds in their investment periods. If a fund distributes capital during its investment period, that capital is typically subject to possible recall, in which case it is included in uncalled capital commitments.
(7) Our funds record as accrued incentives the incentive income that would be paid to us if the funds were liquidated at their reported values as of the date of the financial statements. Incentives created (fund level) refers to the amount generated by the funds during the period. We refer to the amount of incentive income recognized as revenue by us as segment incentive income. We recognize incentive income when it becomes fixed or determinable, all related contingencies have been removed and collection is reasonably assured. Amounts recognized by us as incentive income no longer are included in accrued incentives (fund level), the term we use for remaining fund-level accruals.

 

 

16


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

We are subject to a number of significant risks inherent in our business. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and other information included in this prospectus. If any of the events described below occur, our business and financial results could be seriously harmed. The trading price of our Class A units could decline as a result of any of these risks, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating to Our Business

Given our focus on achieving superior investment performance with less-than-commensurate risk, and the priority we afford our clients’ interests, we may reduce our AUM, restrain its growth, reduce our fees or otherwise alter the terms under which we do business when we deem it appropriate—even in circumstances where others might deem such actions unnecessary. Our approach could adversely affect our results of operations.

One of the means by which we seek to achieve superior investment performance in each of our strategies is by limiting the AUM in our strategies to an amount that we believe can be invested appropriately in accordance with our investment philosophy and current or anticipated economic and market conditions. Thus, in the past we have often taken affirmative steps to limit the growth of our AUM. For example:

 

  Ÿ  

we have suspended marketing our U.S. high yield bond strategy for long periods of time and have declined to participate in searches aggregating billions of dollars since 1998;

 

  Ÿ  

from time to time, we have ceased general marketing of our funds in our convertible securities strategy and have asked The Vanguard Group to close its Convertible Securities Fund, which we sub-advise;

 

  Ÿ  

we returned $5.0 billion from our 2001 and 2002 distressed debt funds prior to the end of their respective investment periods and $4.4 billion from OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb, L.P., or Opps VIIb, prior to the end of its investment period;

 

  Ÿ  

we deferred raising a new distressed debt fund by a year from 2003 to 2004, even though a significant amount of capital had already been offered;

 

  Ÿ  

we intentionally sized Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII, L.P., or Opps VIII, and Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb, L.P., or Opps VIIIb, smaller than their predecessors even though we could have raised additional capital (i.e., we capped Opps VIII at $4.5 billion and Opps VIIIb at $2.7 billion); and

 

  Ÿ  

we have often turned away substantial amounts of capital offered to us for management, including $4.5 billion of capital offered for OCM Opportunities Fund VII, L.P. a decision that had the effect of forgoing annualized revenues of $68 million.

Additionally, we may voluntarily reduce management fee rates and terms for certain of our funds or strategies when we deem it appropriate, even when doing so may reduce our short-term revenue. For example, we decided to reduce our maximum annual management fee for Opps VIII, Opps VIIIb and Oaktree Principal Fund V, L.P., or PF V, from 1.75% to 1.60%. We also, on our own initiative, waived management fees for Opps VIII with respect to capital commitments in excess of $4.0 billion and reduced the management fee rate to 1.0% with respect to capital commitments in excess of $2.0 billion for Opps VIIIb. We made these changes not because they were necessary to raise the capital we wanted, but because we deemed it important to demonstrate to our clients that we were not financially incentivized to raise more capital than appropriate for the opportunity set.

 

17


Table of Contents

Our fundamental belief that putting our clients’ interests first and forsaking short-term advantage for the long-term good of our business may lead us to, for example, reduce assets under management or management fee rates. While we believe that our discipline in this regard is in the long-term interest of us and our unitholders, our unitholders should understand that a decision to reduce assets under management or management fee rates would reduce the profits we could otherwise realize in the short term, and there is no guarantee that any such decision would be beneficial in the long term. Moreover, our refusal to accept all of the capital offered to us has undoubtedly benefited competitors who accepted it in our stead and may have damaged our relationships and future prospects with potential investors.

Our business is materially affected by conditions in the global financial markets and economies, and any disruption or deterioration in these conditions could materially reduce our revenues and cash flow and adversely affect our overall performance, ability to raise or deploy capital, financial condition and liquidity position.

Our business is materially affected by conditions in the global financial markets and economic conditions throughout the world that are outside our control, such as interest rates, availability and cost of credit, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, changes in laws (including laws relating to taxation), trade barriers, commodity prices, currency exchange rates and controls and national and international political circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts or security operations). Ongoing developments in the U.S. and global financial markets following the unprecedented turmoil in the global capital markets and the financial services industry in late 2008 and early 2009 continue to illustrate that the current environment is still one of uncertainty and instability for investment management businesses. While there has been some recovery in the capital markets since then, persistently high unemployment rates in the United States, continued weakness in many real estate markets, increased austerity measures by several European governments, escalating regional turmoil in the Middle East, growing debt loads for many national and other governments and uncertainty about the consequences of governments withdrawing their aggressive fiscal stimulus measures all highlight the fact that economic conditions are still unstable and unpredictable. These economic conditions have resulted in, and may continue to result in, adverse consequences for many of our funds, each of which could adversely affect the business of such funds, restrict such funds’ investment activities and impede such funds’ ability to effectively achieve their investment objectives. For example, in 2008 and 2009, we initiated or completed restructurings of three of our evergreen funds as a result of the disruption in the global capital markets, and these restructurings resulted in some combination of the elimination or suspension of investor redemption rights, renegotiation of terms and interest rates on borrowing, investment of additional capital as the general partner and waiver or suspension of management fees. From the end of 2008 to March 31, 2011, our AUM related to these funds decreased by $300.3 million. Over the same period, our management fee-generating AUM related to these funds decreased by $796.8 million.

The current economic environment has resulted in and may also continue to result in decreases in the market value of publicly traded securities held by some of our funds. Illiquidity in the market could adversely affect the pace of realization of our funds’ investments or otherwise restrict the ability of our funds to realize value from their investments, thereby adversely affecting our ability to generate incentive or other income. There can be no assurance that conditions in the global financial markets will not worsen and/or further adversely affect our investments and overall performance.

Our profitability may also be adversely affected by our fixed costs, such as the base salaries and expenses of our administrative staff, lease payments on our office space and maintenance on our information technology, and the possibility that we would be unable to scale back other costs and otherwise redeploy our resources within a time frame sufficient to match changes in market and economic conditions to take advantage of the opportunities that may be presented by these changes. As a result, a specific market dislocation may result in lower investment returns for certain of our funds,

 

18


Table of Contents

which would adversely affect our revenues, and we may not be able to adjust our resources to take advantage of new investment opportunities that may be created as a result of the dislocation.

Our business depends in large part on our ability to raise capital from investors. If we were unable to raise such capital, we would be unable to collect management fees or deploy such capital into investments, which would materially reduce our revenues and cash flow and adversely affect our financial condition.

Our ability to raise capital from investors depends on a number of factors, including many that are outside our control. The current environment is generally a challenging period in which to raise capital for our closed-end funds that are in their marketing periods or to seek new commitments for our open-end and evergreen funds. Additionally, investors may downsize their investment allocations to alternative investments, including private funds and hedge funds, to rebalance a disproportionate weighting of their overall investment portfolio among asset classes. Poor performance of our funds could also make it more difficult for us to raise new capital. Investors in our closed-end funds may decline to invest in future closed-end funds we raise, and investors in our open-end and evergreen funds may withdraw their investments in the funds (on specified withdrawal dates) as a result of poor performance. Our investors and potential investors continually assess our funds’ performance independently and relative to market benchmarks and our competitors, and our ability to raise capital for existing and future funds and avoid excessive redemptions depends on our funds’ performance. To the extent economic and market conditions deteriorate, we may be unable to raise sufficient amounts of capital to support the investment activities of future funds. If we were unable to successfully raise capital, our revenue and cash flow would be reduced, and our financial condition would be adversely affected.

Clients may withdraw their capital from our funds or be unwilling to commit new capital to our funds as a result of our decision to become a public company, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

Some of our clients may view negatively the prospect of our becoming a publicly traded company, including concerns that as a public company we will shift our focus from the interests of our clients to those of our public unitholders. Some of our clients may believe that we will strive for near-term profit instead of superior risk-adjusted returns for our clients over time or grow our AUM for the purpose of generating additional management fees without regard to whether we believe there are sufficient investment opportunities to effectively deploy the additional capital. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to address such concerns or to convince clients that our decision to pursue this offering will not affect our longstanding priorities or the way we conduct our business. A decision by a significant number of our clients to withdraw capital from our funds, not to commit additional capital to our funds or to cease doing business with us altogether could inhibit our ability to achieve our investment objectives and may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

We depend on a number of key personnel and our ability to retain them and attract additional qualified personnel is critical to our success and our growth prospects.

We depend on the diligence, skill, judgment, reputation and business contacts of our key personnel. Our future success will depend upon our ability to retain our key personnel and our ability to recruit additional qualified personnel. Our key personnel possess substantial experience and expertise in investing, are responsible for locating and executing our funds’ investments, have significant relationships with the institutions which are the source of many of our funds’ investment opportunities and in certain cases have strong relationships with our investors. Therefore, if our key personnel join competitors or form competing companies, it could result in the loss of significant investment opportunities and certain existing investors.

 

19


Table of Contents

We have experienced departures of key investment professionals in the past and will do so in the future. Any of those departures could have a negative impact on our ability to achieve our investment objectives. Indeed, the departure for any reason of any of our most senior professionals, such as Howard Marks or Bruce Karsh, or a significant number of our other investment professionals, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objectives, cause certain of our investors to withdraw capital they invest with us or elect not to commit additional capital to our funds or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business and our prospects. The departure of some or all of those individuals could also trigger certain “key man” provisions in the documentation governing certain of our closed-end funds, which would permit the limited partners of those funds to suspend or terminate the funds’ investment periods or, in the case of our Emerging Market Absolute Return Fund, or EMAR, permit investors to withdraw their capital prior to expiration of the applicable lock-up date. Our key man provisions vary by both strategy and fund and, with respect to each strategy and fund, are tied to multiple individuals, meaning that it would require the departure of more than one individual to trigger the key man provisions. In the event that our key man provisions were triggered for all of our closed-end funds, the investment period for these funds would be terminated, and as of March 31, 2011, this would result in an $18.3 billion decrease in AUM. In addition, if the key man provision for EMAR were triggered, investors in EMAR would be allowed to withdraw all of their capital, which represents 0.8% of our AUM as of March 31, 2011. As a part of our May 2007 Restructuring, our senior employees exchanged their direct or indirect ownership interest in OCM for a new interest in OCGH that vests over time. Eighty percent of these interests have already vested, and the remaining 20% will vest in January 2012. Once the vesting period expires, affected employees may be less motivated to remain at Oaktree.

We anticipate that it will be necessary for us to add investment professionals both to grow our team and to replace those who depart. However, the market for qualified investment professionals is extremely competitive, both in the United States and internationally, and we may not succeed in recruiting additional personnel or we may fail to effectively replace current personnel who depart with qualified or effective successors. Our efforts to retain and attract investment professionals may also result in significant additional expenses, which could adversely affect our profitability or result in an increase in the portion of our incentive income that we grant to our investment professionals.

Our revenues are highly volatile due to the nature of our business, we do not expect steady earnings growth and we do not intend to provide earnings guidance, each of which may cause the value of interests in our business to be variable.

Our revenues are highly volatile, primarily due to the fact that the incentive income we receive from our funds, which accounts for a substantial portion of our income, is highly volatile. In the case of our closed-end funds, our incentive income is recognized only when it is fixed or determinable, which typically occurs in a sporadic and unpredictable fashion. In addition, we are entitled to incentive income (other than tax distributions, which are treated as incentive income) only after all contributed capital and profits representing, typically, an 8% annual preferred return on that capital have been distributed to our funds’ limited partners. In the case of our evergreen funds, we are generally entitled to receive an annual incentive payment based upon the increase in NAV attributable to each limited partner during a particular calendar year, subject to a “high-water mark.” The high-water mark is the highest historical NAV attributable to a limited partner’s account and means we will not earn incentive income from such limited partner for a year if its account’s NAV at the end of the year is lower than any prior year NAV, in all cases excluding any contributions and redemptions for purposes of calculating NAV. With respect to our evergreen funds, incentive income generally becomes payable as of December 31 of each year for limited partners’ accounts that are above the high-water mark. Given that the investments made by our funds may be illiquid or volatile and that our investment results and the pace of realization of our investments will vary from fund to fund and period to period, our incentive income likely will vary materially from year to year.

 

20


Table of Contents

We may also experience fluctuations in our operating results, from quarter to quarter or year to year, due to a host of other factors, including changes in the values of our investments, changes in the amount of distributions from our funds, the pace of raising new funds and liquidation of our old funds, dividends or interest paid in respect of investments, changes in our operating or other expenses, the degree to which we encounter competition and general economic and market conditions. This variability may cause our results for a particular period not to be indicative of our performance in a future period.

As noted above, the timing and amount of incentive income generated by our closed-end funds are uncertain and will contribute to the volatility of our net income. Incentive income depends on our closed-end funds’ investment performance and opportunities for realizing gains, which may be limited. In addition, it takes a substantial period of time to identify attractive investment opportunities, to raise all the funds needed to make an investment and then to realize the cash value of an investment through resale, recapitalization or other exit event. Even if an investment proves to be profitable, it may be several years or longer before those profits can be realized in cash or other manner of payment. We cannot predict when, or if, any realization of investments will occur. If we have a realization event in a particular quarter, it may have a significant impact on our revenues and profits for that particular quarter, which may not be replicated in subsequent quarters.

A small number of our open-end funds also generate performance-based revenues based on their investment returns as compared with a specified market index or other benchmark. As a result, we may not earn a performance fee in a particular period even if the fund had a positive return. The incentive income and performance fee revenues we earn are therefore dependent on, among other factors, the NAV of the fund and, in certain cases, its performance relative to its market, which may lead to volatility in our quarterly or annual financial results.

Finally, we do not plan to provide any guidance regarding our future quarterly or annual financial results.

The historical financial information included in this prospectus is not necessarily indicative of our future performance.

The historical financial information included in this prospectus is not indicative of our future financial results. This financial information does not purport to represent or predict the results of any future periods.

The results of future periods are likely to be materially different as a result of:

 

  Ÿ  

future growth that does not follow our historical trends;

 

  Ÿ  

changes in the economic environment, competitive landscape and financial markets;

 

  Ÿ  

increases in non-cash compensation charges primarily related to the vesting of OCGH units issued after this offering; and

 

  Ÿ  

a provision for corporate income taxes on the income of two of our Intermediate Holding Companies that are taxed as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

21


Table of Contents

Our funds depend on investment cycles and any change in such cycles could have an adverse effect on our investment prospects.

Cyclicality is important to our business. Weak economic environments have tended to afford us our best investment opportunities and our best relative investment performance. For example, the relative performance of our high yield bond strategy has typically been strongest in difficult times when default rates are highest, and our distressed debt and control investing funds have historically found their best investment opportunities during downturns in the economy when credit is not as readily available. Conversely, we tend to realize value from our investments in times of economic expansion, when opportunities to sell investments may be greater. Thus, we depend on the cyclicality of the market in order to sustain our business and generate superior risk-adjusted returns over extended periods. Any prolonged economic expansion or recession could have an adverse impact on certain of our funds and materially affect our ability to deliver superior investment returns or generate incentive or other income.

Our failure to deal appropriately with conflicts of interest could damage our reputation and adversely affect our business.

As we have expanded the number and scope of our strategies, we increasingly confront potential conflicts of interest that we need to manage and resolve. These conflicts take many forms. For example, the investment focus of a number of our funds overlap, meaning that we occasionally confront issues as to how a particular investment opportunity should be allocated. Though we believe we have appropriate means to resolve these conflicts, our judgment on any particular allocation could be challenged—particularly in instances (as is sometimes the case) where the affected funds have different fee structures or our employees have invested more heavily in one fund than another. Additionally, different funds that we manage may invest in different parts of the capital structure of the same company, and thus the interests of two or more funds may be adverse to each other when the company experiences financial distress, undergoes a restructuring or files for bankruptcy. While we have developed general guidelines regarding when two or more funds can invest in different parts of the same company’s capital structure and created a process that we employ to handle such conflicts if they arise, our judgment to permit the investments to occur in the first instance or our judgment on how to minimize the conflict could be challenged. Another example involves our receipt of material non-public information regarding a potential investment. Normally, our receipt of such information restricts all of our investment strategies. Occasionally, one investment group will want to obtain such information, but another will want to remain free to trade the securities of that issuer and will not want to become restricted. In such circumstances, we sometimes have to choose which group’s preference will prevail. In these and other circumstances, we seek to resolve the conflict in good faith and with a view to the best interests of all of our clients, but there can be no assurance that we will make the correct judgment in hindsight or that our judgment will not be questioned or challenged.

Our compliance and legal groups seek to monitor and manage our actual and potential conflicts of interest. We maintain internal controls and various policies and procedures, including oversight, codes of conduct, systems and communication tools to identify, prevent, mitigate or resolve any conflicts of interest that may arise. Our compliance policies and procedures address a variety of regulatory and compliance risks, such as the handling of material non-public information, personal securities trading and the allocation of investment opportunities. Our compliance and legal groups also monitor information barriers that we may establish on a limited basis from time to time between our different investment groups. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is possible that perceived or actual conflicts could give rise to investor dissatisfaction or litigation or regulatory enforcement actions. Appropriately dealing with conflicts of interest is complex and difficult, and any mistake could potentially create liability or damage our reputation. Regulatory scrutiny of, or litigation in connection with, conflicts of interest could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, which in turn could

 

22


Table of Contents

materially adversely affect our business in a number of ways, such as causing investors to redeem their capital (to the degree they have that right), making it harder for us to raise new funds and discouraging others from doing business with us.

The investment management business is intensely competitive.

The investment management business is intensely competitive, with competition based on a variety of factors, including investment performance, the quality of service provided to clients, brand recognition and business reputation. Our investment management business competes for clients, personnel and investment opportunities with a large number of private equity funds, specialized investment funds, hedge funds, corporate buyers, traditional investment managers, commercial banks, investment banks, other investment managers and other financial institutions. Numerous factors serve to increase our competitive risks:

 

  Ÿ  

a number of our competitors have more personnel and greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do;

 

  Ÿ  

many of our competitors have raised, or are expected to raise, significant amounts of capital, and many of them have investment objectives similar to ours, which may create additional competition for investment opportunities and reduce the size and duration of pricing inefficiencies that we seek to exploit;

 

  Ÿ  

some of our competitors have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, which may create competitive disadvantages for us with respect to our funds, particularly our funds that directly use leverage or rely on debt financing of their portfolio companies to generate superior investment returns;

 

  Ÿ  

some of our competitors have higher risk tolerances, different risk assessments or lower return thresholds, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and to bid more aggressively than us for investments;

 

  Ÿ  

our competitors may be able to achieve synergistic cost savings in respect of an investment that we cannot, which may provide them with a competitive advantage in bidding for an investment;

 

  Ÿ  

there are relatively few barriers to entry impeding new investment funds, and the successful efforts of new entrants into our various lines of business, including major commercial and investment banks and other financial institutions, have resulted in increased competition;

 

  Ÿ  

some investors may prefer to invest with an investment manager whose equity securities are not traded on a national securities exchange; and

 

  Ÿ  

other industry participants will from time to time seek to recruit our investment professionals and other employees away from us.

We may find it harder to raise funds, and we may lose investment opportunities in the future, if we do not match the fees, structures and terms offered by competitors to their fund clients. Alternatively, we may experience decreased profitability, rates of return and increased risk of loss if we match the prices, structures and terms offered by competitors. This competitive pressure could adversely affect our ability to make successful investments and limit our ability to raise future funds, either of which would adversely impact our business, revenues, results of operations and cash flow.

 

23


Table of Contents

The increasing number of investment managers dedicated to our markets and the increasing amount of capital available to them have made it more difficult to identify markets in which to invest, and this could lead to a decline in our returns on investments.

The asset management market has grown at a very rapid pace during the last several years, leading to substantial growth in AUM in our industry. Our success in the past has largely been a result of our ability to identify and exploit non-mainstream markets with the potential for attractive returns. Although investment managers worldwide have expanded the range of their investments in terms of transaction sizes, industries and geographical regions, there is a finite number of available investment opportunities at any given time. Particularly in strong economic times, the most attractive opportunities generally are pursued by an increasing number of managers with increasing amounts to invest and, as a result, it is sometimes difficult for us to identify markets that are capable of generating attractive investment returns. If we are unable to identify a sufficient number of attractive investment opportunities in the future, our returns will decline. This development would have an adverse impact on our AUM and on our results of operations.

Poor performance of our funds would cause a decline in our revenues, net income and cash flow and could adversely affect our ability to raise capital for future funds.

When any of our funds perform poorly, either by incurring losses or underperforming benchmarks or our competitors, our investment record suffers. In addition, our incentive income is adversely affected and, all else being equal, the value of our AUM might decrease, resulting in a reduction of our management fees. Moreover, we experience losses on our investments of our own capital as a result of poor investment performance by our funds. If a fund performs poorly, we will receive little or no incentive income with regard to the fund and little income or possibly losses from any principal investment in the fund. Poor performance of our funds could also make it more difficult for us to raise new capital. Investors in our closed-end funds may decline to invest in future closed-end funds we raise, and investors in our open-end and evergreen funds may withdraw their investments in the funds (on specified withdrawal dates) as a result of poor performance. Our investors and potential investors continually assess our funds’ performance independently and relative to market benchmarks and our competitors, and our ability to raise capital for existing and future funds and avoid excessive redemption levels depends on our funds’ performance.

We may not be able to maintain our current fee structure as a result of industry pressure from limited partners to reduce fees, which could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations.

We may not be able to maintain our current fee structure as a result of industry pressure from limited partners to reduce fees. Although our investment management fees vary among and within asset classes, historically we have competed primarily on the basis of our performance and not on the level of our investment management fees relative to those of our competitors. In recent years, however, there has been a general trend toward lower fees in the investment management industry. For example, we reduced our maximum annual management fee for Opps VIII from 1.75% to 1.60%. In order to maintain our fee structure in a competitive environment, we must be able to continue to provide clients with investment returns and service that incentivize our investors to pay our current fee rates. We cannot assure you that we will succeed in providing investment returns and service that will allow us to maintain our current fee structure. Fee reductions on existing or future new business could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations. For more information about our fees see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

24


Table of Contents

We have experienced significant growth in our operations outside the United States, which may place significant demands on our administrative, operational and financial resources.

In recent years, the scope and relative share of our non-U.S. operations have grown significantly. We or our fund affiliates now have offices in 10 cities outside the United States, housing approximately one quarter of our personnel. This rapid growth has placed and may continue to place significant demands on our business infrastructure. Pursuing investment opportunities outside the United States presents challenges not faced by U.S. investments, such as different legal and tax regimes and currency fluctuations, which require additional resources to address. In addition, in conducting business in these jurisdictions, we are often faced with the challenge of ensuring that our activities are consistent with U.S. or other laws with extraterritorial application, such as the USA PATRIOT Act and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Moreover, actively pursuing international investment opportunities may require that we increase the size or number of our international offices. Pursuing non-U.S. clients means that we must comply with international laws governing the sale of interests in our funds, different investor reporting and information processes and other requirements. As a result, we are required to continuously develop our systems and infrastructure in response to the increasing complexity and sophistication of the investment management market and legal, accounting and regulatory situations. Moreover, this growth has required, and will continue to require, us to incur significant additional expenses and to commit additional senior management and operational resources. There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage our expanding international operations effectively or that we will be able to continue to grow this part of our business, and any failure to do so could adversely affect our ability to generate revenues and control our expenses.

We may enter into new lines of business, make strategic investments or acquisitions or enter into joint ventures, each of which may result in additional risks and uncertainties for our business.

Our operating agreement permits us to enter into new lines of business, make future strategic investments or acquisitions and enter into joint ventures. As we have in the past, and subject to market conditions, we may grow our business by increasing AUM in existing investment strategies, pursue new investment strategies, which may be similar or complementary to our existing strategies or be wholly new initiatives, or enter into strategic relationships, such as our current relationship with DoubleLine Capital LP or joint ventures. In addition, opportunities may arise to acquire other alternative or traditional investment managers.

To the extent we make strategic investments or acquisitions, enter into strategic relationships or joint ventures or enter into new lines of business, we will face numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the required investment of capital and other resources and with combining or integrating operational and management systems and controls and managing potential conflicts. Entry into certain lines of business may subject us to new laws and regulations with which we are not familiar, or from which we are currently exempt, and may lead to increased litigation and regulatory risk. If a new business generates insufficient revenues, or produces investment losses, or if we are unable to efficiently manage our expanded operations, our results of operations will be adversely affected, and our reputation and business may be harmed. In the case of joint ventures, we are subject to additional risks and uncertainties in that we may be dependent upon, and subject to liability, losses or reputational damage relating to, systems, controls and personnel that are not under our control.

We may not be successful in expanding into new investment strategies, markets and lines of business.

We actively consider the opportunistic expansion of our business, both geographically and into new investment strategies. Such expansion would result in adding personnel and growing investment

 

25


Table of Contents

teams. We may not be successful in any such attempted expansion. Attempts to expand our business involve a number of special risks, including some or all of the following:

 

  Ÿ  

the diversion of management’s attention from our existing business;

 

  Ÿ  

the disruption of our existing business;

 

  Ÿ  

entry into markets or lines of business in which we may have limited or no experience;

 

  Ÿ  

increasing demands on our operational systems;

 

  Ÿ  

potential increase in investor concentration; and

 

  Ÿ  

increasing the risks associated with conducting operations in foreign jurisdictions.

Because we have not yet identified these potential new investment strategies, geographic markets or lines of business, we cannot identify for you all the risks we may face and the potential adverse consequences on us and your investment that may result from any attempted expansion.

We often pursue investment opportunities that involve business, regulatory, legal or other complexities.

We often pursue unusually complex investment opportunities involving substantial business, regulatory or legal complexity that would deter other investment managers. Our tolerance for complexity presents risks, as such transactions can be more difficult, expensive and time-consuming to finance and execute; it can be more difficult to manage or realize value from the assets acquired in such transactions; and such transactions sometimes entail a higher level of regulatory scrutiny or a greater risk of contingent liabilities. Any of these risks could harm the performance of our funds.

Regulatory changes in the United States, regulatory compliance failures and the effects of negative publicity surrounding the financial industry in general could adversely affect our reputation, business and operations.

Potential regulatory action poses a significant risk to our reputation and our business. Our business is subject to extensive regulation in the United States and in the other countries in which our investment activities occur. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, oversees Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.’s activities as a registered investment adviser under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act. FINRA oversees OCM Investments, LLC’s activities as a registered broker-dealer. In addition, we regularly rely on exemptions from various requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act, and the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA. These exemptions are sometimes highly complex and may in certain circumstances depend on compliance by third parties whom we do not control. If for any reason these exemptions were to be revoked or challenged or otherwise become unavailable to us, we could be subject to regulatory action or third-party claims, and our business could be materially and adversely affected.

Each of the regulatory bodies with jurisdiction over us has regulatory powers dealing with many aspects of financial services, including the authority to grant, and in specific circumstances to cancel, permissions to carry on particular activities. A failure to comply with the obligations imposed by the Advisers Act, including record-keeping, advertising and operating requirements, disclosure obligations and prohibitions on fraudulent activities, could result in investigations, sanctions and reputational damage. We are involved regularly in trading activities which implicate a broad number of U.S. securities law regimes, including laws governing trading on inside information, market manipulation and a broad number of technical trading requirements that implicate fundamental market regulation policies. Violation of these laws could result in severe restrictions on our activities and damage to our reputation.

 

26


Table of Contents

Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in fines, censure, suspensions of personnel or other sanctions, including revocation of the registration of our relevant subsidiary as an investment adviser or registered broker-dealer. The regulations to which our business is subject are designed primarily to protect investors in our funds and to ensure the integrity of the financial markets. They are not designed to protect our Class A unitholders. Even if a sanction imposed against us, one of our subsidiaries or our personnel by a regulator is for a small monetary amount, the adverse publicity related to the sanction could harm our reputation, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business in a number of ways, such as causing investors to redeem their capital (to the degree they have that right), making it harder for us to raise new funds and discouraging others from doing business with us.

Some of our funds invest in businesses that operate in highly regulated industries, including in businesses that are regulated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, U.S. federal and state banking authorities and U.S. state gaming authorities. The regulatory regimes to which such businesses are subject may, among other things, condition our funds’ ability to invest in those businesses upon the satisfaction of applicable ownership restrictions or qualification requirements. Moreover, our failure to obtain or maintain any regulatory approvals necessary for our funds to invest in such industries may disqualify our funds from participating in certain investments or require our funds to divest themselves of certain assets.

As a result of market disruption as well as highly publicized financial scandals, regulators and investors have exhibited concerns over the integrity of the U.S. financial markets, and the business in which we operate both in the United States and outside the United States is likely to be subject to further regulation. In recent years, there has been debate in the United States and abroad about new rules or regulations to be applicable to hedge funds or other alternative investment products and their managers. On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, imposes significant new regulations on nearly every aspect of the U.S. financial services industry, including oversight and regulation of systemic market risk (including the power to liquidate certain institutions); authorizing the Federal Reserve to regulate nonbank institutions; generally prohibiting insured depository institutions and their affiliates from conducting proprietary trading and investing in private equity funds and hedge funds; and imposing new registration, recordkeeping and reporting requirements on private fund investment advisers. Importantly, many key aspects of the changes imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act will be established by various regulatory bodies and other groups over the next several years. Several key terms in the Dodd-Frank Act have been left to regulators to define through rulemaking authority. While we already have one subsidiary registered as an investment adviser subject to SEC examinations and another subsidiary registered as a broker-dealer subject to FINRA examinations, the imposition of any additional legal or regulatory requirements could make compliance more difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct our business and adversely affect our profitability.

For example, subject to a one year phase-in period, the Dodd-Frank Act establishes a ten-member Financial Stability Oversight Council, or the Council, a federal agency chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury, to identify and manage systemic risk in the financial system and improve interagency cooperation. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Council has the authority to review the activities of certain nonbank financial firms engaged in financial activities that are designated as “systemically important,” meaning the distress of the financial firm would threaten the health of the U.S. economy. Though the Federal Reserve Chairman has suggested that it would be rare for an alternative asset management firm to be designated as systemically important, if we were designated as such, it would result in increased regulation of our business, including higher standards regarding capital, leverage, liquidity, risk management, credit exposure reporting and concentration limits, restrictions on acquisitions and annual stress tests by the Federal Reserve. In connection with the Council’s work, on January 26, 2011, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, jointly issued

 

27


Table of Contents

proposed rules that would require investment advisers registered with the SEC that advise one or more private funds to provide certain information to the Council on Form PF about their funds and assets under management, including the amount of borrowings, concentration of ownership and other performance information for purposes of assessing the systemic risk posed by private funds.

In addition, the CFTC has proposed rules that would eliminate certain exemptions from commodity pool operator, or CPO, and commodity trading advisor, or CTA, registration on which we rely in operating our funds. The repeal of these exemptions and the proposed rules are designed to enhance reporting. Becoming subject to the compliance obligations of CPOs and CTAs could result in increased administrative costs and impose additional regulatory, reporting and compliance burdens on our fund-related activities.

The Dodd-Frank Act also requires increased disclosure of executive compensation and provides shareholders of most public companies with the right to vote on an advisory basis on executive compensation. Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act empowers federal regulators to prescribe regulations or guidelines to prohibit any incentive-based payment arrangements that the regulators determine encourage covered financial institutions to take inappropriate risks by providing officers, employees, directors or principal shareholders with excessive compensation or that could lead to a material financial loss by such financial institutions.

It is impossible to determine the extent of the impact on us of the Dodd-Frank Act or any other new laws, regulations or initiatives that may be proposed or whether any of the proposals will become law. Any changes in the regulatory framework applicable to our business, including the changes described above, may impose additional costs on us, require the attention of our senior management or result in limitations on the manner in which we conduct our business. Moreover, as calls for additional regulation have increased, there may be a related increase in regulatory investigations of the trading and other investment activities of alternative asset management funds, including our funds. In addition, we may be adversely affected by changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental authorities and self-regulatory organizations. Compliance with any new laws or regulations could make compliance more difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct our business and adversely affect our profitability.

Regulatory changes in jurisdictions outside the United States could adversely affect our business.

Certain of our subsidiaries operate outside the United States. In the United Kingdom, Oaktree Capital Management Limited is subject to regulation by the U.K. Financial Services Authority, or FSA. In Hong Kong, Oaktree Capital (Hong Kong) Limited is subject to regulation by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. In Singapore, Oaktree Capital Management Pte. Ltd. is subject to regulation by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. In Japan, Oaktree Japan, Inc. is subject to regulation by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau. Our other European and Asian operations and our investment activities worldwide, are subject to a variety of regulatory regimes that vary by country. In addition, we regularly rely on exemptions from various requirements of the regulations of certain foreign countries in conducting our asset management activities.

Each of the regulatory bodies with jurisdiction over us has regulatory powers dealing with many aspects of financial services, including the authority to grant, and in specific circumstances to cancel, permissions to carry on particular activities. We are involved regularly in trading activities that implicate a broad number of foreign (as well as U.S.) securities law regimes, including laws governing trading on inside information and market manipulation and a broad number of technical trading requirements that implicate fundamental market regulation policies. Violation of these laws could result in severe restrictions or prohibitions on our activities and damage to our reputation, which in turn could materially

 

28


Table of Contents

adversely affect our business in a number of ways, such as causing investors to redeem their capital (to the degree they have that right), making it harder for us to raise new funds and discouraging others from doing business with us.

In November 2010, the European Parliament voted to approve the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, or the Directive. The Directive applies to alternative investment fund managers, or AIFMs, established in the European Union, or the EU, which would include our U.K. subsidiary, and to non-EU AIFMs, which would include certain of our non-U.K. subsidiaries, marketing their funds in the EU, subject to certain limited exemptions. Individual EU countries must then implement the Directive into domestic law within two years of publication, meaning that the Directive should come into effect at a national level starting in April 2013. From that date, AIFMs established in the EU will be required to seek authorization from their home regulators. Once authorized, the relevant AIFM can manage and market funds throughout the EU under a pan-European passport. However, the Directive will impose new operating requirements on AIFMs, including, among other things, rules relating to the remuneration of certain personnel, regulatory capital, the use of leverage employed by its fund(s) and the independent valuation of its assets under management. Non-EU AIFMs will not be eligible to apply for authorization under the Directive until at least 2015, and authorization will not be required until at least 2018. Although non-EU AIFMs may be able to continue marketing their funds under national private placement regimes, at least until 2018, those that do will be subject to certain provisions of the Directive. In particular, a non-EU AIFM will have to comply with demanding reporting obligations in relation to non-listed companies in which its fund(s) hold a controlling stake. It must also adhere to limits on the amount of capital that can be distributed by such a company within two years of its acquisition, otherwise called the asset stripping rules. The Directive could have an adverse effect on our business by, among other things, increasing the regulatory burden and costs of doing business in Europe, imposing extensive disclosure obligations on the European portfolio companies of the funds we manage, significantly restricting marketing activities within the EU, potentially requiring changes to our compensation structures for key personnel, thereby affecting our ability to recruit and retain these personnel, and potentially restricting our funds’ ability to make investments in European companies. The Directive could limit our operating flexibility, our ability to market our funds and our fundraising and investment opportunities, as well as expose us to conflicting regulatory requirements in the United States and the EU.

Failure to comply with “pay to play” regulations implemented by the SEC and certain states, and changes to the “pay to play” regulatory regimes, could adversely affect our business.

The SEC and several states have initiated investigations alleging that certain private equity firms and hedge funds or agents acting on their behalf have paid money to current or former government officials or their associates in exchange for improperly soliciting contracts with state pension funds. The SEC has also recently initiated a similar investigation into contracts awarded by sovereign wealth funds. In June 2010, the SEC approved Rule 206(4)-5 under the Advisers Act regarding “pay to play” practices by investment advisers involving campaign contributions and other payments to government officials able to exert influence on potential government entity clients. Among other restrictions, the rule prohibits investment advisers from providing advisory services for compensation to a government entity for two years, subject to very limited exceptions, after the investment adviser, its senior executives or its personnel involved in soliciting investments from government entities make contributions to certain candidates and officials in a position to influence the hiring of an investment adviser by such government entity. Advisers are required to implement compliance policies designed, among other matters, to track contributions by certain of the adviser’s employees and engagements of third parties that solicit government entities and to keep certain records in order to enable the SEC to determine compliance with the rule. Additionally, California enacted legislation in September 2010, that requires placement agents (including in certain cases employees of investment managers) who solicit funds from California state retirement systems, such as the California Public Employees’ Retirement System

 

29


Table of Contents

and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, to register as lobbyists, thereby becoming subject to increased reporting requirements and prohibited from receiving contingent compensation for soliciting investments from California state retirement systems. There has also been similar rule-making in New York. Such investigations may require the attention of senior management and may result in fines if any of our funds are deemed to have violated any regulations, thereby imposing additional expenses on us. Any failure on our part to comply with these rules could cause us to lose compensation for our advisory services or expose us to significant penalties and reputational damage.

Our participation in the Public-Private Investment Program could adversely affect our business, operations and reputation because of the increased regulation, compliance requirements and public exposure that such participation entails.

On March 23, 2009, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, or UST, in conjunction with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve, announced the Public-Private Investment Program, or the PPIP. The PPIP is a part of the UST Financial Stability Plan, which was announced on February 10, 2009. The Financial Stability Plan outlined a broad approach to address the problem of troubled real estate-related assets via the formation of Public-Private Investment Funds, or PPIFs. In July 2009, we were pre-qualified by the UST to manage a PPIF. Participation in the PPIP entails increased levels of oversight of our business, and specifically of our PPIF, by the UST, the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or SIGTARP, and the Government Accountability Office, or GAO. Additionally, our PPIF is subject to a number of reporting obligations with respect to various types of information that need to be delivered to the UST, SIGTARP and the GAO, and our PPIF is also required to comply with additional conflicts of interest policies for PPIF managers that will govern certain of our affiliates and their interaction with the UST and SIGTARP. As a result of the heightened scrutiny and additional regulations from these government agencies, we face an increased risk of governmental involvement and intervention in our business that may affect or impede the manner in which we conduct our business. Furthermore, complying with the PPIP’s reporting requirements and additional conflicts of interest policies requires a significant amount of attention and time to be spent by our personnel, which may adversely impact our ability to manage our business. A material violation of these requirements could damage our reputation and constitute grounds for removing us as the manager of the PPIF. As a participant in a government-sponsored program, we run the risk that we may become the target of adverse publicity or become subject to adverse Congressional or administrative action. Any alleged violation or contravention of the terms and policies of PPIP brought by UST or SIGTARP against us could result in severe restrictions on our activities, adversely affect our profitability or damage our reputation.

The requirements of being a public company and sustaining growth may strain our resources.

Following this offering, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These requirements may strain our systems and resources. The Exchange Act will require that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act will require that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting, which are discussed below. In order to maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, significant resources and management oversight will be required. We will be implementing additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the standards and requirements applicable to public companies. In addition, sustaining our growth will also require us to commit additional management, operational and financial resources to identify new professionals to join the firm and to maintain appropriate operational and financial systems to adequately support expansion. These activities may divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We will also incur costs that we have not previously incurred as

 

30


Table of Contents

part of our compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules of the SEC and New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, including hiring additional accounting, legal and administrative personnel and various other costs related to being a public company.

We are subject to substantial litigation risks and may face significant liabilities and damage to our professional reputation as a result.

In recent years, the volume of claims and amount of damages claimed in litigation and regulatory proceedings against investment managers have been increasing. We make investment decisions on behalf of our clients that could result in substantial losses. This may subject us to the risk of legal liabilities or actions alleging negligent misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty or breach of contract. Further, we may be subject to third-party litigation arising from allegations that we improperly exercised control or influence over portfolio investments. In addition, we and our affiliates that are the investment managers and general partners of our funds, our funds themselves and those of our employees who are our, our subsidiaries’ or the funds’ officers and directors are each exposed to the risks of litigation specific to the funds’ investment activities and portfolio companies and, in the case where our funds own controlling interests in public companies, to the risk of shareholder litigation by the public companies’ other shareholders. Moreover, we are exposed to risks of litigation or investigation by investors or regulators relating to our having engaged, or our funds having engaged, in transactions that presented conflicts of interest that were not properly addressed. Substantial legal liability could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations or cause significant reputational harm to us, which could seriously harm our business. We depend to a large extent on our business relationships and our reputation for integrity and high-caliber professional services to attract and retain investors. As a result, allegations of improper conduct by private litigants or regulators, whether the ultimate outcome is favorable or unfavorable to us, as well as negative publicity and press speculation about us, our investment activities or the investment industry in general, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation, which may be more damaging to our business than to other types of businesses.

Employee misconduct, which is difficult to detect and deter, could harm us by impairing our ability to attract and retain clients and subject us to significant legal liability and reputational harm.

There have been a number of highly publicized cases involving fraud or other misconduct by employees in the financial services industry, and there is a risk that our employees could engage in misconduct that adversely affects our business. We are subject to a number of obligations and standards arising from our investment management business and our authority over the assets we manage. The violation of any of these obligations or standards by any of our employees could adversely affect our clients and us. Our business often requires that we deal with confidential matters of great significance to companies in which we may invest or to our advisory clients. If our employees improperly use or disclose confidential information, we could be subject to regulatory sanctions and suffer serious harm to our reputation, financial position and current and future business relationships. It is not always possible to deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent this activity may not be effective in all cases. If our employees engage in misconduct, or if they are accused of misconduct, our business and our reputation could be adversely affected.

Operational risks may disrupt our business, result in losses or limit our growth.

We rely heavily on our financial, accounting and other data processing systems. If any of these systems do not operate properly or are disabled, we could suffer financial loss, a disruption of our business, liability to our funds, regulatory intervention or reputational damage.

In addition, we operate in a business that is highly dependent on information systems and technology. Our information systems and technology may not continue to be able to accommodate our

 

31


Table of Contents

growth, particularly our growth internationally, and the cost of maintaining the systems may increase from its current level. Such a failure to accommodate growth, or an increase in costs related to the information systems, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Furthermore, we depend on our headquarters in Los Angeles, where a substantial portion of our personnel are located, for the continued operation of our business. An earthquake or other disaster or a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our business, including a disruption involving electronic communications or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business, or directly affecting our headquarters, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to continue to operate our business without interruption. Our disaster recovery programs may not be sufficient to mitigate the harm that may result from such a disaster or disruption. In addition, insurance and other safeguards might only partially reimburse us for our losses, if at all.

Finally, we rely on third-party service providers for certain aspects of our business, including software vendors for portfolio management and accounting software, outside financial institutions for back office processing and custody of securities and third-party broker-dealers for the execution of trades. Any interruption or deterioration in the performance of these third parties or failures of their information systems and technology could impair the quality of the funds’ operations and could impact our reputation and hence adversely affect our business.

We are subject to risks in using prime brokers, custodians, counterparties, administrators and other agents.

Many of our funds depend on the services of prime brokers, custodians, counterparties, administrators and other agents to carry out certain securities and derivatives transactions. The terms of these contracts are often customized and complex, and many of these arrangements occur in markets or relate to products that are not subject to regulatory oversight, although proposed rules under the Dodd-Frank Act intend to place some regulations on derivative transactions. In particular, some of our funds utilize prime brokerage arrangements with a relatively limited number of counterparties, which has the effect of concentrating the transaction volume (and related counterparty default risk) of these funds with these counterparties.

Our funds are subject to the risk that the counterparty to one or more of these contracts defaults, either voluntarily or involuntarily, on its performance under the contract. Any such default may occur suddenly and without notice to us. Moreover, if a counterparty defaults, we may be unable to take action to cover our exposure, either because we lack the contractual ability or because market conditions make it difficult to take effective action. This inability could occur in times of market stress, which are precisely the times when defaults may be most likely to occur.

In addition, our risk-management models may not accurately anticipate the impact of market stress or counterparty financial condition, and as a result, we may not take sufficient action to reduce our risks effectively. Default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect, foresee or evaluate. In addition, concerns about, or a default by, one large participant could lead to significant liquidity problems for other participants, which may in turn expose us to significant losses.

In the event of a counterparty default, particularly a default by a major investment bank, one or more of our funds could incur material losses, and the resulting market impact of a major counterparty default could harm our business, results of operation and financial condition.

In the event of the insolvency of a prime broker, custodian, counterparty or any other party that is holding assets of our funds as collateral, our funds might not be able to recover equivalent assets in full as they will rank among the prime broker’s, custodian’s or counterparty’s unsecured creditors in

 

32


Table of Contents

relation to the assets held as collateral. In addition, our funds’ cash held with a prime broker, custodian or counterparty will not be segregated from the prime broker’s, custodian’s or counterparty’s own cash, and the funds will therefore rank as unsecured creditors in relation thereto.

The counterparty risks that we face have increased in complexity and magnitude as a result of the recent disruption in the financial markets and weakening or insolvency of a number of major financial institutions (such as AIG and Lehman Brothers) who serve as counterparties for derivative contracts and other financial instruments. For example, the consolidation and elimination of counterparties has increased our concentration of counterparty risk and decreased the universe of potential counterparties, and our funds are generally not restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty or from concentrating any or all of their transactions with one counterparty. In addition, counterparties have generally reacted to the ongoing market volatility by tightening their underwriting standards and increasing their margin requirements for all categories of financing, which has the result of decreasing the overall amount of leverage available and increasing the costs of borrowing.

Risks Relating to Our Funds

Our results of operations are dependent on the performance of our funds. Poor fund performance will result in reduced revenues. Poor performance of our funds will also make it difficult for us to retain and attract investors to our funds, to retain and attract qualified professionals and to grow our business. The performance of each fund we manage is subject to some or all of the following risks.

The historical returns attributable to our funds should not be considered indicative of the future results of our funds or of our future results or of any returns expected on an investment in our Class A units.

The historical returns attributable to our funds should not be considered indicative of the future results of our funds, nor are they directly linked to returns on our Class A units. Therefore, Class A unitholders should not conclude that positive performance of our funds will necessarily result in positive returns on an investment in our Class A units. However, poor performance of the funds we manage will cause a decline in our revenues and would therefore have a negative effect on our operating results and returns on our Class A units.

Moreover, with respect to the historical returns of our funds:

 

  Ÿ  

the rates of return of our closed-end funds reflect unrealized gains as of the applicable measurement date that may never be realized, which may result in a lower internal rate of return, or IRR, and ultimate return for some closed-end funds from those presented in this prospectus;

 

  Ÿ  

our funds’ returns have previously benefited from investment opportunities and general market conditions that may not repeat themselves, and there can be no assurance that our current or future funds will be able to avail themselves of profitable investment opportunities; and

 

  Ÿ  

any material increase in the size of our funds could result in materially different rates of returns.

In addition, future returns will be affected by the applicable risks described elsewhere in this prospectus.

Investors in some of our funds may be unable to fulfill their capital commitment obligations, and such failure could have an adverse effect on the affected funds.

Investors in our closed-end funds make capital commitments that we are entitled to call from those investors at any time during certain prescribed periods. We depend on investors fulfilling and

 

33


Table of Contents

honoring their commitments when we call capital from them in order for our closed-end funds to consummate investments and otherwise pay their obligations when due. Any investor that does not fund a capital call is subject to having a meaningful amount of its existing capital account forfeited in that fund. However, if investors were to fail to honor a significant amount of capital calls for any particular fund or funds, the affected funds’ ability to make new or follow-on investments, and to otherwise satisfy their liabilities when due, could be materially and adversely affected.

Certain of our funds invest in relatively high-risk, illiquid, non-publicly traded assets, and we may fail to realize any profits from these activities ever or for a considerable period of time.

Our closed-end funds often invest in securities that are not publicly traded. In many cases, our funds may be prohibited by contract or by applicable securities laws from selling these securities for a period of time. Our funds generally cannot sell these securities publicly unless either their sale is registered under applicable securities laws or an exemption from registration is available. The ability of many of our funds, particularly our control investing funds, to dispose of investments is heavily dependent on the public equity markets. For example, the ability to realize any value from an investment may depend upon the ability to complete an initial public offering of the portfolio company in which the investment is held. Even if securities are publicly traded, large holdings of securities often can be sold only over a substantial length of time, exposing investment returns to risks of downward movement in market prices.

We make distressed debt investments that involve significant risks and potential additional liabilities.

Our distressed debt funds and certain of our control investing funds invest in obligors and issuers with weak financial conditions, poor operating results, substantial financing needs, negative net worth or significant competitive issues. These funds also invest in obligors and issuers that are involved in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings. In these situations, it may be difficult to obtain full information as to the exact financial and operating conditions of these obligors and issuers. Furthermore, some of our funds’ distressed debt investments may not be widely traded or may have no recognized market. Depending on the specific fund’s investment profile, a fund’s exposure to the investments may be substantial in relation to the market for those investments, and the acquired assets are likely to be illiquid and difficult to transfer. As a result, it may take a number of years for the market value of the investments to ultimately reflect their intrinsic value as we perceive it.

A central strategy of our distressed debt funds is to anticipate the occurrence of certain corporate events, such as debt or equity offerings, restructurings, reorganizations, mergers, takeover offers and other transactions. If the relevant corporate event that we anticipate is delayed, changed or never completed, the market price and value of the applicable fund’s investment could decline sharply.

In addition, these investments could subject a fund to certain potential additional liabilities that may exceed the value of its original investment. Under certain circumstances, payments or distributions on certain investments may be reclaimed if any such payment or distribution is later determined to have been a fraudulent conveyance, a preferential payment or similar transaction under applicable bankruptcy and insolvency laws. In addition, under certain circumstances, a lender that has inappropriately exercised control of the management and policies of a debtor may have its claims subordinated or disallowed or may be found liable for damages suffered by parties as a result of such actions. In the case where the investment in securities of troubled companies is made in connection with an attempt to influence a restructuring proposal or plan of reorganization in bankruptcy, the fund may become involved in substantial litigation.

 

34


Table of Contents

Certain of our funds are subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code, and our business could be adversely affected if certain of our other funds fail to satisfy an exemption under the “plan assets” regulation under ERISA.

Some of our funds are subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. For example, we currently manage some of our distressed debt funds and open-end funds as “plan assets” under ERISA. With respect to these funds, this results in the application of the fiduciary responsibility standards of ERISA to investments made by such funds, including the requirement of investment prudence and diversification, and the possibility that certain transactions that we enter into, or may have entered into, on behalf of these funds, in the ordinary course of business, might constitute or result in non-exempt prohibited transactions under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. A non-exempt prohibited transaction, in addition to imposing potential liability upon fiduciaries of an ERISA plan, may also result in the imposition of an excise tax under the Code upon a “party in interest” (as defined in ERISA) or “disqualified person” (as defined in the Code) with whom we engaged in the transaction. Some of our other funds currently qualify as venture capital operating companies, or VCOCs, or rely on another exception under ERISA, and therefore are not subject to the fiduciary requirements of ERISA with respect to their assets. However, if these funds fail to satisfy the VCOC requirements for any reason, including an amendment of the relevant regulations by the U.S. Department of Labor, or another exception under ERISA, such failure could materially interfere with our activities in relation to these funds or expose us to risks related to our failure to comply with the requirements.

Poor investment performance during periods of adverse market conditions may result in relatively high levels of investor redemptions, which can exacerbate the liquidity pressures on the affected funds, force the sale of assets at distressed prices or reduce the funds’ returns.

Poor investment performance during periods of adverse market conditions, together with investors’ increased need for liquidity given the state of the credit markets, can prompt relatively high levels of investor redemptions at times when many funds may not have sufficient liquidity to satisfy some or all of their investor redemption requests. During times when market conditions are deteriorating, many funds may face additional redemption requests, which will exacerbate the liquidity pressures on the affected funds. If they cannot satisfy their current and future redemption requests, they may be forced to sell assets at distressed prices or cease operations. Various measures taken by funds to improve their liquidity profiles (such as the implementation of “gates” or the suspension of redemptions, which we had implemented for three of our evergreen funds in 2008) that reduce the amounts that would otherwise be paid out in response to redemption requests may have the affect of incentivizing investors to “gross up” or increase the size of the future redemption requests they make, thereby exacerbating the cycle of redemptions. The liquidity issues for such funds are often further exacerbated by their fee structures, as a decrease in NAV decreases their management fees.

Certain of our funds have agreements that create debt or debt-like obligations with one or more counterparties. Such agreements in many instances contain covenants or “triggers” that require the fund to maintain a certain level of NAV over certain testing periods or to post additional margin on a daily basis when prices of our funds’ derivative contracts move against the fund. In addition, there may be guidelines in total return swap facilities that require reference obligations to be above a certain price level. Decreases in such funds’ NAV (whether due to performance, redemption or both) that breach such covenants, the failure to make any margin calls or meaningful decreases in the price of loans or securities that may result in defaults under such agreements and such defaults could permit the counterparties to take various actions that would be adverse to the funds, including terminating the financing arrangements, increasing the amount of margin or collateral that the funds are required to post (so-called “supercollateralization” requirements) or decreasing the aggregate amount of leverage

 

35


Table of Contents

that such counterparty is willing to provide to our funds. In particular, many such covenants to which our funds are party are designed to protect against sudden and pronounced drops in NAV over specified periods, so if our open-end or evergreen funds were to receive larger-than-anticipated redemption requests during a period of poor performance, such covenants may be breached. Defaults under any such covenants would likely result in the affected funds being forced to sell financed assets (which sales would likely occur in suboptimal or distressed market conditions) or being forced to restructure a swap facility with more onerous terms or otherwise raise cash by reducing other leverage, which would reduce the funds’ returns and our opportunities to produce incentive and investment income from the affected funds.

Valuation methodologies for certain assets in our funds can be subject to significant subjectivity, and the values of assets established pursuant to the methodologies may never be realized.

Our funds make investments for which market quotations are not readily available. We are required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, to make good faith determinations as to the fair value of these investments on a quarterly basis in connection with the preparation of our funds’ financial statements.

There is no single standard for determining fair value in good faith. The types of factors that may be considered when determining the fair value of an investment in a particular company include acquisition price of the investment, discounted cash flow valuations, historical and projected operational and financial results for the company, the strengths and weaknesses of the company relative to its comparable companies, industry trends, general economic and market conditions, information with respect to offers for the investment, the size of the investment (and any associated control) and other factors deemed relevant. Fair values may also be assessed based on the enterprise value of a company established using a market multiple approach that is based on a specific financial measure (such as EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, net income, book value or net asset value) or, in some cases, a cost basis or a discounted cash flow or liquidation analysis. Because valuations, and in particular valuations of investments for which market quotations are not readily available, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have resulted if a ready market had existed. Even if market quotations are available for our investments, the quotations may not reflect the value that we would actually be able to realize because of various factors, including the possible illiquidity associated with a large ownership position, subsequent illiquidity in the market for a company’s securities, future market price volatility or the potential for a future loss in market value based on poor industry conditions or the market’s view of overall company and management performance.

Because there is significant uncertainty in the valuation of, or in the stability of the value of, illiquid investments, the fair values of such investments as reflected in a fund’s NAV do not necessarily reflect the prices that would actually be obtained by us on behalf of the fund when such investments are sold. Sales at values significantly lower than the values at which investments have previously been reflected in a fund’s NAV may result in losses for the applicable fund, a decline in management fees and the loss of incentive income that may have been accrued by the applicable fund. Changes in values attributed to investments from quarter to quarter may result in volatility in the NAV and results of operations that we report. Also, a situation where a fund’s NAV turns out to be materially different from the NAV previously reported for the fund could cause investors to lose confidence in us, which could in turn result in difficulty in raising additional funds or investors requesting redemptions from certain of our funds.

 

36


Table of Contents

We make investments in companies that are based outside the United States, which exposes us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in companies that are based in the United States.

Many of our funds invest a portion of their assets in the equity, debt, loans or other securities of issuers located outside the United States, while certain of our funds invest substantially all of their assets in these types of securities. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain factors not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities, including risks relating to:

 

  Ÿ  

currency exchange matters, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates and costs associated with conversion of investment principal and income from one currency into another;

 

  Ÿ  

less developed or less efficient financial markets than exist in the United States, which may lead to price volatility and relative illiquidity;

 

  Ÿ  

the absence of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements and less government supervision and regulation;

 

  Ÿ  

differences in legal and regulatory environments, particularly with respect to bankruptcy and reorganization;

 

  Ÿ  

less publicly available information in respect of companies in non-U.S. markets;

 

  Ÿ  

certain economic and political risks, including potential exchange control regulations and restrictions on our non-U.S. investments and repatriation of capital, potential political, economic or social instability, the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation and adverse economic and political developments; and

 

  Ÿ  

the possible imposition of non-U.S. taxes or withholding on income and gains recognized with respect to the securities.

There can be no assurance that adverse developments with respect to these risks will not adversely affect our funds that invest in securities of non-U.S. issuers.

Certain of our funds and all of our separate account agreements contain provisions that allow investors to withdraw their capital.

Our separate account agreements generally can be terminated upon notice of 30 days or less. Similarly, our commingled open-end funds permit the withdrawal of capital by our investors during certain open periods that generally occur on the first business day of each calendar month. Our active evergreen funds have withdrawal rights that, depending on the specific fund, can be exercised in intervals ranging from three months to three years. Any significant number of terminations or withdrawals could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We have made and expect to continue to make significant principal investments in our current and future funds, and we may lose money on some or all of our investments.

Since our inception in 1995, we have increased the minimum level of our principal investments in our closed-end and evergreen funds from 0.2% of the fund’s aggregate committed capital to 1.0% starting with funds that held their initial closings in late 1998, to 2.0% starting with funds that held their initial closings in mid-2004. Subsequent to the 2007 Private Offering, we decided to further increase our principal investments in such funds that have initial closings after May 2007 to the greater of 2.5% of the funds’ aggregate committed capital or $20 million. Although we are not limited in the amount we choose to invest, in 2009 we decided that we will generally not invest more than $100 million in any one fund. We expect to continue to make significant principal investments in our funds and may

 

37


Table of Contents

choose to increase the percentage amount we invest at any time. Contributing capital to these funds is risky, and we may lose some or all of the principal amount of our investments. Any such loss could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our funds make investments in companies that we do not control.

Investments by many of our funds include debt instruments and equity securities of companies that we do not control. These instruments and securities may be acquired by our funds through trading activities or through purchases of securities from the issuer. In addition, our control investing funds may acquire minority equity interests and may also dispose of a portion of their majority equity investments in portfolio companies over time in a manner that results in the funds retaining a minority investment. Those investments will be subject to the risk that the company in which the investment is made may make business, financial or management decisions with which we do not agree or that the majority stakeholders or the management of the company may take risks or otherwise act in a manner that does not serve our interests. If any of the foregoing were to occur, the values of the investments held by our funds could decrease and our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow could suffer as a result.

Investments by our funds will in many cases rank junior to investments made by others.

In many cases, the companies in which our funds invest have indebtedness or equity securities, or may be permitted to incur indebtedness or to issue equity securities, that rank senior to our investment. By their terms, these instruments may provide that their holders are entitled to receive payments of dividends, interest or principal on or before the dates on which payments are to be made in respect of our investment. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a company in which we hold an investment, holders of securities ranking senior to our investment would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before distributions could be made in respect of our investment. After repaying senior security holders, the company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying amounts owed in respect of our investment. To the extent that any assets remain, holders of claims that rank equally with our investment would be entitled to share on an equal and ratable basis in distributions that are made out of those assets. Also, during periods of financial distress or following an insolvency, the ability of our funds to influence a company’s affairs and to take actions to protect their investment may be substantially less than that of those holding senior interests.

The due diligence process that we undertake in connection with investments by some of our funds may not reveal all facts that may be relevant in connection with an investment.

Before making investments in companies that we expect to control, we undertake a due diligence investigation of the target company. In conducting these investigations, we may be required to evaluate important and complex business, financial, tax, accounting, environmental and legal issues. Outside consultants, legal advisers, accountants and investment banks are often involved in the due diligence process in varying degrees depending on the type of investment. Nevertheless, the due diligence investigation that we carry out with respect to an investment opportunity may not reveal or highlight all relevant facts that may be necessary or helpful in evaluating the investment opportunity. Moreover, such an investigation will not necessarily result in the investment being successful.

Market values of publicly traded securities that are held as investments may be volatile.

The market prices of publicly traded securities held by some of our funds may be volatile and are likely to fluctuate due to a number of factors beyond our control, including actual or anticipated

 

38


Table of Contents

changes in the profitability of the issuers of such securities, general economic, social or political developments, changes in industry conditions, changes in government regulation, shortfalls in operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts, the general state of the securities markets and other material events, such as significant management changes, financings, refinancings, securities issuances, acquisitions and dispositions. Changes in the values of these investments may adversely affect our investment performance and our results of operations.

Volatility in the structured credit, leveraged loan and high yield bond markets may adversely affect the companies in which our funds are invested.

To the extent that companies in which our funds invest participate in the structured credit, leveraged loan and high yield bond markets, the results of their operations may suffer if such markets experience dislocations, illiquidity and volatility. In addition, to the extent that such marketplace events continue (or even worsen), this may have an adverse impact on the availability of credit to businesses generally and could lead to an overall weakening of the U.S. and global economies. Any continuing economic downturn could adversely affect the financial resources of our funds’ investments (in particular those investments that depend on credit from third parties or that otherwise participate in the credit markets) and their ability to make principal and interest payments on, or refinance, outstanding debt when due. In the event of such defaults, our funds could lose both invested capital in, and anticipated profits from, the affected portfolio companies.

We enter into a significant number of side letter agreements with limited partners of certain of our funds, and the terms of these agreements could expose the general partners of the funds to additional risks and liabilities.

We regularly enter into side letter agreements with particular limited partners in the course of raising our funds. These side letters typically afford the affected limited partners assurance with respect to particular aspects of the operation of the fund. Given that these assurances often elaborate upon the provisions of the relevant fund’s partnership agreement, our affiliates could be exposed to additional risks, liabilities and obligations not contemplated in our funds’ partnership agreements.

Our funds may invest in companies that are highly leveraged, a fact that may increase the risk of loss associated with the investments.

Our funds may invest in companies whose capital structures involve significant leverage. These investments are inherently more sensitive to declines in revenues and to increases in expenses and interest rates. The leveraged capital structure of these companies increases the exposure of our funds to adverse economic factors such as downturns in the economy or deterioration in the condition of the portfolio company or its industry. Additionally, the securities acquired by our funds may be the most junior in what could be a complex capital structure, and thus subject us to the greatest risk of loss.

The use of leverage by our funds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operation and cash flow.

Some of our funds use leverage (including through swaps and other derivatives) as part of their respective investment programs and may borrow a substantial amount of capital. The use of leverage poses a significant degree of risk and can enhance the magnitude of a significant loss in the value of the investment portfolio. The interest expense and other costs incurred in connection with such leverage may not be recovered by the appreciation in the value of any associated securities or bank debt, and will be lost – and the timing and magnitude of such losses may be accelerated or exacerbated – in the event of a decline in the market value of such securities or bank debt. In addition,

 

39


Table of Contents

such funds may be subject to margin calls in the event of a decline in the value of the posted collateral. Any of the foregoing circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

Changes in the debt financing markets may negatively impact the ability of our funds and their portfolio companies to obtain attractive financing for their investments and may increase the cost of such financing if it is obtained, leading to lower-yielding investments and potentially decreasing our incentive income and investment income.

The markets for debt financing remain contracted. Large commercial banks, which have traditionally provided such financing, have demanded higher interest rates, more restrictive covenants and generally more onerous terms (including posting additional collateral) in order to provide financing and in some cases are refusing to provide any financing that would have been readily obtained under credit conditions present several years ago.

If our funds are unable to obtain committed debt financing or can only obtain debt at an increased interest rate, such funds’ investment activities may be restricted and their profits may be lower than they would otherwise have achieved, either of which could lead to a decrease in the incentive and investment income earned by us. Similarly, the portfolio companies owned by our funds regularly utilize the corporate debt markets to obtain efficient financing for their operations. To the extent that the current credit markets have rendered such financing difficult or more expensive to obtain, the operating performance of those portfolio companies and therefore the investment returns on our funds may be negatively impacted. In addition, to the extent that the current markets make it difficult or impossible to refinance debt that is maturing in the near term, the relevant portfolio company may be unable to repay such debt at maturity and may be forced to sell assets, undergo a recapitalization or seek bankruptcy protection. Any of the foregoing circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

Our funds may face risks relating to undiversified investments.

We cannot give assurance as to the degree of diversification that will be achieved in any fund investments. Difficult market conditions or slowdowns affecting a particular asset class, geographic region or other category of investment could have a significant adverse impact on a fund if its investments are concentrated in that area, which would result in lower investment returns. Accordingly, a lack of diversification on the part of a fund could adversely affect a fund’s performance and, as a result, our financial condition and results of operations.

Risk management activities may adversely affect the returns on our funds’ investments.

When managing our exposure to market risks, we may (on our own behalf or on behalf of our funds) from time to time use forward contracts, options, swaps, caps, collars and floors or pursue other strategies or use other forms of derivative instruments to limit our exposure to changes in the relative values of investments that may result from market developments, including changes in prevailing interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodity prices. The success of any hedging or other derivative transactions generally will depend on our ability to correctly predict market changes, the degree of correlation between price movements of a derivative instrument and the position being hedged, the creditworthiness of the counterparty and other factors. As a result, while we may enter into a transaction in order to reduce our exposure to market risks, the transaction may result in poorer overall investment performance than if it had not been executed. Such transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of a hedged position increases.

 

40


Table of Contents

The hedging of currency risk exposes our funds to other risks.

Although it is impossible to hedge against all currency risk, certain of our funds enter into hedging transactions in order to reduce the substantial effects of currency fluctuations on our cash flow and financial condition. These instruments may include foreign currency forward contracts, currency swap agreements and currency option contracts. Certain of our funds have entered into, and expect to continue to enter into, such hedging arrangements. While such hedging arrangements may reduce certain risks, such arrangements themselves may entail certain other risks. These arrangements may require the posting of cash collateral at a time when a fund has insufficient cash or illiquid assets such that the posting of the cash is either impossible or requires the sale of assets at prices that do not reflect their underlying value. Moreover, these hedging arrangements may generate significant transaction costs that reduce the returns generated by a fund. Thus, while our funds may benefit from the use of these hedging arrangements, changes in currency exchange rates (particularly unanticipated or significant changes) may result in poorer overall performance for those funds that hedge than if they had not entered into such hedging arrangements. Those funds are also exposed to the risk that their counterparties to hedging contracts will default on their obligations.

Risks Relating to Our Class A Units and This Offering

The large number of Class A units eligible for public sale could depress the market price of our Class A units.

The market price of our Class A units could decline as a result of sales of a large number of our Class A units in the market after this offering, and the perception that these sales could occur may also depress the market price of our Class A units. Based on              Class A units outstanding as of                     , 2011, we will have              Class A units outstanding after this offering (or              Class A units if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional units). This number includes all of the Class A units that are being sold in this offering, which may be resold immediately in the public market, unless they are held by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Holders of              Class A units that are traded on the GSTrUE OTC market have executed lock-up agreements with the underwriters pursuant to which they have agreed not to dispose of or hedge any Class A units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A units or substantially similar securities, referred to collectively as the restricted securities, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through (1) with respect to all of such Class A unitholders’ restricted securities not sold in this offering, the date that is 60 days after the date of this prospectus and (2) solely with respect to one half of such Class A unitholder’s restricted securities not sold in this offering, the date that is 120 days after the date of this prospectus, in each case, without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. Among other customary exceptions, the restrictions on transfer described above are subject to exceptions that permit a Class A unitholder to transfer its Class A units:

 

  Ÿ  

if such Class A units were acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering;

 

  Ÿ  

to us;

 

  Ÿ  

following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for Class A units that is subject to the provisions of the Exchange Act by a third party not affiliated with us; or

 

  Ÿ  

in connection with any acquisition, sale or merger of us with an unaffiliated third party in which all of the holders of Class A units are entitled to participate.

 

41


Table of Contents

In addition, our directors and executive officers (which includes our principals), other employees and certain other investors hold Oaktree Operating Group units through OCGH and, subject to certain restrictions, have the right to require OCGH to exchange their Oaktree Operating Group units for Class A units in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Exchange Agreement.” Our directors and executive officers also hold a small number of Class A units. Our directors and executive officers have executed lock-up agreements with the underwriters pursuant to which each has agreed not to dispose of or hedge any of such OCGH units, any Class A units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such OCGH units or Class A units or substantially similar securities, or to exercise their rights to exchange their Oaktree Operating Group units for Class A units, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date that is 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. Among other customary exceptions, these restrictions on transfer described above are subject to exceptions that permit a Class A unitholder to transfer Class A units:

 

  Ÿ  

if such Class A units were acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering, provided that such transactions do not require a public filing;

 

  Ÿ  

to us, provided that such transactions do not require a public filing;

 

  Ÿ  

following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for Class A units that is subject to the provisions of the Exchange Act by a third party not affiliated with us; or

 

  Ÿ  

in connection with any acquisition, sale or merger of us with an unaffiliated third party in which all of the holders of Class A units are entitled to participate.

With respect to all other holders of OCGH units, we and OCGH have agreed with the underwriters not to permit any disposition of any OCGH units owned by such holders, or any exchange of OCGH units owned by them into Class A units, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date that is 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. The foregoing restrictions on transfer and exchange are subject to customary exceptions.

Each of the restricted periods described in the preceding three paragraphs will be automatically extended if: (1) during the last 17 days of such restricted period, we issue an earnings release or announce material news or a material event; or (2) prior to the expiration of such restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 15-day period following the last day of such period, in which case the restrictions for such period described in the preceding paragraphs will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release of the announcement of the material news or material event.

In addition to the lock-up arrangements with the underwriters described above, pursuant to an amendment to our operating agreement adopted in connection with this offering, all holders of Class A units that are traded on the GSTrUE OTC market that have not executed a lock-up agreement with the underwriters described above are prohibited from transferring such Class A units during the period from the date of the prospectus continuing through the date 120 days after the date of this prospectus; provided, however that the foregoing restrictions do not apply to any Class A units acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering.

Lastly, following the 180-day period described above, each of our directors, officers and other employees may be permitted to transfer up to one third of their then-vested holdings during each successive 12-month period; provided, however, that our Chairman may be permitted to sell up to an additional 15% of his holdings during the first 24-month period.

 

42


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth the number of Class A units and the applicable date that they will be available for sale into the public market:

 

Date Available for Sale into Public Markets

   Number of
Class A Units

On the date of this prospectus (after giving effect to this offering)

  

Beginning 60 days (subject to extension) after the date of this prospectus

  

Beginning 120 days (subject to extension) after the date of this prospectus

  

At various times beginning 180 days after the date of this prospectus

  

Sales of our Class A units as restrictions end may make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. These sales also could cause the price of our Class A units to fall and make it more difficult for you to sell Class A units held by you.

We also may issue our Class A units from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. If any such acquisition or investment is significant, the number of Class A units that we issue may in turn be significant. In addition, we may also grant registration rights covering Class A units issued in connection with any such acquisitions and investments.

There is no existing public market for our Class A units, and we do not know if one will develop, which could impede the ability of our Class A unitholders to sell their Class A units and depress the market price of our Class A units.

Prior to this offering, our Class A units have traded on a private over-the-counter market for Tradable Unregistered Equity Securities developed by Goldman, Sachs & Co., referred to as the GSTrUE OTC market, and, as such, there has not been a public market for our Class A units. There has not been an active trading market for any meaningful volume of our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will lead to the development of an active trading market on the NYSE or otherwise or how liquid that market might become. If an active trading market does not develop, our Class A unitholders may have difficulty selling their Class A units. The initial public offering price for our Class A units will be determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following the offering. See “Underwriting.” Consequently, our Class A unitholders may not be able to sell our Class A units at prices equal to or greater than the price they paid in the offering.

The market price and trading volume of our Class A units has been and may continue to be volatile, which could result in rapid and substantial losses for our Class A unitholders.

Our Class A units have historically traded on the GSTrUE OTC market under the ticker symbol “OAKTRZ.” Our Class A units began trading on May 22, 2007. The GSTrUE OTC market is limited to institutional investors who are both qualified purchasers (as such term is defined for purposes of the Investment Company Act) and qualified institutional buyers (as such term is defined for purposes of the Securities Act). Prior to the completion of this offering, we will cease all trading on the GSTrUE OTC market.

During the period beginning on January 1, 2009 and ending on July 29, 2011, the trading price of our Class A units ranged between $12.50 and $52.00 per unit. However, historically, there has not been an active trading market for our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market and only a limited number of investors have registered to participate on the GSTrUE OTC market. Moreover, the trading volume for our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market has historically been limited, and during some periods, nonexistent. As a result, historical prices of our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market may not be indicative of our trading prices or volatility of our Class A units in the future.

 

43


Table of Contents

Even if an active U.S. trading market for our Class A units develops upon the completion of this offering, the market price of our Class A units may be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations. In addition, the trading volume in our Class A units may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. If the market price of our Class A units declines significantly, you may be unable to sell your Class A units at an attractive price, if at all. The market price of our Class A units may fluctuate or decline significantly in the future. Some of the factors that could negatively affect the price of our Class A units or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our Class A units include:

 

  Ÿ  

variations in our quarterly operating results or distributions, which may be substantial;

 

  Ÿ  

our policy of taking a long-term perspective on making investment, operational and strategic decisions, which is expected to result in significant and unpredictable variations in our quarterly returns;

 

  Ÿ  

failure to meet analysts’ earnings estimates;

 

  Ÿ  

publication of research reports about us or the investment management industry or the failure of securities analysts to cover our Class A units after this offering;

 

  Ÿ  

additions or departures of key management personnel;

 

  Ÿ  

adverse market reaction to any indebtedness we may incur or securities we may issue in the future;

 

  Ÿ  

changes in market valuations of similar companies;

 

  Ÿ  

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

  Ÿ  

changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations or differing interpretations thereof affecting our business or enforcement of these laws and regulations or announcements relating to these matters;

 

  Ÿ  

a lack of liquidity in the trading of our Class A units;

 

  Ÿ  

adverse publicity about the asset management industry generally or individual scandals, specifically; and

 

  Ÿ  

general market and economic conditions.

We have not previously been required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

We have not previously been required to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including the internal control evaluation and certification requirements of Section 404 of that statute, and we will not be required to comply with all of those requirements until after we have been subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for a specified period of time. Accordingly, we do not have in place internal controls over financial reporting systems that comply with Section 404. The internal control evaluation required by Section 404 will divert internal resources and will take a significant amount of time, effort and expense to complete. If it is determined that we are not in compliance with Section 404, we will be required to implement remedial procedures and re-evaluate our internal control over financial reporting. We will experience higher than anticipated operating expenses as well as higher independent auditor and consulting fees during the implementation of these changes and thereafter. Further, we may need to hire additional qualified personnel in order for us to comply with Section 404. If we are unable to implement any necessary changes effectively or efficiently, our operations, financial reporting or financial results could be adversely affected, and we could obtain an adverse report on internal controls from our independent registered public accountants. In particular, if we are not able to implement the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or with

 

44


Table of Contents

adequate compliance, our independent registered public accountants may not be able to certify as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Matters impacting our internal controls may cause us to be unable to report our financial information on a timely basis and thereby subject us to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions by the SEC, or violations of applicable stock exchange listing rules. There could also be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of investor confidence in us and the reliability of our financial statements. Confidence in the reliability of our financial statements is also likely to suffer if our independent registered public accounting firm reports a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. This could materially adversely affect us and lead to a decline in the market price of our units.

The tax attributes of our Class A Units may cause mutual funds to limit or reduce their holdings of Class A Units.

U.S. mutual funds that are treated as regulated investment companies, or RICs, for U.S. federal income tax purposes are required, among other things, to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to their shareholders in order to maintain their favorable U.S. income tax status. RICs are required to meet this distribution requirement regardless of whether their investments generate cash distributions equal to their taxable income. Accordingly, these investors have a strong incentive to invest in securities in which the amount of cash generated approximates the amount of taxable income recognized. Our Class A unitholders, however, are frequently allocated an amount of taxable income that exceeds the amount of cash we distribute to them. This may make it difficult for RICs to maintain a meaningful portion of their portfolio in our Class A units and may force those RICs that do hold our Class A units to sell all or a portion of their holdings. These actions could increase the supply of, and reduce the demand for, our Class A units, which could cause the price of our Class A units to decline.

The market price of our Class A units may decline due to the large number of Class A units eligible for future issuance upon the exchange of OCGH units.

In connection with the consummation of our May 2007 Restructuring, each of our owners prior to the May 2007 Restructuring exchanged his, her or its interests in our business for units in OCGH. Subject to certain restrictions, each holder of units in OCGH has the right to exchange his or her vested units for Oaktree Operating Group units and, in turn, for Class A units. The Class A units issued upon such exchanges would be “restricted securities,” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, unless we register such issuances. Eighty percent of the units in OCGH that our employees received through the May 2007 Restructuring have already vested and the remaining 20% will vest on January 2, 2012. Vested units are subject to a lock-up that expires on July 10 of the year that such units vest. The units in OCGH held by certain institutional investors that owned interests in OCM prior to the 2007 Private Offering are fully vested but are subject to a five-year lock-up that is released 20% per year beginning July 10, 2008. In addition, the OCGH units that we grant under our 2007 Oaktree Capital Group Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, contain vesting provisions, the length of which has been and will continue to be determined by us at our discretion. OCGH units granted under the plan on or prior to January 2008 are also subject to a lock-up that expires slightly over six months after the date that such units vest. Accordingly, subject to the other lock-up and transfer restriction arrangements described under “Description of Our Units” and “Units Eligible For Future Sale” 98,188,936 Class A units will be available to be sold by December 31, 2011 and a substantial number of additional units are expected to be available to be sold in the future by the OCGH unitholders. OCGH has the right to waive such vesting and lock-up periods in its discretion at any time.

The market price of our Class A units could decline as a result of sales of a large number of Class A units issuable upon exchange of OCGH units. These sales, or the possibility that these sales

 

45


Table of Contents

may occur, may also make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

Additional issuances of units under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan may dilute the holdings of our existing unitholders, reduce the market price of our Class A units or both. Additionally, our operating agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional units and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to such units for consideration or for no consideration and on terms and conditions established by our board of directors in its sole discretion without the approval of Class A unitholders. These additional securities may be used for a variety of purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards and, as a result, will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.

Because our principals will continue to own units representing more than 50% of our voting power after giving effect to this offering, we will be considered a “controlled company” for the purposes of the NYSE listing requirements. As such, we may elect not to comply with certain NYSE corporate governance requirements which may include one or more of the following: that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors, that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities and that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities. In addition, we will not be required to hold annual meetings of our unitholders. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. See “Management—Controlled Company Exemption.”

We cannot assure you that our intended quarterly distributions will be paid each quarter or at all.

We intend to distribute substantially all of our excess cash flow, as determined by our board of directors after taking into account factors it deems relevant, such as, but not limited to, working capital levels, known or anticipated cash needs, business and investment opportunities, general economic and business conditions, our obligations under our debt instruments or other agreements, our compliance with applicable laws, the level and character of taxable income that flows through to our Class A unitholders, the availability and terms of outside financing, the possible repurchase of our Class A units in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, providing for future distributions to our Class A unitholders and growing our capital base. We are not currently restricted by any contract from making distributions to our unitholders, although certain of our subsidiaries are bound by credit agreements that contain certain restricted payment or other covenants, which may have the effect of limiting the amount of distributions that we receive from our subsidiaries. In addition, we are not permitted to make a distribution under Section 18-607 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act if, after giving effect to the distribution, our liabilities would exceed the fair value of our assets.

Distributions to our Class A unitholders will be funded by our share of the Oaktree Operating Group’s distributions. To measure our cash flow for purposes of, among other things, determining distributions from the Oaktree Operating Group entities to us, we utilize adjusted operating cash flow, or AOCF. AOCF is a non-GAAP measure of our segment’s liquidity and differs from cash provided by (used in) operations as determined by GAAP in that it: (1) reverses cash flow from the operating

 

46


Table of Contents

activities of OCG, the Intermediate Holding Companies, the consolidated funds and the impact of consolidating eliminations; (2) reverses cash flows resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities of the Oaktree Operating Group, such as timing differences related to the recognition and receipt of incentive income from evergreen funds and those related to quarterly bonus expense accruals; and (3) treats as a source of cash the portion of fund distributions to us that represents realization of investment income. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, our AOCF was $383.6 million, $413.8 million and $632.9 million, respectively, from which we made distributions to our Class A and Class C unitholders in the aggregate of $30.4 million, $14.8 million and $49.2 million, respectively. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Adjusted Operating Cash Flow” for a reconciliation of AOCF to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities.

The declaration, payment and determination of the amount of our quarterly distribution, if any, will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, who may change our distribution policy at any time. Our operating agreement provides that so long as our principals, or their successors or affiliated entities (other than us or our subsidiaries), including OCGH, collectively hold, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of the aggregate outstanding Oaktree Operating Group units, our manager, which is 100% owned by our principals, will be entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors. As a result, Class A unitholders will not have the power to elect the board of directors as long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied. Moreover, our board of directors may have interests that conflict with the interests of the Class A unitholders because the members of the board of directors and the persons that control our manager do not hold their economic interests in the Oaktree Operating Group through OCG. We cannot assure you that any distributions, whether quarterly or otherwise, will or can be paid.

If we reduce or cease to make distributions on our Class A units, the value of our Class A units may significantly decrease.

Risks Relating to Our Organization and Structure

If we or any of our funds were deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business or such funds as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

A person will generally be deemed to be an “investment company” for purposes of the Investment Company Act if:

 

  Ÿ  

it is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities; or

 

  Ÿ  

absent an applicable exemption, it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.

Our principals’ control of our manager and of the combined voting power of our units and certain provisions of our operating agreement could delay or prevent a change of control.

As of the date of this prospectus, our principals control 98.23% of the combined voting power of our units through their control of OCGH and have the ability to determine the compensation of our board of directors through their control of our manager. Our principals are able to appoint and remove our directors and change the size of our board of directors, are able to determine the outcome of all matters requiring unitholder approval, are able to cause or prevent a change of control of our company and can preclude any unsolicited acquisition of our company. In addition, provisions in our operating agreement make it more difficult and expensive for a third party to acquire control of us even if a

 

47


Table of Contents

change of control would be beneficial to the interests of our Class A unitholders. For example, our operating agreement provides that only our board of directors may call meetings and authorizes the issuance of preferred units in us that could be issued by our board of directors to thwart a takeover attempt. The control of our manager and voting power by our principals and these provisions of our operating agreement could delay or prevent a change of control and thereby deprive Class A unitholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their Class A units as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our Class A units.

Our principals and executive officers do not hold their economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group through us, which may give rise to conflicts of interest, and it will be difficult for a Class A unitholder to successfully challenge a resolution of a conflict of interest by us.

As of the date of this prospectus, our principals are entitled to approximately 50.05% of the economic returns of the Oaktree Operating Group. Because they do not hold this economic interest through us, our principals may have interests that conflict with those of the holders of Class A units. For example, our principals may have different tax positions from us, which could influence their decisions regarding whether and when to dispose of assets and whether and when to incur new or refinance existing indebtedness, especially in light of the existence of the tax receivable agreement. In addition, the structuring of future transactions may take into consideration the principals’ and employees’ tax considerations even where no similar benefit would accrue to us and the Class A unitholders.

Any resolution or course of action taken by our directors or their affiliates with respect to an existing or potential conflict of interest involving OCGH, our directors or their respective affiliates is permitted and deemed approved by the Class A unitholders and does not constitute a breach of our operating agreement or any duty (including any fiduciary duty) if the course of action is (1) approved by the vote of unitholders representing a majority of the total votes that may be cast by disinterested parties, (2) on terms no less favorable to us, our subsidiaries or our unitholders than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties, (3) fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships among the parties involved, or (4) approved by a majority of our directors who are not employees of us, our subsidiaries or any of our affiliates controlled by our principals, who we refer to as our “outside directors.” If our board of directors determines that any resolution or course of action satisfies either (2) or (3) above, then it will be presumed that such determination was made in good faith and a Class A unitholder seeking to challenge our directors’ determination would bear the burden of overcoming such presumption. This is different from the situation with Delaware corporations, where a conflict resolution by an interested party would be presumed to be unfair and the interested party would have the burden of demonstrating that the resolution was fair.

As noted above, if our board of directors obtains the approval of a majority of our outside directors for any given action, the resolution will be conclusively deemed not a breach by our board of directors of any duties it may owe to us or our Class A unitholders. This is different from the situation with Delaware corporations, where the approval of outside directors may, in certain circumstances, merely shift the burden of demonstrating unfairness to the plaintiff. Potential conflicts of interest may be resolved by our outside directors even if they hold interests in us or our funds or are otherwise affected by the decision or action that they are approving. If an investor chooses to purchase a Class A unit, it will be treated as having consented to the provisions set forth in our operating agreement, including provisions regarding conflicts of interest situations that, in the absence of such provisions, might be considered a breach of fiduciary or other duties under applicable state law. As a result, Class A unitholders will, as a practical matter, not be able to successfully challenge an informed decision by our outside directors.

 

48


Table of Contents

Our operating agreement contains provisions that substantially limit remedies available to our Class A unitholders for actions that might otherwise result in liability for our officers, directors, manager or Class B unitholder.

While our operating agreement provides that our officers and directors have fiduciary duties equivalent to those applicable to officers and directors of a Delaware corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, the agreement also provides that our officers and directors are liable to us or our unitholders for an act or omission only if such act or omission constitutes a breach of the duties owed to us or our unitholders, as applicable, by any such officer or director and such breach is the result of willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of law, in each case, that has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on us or fraud. Moreover, we have agreed to indemnify each of our directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with our approval and counsel fees and disbursements) arising from the performance of any of their obligations or duties in connection with their service to us, including in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding to which any such person may be made party by reason of being or having been one of our directors or officers, except for any expenses or liabilities that have been finally judicially determined to have arisen primarily from acts or omissions that violated the standard set forth in the preceding sentence. Furthermore, our operating agreement provides that OCGH will not have any liability to us or our other unitholders for any act or omission and is indemnified in connection therewith.

Our manager, whose only role is to appoint members of our board of directors so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied, does not owe any duties to us or our Class A unitholders. We have agreed to indemnify our manager in the same manner as our directors and officers described above.

Under our operating agreement, we, our board of directors or our manager are entitled to take actions or make decisions in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or that it deem “necessary or appropriate” or “necessary or advisable.” In those circumstances, we, our board of directors or our manager are entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including our own or our directors’ interests, and neither it nor our board of directors have any duty or obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting us or any Class A unitholders, and neither we nor our board of directors will be subject to any different standards imposed by our operating agreement, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, or the Act, or under any other law, rule or regulation or in equity, except that we must act in good faith at all times. These modifications of fiduciary duties are expressly permitted by Delaware law. These modifications are detrimental to the Class A unitholders because they restrict the remedies available to Class A unitholders for actions that without those limitations might constitute breaches of duty (including fiduciary duty).

The control of our manager may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.

Our manager may transfer its manager interest to a third party in a merger or consolidation, in a transfer of all or substantially all of its assets or otherwise without the consent of our unitholders. Furthermore, our principals may sell or transfer all or part of their interests in our manager without the approval of our unitholders. A new manager could have a different investment philosophy or use its control of our board of directors to make changes to our business that materially affect our funds, our results of operations or our financial condition.

 

49


Table of Contents

Our ability to make distributions to our Class A unitholders may be limited by our holding company structure, applicable provisions of Delaware law, contractual restrictions and the terms of any senior securities we may issue in the future.

We are a limited liability holding company and have no material assets other than the ownership of our interests in the Oaktree Operating Group held through the Intermediate Holding Companies. We have no independent means of generating revenues. Accordingly, to the extent we decide to make distributions to our Class A unitholders, we will cause the Oaktree Operating Group to make distributions to its unitholders, including the Intermediate Holding Companies, to fund any distributions we may declare on the Class A units. When the Oaktree Operating Group makes such distributions, all holders of Oaktree Operating Group units are entitled to receive pro rata distributions based on their ownership interests in the Oaktree Operating Group.

The declaration and payment of any future distributions will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, and we may at any time modify our approach with respect to the proper metric for determining cash flow available for distribution. Our board of directors will take into account factors it deems relevant, such as, but not limited to, working capital levels, known or anticipated cash needs, business and investment opportunities, general economic and business conditions, our obligations under our debt instruments or other agreements, our compliance with applicable laws, the level and character of taxable income that flows through to our Class A unitholders, the availability and terms of outside financing, the possible repurchase of our Class A units in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, providing for future distributions to our Class A unitholders and growing our capital base. Under the Act, we may not make a distribution to a member if after the distribution all our liabilities, other than liabilities to members on account of their limited liability company interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the limited liability company, would exceed the fair value of our assets. If we were to make such an impermissible distribution, any member who received a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Act would be liable to us for three years for the amount of the distribution. In addition, the Oaktree Operating Group’s cash flow may be insufficient to enable it to make required minimum tax distributions to holders of its units, in which case the Oaktree Operating Group may have to borrow funds or sell assets and thus our liquidity and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Our operating agreement contains provisions authorizing the issuance of preferred units in us by our board of directors at any time without unitholder approval.

Furthermore, by paying cash distributions rather than investing that cash in our business, we risk slowing the pace of our growth, or not having a sufficient amount of cash to fund our operations, new investments or unanticipated capital expenditures, should the need arise.

We are required to pay the OCGH unitholders for most of the tax benefits we realize as a result of the tax basis step-up we receive in connection with the sales by the OCGH unitholders of interests held in the Oaktree Operating Group.

Subject to certain restrictions, each OCGH unitholder has the right to exchange his or her vested OCGH units for Oaktree Operating Group units. In the event of an exchange, our Intermediate Holding Companies will deliver Class A units, on a one-for-one basis, or an equivalent amount of cash in exchange for the applicable OCGH unitholder’s Oaktree Operating Group units pursuant to an exchange agreement. These exchanges are expected to result in increases in the tax depreciation and amortization deductions, as well as an increase in the tax basis of other assets, of certain of the Oaktree Operating Group entities that otherwise would not have been available. These increases in tax depreciation and amortization deductions, as well as the tax basis of other assets, may reduce the amount of tax that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. would otherwise be required

 

50


Table of Contents

to pay in the future, although the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, may challenge all or part of the increased deductions and tax basis increase, and a court could sustain such a challenge.

Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. have entered into a tax receivable agreement with the OCGH unitholders that provides for the payment by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. to the OCGH unitholders of 85% of the amount of tax savings, if any, that they actually realize (or are deemed to realize in the case of an early termination payment by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. or a change of control, as discussed below) as a result of these increases in tax deductions and tax basis of entities owned by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. The payments that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. may make to the OCGH unitholders could be material in amount.

Although we are not aware of any issue that would cause the IRS to challenge a tax basis increase, the OCGH unitholders will not reimburse Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. for any payments that have been previously made under the tax receivable agreement. As a result, in certain circumstances, payments could be made to the OCGH unitholders under the tax receivable agreement in excess of Oaktree Holdings, Inc.’s and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.’s cash tax savings. Their ability to achieve benefits from any tax basis increase, and the payments to be made under the tax receivable agreement, will depend upon a number of factors, including the timing and amount of our future income.

In addition, the tax receivable agreement provides that, upon a merger, asset sale or other form of business combination or certain other changes of control, Oaktree Holdings, Inc.’s and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.’s (or their successors’) obligations with respect to exchanged units (whether exchanged before or after the change of control) would be based on certain assumptions, including that they would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the deductions arising from the increased tax deductions and tax basis and other benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement.

Risks Relating to United States Taxation

Our structure involves complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available and is subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative change and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis.

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of Class A unitholders depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. Our Class A unitholders should be aware that the U.S. federal income tax rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process, the IRS and UST, frequently resulting in revised interpretations of established concepts, statutory changes, revisions to regulations and other modifications and interpretations. The IRS pays close attention to the proper application of tax laws to partnerships. The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our Class A units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time, and any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made. Changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the qualifying income exception for us to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is not taxable as a corporation, cause us to change our investments and commitments, affect the tax considerations of an investment in us and adversely affect an investment in our Class A units. For example, the U.S. Congress recently considered various legislative proposals to treat all or part of the capital gain and dividend income that is recognized by an investment partnership and allocable to a partner affiliated with the sponsor of the partnership (i.e., a portion of the incentive income) as ordinary income to such partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “—The U.S. Congress has considered legislation that would have taxed certain income

 

51


Table of Contents

and gains at increased rates and may have precluded us from qualifying as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. If any similar legislation were to be enacted and apply to us, the after-tax income and gain related to our business, as well as the market price of our Class A units, could be reduced.”

Our operating agreement permits our board of directors to modify our operating agreement from time to time, without the consent of our Class A unitholders, to address certain changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation. In some circumstances, the revisions could have a material adverse impact on some or all Class A unitholders. Moreover, we apply certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with applicable rules and to report income, gain, deduction, loss and credit to Class A unitholders in a manner that reflects such Class A unitholders’ beneficial ownership of partnership items, taking into account variation in ownership interests during each taxable year because of trading activity. However, those assumptions and conventions may not be in compliance with all aspects of applicable tax requirements. It is possible that the IRS will assert successfully that the conventions and assumptions used by us do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code or UST regulations and could require that items of income, gain, deductions, loss or credit, including interest deductions, be adjusted, reallocated or disallowed in a manner that adversely affects Class A unitholders.

If we were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax or state tax purposes, then our distributions to our Class A unitholders would be substantially reduced and the value of our Class A units would be adversely affected.

The value of our Class A unitholders’ investment in us depends to a significant extent on our being treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which requires that 90% or more of our gross income for every taxable year consist of qualifying income, as defined in Section 7704 of the Code, and that we not be required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. Qualifying income generally includes dividends, interest, capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks and securities and certain other forms of investment income. We may not meet these requirements or current law may change so as to cause us, in either event, to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject to U.S. federal income tax. Moreover, the anticipated after-tax benefit of an investment in our Class A units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, a ruling from the IRS on this or any other matter affecting us.

If we were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate. Distributions to Class A unitholders would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses, deductions or credits would flow through to them. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our distributions to Class A unitholders would be substantially reduced, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our Class A units.

Current law may change, causing us to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal or state income tax purposes or otherwise subjecting us to entity-level taxation. See “—The U.S. Congress has considered legislation that would have taxed certain income and gains at increased rates and may have precluded us from qualifying as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. If any similar legislation were to be enacted and apply to us, the after-tax income and gain related to our business, as well as the market price of our Class A units, could be reduced.” For example, certain states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. If any state were to impose a tax upon us as an entity, our distributions to our Class A unitholders would be reduced.

 

52


Table of Contents

Our Class A unitholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their share of our taxable income, regardless of whether they receive any cash distributions from us.

As long as 90% of our gross income for each taxable year constitutes qualifying income as defined in Section 7704 of the Code and we are not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act on a continuing basis, and assuming there is no change in law (see “—The U.S. Congress has considered legislation that would have taxed certain income and gains at increased rates and may have precluded us from qualifying as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. If any similar legislation were to be enacted and apply to us, the after-tax income and gain related to our business, as well as the market price of our Class A units, could be reduced.”), we will be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a partnership and not as an association or a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation. As a result, our Class A unitholders may be subject to U.S. federal, state, local and possibly, in some cases, foreign income taxation on their allocable share of our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit (including our allocable share of those items of any entity in which we invest that is treated as a partnership or is otherwise subject to tax on a flow-through basis) for each of our taxable years ending with or within their taxable year, regardless of whether or not our Class A unitholders receive cash distributions from us.

Our Class A unitholders may not receive cash distributions equal to their allocable share of our net taxable income or even the tax liability that results from that income. In addition, certain of our holdings, including holdings, if any, in a controlled foreign corporation, or CFC, and a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, may produce taxable income prior to the receipt of cash relating to such income, and Class A unitholders may be required to take that income into account in determining their taxable income. In the event of an inadvertent termination of our partnership status, for which limited relief may be available, each holder of our Class A units may be obligated to make such adjustments as the IRS may require to maintain our status as a partnership. These adjustments may require persons holding our Class A units to recognize additional amounts in income during the years in which they hold such units.

A portion of our interest in the Oaktree Operating Group is held through Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., which are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and may be liable for significant taxes that could potentially adversely affect the value of our Class A units.

In light of the publicly traded partnership rules under U.S. federal income tax law and other requirements, we hold a portion of our interest in the Oaktree Operating Group through Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., which are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. could be liable for significant U.S. federal income taxes and applicable state, local and other taxes that would not otherwise be incurred, which could adversely affect the value of our Class A units. Those additional taxes did not apply to the OCGH unitholders in OCM’s organizational structure in effect before the 2007 Private Offering and do not apply to the OCGH unitholders following the 2007 Private Offering to the extent they own equity interests in the Oaktree Operating Group entities through OCGH.

The U.S. Congress has considered legislation that would have taxed certain income and gains at increased rates and may have precluded us from qualifying as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. If any similar legislation were to be enacted and apply to us, the after-tax income and gain related to our business, as well as the market price of our Class A units, could be reduced.

Over the past several years, a number of legislative and administrative proposals have been introduced and, in certain cases, have been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Most recently, the U.S. House of Representatives on May 28, 2010 passed legislation that would have, in

 

53


Table of Contents

general, treated income and gains, including gain on sale, attributable to an interest in an investment services partnership interest, or ISPI, as income subject to a new blended tax rate that is higher than under current law, except to the extent such ISPI would have been considered under the legislation to be a qualified capital interest. Your interest in us, our interest in Oaktree Holdings, LLC and the interests that Oaktree Holdings, LLC holds in entities that are entitled to receive incentive income may have been classified as ISPIs for purposes of this legislation. The U.S. Senate considered but did not pass similar legislation. It is unclear when or whether the U.S. Congress will reconsider similar legislation or what provisions will be included in any legislation, if enacted.

The House bill provided that, for taxable years beginning ten years after the date of enactment, income derived with respect to an ISPI that is not a qualified capital interest and that is subject to the rules discussed above would not meet the qualifying income requirements under the publicly traded partnership rules. Therefore, if similar legislation is enacted, following such ten-year period, we would be precluded from qualifying as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or be required to hold all such ISPIs through corporations, possibly U.S. corporations. If we were taxed as a U.S. corporation or required to hold all ISPIs through corporations, our effective income tax rate would increase significantly. The federal statutory rate for corporations is currently 35%. In addition, we could be subject to increased state and local taxes. Furthermore, you could be subject to tax on our conversion into a corporation or any restructuring required in order for us to hold our ISPIs through a corporation.

The Obama administration has indicated it supports the adoption of legislation that similarly changes the treatment of incentive income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In its published revenue proposal for 2012, the Obama administration proposes that the current law regarding the treatment of incentive income be changed for periods after December 31, 2011 to subject such income to ordinary income tax (which is taxed at a higher rate than the proposed blended tax rate under the House legislation). The Obama administration’s published revenue proposals for 2010 and 2011 contained similar proposals.

States and other jurisdictions have also considered legislation to increase taxes with respect to incentive income. For example, New York recently considered legislation under which you could be subject to New York state income tax on income in respect of our Class A units as a result of certain activities of our affiliates in New York. This legislation would have been retroactive to January 1, 2010. It is unclear when or whether similar legislation will be enacted.

Complying with certain tax-related requirements may cause us to invest through foreign or domestic corporations subject to corporate income tax or enter into acquisitions, borrowings, financings or arrangements we may not have otherwise entered into.

In order for us to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and not as an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, we must meet the qualifying income exception discussed above on a continuing basis and we must not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. In order to effect such treatment, we (or our subsidiaries) may be required to invest through foreign or domestic corporations subject to corporate income tax or enter into acquisitions, borrowings, financings or other transactions we may not have otherwise entered into. This may adversely affect our ability to operate solely to maximize our cash flow.

Taxable gain or loss on disposition of our Class A units could be more or less than expected.

If a unitholder sells its Class A units, it will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the adjusted tax basis in those Class A units. Prior distributions to

 

54


Table of Contents

such unitholder in excess of the total net taxable income allocated to it, which decreased the tax basis in its Class A units, will in effect become taxable income to such unitholder if the Class A units are sold at a price greater than its tax basis in those Class A units, even if the price is less than the original cost. A substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be ordinary income to such selling unitholder.

We may hold or acquire certain investments through entities classified as a PFIC or CFC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Certain of our funds’ investments may be in foreign corporations or may be acquired through a foreign subsidiary that would be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such an entity may be a PFIC or a CFC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Class A unitholders indirectly owning an interest in a PFIC or a CFC may experience adverse U.S. tax consequences. For example, a portion of the amount a unitholder realizes on a sale of their Class A units may be recharacterized as ordinary income. In addition, Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. is treated as a CFC for U.S. tax purposes, and, as such, each Class A unitholder that is a U.S. person is required to include in income its allocable share of Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.’s “Subpart F” income reported by us.

Non-U.S. persons face unique U.S. tax issues from owning Class A units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.

We intend to use reasonable efforts to structure our investments in a manner such that non-U.S. holders do not incur income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, or ECI, with respect to an investment in our Class A units. However, we may invest in flow-through entities that are engaged in a U.S. trade or business and, in such case, we and non-U.S. holders of Class A units would be treated as being engaged in a U.S. trade or business for U.S. federal income tax purposes, even if we do not recognize ECI from such investments. Current UST regulations provide that non-U.S. holders that are deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business are required to file a U.S. federal income tax return even if such holders do not recognize any ECI. In addition, although we intend to take the position that income allocated to us from our investments is not ECI, if the IRS successfully challenged certain of our methods of allocation of income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is possible non-U.S. holders could recognize ECI with respect to their investment in our Class A units.

To the extent our income is treated as ECI, non-U.S. holders generally would be subject to withholding tax on their allocable shares of such income, would be required to file U.S. federal income tax returns for such year reporting their allocable shares of income effectively connected with such trade or business and any other income treated as ECI and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular U.S. tax rates on any such income (state and local income taxes and filings may also apply in that event). Non-U.S. holders that are corporations may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax on their allocable share of such income. In addition, certain income from U.S. sources that is not ECI allocable to non-U.S. holders will be reduced by withholding taxes imposed at the highest effective applicable tax rate. A portion of any gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder on the sale or exchange of Class A units could also be treated as ECI.

Tax-exempt entities face unique tax issues from owning Class A units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.

In light of our intended investment activities, we may derive income that constitutes unrelated business taxable income, or UBTI. Consequently, a holder of Class A units that is a tax-exempt organization may be subject to unrelated business income tax to the extent that its allocable share of our income consists of UBTI. A tax-exempt partner of a partnership could be treated as earning UBTI if

 

55


Table of Contents

the partnership regularly engages in a trade or business that is unrelated to the exempt function of the tax-exempt partner, if the partnership derives income from debt-financed property or if the partnership interest itself is debt-financed.

We will adopt certain income tax accounting positions that may not conform with all aspects of applicable tax requirements. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our Class A units.

We will adopt depreciation, amortization and other tax accounting positions that may not conform with all aspects of existing UST regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to our Class A unitholders. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain on the sale of Class A units and could have a negative impact on the value of our Class A units or result in audits of and adjustments to our Class A unitholders’ tax returns.

The sale or exchange of 50% or more of our capital and profit interests will result in the termination of our partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We will be considered to have been terminated for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. Our termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all Class A unitholders and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income.

Class A unitholders may be subject to foreign, state and local taxes and return filing requirements as a result of investing in our Class A units.

In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, our Class A unitholders may be subject to other taxes, including foreign, state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property now or in the future, even if our Class A unitholders do not reside in any of those jurisdictions. Our Class A unitholders may be required to file foreign, state and local income tax returns and pay foreign, state and local income taxes in some or all of these jurisdictions. Furthermore, Class A unitholders may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. It is the responsibility of each Class A unitholder to file all U.S. federal, foreign, state and local tax returns that may be required of such Class A unitholder.

Although we expect to provide estimates by February 28 of each year, we do not expect to be able to furnish definitive Schedule K-1s to IRS Form 1065 to each unitholder prior to the deadline for filing U.S. income tax returns, which means that holders of Class A units who are U.S. taxpayers may want to file annually a request for an extension of the due date of their income tax returns.

It may require a substantial period of time after the end of our fiscal year to obtain the requisite information from all lower-tier entities to enable us to prepare and deliver Schedule K-1s to IRS Form 1065. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we expect to provide estimates of such tax information (including a Class A unitholder’s allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding year) by February 28 of the year following each year; however, there is no assurance that the Schedule K-1s, which will be provided after the estimates, will be the same as our estimates. For this reason, holders of Class A units who are U.S. taxpayers may want to file with the IRS (and certain states) a request for an extension past the due date of their income tax returns.

 

56


Table of Contents

Tax consequences to the OCGH unitholders may give rise to conflicts of interests.

As a result of an unrealized built-in gain attributable to the value of our assets held by the Oaktree Operating Group entities at the time of the 2007 Private Offering and unrealized built-in gain attributable to OCGH at the time of this offering, upon the taxable sale, refinancing or disposition of the assets owned by the Oaktree Operating Group entities, the OCGH unitholders may incur different and significantly greater tax liabilities as a result of the disproportionately greater allocations of items of taxable income and gain to the OCGH unitholders upon a realization event. As the OCGH unitholders will not receive a corresponding greater distribution of cash proceeds, they may, subject to applicable fiduciary or contractual duties, have different objectives regarding the appropriate pricing, timing and other material terms of any sale, refinancing or disposition, or whether to sell such assets at all. Decisions made with respect to an acceleration or deferral of income or the sale or disposition of assets may also influence the timing and amount of payments that are received by an exchanging or selling OCGH unitholder under the tax receivable agreement. Decisions made regarding a change of control also could have a material influence on the timing and amount of payments received by the OCGH unitholders pursuant to the tax receivable agreement. Because our principals hold their economic interest in our business primarily through OCGH and control both us and our manager (which is entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors), these differing objectives may give rise to conflicts of interest. We will be entitled to resolve these conflicts as described elsewhere in this prospectus. See “—Risks Relating to Our Organization and Structure—Our principals and executive officers do not hold their economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group through us, which may give rise to conflicts of interest, and it will be difficult for a Class A unitholder to successfully challenge a resolution of a conflict of interest by us.”

 

57


Table of Contents

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “approximately,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “will” and “would” or the negative version of these words or other comparable or similar words. These statements identify prospective information. Important factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in these statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. The factors listed in the section captioned “Risk Factors,” as well as any other cautionary language in this prospectus, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. Before you invest in our Class A units, you should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in these risk factors and elsewhere in this prospectus could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

This prospectus includes market and industry data and forecasts that we have derived from independent reports, publicly available information, various industry publications, other published industry sources and our internal data, estimates and forecasts. Independent reports, industry publications and other published industry sources generally indicate that the information contained therein was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. The Company has not commissioned, nor is it affiliated with, any of the sources cited herein.

Our internal data, estimates and forecasts are based upon information obtained from investors in our funds, partners, trade and business organizations and other contacts in the markets in which we operate and our management’s understanding of industry conditions.

 

58


Table of Contents

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Summary

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC was formed in April 2007 in connection with the May 2007 Restructuring and the consummation of the 2007 Private Offering. After giving effect to this offering, Oaktree will have             Class A units outstanding, which will represent         % of the combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B units and a             % indirect economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group. The remaining             % economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group is held directly by OCGH.

The Oaktree Operating Group is a group of limited partnerships through which we own and control the general partner and investment adviser of each of our historical and active funds. More specifically, the Oaktree Operating Group or its subsidiaries is entitled to receive:

 

  Ÿ  

100% of the management fees earned from each of our funds;

 

  Ÿ  

100% of the incentive income earned from each of our closed-end and evergreen funds; and

 

  Ÿ  

100% of the investment income earned from the investments by the Oaktree Operating Group in our funds and the third-party-managed funds and entities in which the Oaktree Operating Group has invested.

Though the Oaktree Operating Group or its subsidiaries receives all of the foregoing income, in certain cases we have an obligation to pay a fixed percentage of the management fees or incentive income earned from a particular fund to one or more of the investment professionals responsible for the management of the fund. These expenses are reflected in our consolidated statements of operations in the “compensation and benefits” and “incentive income compensation expense” line items. See “Management—Executive Compensation.”

All of our outstanding Class B units are held by OCGH. These Class B units do not represent an economic interest in us, but currently have 98.23% of the combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B units. The general partner of OCGH is Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, which is controlled by our principals. As a result of their control of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, which also acts as our manager, our principals control us, the Oaktree Operating Group and our funds.

In 2008, we established a class of units designated as Class C units principally to provide a mechanism through which OCGH unitholders could exchange their OCGH units for a security that could later be converted into a Class A unit and sold on the GSTrUE OTC market. Holders of Class C units may convert such units on a one-for-one basis into Class A units upon approval by our board of directors. As of March 31, 2011, there were 13,000 Class C units issued and outstanding. We expect that prior to the completion of this offering, each of our Class C unitholders will request, and our board of directors will approve, the conversion of their Class C units into Class A units and, as a result, all of our outstanding Class C units will be converted into 13,000 Class A units and the Class C units will be eliminated as an authorized class of units.

Our board of directors manages all of our operations and activities and has discretion over significant corporate actions. So long as the Oaktree control condition, as described below under “—Our Manager,” is satisfied, our manager, which is 100% owned by our principals, will be entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors.

 

59


Table of Contents

The diagram below depicts our organizational structure after the consummation of this offering:

LOGO

 

(1) Holds 100% of the Class B units and     % of the Class A units, which together will represent     % of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B upon the consummation of this offering. The Class B units have no economic interest in us. The general partner of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. is Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, which is controlled by our principals. Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC also acts as our manager and in that capacity has the authority to designate all the members of our board of directors for so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied.
(2) Assumes the conversion into Class A units on a one-for-one basis of all outstanding Class C units prior to completion of this offering.
(3) Assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Class A units.
(4) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC holds 1,000 shares of non-voting Class A common stock of Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., which are entitled to receive 100% of any dividends. Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. holds 100 shares of voting Class B common stock of Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., which do not participate in dividends or otherwise represent an economic interest in Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.
(5) Owned indirectly by Oaktree Holdings, LLC through an entity not reflected on this structure diagram that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Through this entity, each of Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. owns a less than 1% indirect interest in Oaktree Capital I, L.P.

 

60


Table of Contents

The May 2007 Restructuring and the 2007 Private Offering

The May 2007 Restructuring

Our business was previously operated through Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company, formed in April 1995, which was owned by our principals, certain third-party investors and senior employees. Prior to completion of the 2007 Private Offering, Oaktree Capital Management, LLC caused all of our business to be contributed to the Oaktree Operating Group.

Within the Oaktree Operating Group:

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree Capital I, L.P. holds interests in our funds that generate income that is generally “qualifying income” for purposes of determining whether we qualify as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree Capital II, L.P. holds interests in our funds and certain corporate activities that generate or may generate income that we believe generally is not “qualifying income” for purposes of determining whether we qualify as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. provides investment advisory services to most of our funds and will receive most of the management fees payable by our funds;

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P. holds interests in Oaktree entities which generate non-U.S.-based fee income;

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. holds interests in our alternative investment fund vehicles that generate or may generate income that we believe generally is not “qualifying income” for purposes of determining whether we qualify as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

 

  Ÿ  

Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P. holds interests in certain third-party strategic investments we make that generate or may generate income that we believe generally is not “qualifying income” for purposes of determining whether we qualify as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In addition to the contribution and assignment of OCM’s business to the Oaktree Operating Group entities, in the May 2007 Restructuring the owners who held interests in OCM exchanged those interests for units in OCGH. Each OCGH unit represents a limited partnership interest in OCGH. In exchange for the assignment and contribution of OCM’s business to the Oaktree Operating Group, OCGH received limited partnership interests in each Oaktree Operating Group entity. We collectively refer to the interests in the Oaktree Operating Group as the “Oaktree Operating Group units.” Each Oaktree Operating Group unit represents one limited partnership interest in each of Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. An Oaktree Operating Group unit is not a legal interest.

The 2007 Private Offering

On May 21, 2007, we sold 23,000,000 Class A units to qualified institutional buyers (as such term is defined for purposes of the Securities Act) in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and these Class A units began to trade on a private over-the-counter market developed by Goldman, Sachs & Co. for Tradable Unregistered Equity Securities, referred to as the GSTrUE OTC market.

Upon the consummation of the 2007 Private Offering, we contributed the net offering proceeds to our wholly owned subsidiaries: Oaktree Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that is a

 

61


Table of Contents

disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company that is a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We refer to these entities collectively as the “Intermediate Holding Companies.” The Intermediate Holdings Companies enable us to maintain our partnership status for tax purposes and to meet the qualifying income exception. See “Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations” for a discussion of the qualifying income exception.

As a result of the May 2007 Restructuring and other transactions associated with the 2007 Private Offering, we became the owner of, and our Class A unitholders therefore had, a 15.86% indirect economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group, while OCGH retained an 84.14% direct economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group.

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

We are a Delaware limited liability company owned by our Class A and Class B unitholders. After giving effect to this offering, OCGH will hold 100% of our Class B units and             % of our Class A units, together representing             % of the total combined voting power of our outstanding units. OCGH is the vehicle through which our employees and certain third-party investors hold their economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group. OCGH is controlled by our principals through their control of its general partner, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC.

Holders of our Class A units and Class B units generally vote together as a single class on the limited set of matters on which our unitholders have a vote. Such matters include a proposed sale of all or substantially all of our assets, certain mergers and consolidations, certain amendments to our operating agreement and an election by our board of directors to dissolve the company. The Class B units do not represent an economic interest in Oaktree Capital Group, LLC. The number of Class B units held by OCGH, however, increases or decreases with corresponding changes in OCGH’s economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group such that, at all times, the number of outstanding Class B units is equal to the aggregate number of outstanding Oaktree Operating Group units. Upon the acquisition of a newly issued Oaktree Operating Group unit by OCGH, we will issue a Class B unit to OCGH without requiring any capital contribution in respect of such Class B unit, and upon the disposition (by transfer, sale, exchange or otherwise) of an Oaktree Operating Group unit by OCGH, a Class B unit then held by OCGH will automatically be cancelled.

Because we were newly formed in 2007, OCM is considered our predecessor for accounting purposes, and its financial statements have become our historical financial statements. Also, because other investors who held interests in and controlled OCM before the May 2007 Restructuring now control OCGH and us, the May 2007 Restructuring was accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. Accordingly, the value of assets and liabilities recognized in OCM’s financial statements was unchanged when carried forward into our financial information.

Our Manager

Holders of our Class A units and Class B units have no right to elect our manager, which is controlled by our principals. Our operating agreement provides that so long as our principals, or their successors or affiliated entities (other than us or our subsidiaries), including OCGH, collectively hold, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of the aggregate outstanding Oaktree Operating Group units, our manager will be entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors. We refer to this ownership condition as the “Oaktree control condition.” Our board of directors will manage all of our operations and activities and will have discretion over significant corporate actions, such as the issuance of securities, payment of distributions, sales of assets, making certain amendments to our operating agreement and other matters. See “Description of Our Units.”

 

62


Table of Contents

As of March 31, 2011, OCGH directly held approximately 84.73% of the outstanding Oaktree Operating Group units. Subject to certain restrictions, each OCGH unitholder has the right to require OCGH to exchange his or her vested OCGH units for Oaktree Operating Group units following the expiration of any applicable lock-up period pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement. Those Oaktree Operating Group units may then be exchanged for a corresponding number of Class A units or, at the option of our board of directors, the equivalent amount of cash (based on then-prevailing market prices). In addition, if we issue additional Class A units outside of such an exchange, we will cause the Oaktree Operating Group to issue new Oaktree Operating Group units to us. If exchanges of OCGH units, new unit issuances or the transfer of control of OCGH to a third party result in entities controlled by our principals owning less than 10% of the Oaktree Operating Group units, the Oaktree control condition will no longer be satisfied and our manager will no longer be entitled to appoint all the members of our board of directors.

Although our manager has no business activities other than appointing our board of directors and acting as the general partner of OCGH, conflicts of interest may arise in the future between us and our Class A unitholders, on the one hand, and our manager, on the other. The resolution of these conflicts may not always be in our best interests or those of our Class A unitholders. We describe the potential conflicts of interest in greater detail under “Description of Our Units—Our Operating Agreement–Conflicts of Interest.” In addition, our operating agreement provides that our manager will owe no duties to our unitholders and will have no liability to any unitholder for monetary damages or otherwise for decisions made by our manager.

Oaktree Operating Group

We are a holding company that controls all of the business and affairs of the Oaktree Operating Group through the Intermediate Holding Companies. All of the businesses historically engaged in by OCM continue to be conducted by the Oaktree Operating Group, which comprises the limited partnerships through which we hold our direct and indirect general partnership interests in and/or serve as the investment adviser of our funds and engage in certain corporate activities. We may increase or decrease the number of entities, change the jurisdiction of formation or type of entities, or make other changes in the Oaktree Operating Group from time to time based on our view of the appropriate balance between administrative convenience and business, financial, tax, regulatory and other reasons.

We believe that we will be treated as a partnership and not as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not a taxable entity and incurs no U.S. federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner is required to take into account its allocable share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing its U.S. federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made. Distributions of cash by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable unless the amount of cash distributed to a partner is in excess of the partner’s adjusted basis in its partnership interest. However, our operating agreement does not restrict our ability to take actions that may result in our being treated as an entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes. See “Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations” for a summary discussing certain U.S. federal tax considerations related to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A units as of the date of this prospectus.

We believe that the Oaktree Operating Group entities will also be treated as partnerships and not as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the holders of Oaktree Operating Group units (including two Intermediate Holding Companies) that are not entities treated as partnerships will incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any net taxable income of the Oaktree Operating Group. Net profits and net losses of the Oaktree Operating Group entities will generally be allocated to their partners (including the Intermediate Holding Companies and OCGH) pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective limited partnership interests. Because after the consummation of this offering we will indirectly own         % of the total Oaktree

 

63


Table of Contents

Operating Group units through the Intermediate Holding Companies, the Intermediate Holding Companies will be allocated         % of the net profits and net losses of the Oaktree Operating Group. The remaining net profits and net losses are allocated to OCGH. These percentages are subject to change, including upon our issuance of additional Class A units and our purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units from OCGH unitholders.

After this offering, we intend to continue to cause the Oaktree Operating Group entities to make distributions to their partners, including the Intermediate Holding Companies, to fund any distributions we may declare on our Class A units. If the Oaktree Operating Group entities make distributions to the Intermediate Holding Companies, OCGH will be entitled to receive pro rata distributions based on its interests in the Oaktree Operating Group entities.

The partnership agreements of the Oaktree Operating Group entities provide for cash distributions, which we refer to as “tax distributions,” to the partners of these entities if we determine that the allocation of the partnerships’ income will give rise to taxable income for their partners. Generally, these tax distributions will be computed based on our estimate of the net taxable income of the relevant entity allocable to a partner multiplied by an assumed tax rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account the nondeductibility of certain expenses and the character of our income). The Oaktree Operating Group entities will make tax distributions only to the extent distributions from these entities for the relevant year were otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities.

 

64


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that our net proceeds from the offering of Class A units offered by us will be approximately $             million, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional Class A units, the net proceeds to us will be approximately $             million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Assuming the number of Class A units offered by us as set forth on the front cover of this prospectus remains the same, a $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per unit would increase or decrease the net proceeds to us from this offering by $             million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Of the net proceeds received by us, $             million will be retained by us for general corporate purposes and $             million will be used by us to acquire Oaktree Operating Group units from OCGH. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Class A units offered by the selling unitholders participating in this offering, including any sale of units in this offering by the selling unitholders if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units.

 

65


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth the unaudited cash and cash-equivalents and the capitalization of our one segment, our investment management segment, as of March 31, 2011, without giving effect to the consolidation of the funds that we manage:

 

  Ÿ  

on an actual basis; and

 

  Ÿ  

on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give effect to (1) the conversion of all of our Class C units to Class A units in anticipation of this offering, (2) the completion of this offering of Class A units at an assumed offering price of $         per unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and application of net proceeds as described in “Use of Proceeds” and (3) the adoption of our Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.

You should read this table together with the information contained elsewhere in this prospectus, including the information set forth under “Organizational Structure” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of March 31, 2011  
     Actual      Pro Forma as
Adjusted  (1)
 
    

(in thousands, except unit data)

 

Cash and cash-equivalents (excluding consolidated funds)

   $ 597,907       $                
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt obligations (excluding consolidated funds)

   $ 696,071       $     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital:

     

Class A units, unlimited units authorized, 22,664,100 units issued and outstanding, actual; unlimited units authorized,                      units issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —        

Class B units, unlimited units authorized, 125,786,115 units issued and outstanding, actual; unlimited units authorized,                      units issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —        

Class C units, unlimited units authorized, 13,000 units issued and outstanding, actual; no units authorized, issued and outstanding,
pro forma as adjusted

     —           —     

Unitholders’ capital attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

     199,992      

OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     997,650      
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capital

     1,197,642      
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization (2)

   $ 1,893,713       $     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Assuming the number of Class A units offered by us as set forth on the front cover of this prospectus remains the same, a $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per Class A unit would increase or decrease total unitholders’ capital and total capitalization by $             million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
(2) The unit information in the table above excludes, as of March 31, 2011:

 

  Ÿ  

            Class A units issuable upon exchange of                      OCGH units (or, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional Class A units,                      Class A units issuable upon exchange of                      OCGH units) that will be held by certain of our existing owners immediately following this offering, which are entitled, subject to vesting and minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, to be exchanged for our Class A units on a one-for-one basis; and

  Ÿ  

             Class A units issuable upon exchange of                      OCGH units reserved for future issuance under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, which are entitled, subject to vesting and minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, to be exchanged for our Class A units on a one-for-one basis.

 

66


Table of Contents

DILUTION

If you invest in our Class A units, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per Class A unit and the net tangible book value of our one segment, our investment management segment, per Class A unit immediately after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the per Class A unit offering price is substantially in excess of our pro forma segment net tangible book value per Class A unit attributable to the existing equity holders.

Our pro forma segment net tangible book value as of March 31, 2011 was $             million, or $             per Class A unit based on              Class A units outstanding. Our pro forma segment net tangible book value per Class A unit represents the amount of our total segment tangible assets less our total segment liabilities, divided by the total number of Class A units outstanding, after giving effect to the conversion of all of our Class C units into              Class A units in anticipation of this offering and assuming the issuance of              Class A units in exchange for              OCGH units (representing all outstanding OCGH units), which are entitled, subject to vesting and minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, to be exchanged for our Class A units on a one-for-one basis.

After giving effect to the receipt and our intended use of approximately $             million of estimated net proceeds from our sale of              Class A units in this offering at an assumed offering price of $             per unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, our pro forma as adjusted segment net tangible book value as of March 31, 2011 would have been approximately $             million, or $             per Class A unit. This represents an immediate increase in the pro forma segment net tangible book value of $             per Class A unit to existing Class A unitholders and an immediate dilution of $             per Class A unit to new investors purchasing Class A units in this offering. The following table illustrates this substantial and immediate per unit dilution to new investors:

 

     Per Class A Unit  

Assumed initial public offering price per Class A unit

      $                

Pro forma segment net tangible book value per Class A unit as of March 31, 2011

   $                  

Increase in pro forma segment net tangible book value per Class A unit attributable to this offering

     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma as adjusted segment net tangible book value per Class A unit after giving effect to this offering

     
     

 

 

 

Dilution per Class A unit to new investors in this offering

      $     
     

 

 

 

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per Class A unit would increase or decrease our pro forma as adjusted segment net tangible book value by $             million or by $             per Class A unit and the dilution per unit to new investors in this offering by $             per Class A unit, assuming no change to the number of Class A units offered by us as set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Class A units in full, our pro forma as adjusted segment net tangible book value per Class A unit after giving effect to this offering would be $             per Class A unit and the dilution per Class A unit to new investors in this offering would be $             per Class A unit.

 

67


Table of Contents

The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of March 31, 2011, giving effect to the total number of Class A units sold in this offering, the total consideration paid to us in this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per unit (before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us) and the average price per unit paid by existing unitholders and by new investors purchasing Class A units in this offering.

 

     Units     Total
Consideration
    Average
Price

Per Unit
 
     Number    Percent     Amount      Percent    

Existing unitholders-OCGH (1)

                       $                                     $            

Existing unitholders (2)

            

New investors (3)

            
  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

                       $                      $     
  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Assumes the issuance of              Class A units in exchange for              OCGH units (representing all outstanding OCGH units), which are entitled, subject to vesting and minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, to be exchanged for our Class A units on a one-for-one basis.
(2) Includes the Class A units being sold by the selling unitholders in this offering. The average price per unit is computed based on the total Class A units of existing unitholders prior to this offering, which includes the Class A units being sold by the selling unitholders.
(3) Excludes Class A units being sold by the selling unitholders in this offering.

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $             per Class A unit would increase or decrease total consideration paid by existing unitholders, total consideration paid by new investors and the average price per unit by $            , $             and $            , respectively, assuming the number of Class A units offered by us and the selling unitholders in this offering, as set forth in “Prospectus Summary—The Offering,” remains the same, and without deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

68


Table of Contents

CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY

We expect to make distributions to our Class A unitholders quarterly, generally in the month following the respective quarter end. Distributions to our Class A unitholders will be funded by our share of the Oaktree Operating Group’s distributions. We intend to distribute substantially all of our excess cash flow, as determined by our board of directors after taking into account factors it deems relevant, such as, but not limited to, working capital levels, known or anticipated cash needs, business and investment opportunities, general economic and business conditions, our obligations under our debt instruments or other agreements, our compliance with applicable laws, the level and character of taxable income that flows through to our Class A unitholders, the availability and terms of outside financing, the possible repurchase of our Class A units in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, providing for future distributions to our Class A unitholders and growing our capital base. We are not currently restricted by any contract from making distributions to our unitholders, although certain of our subsidiaries are bound by credit agreements that contain certain restricted payment and/or other covenants, which may have the effect of limiting the amount of distributions that we receive from our subsidiaries. In addition, we are not permitted to make a distribution under Section 18-607 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act if, after giving effect to the distribution, our liabilities would exceed the fair value of our assets.

The declaration and payment of any distributions will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, and we may at any time modify our approach with respect to the proper metric for determining cash flow available for distribution. Class A unitholders will receive their share of these distributions by the Oaktree Operating Group net of expenses that we and our Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly, such as income taxes or payment obligations under the tax receivable agreement. Potential seasonal factors that may affect quarterly cash flow and, therefore the level of the cash distributions applicable to the particular quarter typically include, with respect to the first quarter, tax distributions made by one or more investment funds that allocated taxable income to us in the prior year, but have not yet distributed to us cash in a sufficient sum with which to pay the related income taxes, and with respect to the fourth quarter, the annual evergreen fund incentive income. We expect the amount of distributions in any given period to vary materially due to the factors described above.

With respect to upcoming distributions applicable to fiscal year 2011, we currently estimate that the aggregate deductions taken in arriving at the cash distribution payable per Class A unit will include approximately 12.0 cents for payment obligations under the tax receivable agreement without giving effect to this offering, to be deducted proportionately from each of the three remaining quarterly distributions. These deductions, which are subject to change as the year progresses, will be in addition to deductions for income taxes and other expenses that Oaktree or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly. Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax law and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize the full tax benefit of the increased amortization of our assets, we expect that payments under the tax receivable agreement in respect of our purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units in the 2007 Private Offering, which we began to make in January 2009, will aggregate to $59.9 million over the next 17 years. In addition, we expect that payments under the tax receivable agreement in respect of this offering will aggregate to $             million over a similar period.

 

69


Table of Contents

Set forth below are the distributions per Class A unit that were paid on the indicated payment dates to the holders of record as of a date which (1) for April 29, 2011 was four business days prior to the payment date, (2) for fiscal year 2010 was four business days prior to the payment date and (3) for fiscal year 2009 was four to six business days prior to the payment date.

 

Payment Date

 

          Applicable to

Quarterly Period Ended

 

Distribution
per Unit

 
April 29, 2011   March 31, 2011   $ 0.64   
January 31, 2011   December 31, 2010   $ 0.90   
October 29, 2010   September 30, 2010     0.36   
July 30, 2010   June 30, 2010     0.36   
April 30, 2010   March 31, 2010     0.70   
   

 

 

 

Total fiscal year 2010

  $ 2.32   
   

 

 

 
January 29, 2010   December 31, 2009   $ 0.75   
October 30, 2009   September 30, 2009     0.25   
July 31, 2009   June 30, 2009     0.30   
April 30, 2009   March 31, 2009     0.07   
   

 

 

 

Total fiscal year 2009

  $ 1.37   
   

 

 

 

Total fiscal year 2008

  $ 0.79   

Total fiscal year 2007 (subsequent to the 2007 Private Offering)

  $ 0.96   

 

70


Table of Contents

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected historical consolidated financial and other data of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC should be read together with “Organizational Structure,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

We derived the Oaktree Capital Group, LLC selected historical consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and the selected historical consolidated statements of financial condition data for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. We derived the selected historical consolidated statements of financial condition data of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2008 from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included within this prospectus. We derived the selected historical consolidated statements of operations and financial condition data for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included in this prospectus. For periods prior to May 25, 2007, the financial statements represent the accounts of OCM, which is considered our predecessor for accounting purposes. We derived the selected historical consolidated statements of income and financial condensed condition data of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on substantially the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial position and results of operations.

The selected historical financial data is not indicative of the expected future operating results of Oaktree following this offering.

 

    As of or for the
Year Ended December 31,
    As of or for the
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2006 (1)     2007 (1)     2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands, except per unit data or as otherwise indicated)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: (2)

             

Total revenues

  $ 106,503      $ 123,792      $ 97,524      $ 153,132      $ 206,181      $ 57,908      $ 44,449   

Total expenses

    (326,248     (1,310,701     (1,364,009     (1,426,318     (1,580,651     (419,000     (410,647

Total other income (loss)

    2,675,783        2,122,845        (6,354,205     13,165,717        6,681,658        1,891,793        2,162,612   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    2,456,038        935,936        (7,620,690     11,892,531        5,307,188        1,530,701        1,796,414   

Income taxes

    (2,950     (4,743     (17,341     (18,267     (26,399     (10,138     (7,010
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

    2,453,088        931,193        (7,638,031     11,874,264        5,280,789        1,520,563        1,789,404   

Less:

             

Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated funds

    (2,187,893     (1,445,071     6,885,433        (12,158,635     (5,493,799     (1,554,323     (1,826,401

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest

    —          599,520        625,285        227,313        163,555        22,135        26,870   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to OCG  (3)

  $ 265,195      $ 85,642      $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455   $ (11,625   $ (10,127
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions declared per Class A and Class C unit (4)

    N/A      $ 0.96      $ 0.76      $ 0.65      $ 2.17      $ 0.75      $ 0.90   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per Class A and Class C unit (4)

    N/A      $ (5.00   $ (5.53   $ (2.50   $ (2.18   $ (0.51   $ (0.45
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of Class A and Class C units outstanding (4)

    N/A        23,000        23,002        22,821        22,677        22,677        22,677   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

71


Table of Contents
    As of or for the
Year Ended December 31,
    As of or for the
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2006 (1)     2007 (1)     2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands, except per unit data or as otherwise indicated)  

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition Data:

             

Total assets

  $ 16,603,147      $ 23,237,953      $ 31,797,278      $ 43,195,731      $ 47,843,660      $ 45,541,105      $ 46,445,861   

Debt obligations

    417,321        582,156        536,849        700,342        494,716        686,061        839,080   

Segment Statements of Operations Data: (5)

             

Management fees

  $ 251,642      $ 378,483      $ 544,520      $ 636,260      $ 750,031      $ 184,224      $ 185,259   

Incentive income

    249,527        332,457        173,876        175,065        413,240        149,569        130,889   

Investment income (loss)

    58,801        40,898        (151,249     289,001        149,449        40,656        53,017   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment revenues

    559,970        751,838        567,147        1,100,326        1,312,720        374,449        369,165   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

    (136,450     (196,672     (218,128     (268,241     (287,067     (78,606     (78,312

Incentive income compensation expense

    (92,193     (78,184     (64,845     (65,639     (159,243     (57,586     (53,766

General, administrative and other expenses

    (54,601     (62,690     (70,459     (77,788     (87,602     (21,112     (20,250
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    (283,244     (337,546     (353,432     (411,668     (533,912     (157,304     (152,328
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

    —          —          —          —          11,243        —          (763

Interest expense, net of interest income

    (8,581     (1,175     (6,437     (13,071     (26,173     (7,130     (8,720
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

  $ 268,145      $ 413,117      $ 207,278      $ 675,587      $ 763,878      $ 210,015      $ 207,354   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment Statements of Financial Condition Data:  (5)

             

Cash and cash-equivalents

  $ 106,020      $ 276,978      $ 141,590      $ 433,769      $ 348,502      $ 358,870      $ 597,907   

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity

    276,328        402,420        606,478        909,329        1,108,690        942,302        1,060,227   

Total assets

    489,968        957,714        913,757        1,702,403        1,944,801        1,629,189        2,111,708   

Total liabilities

    396,000        503,980        424,182        742,570        708,085        622,764        914,066   

Total capital

    93,968        453,734        489,575        959,833        1,236,716        1,006,425        1,197,642   

Operating Metrics:

             

AUM (in millions) (6)

  $ 35,554      $ 52,613      $ 49,866      $ 73,278      $ 82,672      $ 76,494      $ 85,691   

Management
fee-generating AUM
(in millions) (7)

    32,494        41,193        50,234        62,677        66,175        65,039        67,158   

Incentive-creating AUM
(in millions) (8)

    12,207        14,784        22,197        33,339        39,385        34,651        37,476   

Uncalled capital
commitments
(in millions) (9)

    3,891        14,046        7,205        11,055        14,270        12,791        18,348   

Incentives created
(fund level) (10)

    507,347        332,277        (223,328     1,239,314        889,721        248,160        433,751   

Accrued incentives (fund level)  (10)

    923,500        923,320        526,116        1,590,365        2,066,846        1,688,956        2,369,708   

 

(1) The OCGH unitholders controlled OCM and control Oaktree; thus, the May 2007 Restructuring was accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. Accordingly, the value of assets and liabilities recognized in OCM’s consolidated financial statements were unchanged when those assets and liabilities were carried forward into Oaktree’s financial statements.
(2) On May 25, 2007, we undertook the May 2007 Restructuring for the purpose of effecting the 2007 Private Offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The May 2007 Restructuring had the following significant effects on our reported financial results:
  (a) Non-cash compensation charges. Commencing in May 2007, the statement of operations includes non-cash compensation expense related to the vesting of OCGH units held by certain of our employees as of the 2007 Private Offering, amortized over the OCGH units’ five-year vesting period ending January 2, 2012. These non-cash compensation charges totaled (in thousands): $920,624 for the period May 25, 2007 through December 31, 2007, $932,211, $928,943 and $929,131 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $229,057 and $228,639 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

 

72


Table of Contents
  (b) Income taxes. Before and after the May 2007 Restructuring, we are a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore are not subject to U.S. federal income taxes. However, income tax expense is significantly greater following the May 2007 Restructuring because certain of the Intermediate Holding Companies are subject to federal income taxes. Income tax expense of the Intermediate Holding Companies totaled (in thousands): $1,700 for the period May 25, 2007 through December 31, 2007, $9,823, $14,236 and $18,759 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $7,423 and $5,116 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.
  (c) Different accounting treatment. After the May 2007 Restructuring, compensation expense includes certain items that previously were treated as members’ capital distributions, including special allocation payments to certain of our principals in lieu of salary and bonus. Such members’ capital distributions totaled (in thousands): $3,214 and $2,349, for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the period January 1, 2007 through May 24, 2007, respectively.
  (d) OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries. At March 31, 2011, Oaktree Capital Group, LLC owned 22,677,100 of the 148,463,215 Oaktree Operating Group units outstanding, representing an approximate 15.27% economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group. OCGH owned the remaining 125,786,115 Oaktree Operating Group units outstanding. OCGH non-controlling interest (also referred to as “OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries” in our financial statements) reflects OCGH’s 84.73% economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group. The net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest totaled (in thousands): $599,520 for the period May 25, 2007 through December 31, 2007, $625,285, $227,313 and $163,555 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $22,135 and $26,870 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.
(3) For periods before May 25, 2007, this line item represents OCM only.
(4) Per unit amounts for 2007 are for the period May 25, 2007 through December 31, 2007. For additional information regarding per unit data, see note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 7 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
(5) Our business is comprised of one segment, our investment management segment, which consists of the investment management services that we provide to our clients.

 

     Our chief operating decision maker uses adjusted net income, or ANI, to evaluate the financial performance of, and make resource allocations and other operating decisions for, our segment. The components of revenues and expenses used in determining ANI do not give effect to the consolidation of the funds that we manage. In addition, ANI excludes the effect of: (1) non-cash equity compensation charges, (2) income taxes, (3) expenses that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and (4) the adjustment for the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007. We expect that ANI will include non-cash equity compensation charges related to unit grants made after this offering. ANI is calculated at the Oaktree Operating Group level. For additional information regarding the reconciling adjustments discussed above, see note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13 to our unaudited condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     For a reconciliation of segment total assets to our consolidated total assets, see note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

(6) AUM represents the NAV of the assets we manage, plus the undrawn capital that we are entitled to call, at the end of the applicable period and fund-level leverage that generates management fees.
(7) Management-fee generating AUM reflects AUM on which we earn management fees. It excludes certain AUM, such as differences between AUM and committed capital or cost basis for most closed-end funds, the investments we make in our funds as general partners, undrawn capital commitments to funds for which management fees are based on NAV or contributed capital and capital commitments to closed-end funds that have not yet commenced their investment periods.
(8) Incentive-creating AUM refers to the AUM that may eventually produce incentive income. It represents the NAV of our closed-end and evergreen funds, excluding investments made by us and our employees (which are not subject to an incentive allocation).
(9) Uncalled capital commitments represent undrawn capital commitments by partners (including Oaktree as general partner) of our closed-end funds in their investment periods. If a fund distributes capital during its investment period, that capital is typically subject to possible recall, in which case it is included in uncalled capital commitments.
(10) Our funds record as accrued incentives the incentive income that would be paid to us if the funds were liquidated at their reported values as of the date of the financial statements. Incentives created (fund level) refers to the amount generated by the funds during the period. We refer to the amount of incentive income recognized as revenue by us as segment incentive income. We recognize incentive income when it becomes fixed or determinable, all related contingencies have been removed and collection is reasonably assured. Amounts recognized by us as incentive income no longer are included in accrued incentives (fund level), the term we use for remaining fund-level accruals.

 

N/A Not applicable.

 

73


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Business Overview

Oaktree is a leading global investment management firm focused on alternative markets. Over the past five years, we have more than doubled our AUM to over $80 billion as of March 31, 2011 across a broad array of investment strategies, which we divide into six asset classes: distressed debt, corporate debt, control investing, convertible securities, real estate and listed equities. Across the firm we utilize a contrarian, value-oriented investment philosophy focused on providing superior risk-adjusted investment performance for our clients. This approach extends to how we manage and grow our business.

We manage assets on behalf of many of the most significant institutional investors in the world, including 69 of the 100 largest U.S. pension plans, 36 states in the United States, over 350 corporations, approximately 300 university and charitable endowments and foundations, and over 150 non-U.S. institutional investors, including six of the top 10 sovereign wealth funds. We serve these clients with over 600 employees, including more than 200 investment professionals in offices located in Los Angeles (headquarters), New York, Stamford, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo, with additional offices and staff members provided through fund affiliates in Amsterdam and Luxembourg.

Our business is comprised of one segment, our investment management segment, which consists of the investment management services that we provide to our clients. See “Business—Our Sources of Revenue—Structure of Funds” for a detailed discussion of the structure of our funds. We generate three types of segment revenue: management fees, incentive income and investment income. Management fees are calculated as a fixed percentage of the capital commitments (as adjusted for distributions during the liquidation period) or NAV of a particular fund. Incentive income represents our share (typically 20%) of the profits earned by our closed-end and evergreen funds, subject to applicable hurdle rates or high-water marks. Investment income is the return on the amounts that we invest in each of our funds and, to a growing extent, investments in funds or businesses managed by third-party investment managers with whom we have a strategic relationship.

Impact of the Economy and Financial Markets

As a global investment manager, macroeconomic conditions and the financial markets significantly impact the value of the assets held by our funds and our investment returns, which, in turn, impact our results of operations.

We manage our business on the premise that the economy and financial markets are cyclical, and we do not target specific AUM levels. Periods of economic contraction have historically resulted in a decrease in the value of the assets held by our funds, thereby reducing our investment returns and decreasing our AUM, investment income and incentives created (fund level). Similarly, depressed asset valuations limit our ability to harvest investments from these funds at attractive asset prices, thereby decreasing our proceeds from fund distributions and thus incentive income and realized investment income. However, periods of economic contraction and declining financial markets increase the availability of attractive investments for our new funds, which form the basis of future incentive and investment income. To take advantage of these attractive investing opportunities, we have generally raised larger closed-end funds in our distress-oriented strategies and accepted more capital into our open-end and evergreen funds during periods of economic contraction.

 

74


Table of Contents

As financial markets recover and asset prices increase, our investment income benefits, our incentives created (fund level) increase, and we typically shift from being a net buyer to being a net seller across our closed-end funds. This shift typically is followed by an increase in distributions across funds in their liquidation period, which leads to a decrease in their management fees, an increase in our cash flow attributable to our fund investments and, following the particular fund’s full return of capital and preferred return, an increase in our incentive income. Our risk-controlled investment approach is designed to achieve, and historically has generally achieved, superior returns relative to the Relevant Benchmark in down markets and market-competitive returns in up markets.

By way of example, from January 2007 until May 2008, in anticipation of an economic downturn, we raised $14.5 billion for two distressed debt funds, including $10.9 billion for OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb, L.P., or Opps VIIb. We commenced Opps VIIb’s investment period in May 2008 and then invested over $5.3 billion of its ultimate $9.8 billion of drawn capital in the 15 weeks following the collapse of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008. While that investment environment presented an outstanding opportunity for us to buy bank debt and other securities at distressed prices, the steep drop in the financial markets contributed to the $10.8 billion decrease in aggregate AUM market value in the year ended December 31, 2008. Markets recovered in 2009, resulting in aggregate appreciation of $19.1 billion and $8.7 billion in the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The recovery in the financial markets continued into the first quarter of 2011, driving further aggregate market appreciation in AUM of $3.2 billion.

Fluctuations in the market value of our funds impact our segment metrics and revenues. For example, of the $8.7 billion in aggregate market appreciation for the year ended December 31, 2010, $3.3 billion was in open-end and evergreen funds where management fees are based on NAV, thus benefitting near-term revenues. Similarly, our incentives created (fund level) benefited from aggregate market appreciation of $5.7 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010 in our closed-end and evergreen funds.

The creation of incentives at the fund level usually precedes our earning the related incentive income by a number of quarters or years. For example, over the two-year recovery in the markets through March 31, 2011, aggregate incentives created (fund level) were $2.7 billion, while incentive income recognized by us totaled $676.9 million, causing accrued incentives (fund level) to grow from $487.1 million as of March 31, 2009 to $2.4 billion as of March 31, 2011 (or $1.4 billion net of incentive income compensation expense). Of the $2.4 billion in accrued incentives (fund level), 49.6% was attributable to Opps VIIb.

While the past two-year rise in market prices has provided opportunities to harvest our existing investments, it has reduced the universe of attractive investment opportunities, leading us to raise smaller funds in our largest closed-end fund strategy, distressed debt. Specifically, we capped Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII, L.P., or Opps VIII, and Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb, L.P., or Opps VIIIb, the two funds that we raised for investment during the current recovery phase of the cycle, at $4.5 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively. The impact of this self-imposed cap on the size of our most recent funds combined with the impact of commencement of distributions by Opps VIIb contributed to a decrease in our AUM in the second quarter of 2011 to $79.5 billion, as well as decreases in our management fee-generating AUM and incentive-creating AUM. Coupled with the recent commencement of distributions by Opps VIIb, we expect that this phase in the market cycle may cause one or more of our AUM, management fee-generating AUM and incentive-creating AUM to plateau or continue to decrease in the coming quarters.

The magnitude and duration of any change in one or more of our three AUM metrics are impossible to predict because they depend on a number of factors outside of our control, including net asset flows and changes in market values across our funds. If management fee-generating AUM decreases from

 

75


Table of Contents

one quarter to the next, we would expect an approximately proportional decrease in our management fees over the same period, subject to any corresponding fluctuation in the overall management fee rate. If incentive-creating AUM decreases from one quarter to the next, we would expect an approximately proportional decrease in our incentives created (fund level) over the same period, all other things being equal. To the extent that management fees decline as a result of distributions by Opps VIIb or any other closed-end funds with accrued incentives (fund level), incentive income may be recognized either in the same period or, depending on whether the particular fund has distributed to its limited partners their capital plus a preferred return, future periods. Specifically in the case of Opps VIIb, which accounted for 49.6% of the aggregate $2.4 billion accrued incentives (fund level) as of March 31, 2011, the early nature of the fund’s distribution period makes it unlikely to generate incentive income (other than possibly periodically for tax distributions) in coming quarters.

Operating Metrics

We monitor certain operating metrics that are either common to the alternative asset management industry or that we believe provide important data regarding our business. As described below, these operating metrics include assets under management, management fee-generating AUM, incentive-creating AUM, incentives created, accrued incentives (fund level) and uncalled capital commitments.

Assets Under Management

AUM generally refers to the assets we manage and equals the NAV of our funds plus the undrawn capital that we are entitled to call from investors in those funds pursuant to their capital commitments and fund-level leverage that generates management fees.

Our AUM amounts also include assets under management for which we charge no fees. Our definition of AUM is not based on any definition contained in our operating agreement or the agreements governing the funds that we manage. Our calculation of AUM and the two AUM-related metrics below may not be directly comparable to the AUM metrics of other asset managers.

AUM as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011 is set forth below. An initial distribution of $3.0 billion in January 2011 and $1.1 billion of undrawn committed capital, both relating to Opps Vllb, were not deducted from the March 31, 2011 AUM balance. These amounts are deducted from our AUM upon the end of Opps VIIb’s investment period on May 1, 2011.

 

     December 31,      March 31,
2011
 
     2008      2009      2010     
     (in millions)  

AUM:

           

Closed-end funds

   $ 30,827       $ 45,039       $ 53,381       $ 55,389   

Open-end funds

     16,231         24,588         26,122         27,239   

Evergreen funds

     2,808         3,651         3,169         3,063   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 49,866       $ 73,278       $ 82,672       $ 85,691   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

76


Table of Contents

The change in AUM for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011 is set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
2011
 
     2008     2009     2010    
     (in millions)  

Change in AUM:

        

Beginning of period

   $ 52,613      $ 49,866      $ 73,278      $ 82,672   

Closed-end funds:

        

New capital commitments

     7,687        7,913        8,590        1,672   

Distributions for a realization event/other

     (1,911     (3,208     (5,399     (1,685

Cancellation of uncalled capital commitments

     —         (515     (32     —    

Change in market value

     (4,729     10,223        5,362        1,995   

Open-end funds:

        

Contributions

     2,632        4,679        2,798        1,522   

Redemptions

     (1,803     (3,795     (4,183     (1,441

Change in market value

     (4,912     7,473        2,920        1,036   

Evergreen funds:

        

Contributions

     1,442        204        124        57   

Redemptions

     (112     (542     (213     (45

Distributions from restructured funds

     —         (257     (780     (262

Change in market value

     (1,174     1,438        386        144   

Change in leverage

     133        (201     (179     26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 49,866      $ 73,278      $ 82,672      $ 85,691   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Management Fee-Generating AUM

Management fee-generating AUM reflects the AUM on which we earn management fees. Our closed-end funds typically pay management fees based on committed capital during the investment period, without regard to changes in NAV or the pace of capital draw downs, and during the liquidation period on the lesser of (1) total funded capital and (2) the cost basis of assets remaining in the fund. The annual management fee rate remains unchanged from the investment period through the liquidation period. Our open-end and evergreen funds pay management fees based on their NAV. See “Business—Our Sources of Revenue—Management Fees” for a more detailed discussion of the terms of our management fees.

Management fee-generating AUM as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011 is set forth below:

 

     December 31,      March 31,
2011
 
     2008      2009      2010     
     (in millions)  

Management Fee-Generating AUM:

           

Closed-end funds

   $ 31,486       $ 35,164       $ 37,710       $ 37,466   

Open-end funds

     16,084         24,522         26,105         27,221   

Evergreen funds

     2,664         2,991         2,360         2,471   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 50,234       $ 62,677       $ 66,175       $ 67,158   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

77


Table of Contents

The change in management fee-generating AUM for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011 is set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Three
Months
Ended
March  31,

2011
 
     2008     2009     2010    
     (in millions)  

Change in Management Fee-Generating AUM:

        

Beginning of period

   $ 41,193      $ 50,234      $ 62,677      $ 66,175   

Closed-end funds:

        

New capital commitments to funds that pay fees based on committed capital

     13,427        4,985        5,826        374   

Capital drawn by funds that pay fees based on drawn capital or NAV

     1,873        290        528        85   

Change in fee basis for funds that pay fees based on the lesser of funded capital or cost basis during liquidation  (1)

     (1,095     (730     (2,053     (628

Cancellation of uncalled capital commitments for funds that pay fees based on committed capital

     —         (489     —         —    

Distributions by funds that pay fees based on NAV

     (133     (1,263     (1,657     (259

Change in market value (2)

     (1,053     1,085        80        158   

Change in leverage

     132        (200     (178     26   

Open-end funds:

        

Contributions

     2,489        4,612        2,849        1,522   

Redemptions

     (1,803     (3,646     (4,184     (1,441

Change in market value

     (4,913     7,472        2,918        1,035   

Evergreen funds:

        

Contributions

     1,401        204        154        57   

Redemptions

     (104     (532     (201     (45

Permanent cancellation of management fees from restructured funds

     (69     (437     (861     —     

Change in market value

     (1,111     1,092        277        99   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 50,234      $ 62,677      $ 66,175      $ 67,158   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) For most closed-end funds, management fees are charged during the liquidation period on the lesser of (i) total funded capital and (ii) the cost basis of assets remaining in the fund, with the cost basis of assets generally calculated by excluding cash balances. Thus, changes in fee basis during the liquidation period are not dependent on distributions made from the fund; rather, they are tied to the cost basis of the fund’s investments and will decline as the fund sells assets.
(2) Reflects (i) changes in market value for certain funds that pay management fees based on NAV and leverage, as applicable, and (ii) foreign currency-related changes for a foreign currency-denominated fund that pays management fees based on committed capital.

As compared with AUM, management fee-generating AUM generally excludes the following:

 

  Ÿ  

Differences between AUM and committed capital or cost basis for closed-end funds, other than for closed-end funds that pay management fees based on NAV and leverage, as applicable;

 

  Ÿ  

Undrawn capital commitments to funds for which management fees are based on NAV or drawn capital;

 

  Ÿ  

Capital commitments to closed-end funds that have not yet commenced their investment periods;

 

  Ÿ  

The investments we make as general partner;

 

78


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

Closed-end funds that are beyond the term during which they pay management fees; and

 

  Ÿ  

Assets under management in restructured and liquidating evergreen funds, for which management fees were waived commencing in 2009.

A reconciliation of AUM to management fee-generating AUM as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011 is set forth below:

 

     December 31,     March 31,
2011
 
     2008     2009     2010    
     (in millions)  

Reconciliation of AUM to Management Fee-Generating AUM:

        

AUM

   $  49,866      $  73,278      $  82,672      $ 85,691   

Difference between AUM and committed capital or cost basis for closed-end funds (1)

     1,932        (5,947     (9,374     (10,469)   

Capital commitments to funds that have not yet begun to generate management fees

     —          (1,075     (2,947     (4,254

Undrawn capital commitments to funds for which management fees are based on drawn capital or NAV

     (566     (1,881     (1,989     (1,901

General partner investments in management fee-generating funds

     (775     (899     (955     (976

Closed-end funds that are no longer paying management fees

     (154     (184     (471     (392

Funds for which management fees were permanently waived

     (69     (615     (761     (541
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Management fee-generating AUM

   $ 50,234      $ 62,677      $ 66,175      $ 67,158   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Not applicable to closed-end funds that pay management fees based on NAV and leverage, as applicable.

The period-end weighted average annual management fee rates applicable to the respective management fee-generating AUM balances above are set forth below:

 

     December 31,     March 31,
2011
 
       2008         2009         2010      

Weighted Average Annual Management Fee Rates:

        

Closed-end funds

     1.43     1.48     1.46     1.47

Open-end funds

     0.47        0.52        0.51        0.50   

Evergreen funds

     1.65        1.35        1.85        1.86   

Overall

     1.14        1.09        1.10        1.09   

Incentive-Creating AUM

Incentive-creating AUM shows the AUM that may eventually produce incentive income. It represents the NAV of our closed-end and evergreen funds, excluding investments made by us and our employees (which are not subject to an incentive allocation). All funds for which we are entitled to receive an incentive allocation are included in incentive-creating AUM, regardless of whether or not they are currently generating incentives. Incentive-creating AUM does not include undrawn capital commitments because they are not part of NAV.

 

79


Table of Contents

Incentive-creating AUM as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011 is set forth below:

 

     December 31,      March 31,
2011   (1)
 
     2008      2009      2010     
     (in millions)  

Incentive-Creating AUM:

           

Closed-end funds

   $ 19,670       $ 30,117       $ 36,589       $ 34,763   

Evergreen funds

     2,527         3,222         2,796         2,713   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 22,197       $ 33,339       $ 39,385       $ 37,476   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) As of March 31, 2011, of the $37.5 billion in incentive-creating AUM, $32.2 billion was generating incentive income at the fund level.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

Our AUM increased $3.0 billion, or 3.6%, from $82.7 billion to $85.7 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2011. This growth was driven by the $3.2 billion increase in market value of our existing investments, including $1.5 billion of appreciation related to our distressed debt asset class. Our closed-end funds obtained new capital commitments of $1.7 billion, including $1.0 billion for Oaktree European Principal Fund III, L.P., or EPF III, and distributed $1.7 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2011. The $1.7 billion distribution was attributable to a diverse group of funds in their liquidation periods, with Opps VII’s $0.4 billion being the largest contributor. An initial distribution of $3.0 billion in January 2011 by Opps VIIb was not deducted from the March 31, 2011 AUM balance because the distribution was subject to recall until Opps VIIb’s investment period ended on May 1, 2011. Net inflows into open-end funds totaled $0.1 billion, reflecting net inflows of $0.3 billion into our convertible securities asset class, which were partially offset by $0.2 billion of net outflows from our corporate debt asset class. The change in market value of $1.0 billion for open-end funds reflected $0.5 billion from corporate debt and $0.5 million from convertible securities. Evergreen fund AUM declined by $0.1 billion as a result of $0.3 billion in distributions from certain funds that had been restructured, which more than offset $0.1 billion in appreciation across the evergreen funds.

Management fee-generating AUM rose $1.0 billion, or 1.5%, from $66.2 billion to $67.2 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2011, primarily as a result of market value appreciation in our open-end funds, as discussed in greater detail in the previous paragraph. For closed-end funds, a decline in the management fee basis for a number of funds in liquidation of $0.6 billion more than offset $0.4 billion in aggregate new commitments to Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V, L.P., Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III, L.P., or Power Fund III, and Oaktree Mezzanine Fund III, L.P. New funds EPF III and Opps VIIIb in our control investing and distressed debt asset classes, respectively, with aggregate committed capital of $4.2 billion as of March 31, 2011, were not included in management fee-generating AUM for the period because they had yet to commence their investment periods. The $0.1 million increase for evergreen funds was mainly a result of appreciation related to Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund, L.P., or VOF.

Incentive-creating AUM decreased $1.9 billion, or 4.8%, from $39.4 billion to $37.5 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2011. The $1.8 billion decrease for closed-end funds reflected $4.3 billion in distributions, including the initial distribution of $3.0 billion by Opps VIIb in January 2011. This amount was partially offset by a $0.8 billion increase from drawing on existing capital commitments, or drawn capital, more than half of which related to Opps VIII, and $1.8 billion in appreciation, $0.7 billion of which was from Opps VIIb. The $0.1 billion decrease for evergreen funds resulted from the distributions by the restructured evergreen funds described in greater detail in the discussion of the change in evergreen fund AUM, which more than offset the $0.1 billion market value appreciation for those funds.

 

80


Table of Contents

Year Ended December 31, 2010

Our AUM grew by $9.4 billion, or 12.8%, from $73.3 billion to $82.7 billion during the year ended December 31, 2010. This growth was driven by an $8.7 billion increase in the market value of our existing assets, of which $5.4 billion arose from closed-end funds, including $2.4 billion from Opps VIIb. Our closed-end funds received aggregate capital commitments of $8.6 billion, including an aggregate $4.0 billion to Opps VIII and VIIIb, $1.4 billion to PPIF and $1.2 billion to Mezz III. Closed- end funds made aggregate distributions of $5.4 billion primarily from a mix of funds in liquidation across our distressed debt, U.S. senior loan and control investing strategies. The AUM for open-end funds increased $1.5 billion, on $2.9 billion of market value appreciation, which was partially offset by $1.4 billion in net outflows, which we believe generally reflected asset rebalancing following relatively strong price gains as the market rebounded from crisis lows in early 2009. Our corporate debt asset class had $1.8 billion in market value appreciation and $0.6 billion in net outflows, while convertible securities had $1.2 billion in market value appreciation and $0.8 billion in net outflows. For evergreen funds, the liquidation of certain restructured funds resulted in distributions of capital of $0.8 billion during 2010, which more than offset the $0.4 billion in increased market value.

Management fee-generating AUM rose $3.5 billion, or 5.6%, from $62.7 billion to $66.2 billion as of December 31, 2010, primarily as a result of $5.8 billion in capital commitments to closed-end funds that had begun to generate management fees, the most notable being $1.5 billion to each of Opps VIII and Mezz III and $1.2 billion to PPIF. Declines in the management fee basis for closed-end funds in liquidation resulted in a decrease of $2.0 billion, reflecting reductions of $0.3 billion and $0.5 billion for Opps VI and Opps VII, respectively, and $0.3 billion for OCM Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P., or POF II, which exited the 10-year period for which it paid management fees. The $1.6 billion increase in management fee-generating AUM for open-end funds reflected $2.9 billion in aggregate market value appreciation, which was partially offset by $1.3 billion in net outflows, as discussed in greater detail in the previous paragraph. For evergreen funds, the $0.6 billion decrease was primarily a result of the inclusion as of December 31, 2009 of $0.8 billion in management fee-generating AUM from a restructured evergreen fund that was not paying management fees at the time, but had the potential to generate future fees. As of September 2010, it was determined this fund no longer had the potential to pay management fees, and we removed it from this calculation as of that date. As a result, the weighted average annual management fee rate for evergreen funds increased to 1.85% as of December 31, 2010 from 1.35% as of December 31, 2009.

Incentive-creating AUM increased $6.1 billion, or 18.3%, from $33.3 billion to $39.4 billion as of December 31, 2010, primarily as a result of $5.4 billion in market value appreciation in our closed-end and evergreen funds, coupled with the net effect of capital invested less capital distributed during the year. Of the market value appreciation, $5.1 billion was from closed-end funds, including $2.4 billion from Opps VIIb. The increase in incentive-creating AUM for closed-end funds also reflected $5.0 billion of drawn capital, including $4.0 billion across a variety of funds in our distressed debt and control investing strategies. Opps VIII accounted for $1.9 billion of the drawn capital total. Partially offsetting the increase in market value and drawn capital were distributions totaling $3.7 billion, including $1.1 billion from Opps VII and $2.1 billion from other funds in our distressed debt and control investing strategies. Evergreen fund incentive-creating AUM decreased by $0.4 billion, reflecting $0.3 billion in market value appreciation, which was more than offset by $0.7 billion of capital distributed by certain restructured evergreen funds.

Year Ended December 31, 2009

Our AUM grew by $23.4 billion, or 46.9%, from $49.9 billion to $73.3 billion during the year ended December 31, 2009. This growth was primarily attributable to an increase of $19.1 billion in the market value of investments held by our funds, reflecting the broad rebound in the financial markets from crisis lows in the early part of the year. In our closed-end funds, the aggregate market value increase of

 

81


Table of Contents

$10.2 billion was primarily related to our distressed debt and control investing strategies, with Opps VIIb accounting for $4.8 billion. Closed-end fund AUM also benefited from new capital commitments totaling $7.9 billion, including $3.0 billion to Opps VIII and $2.2 billion to PFV, which more than offset $3.2 billion in distributions from a variety of funds across strategies. AUM for open-end funds increased $8.4 billion, largely as a result of $7.5 billion in market value appreciation, including $5.0 billion for our corporate debt asset class and $2.5 billion for convertible securities. Open-end fund AUM also benefited from net inflows of $0.9 billion, primarily into our corporate debt asset class. Evergreen fund AUM increased by $0.8 billion, as $1.4 billion in market value appreciation across funds more than offset $0.4 billion in redemptions from EMAR and $0.3 billion in distributions from certain restructured evergreen funds.

Management fee-generating AUM increased by $12.5 billion, or 24.9%, from $50.2 billion to $62.7 billion during the year ended December 31, 2009 due primarily to the broad appreciation in market value across all classes. Closed-end funds benefited from $2.9 billion of new committed capital to Opps VIII and $2.1 billion of new commitments to PF V. Partially offsetting the new capital commitments were $1.3 billion in distributions from two liquidating funds in our corporate debt asset class. Open-end funds had $7.4 billion in aggregate market value appreciation, in addition to $1.0 billion in net inflows, as discussed in greater detail in the previous paragraph. An increase in management fee-generating AUM of $0.3 billion for evergreen funds reflected $1.1 billion in aggregate market value appreciation, which was more than offset by $0.4 billion in redemptions from EMAR and $0.4 billion in reductions related to management fee waivers for certain restructured evergreen funds.

Incentive-creating AUM grew $11.1 billion, or 50.0%, from $22.2 billion to $33.3 billion during the year ended December 31, 2009, principally as a result of $10.2 billion in market value appreciation in the closed-end and evergreen funds across asset classes. Incentive-creating AUM for closed-end funds increased by $10.4 billion, reflecting $8.9 billion in aggregate market value appreciation, $4.7 billion of which was from Opps VIIb. Also benefiting incentive-creating AUM for closed-end funds was $3.0 billion in drawn capital, including $1.6 billion for Opps VIIb. These increases to incentive-creating AUM were partially offset by $1.5 billion in distributions from a variety of funds across several strategies. For evergreen funds, incentive-creating AUM increased by $0.7 billion, primarily as a result of $1.3 billion in aggregate market value appreciation, which was offset by $0.4 billion in redemptions from EMAR and $0.2 billion in distributions from certain restructured evergreen funds.

Year Ended December 31, 2008

Our AUM decreased by $2.7 billion, or 5.1%, from $52.6 billion to $49.9 billion during the year ended December 31, 2008. This drop was caused by a $10.8 billion decline in the market value of investments held by our funds as financial markets plunged during the financial crisis. Largely offsetting the drop in market value were net inflows of $7.9 billion. For closed-end funds, AUM increased $1.2 billion, reflecting $7.7 billion in new capital commitments, including $4.3 billion to Opps VIIb and $2.3 billion to EPOF II. Largely offsetting the increase from new capital commitments was $4.7 billion in aggregate market value declines across our strategies and $1.9 billion in distributions, which included $0.7 billion from Opps V. Open-end funds AUM declined $4.1 billion, largely as a result of $4.9 billion in market value declines – $2.9 for our corporate debt asset class and $2.0 billion for convertible securities. Partially offsetting the market value declines were $0.8 billion in net inflows, primarily in our corporate debt asset class. Evergreen funds AUM increased $0.2 billion, as $0.8 billion in new commitments to VOF and $0.5 billion in new commitments related to the restructuring of ECO more than offset aggregate market value declines of $1.2 billion.

Management fee-generating AUM rose $9.0 billion, or 21.8%, from $41.2 billion to $50.2 billion during the year ended December 31, 2008, largely as a result of Opps VIIb and its $10.7 billion of management fee-generating AUM that commenced its investment period in May 2008. Closed-end fund management fee-generating AUM increased $13.2 billion, as $13.4 billion in total new capital

 

82


Table of Contents

commitments, including the $10.7 billion from Opps VIIb, together with $1.9 billion in capital drawn by funds whose fees are based on drawn capital or NAV, more than offset $1.1 billion in reductions in fee basis related to funds in liquidation and $1.0 billion in market value declines related to funds in our corporate debt asset class. For open-end funds and evergreen funds, the changes in management fee-generating AUM approximately mirrored the change in AUM described in the previous paragraph.

Incentive-creating AUM rose $7.4 billion, or 50.0%, from $14.8 billion to $22.2 billion during the year ended December 31, 2008, principally as a result of the deployment of $7.5 billion in capital by Opps VIIb and $5.3 billion from other closed-end funds. Market value declines totaling $3.7 billion and distributions of $1.9 billion partially offset the increase related to capital deployment, resulting in a net increase of $7.2 billion for closed-end funds. Incentive-creating AUM for evergreen funds increased by $0.2 billion, largely reflecting the same factors that caused evergreen fund AUM to increase.

Accrued Incentives (Fund Level)

Our funds record as accrued incentives the incentive income that would be paid to us if the funds were liquidated at their reported values as of the date of the financial statements. Incentives created (fund level) refers to the amount generated by the funds during the period. We refer to the amount of incentive income recognized as revenue by us as segment incentive income. We recognize incentive income when it becomes fixed or determinable, all related contingencies have been removed and collection is reasonably assured. Amounts recognized by us as incentive income no longer are included in accrued incentives (fund level), the term we use for remaining fund-level accruals.

Accrued incentives (fund level) as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011, as well as changes in the period-end balance, are set forth below. Net of incentive income compensation expense, these amounts were $285.3 million, $879.9 million, $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively.

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Three Months
Ended
March  31,

2011
 
    2008     2009     2010    
    (in thousands)  

Accrued Incentives (Fund Level):

       

Beginning of period

  $ 923,320      $ 526,116      $ 1,590,365      $ 2,066,846   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Incentives created (fund level):

       

Closed-end funds

    (223,544     1,090,465        836,384        413,461   

Evergreen funds

    216        148,849        53,337        20,290   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total incentives created (fund level)

    (223,328     1,239,314        889,721        433,751   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: segment incentive income recognized
by us

    173,876        175,065        413,240        130,889   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 526,116      $ 1,590,365      $ 2,066,846      $ 2,369,708   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The same performance and market risks inherent in incentives created (fund level) affect the ability to ultimately realize accrued incentives (fund level). One consequence of the accounting method we follow for incentives created (fund level) is that accrued incentives (fund level) is an off-balance sheet metric, rather than being an on-balance sheet receivable that could require reduction if fund performance suffers. We track accrued incentives (fund level) because it provides an indication of potential future value, though the timing and ultimate realization of that value are uncertain.

 

83


Table of Contents

Incentives Created (Fund Level)

Incentives created (fund level), incentive income and accrued incentives (fund level) are presented gross, without deduction for direct compensation expense that is owed to our investment professionals associated with the particular fund when we earn the incentive income. We call that charge “incentive income compensation expense.” Incentive income compensation expense varies by the investment strategy and vintage of the particular fund, among other factors, but generally equals between 40-55% of segment incentive income revenue. As of March 31, 2011, accrued incentives (fund level) amounted to $2.4 billion and the associated estimated incentive income compensation expense was $1.0 billion. In addition to incentive income compensation expense, the magnitude of the annual bonus pool is indirectly affected by the level of incentive income, net of its incentive income compensation expense. The total charge related to the annual bonus pool, including the portion attributable to our incentive income, is reflected in the financial statement line item “compensation and benefits expense.”

Incentives created (fund level) often reflects investments measured at fair value and therefore is subject to risk of substantial fluctuation by the time the underlying investments are liquidated. We earn the incentive income, if any, that the fund is then obligated to pay us with respect to our incentive interest (generally 20%) in the fund’s profits, subject to an annual preferred return of typically 8%. Although GAAP allows the equivalent of incentives created (fund level) to be recognized as revenue by us, we have always followed the method of accounting offered by GAAP that is dependent on additional factors, including the incentive allocations becoming fixed or determinable, so as to reduce by a substantial degree the possibility that revenue recognized by us would be reversed in a subsequent period. Consequently, during the active life of a fund, the amounts of incentives created and incentives we receive or recognize are not expected to move in tandem because of the disparity, inherent in the method of accounting we utilize under GAAP, between the time that potential incentives are created at the fund level and the time that the revenue recognition criteria is met. We track incentives created (fund level) because it provides an indication of the value for us currently being created by our investment activities and facilitates comparability with those companies in our industry that utilize the alternative accrual-based method for recognizing incentive income in their financial statements.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

Incentives created (fund level) amounted to $433.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, largely as a result of continued price gains in the portfolios of Opps VII and Opps VIIb.

Year Ended December 31, 2010

Incentives created (fund level) amounted to $889.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, of which $470.3 million resulted from price appreciation of investments held by Opps VIIb and $234.1 million from other distressed debt funds, as credit markets continued their post-crisis rally.

Year Ended December 31, 2009

Incentives created (fund level) amounted to $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009, of which $802.2 million resulted from price appreciation of investments held by Opps VIIb, $220.4 million from other distressed debt funds and $124.0 million from our control investing funds, as credit markets rallied sharply from financial crisis lows in the early part of the year.

Year Ended December 31, 2008

Incentives created (fund level) were a negative $223.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, of which $121.0 million resulted from Opps VI, $39.5 million from Opps V, $28.1 million from our

 

84


Table of Contents

control investing funds and $27.9 million from our real estate funds, as a result of mark-to-market declines as credit and other financial markets dropped sharply during the financial crisis.

Uncalled Capital Commitments

Uncalled capital commitments represent undrawn capital commitments by partners (including Oaktree as general partner) of our closed-end funds in their investment periods. If a fund distributes capital during its investment period, that capital is typically subject to possible recall, in which case it is included in uncalled capital commitments. As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011, uncalled capital commitments were $7.2 billion, $11.1 billion, $14.3 billion and $18.3 billion, respectively.

Understanding Our Results – Consolidation of Oaktree Funds

GAAP requires that we consolidate substantially all of our closed-end, commingled open-end and evergreen funds in our financial statements, notwithstanding the fact that our equity investment in those funds does not typically exceed 2.5%. Consolidated funds consist of those funds in which we hold a general partner interest that gives us substantive control rights over such funds. With respect to our consolidated funds, we generally have operational discretion and control over the funds, and investors do not hold any substantive rights that would enable them to impact the funds’ ongoing governance and operating activities. The funds that we manage that were not consolidated as of March 31, 2011 represented 27.0% of our AUM and 20.9% and 12.8% of our segment management fees and segment revenues, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

When a fund is consolidated, we reflect the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows of the consolidated fund on a gross basis, subject to eliminations from consolidation. Those eliminations have the effect of reclassifying from consolidated revenues to consolidated non-controlling interests the management fees and other revenues that we earn from consolidated funds, because interests in the consolidated funds held by third-party investors are treated as non-controlling interests. Conversely, the presentation of incentive income compensation expense and other of our expenses associated with generating that reclassified revenue is not affected by the consolidation process. The assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses attributable to non-controlling interests are presented as non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated entities in the consolidated statements of financial condition and as net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated entities in the consolidated statements of operations.

The elimination of consolidated funds from our consolidated revenues means that going forward consolidated revenues are expected to be significantly impacted by fund flows and fluctuations in the market value of our separately managed accounts, as well as the revenues earned from the two unconsolidated power opportunities funds. Among the factors expected to most affect expenses is the cessation as of January 2, 2012 of the annualized charge of $924.5 million for vesting of OCGH units held as of the 2007 Private Offering. Expenses associated with our overall size and being a public company are expected to grow. These categories of expenses primarily include compensation and benefits and general, administrative and other expenses. Incentive income compensation expense fluctuates in response to a number of factors, primarily the level of incentive income revenue recognized by our segment. That level of revenue, in turn, is expected to benefit in upcoming years from the $2.4 billion of accrued incentives (fund level) as of March 31, 2011. With regard to most components of other income (loss), the results should benefit to the extent that financial markets trend upward, though prolonged gains may cause us to accept less capital in our funds, which may negatively impact our results.

Note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements includes information regarding our segment on a stand-alone basis. For a more detailed discussion of the factors that affect the results of operations of our segment, see “—Segment Analysis.”

 

85


Table of Contents

Revenues

Our business generates three types of segment revenue: management fees, incentive income and investment income. Management fees are billed monthly or quarterly based on annual rates. While we typically earn management fees for each of the funds that we manage, the contractual terms of those management fees vary by fund structure. We also earn incentive income from our closed-end funds and evergreen funds. Our closed-end funds generally provide that our incentive allocation is equal to 20% of our investors’ profits, after the investors (including us, as general partner) receive the return of all of their contributed capital plus an annual preferred return, typically 8%. Once this occurs, we receive 80% of all distributions otherwise attributable to our investors and the investors receive the remaining 20% until we have received, in the aggregate, 20% of all such distributions in excess of contributed capital from the inception of the fund. Thereafter, all such future distributions are distributed 80% to the investors and 20% to us. Our third segment revenue source, investment income, represents our pro rata share of income or loss from our investments, generally in our capacity as general partner in our and third-party managed funds and businesses. Our consolidated revenues exclude investment income, which is presented within the other income (loss) section of our consolidated statements of operations. See “Business—Our Sources of Revenues—Structure of Funds” for a detailed discussion of the structure of our funds.

Expenses

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits reflects all compensation-related items not directly related to incentive income or the vesting of OCGH units, including salaries, bonuses, compensation based on management fees or a definition of profits and employee benefits.

Incentive Income Compensation Expense

Incentive income compensation expense includes compensation directly related to incentive income, which generally consists of percentage interests (sometimes referred to as “points”) that we grant to our investment professionals associated with the particular fund that generated the incentive income. There is no fixed percentage for this compensation expense, either by fund or strategy. In general, within a particular strategy more recent funds have a higher percentage of aggregate incentive compensation expense than do older funds. The percentage that consolidated incentive income compensation expense represents of the particular period’s consolidated incentive income is not meaningful because of the fact that most incentive income is eliminated in consolidation, whereas no incentive income compensation expense is eliminated in consolidation. For a meaningful percentage relationship, see “—Segment Analysis.” Additionally, note 12 to our consolidated financial statements contains the estimated incentive income compensation expense related to accrued incentives (fund level).

Compensation Expense for Vesting of OCGH Units

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units reflects the non-cash charge associated with the OCGH units held by our principals and employees at the time of the 2007 Private Offering and as a result of subsequent grants. Starting with the year ended December 31, 2007, the non-cash compensation expense for units held at the time of the 2007 Private Offering is charged equally over the five-year vesting period of the units, ending January 2, 2012, based on the units’ value as of the 2007 Private Offering. As of March 31, 2011, we had $695.9 million of unrecognized compensation expense relating to the 2007 Private Offering that we expect to recognize over the remaining vesting period of April 1, 2011 through January 2, 2012, and $70.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense relating to unit grants subsequent to the 2007 Private Offering that we expect to recognize over their weighted-average vesting period of 4.9 years.

 

86


Table of Contents

General, Administrative and Other Expenses

General, administrative and other expenses include costs related to occupancy, accountants, tax professionals, legal advisors, consultants, travel, communications and information services, foreign exchange activity, depreciation and amortization and other general and operating items. These expenses are not borne by fund investors and are not offset by credits attributable to fund investors’ non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds. In addition, we have historically operated as a private company. As we incur additional expenses associated with being a publicly traded company, we anticipate general, administrative and other expenses to increase, both in absolute terms and possibly as a percentage of revenues. Specifically, we expect that we will incur additional general, administrative and other expenses to provide insurance for our directors and officers and to comply with SEC reporting requirements, stock exchange listing standards, the Dodd-Frank Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We anticipate that these insurance and compliance costs will substantially increase certain of our general, administrative and other expenses in the near term, although its percentage of revenues will depend upon a variety of factors, including those described above.

Consolidated Fund Expenses

Consolidated fund expenses consists primarily of costs incurred by our consolidated funds, including travel expenses, professional fees, research expenses and other costs associated with administering these funds. Inasmuch as most of these fund expenses are borne by third-party fund investors, they are offset by credits attributable to the fund investors’ non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds.

Other Income (Loss)

Interest Expense

Interest expense reflects the interest expense of Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries, as well as consolidated funds that employ financial leverage.

Interest and Dividend Income

Interest and dividend income consists of interest and dividend income earned on the investments held by our consolidated funds, the consolidated funds’ net operating income from real estate-related activities and interest income earned by Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries.

Net Realized Gain on Investments

Net realized gain on investment consists of realized gains and losses arising from dispositions of investments held by our consolidated funds.

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments reflects, for our consolidated funds, both unrealized gains and losses on investments and the reversal upon disposition of investments of unrealized gains and losses previously recognized for those investments.

Investment Income (Loss)

Represents our pro rata share of income or loss from our investments, generally in our capacity as general partner in our funds and as an investor in other third-party managed funds and businesses.

Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) reflects our settlement of the arbitration award we received relating to a former principal and portfolio manager of our real estate group who left us in 2005.

 

87


Table of Contents

Income Taxes

Prior to May 25, 2007, OCM was treated as a partnership for tax purposes, with the effects of its activities flowing through to the income tax returns of its members. Consequently, no provision for income taxes was made except for non-U.S., city and local income taxes incurred directly by OCM. In connection with the May 2007 Restructuring, Oaktree was established as a publicly traded partnership. Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., two of our five intermediate holding companies, which were established as our wholly owned subsidiaries, are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. The remainder of Oaktree’s income is generally not subject to corporate-level taxation

Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, using currently enacted tax rates. The effect on deferred assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests

Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests represents the ownership interests that third parties hold in entities that are consolidated in our financial statements. These interests fall into two categories:

 

  Ÿ  

Net income or loss attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds: the non-controlling interests that third-party investors hold in consolidated funds; and

 

  Ÿ  

Net income or loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries: the economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group owned by OCGH, which as of March 31, 2011 was 84.73%.

 

88


Table of Contents

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our audited consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and our unaudited consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011.

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands)  

Consolidated Statement of Operations:

         

Revenues:

         

Management fees

  $ 95,842      $ 115,839      $ 162,051      $ 50,609      $ 38,638   

Incentive income

    1,682        37,293        44,130        7,299        5,811   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

    97,524        153,132        206,181        57,908        44,449   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

         

Compensation and benefits

    (218,148     (268,272     (287,092     (78,612     (78,312

Incentive income compensation expense

    (64,845     (65,639     (159,243     (57,586     (53,766

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

    (941,566     (940,683     (949,376     (233,439     (237,157
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total compensation and benefits expense

    (1,224,559     (1,274,594     (1,395,711     (369,637     (369,235

General, administrative and other expenses

    (71,302     (78,531     (90,432     (21,303     (22,478

Consolidated fund expenses

    (68,148     (73,193     (94,508     (28,060     (18,934
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    (1,364,009     (1,426,318     (1,580,651     (419,000     (410,647
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (loss):

         

Interest expense

    (73,474     (34,942     (55,921     (17,267     (12,891

Interest and dividend income

    1,385,594        1,833,509        2,369,590        622,731        734,682   

Net realized gain on investments

    763,521        251,507        2,583,676        678,296        760,261   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    (8,432,832     11,113,865        1,766,450        608,281        678,628   

Investment income (loss)

    2,986        1,778        6,620        (248     2,695   

Other income (expense)

    —          —          11,243        —          (763
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (loss)

    (6,354,205     13,165,717        6,681,658        1,891,793        2,162,612   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (7,620,690     11,892,531        5,307,188        1,530,701        1,796,414   

Income taxes

    (17,341     (18,267     (26,399     (10,138     (7,010
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

    (7,638,031     11,874,264        5,280,789        1,520,563        1,789,404   

Less:

         

Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

    6,885,433        (12,158,635     (5,493,799     (1,554,323     (1,826,401

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest

    625,285        227,313        163,555        22,135        26,870   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

  $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455   $ (11,625   $ (10,127
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

89


Table of Contents

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

Revenues

Management Fees

Management fees decreased $12.0 million, or 23.7%, to $38.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $50.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease was largely a result of a decline in advisory, director and certain other fees received in connection with our investment advisory services to our consolidated funds. We reduce management fees by the amount of such ancillary fees so that our funds’ investors share pro rata in the economic benefit of the ancillary fees. Thus, in our consolidated financial statements they are treated as being attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated entities and have no impact on net income (loss) attributable to OCG. Partially offsetting this decline was an increase in management fees from our separately managed accounts in our high yield bond and convertible securities strategies, reflecting the higher average AUM in the first quarter of 2011 stemming from market appreciation between the first quarters of 2010 and 2011.

Incentive Income

Incentive income decreased $1.5 million, or 20.5%, to $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $7.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010. Nearly all of the decrease was attributable to our unconsolidated OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II, L.P. and OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II (Cayman), L.P., or the Power Funds II.

Expenses

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits decreased $0.3 million, or 0.4%, to $78.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $78.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease reflected a change in the management fee mix, which reduced the amounts paid under certain variable compensation arrangements. Specifically, certain of our portfolio managers are paid a portion of the gross management fees from certain funds in lieu of salary and bonus. The gross management fees from such funds decreased for the period, resulting in lower management fee sharing expense of $3.8 million. This decrease was partially offset by $1.0 million in higher employee bonus expense, which reflected a projected increase in our annual cash bonus pool related principally to increased headcount, and $2.1 million in increased expense related to our phantom equity plan for non-U.S. employees.

Incentive Income Compensation Expense

Incentive income compensation expense decreased $3.8 million, or 6.6%, to $53.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $57.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as a result of lower incentive income from our segment. Partially offsetting that decline was an increase in incentive income compensation expense as a percentage of segment incentive income, to 41.1% in the three months ended March 31, 2011 from 38.5% in the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily as a result of differences in the mix of funds that comprised the segment incentive income. Specifically, the proportion of segment incentive income derived from our control investing funds, which tend to have higher associated incentive compensation expense, increased, while the proportion from our distressed debt funds, which typically have lower associated incentive income compensation expense, decreased. The increase in the blended expense percentage translated into an increase in incentive income compensation expense of $3.4 million. See “—Segment Analysis” for additional details on the changes in our segment incentive income.

 

90


Table of Contents

General, Administrative and Other Expenses

General, administrative and other expenses increased $1.2 million, or 5.6%, to $22.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $21.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Excluding the impact of foreign currency-related items, general, administrative and other expenses grew $0.4 million, as the effect of overall corporate growth was offset by the payment in the prior year period of a $0.5 million Haitian disaster relief donation.

Consolidated Fund Expenses

Consolidated fund expenses decreased $9.2 million, or 32.7%, to $18.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $28.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Of this decrease, $2.2 million was a result of non-recurring organizational costs for the Oaktree PPIP Private Fund, L.P. in the first quarter of 2010. The remaining amount was largely attributable to lower professional fees incurred by certain of our funds.

Other Income (Loss)

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $4.4 million, or 25.4%, to $12.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $17.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease resulted from $6.5 million in lower aggregate interest expense for the consolidated funds, partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $2.2 million from our $300.0 million term loan that closed on January 7, 2011 and bears interest at the fixed annual rate of 3.19%.

Interest and Dividend Income

Interest and dividend income increased $112.0 million, or 18.0%, to $734.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $622.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Of this increase, $111.5 million related to the consolidated funds, reflecting higher dividend income across several of our funds in our distressed debt and control investing strategies, while the remaining $0.5 million related to Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries. In our distressed debt strategy, Opps VII, Opps VIIb and Opps VIII collectively had higher dividend income of $145.9 million, as a result of a recapitalization of a cross-held portfolio company. In our control investing strategy, POF II and POF III collectively had $48.9 million in higher dividend income following recapitalizations of two portfolio companies, while OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV, L.P., or POF IV’s, dividend income was lower by $98.8 million, reflecting a recapitalization of a portfolio company in the prior year period.

Net Realized Gain on Investments

Net realized gain on investments increased $82.0 million, or 12.1%, to $760.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $678.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, reflecting the higher level of dispositions of our investments as financial markets continued their rebound from financial crisis lows in early 2009. Of the net realized gain for the current year’s quarter, $443.6 million was attributable to Opps VIIb, as the fund sold about $1.2 billion in assets during the period. VOF, an evergreen fund, was the next largest contributor, with a net realized gain on investment of $80.6 million for the period. Funds with net realized losses totaled $50.9 million, with the largest contributor being a restructured evergreen fund. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, $376.7 million of the net realized gain was from Opps VIIb. Opps VII was the next largest contributor at $69.7 million. Funds with realized losses totaled $63.4 million, the majority of which related to an investment cross-held in OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund A, L.P. and OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund B, L.P.

 

91


Table of Contents

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

The net change in unrealized appreciation on investments increased $70.3 million, or 11.6%, to $678.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $608.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, reflecting a higher level of invested capital and continued financial market gains. Excluding the effect from the $82.0 million in increased net realized gain on investment, net change in unrealized appreciation on investments increased $152.3 million, or 11.8%, to $1.4 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $1.3 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The $152.3 million net increase resulted from a net increase of $267.4 million across our distressed debt and control investing strategies, reflecting higher levels of invested capital and continued financial market gains during the period, and a net decrease of $99.9 million from the restructured evergreen funds as a result of lower aggregate invested capital resulting from ongoing liquidations.

Investment Income (Loss)

Investment income improved $2.9 million, to income of $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from a loss of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The change reflected gains from the Power Funds II and other investments.

Other Income (Expense)

The net expense of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 reflected expenses incurred in managing real estate properties we received in the second quarter of 2010 in connection with the settlement of an arbitration award relating to a former principal and portfolio manager of our real estate group who left us in 2005.

Income Taxes

Income taxes decreased $3.1 million, or 30.7%, to $7.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $10.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease was principally the result of a lower estimated income tax rate of 18% in the first quarter of 2011, as compared with the effective income tax rate of 25% in the first quarter of 2010. The rate used for interim fiscal periods is based on the estimated full year income tax rate. Applied against the OCG portion of income after adjusting for the non-deductible compensation expense, the effective income tax rate is a function of the mix of income and other factors that often vary significantly within or between years, each of which can have a material impact on the particular year’s ultimate income tax expense. Portions of Oaktree’s income are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes while other portions are not subject to corporate-level taxation. When the portion of income not subject to tax increases, the effective tax rate decreases. The decrease in the effective tax rate from the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2011 was the result of an increase in estimated full year income not subject to tax—largely due to increases in incentive and investment income—relative to estimated full year other income between the first quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011. See “—Understanding Our Results—Consolidation of Oaktree Funds.”

Net Loss Attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC decreased $1.5 million, or 12.9%, to $10.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as a result of a lower effective income tax rate in the current year’s quarter. The recognition of losses for each period was a result of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units held at the time of the May 2007 Private Offering.

 

92


Table of Contents

Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009

Revenues

Management Fees

Management fees increased $46.3 million, or 40.0%, to $162.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $115.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily a result of an increase in advisory, director and other ancillary fees received in connection with our investment advisory services to our consolidated funds. All of these ancillary fees were attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated entities and therefore had no direct impact on net income attributable to OCG. Additionally, management fees from separately managed accounts in our high yield bond, senior loans and convertible securities strategies increased by $8.5 million in aggregate, reflecting the higher average AUM in 2010 stemming from market appreciation during 2009. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in management fees aggregating $7.7 million from OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund I, L.P., or Power Fund I, which became fully liquidated in early 2010 and the Power Funds II, which commenced their liquidation periods in November 2009.

Incentive Income

Incentive income increased $6.8 million, or 18.2%, to $44.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily a result of $12.6 million of higher incentive income from the Power Funds II, partially offset by $5.9 million of lower incentive income from Power Fund I.

Expenses

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits increased $18.8 million, or 7.0%, to $287.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $268.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase reflected a 6.0% increase in average headcount combined with increased profitability. The increased headcount principally reflected growth in non-investment areas, including marketing, client services, infrastructure services and, to a lesser extent, growth in our control investing strategy.

Incentive Income Compensation Expense

Incentive income compensation expense increased $93.6 million, or 142.7%, to $159.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $65.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as a result of higher incentive income from our segment. As a percentage of segment incentive income, incentive income compensation expense increased to 38.5% for the year ended December 31, 2010 from 37.5% for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of differences in the mix of funds that comprised segment incentive income. In particular, tax distributions in 2010 from Opps VIIb, which has a higher compensation percentage than the 2009 blended percentage, caused the overall compensation percentage to increase in 2010. The increase in the blended expense percentage translated into an increase in incentive income compensation expense of $4.3 million. See “—Segment Analysis” for additional details on the changes in our segment incentive income.

General, Administrative and Other Expenses

General, administrative and other expenses increased $11.9 million, or 15.2%, to $90.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $78.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Excluding foreign currency-related items and the effect of a $5.0 million loss incurred in 2009 upon the termination of the operating lease for our prior corporate plane, general, administrative and other

 

93


Table of Contents

expenses increased $15.1 million, or 20.6%, from 2009 to 2010. This increase occurred primarily as a result of higher professional fees, travel and occupancy costs, and other expenses associated with our overall corporate growth and enhancements to our operational infrastructure.

Consolidated Fund Expenses

Consolidated fund expenses increased $21.3 million, or 29.1%, to $94.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $73.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily a result of increased professional fees stemming from AUM growth.

Other Income (Loss)

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $21.0 million, or 60.2%, to $55.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $34.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The majority of the increase stemmed from Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries, which had an increase in interest expense of $14.3 million, resulting primarily from the issuance in November 2009 of $250.0 million in 10-year senior notes. The notes, which were issued at a slight discount, bear interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum.

Interest and Dividend Income

Interest and dividend income increased $536.1 million, or 29.2%, to $2.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009. Of the total increase, $534.7 million was from the consolidated funds, while the remainder was from Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries. The increase for the consolidated funds reflected $389.2 million in additional aggregate interest income in Opps VIIb, Opps VIII and EPOF II, as each of those funds had higher average invested balances in 2010 as compared to 2009. Additionally, POF IV had an increase in dividend income of $94.4 million as a result of the recapitalization of one of its investments in 2010.

Net Realized Gain on Investments

The net realized gain on investments increased $2.3 billion, to $2.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $0.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009, largely reflecting the sizable level of selling by our distressed debt funds as credit and other financial markets trended higher. Also contributing to the increase as compared to the prior year were the three restructured evergreen funds in liquidation, which resulted in $0.6 billion of realized losses in 2009.

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

The net change in unrealized appreciation on investments decreased $9.3 billion, or 84.1%, to $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $11.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009. Of the decline, $2.3 billion was a result of increased net realized gain on investments, as detailed in the previous paragraph. Excluding this effect, net change in unrealized appreciation on investments decreased $7.0 billion, or 61.7%, to $4.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $11.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009, because the credit and other financial markets rose much more sharply in 2009 than in 2010. Of the $7.0 billion decline, $4.2 billion was from Opps VII, Opps VIIb and POF IV, in the aggregate, reflecting lower returns for those funds in 2010 as compared to 2009. Despite the lower returns as compared to 2009, those funds accounted for more than half of the $4.4 billion in net gains in 2010. The $4.4 billion in investment gains came from a diverse group of investments.

 

94


Table of Contents

Investment Income

Investment income increased $4.8 million, or 266.7%, to $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase reflected gains from Power Fund I, Power Funds II and other investments.

Other Income

We recognized other income of $11.2 million in 2010 upon reaching a final settlement of the arbitration award relating to a former principal and portfolio manager of our real estate group who left us in 2005.

Income Taxes

Income taxes increased $8.1 million, or 44.3%, to $26.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $18.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was principally a result of higher taxable income attributable to our Class A unitholders, resulting primarily from higher segment management fees, and, to a lesser extent, by an increase in the non-U.S. income tax expense incurred by the Oaktree Operating Group. The effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were 17% and 15%, respectively, applied against the OCG portion of income, after adjusting for non-deductible compensation expense. The effective income tax rate is a function of the mix of income and other factors that often vary significantly within or between years, each of which can have a material impact on the particular year’s ultimate income tax expense. Portions of Oaktree’s income are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes while other portions are not subject to corporate-level taxation. When the portion of income subject to tax increases, the effective tax rate increases. The increase in the effective tax rate from the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010 was the result of an increase in income subject to tax—largely due to an increase in management fee income—relative to other income between 2009 and 2010. See “—Understanding Our Results—Consolidation of Oaktree Funds.”

Net Loss Attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC decreased $7.6 million, or 13.3%, to $49.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, largely as a result of higher total segment revenues in 2010. The recognition of losses for each period was a result of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units held at the time of the May 2007 Private Offering.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008

Revenues

Management Fees

Management fees increased $20.0 million, or 20.9%, to $115.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $95.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was largely a result of the sharp rebound in credit and other financial markets, which caused substantial market price appreciation for our separately managed accounts in our high yield bond, senior loans and convertible securities strategies. These strategies accounted for $15.2 million of the increase in management fees. Also contributing to the increase was the acquisition of the business assets of GFI Energy Ventures LLC, our longstanding joint venture partner in our power opportunities strategy, which resulted in $2.9 million in additional management fees versus the prior year, and an increase in advisory, director and certain other ancillary fees received in connection with our investment advisory services to our consolidated funds, which accounted for most of the remaining increase. All of the ancillary fees were attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated entities and therefore had no impact on net income attributable to OCG.

 

95


Table of Contents

Incentive Income

Incentive income increased $35.6 million, to $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $1.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2008. Nearly all of the increase was attributable to our unconsolidated power opportunities funds.

Expenses

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits increased $50.2 million, or 23.0%, to $268.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $218.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of increases in salaries, the annual bonus pool and other compensation expenses stemming from growth and greater profitability. Average headcount rose 15%, reflecting additions in non-investment areas, such as infrastructure services and marketing, as well as in certain investment areas, including the acquisition of the assets and hiring of personnel of GFI Energy Ventures LLC.

Incentive Income Compensation Expense

Incentive income compensation expense increased $0.8 million, or 1.2%, to $65.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $64.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as a result of slightly higher incentive income from our investment management segment. See “—Segment Analysis” for an explanation of changes in our segment incentive income.

General, Administrative and Other Expenses

General, administrative and other expenses increased $7.2 million, or 10.1%, to $78.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $71.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase reflected a $5.0 million loss in 2009 upon the termination of the operating lease for our prior corporate plane, as well as expenses associated with our overall corporate growth and enhancements to our operational infrastructure.

Consolidated Fund Expenses

Consolidated fund expenses increased $5.1 million, or 7.5%, to $73.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $68.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily a result of increased professional fees stemming from our AUM growth.

Other Income (Loss)

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $38.6 million, or 52.5%, to $34.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $73.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Interest expense for our consolidated funds decreased $39.4 million, reflecting a reduction in their aggregate leverage. Interest expense for Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries increased $0.8 million, resulting primarily from the issuance in November 2009 of $250.0 million in 10-year senior notes. The notes, which were issued at a slight discount, bear interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum.

Interest and Dividend Income

Interest and dividend income increased $447.9 million, or 32.3%, to $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $1.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of the increase in aggregate invested capital in debt securities. Interest income from Opps VIIb increased $464.5 million, as the fund commenced operations on May 1, 2008 and continued to invest through 2009. Fund investments grew to $5.7 billion at year-end 2008 and then to $12.5 billion by the end of 2009.

 

96


Table of Contents

Net Realized Gain on Investments

The net realized gain on investments decreased $512.0 million, or 67.1%, to $251.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $763.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Of the decrease, $502.2 million resulted from increased net realized losses in our three restructured and liquidating evergreen funds.

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

The net change in unrealized appreciation on investments increased $19.5 billion, to income of $11.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009 from a loss of $8.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008, reflecting the sharp rebound in the credit and other financial markets in 2009, in contrast to the plunge in the financial markets in 2008 during the depths of the financial crisis. The impact resulting from net realized gain on investment was relatively minor, at $0.5 billion, as discussed above. Distressed debt funds accounted for $9.6 billion of the increase, with $4.7 billion of that amount coming from Opps VIIb. Of the remainder, $2.8 billion came from funds in our control investing strategy, while $2.2 billion arose from gains in the restructured evergreen funds.

Investment Income

Investment income fell $1.2 million, or 40.0%, to $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decline reflected a $2.0 million decrease for our investments in our unconsolidated power opportunities funds that was partially offset by an increase of $0.9 million for our investments in certain non-Oaktree managed investment vehicles.

Income Taxes

Income taxes increased $1.0 million, or 5.8%, to $18.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $17.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was principally a result of higher taxable income attributable to our Class A unitholders, resulting primarily from higher segment management fees, which was partially offset by a decrease in the non-U.S. income tax expense incurred by the Oaktree Operating Group . The effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were 15% and 36%, respectively, applied against the OCG portion of income, after adjusting for non-deductible compensation expense. The effective income tax rate is a function of the mix of income and other factors that often vary significantly within or between years, each of which can have a material impact on the particular year’s ultimate income tax expense. Portions of Oaktree’s income are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes while other portions are not subject to corporate-level taxation. When the portion of income not subject to tax increases, the effective tax rate decreases. The decrease in the effective tax rate from the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009 was the result of an increase in income not subject to tax—largely due to an increase in investment income—relative to other income between 2008 and 2009. See “—Understanding Our Results—Consolidation of Oaktree Funds.”

Net Loss Attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC decreased $70.2 million, or 55.1%, to $57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $127.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, largely as a result of higher total segment revenues in 2009. The segment revenue increase resulted primarily from investment income, for which direct compensation expense and other associated variable expenses were relatively small. The recognition of losses for each period was a result of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units held at the time of the May 2007 Private Offering.

 

97


Table of Contents

Segment Analysis

Our business is comprised of one segment, our investment management segment, which consists of the investment management services that we provide to our clients.

Management makes operating decisions and assesses the performance of our business based on financial and operating metrics and data that are presented without the consolidation of any funds. For a detailed reconciliation of the segment results of operations to our consolidated results of operations, see note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements. The data most important to our chief operating decision maker in assessing our performance are adjusted net income, adjusted net income – OCG, fee-related earnings and net fee-related earnings – OCG.

Adjusted Net Income

Our chief operating decision maker uses adjusted net income, or ANI, to evaluate the financial performance of, and make resource allocations and other operating decisions for, our segment. The components of revenues and expenses used in the determination of ANI do not give effect to the consolidation of the funds that we manage. In addition, ANI excludes the effect of: (1) non-cash equity compensation charges, (2) income taxes, (3) expenses that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and (4) the adjustment for the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007. We expect that ANI will include non-cash equity compensation charges related to unit grants made after this offering. ANI is calculated at the Oaktree Operating Group level.

Among other factors, our accounting policy for recognizing incentive income and our planned inclusion of non-cash equity compensation charges for unit grants made after this offering will likely make our calculations of ANI not directly comparable to economic net income, or ENI, or other similarly named measures for other asset managers.

We calculate ANI-OCG, a non-GAAP measure, to provide Class A unitholders with a measure that shows the portion of ANI attributable to their ownership. ANI-OCG represents ANI including the effect of (1) the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007, (2) expenses, such as income tax expense, that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and (3) any Oaktree Operating Group income taxes attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC. Two of our Intermediate Holding Companies incur federal and state income tax for their share of the Oaktree Operating Group income. Generally speaking, those two corporate entities hold an interest in the Oaktree Operating Group’s management fee-generating assets and a small portion of its incentive and investment income-generating assets. As a result, historically our fee-related earnings generally have been subject to corporate-level taxation, and our incentive income and investment income generally have not been subject to corporate-level taxation. Thus, the blended effective income tax rate has generally tended to be higher to the extent that fee-related earnings represented a larger proportion of our ANI. Myriad other factors affect income tax expense and the effective income tax rate, and there can be no assurance that this historical relationship will continue going forward.

 

98


Table of Contents

ANI and ANI-OCG for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 are set forth below:

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands, except per unit data)  

Revenues:

         

Management fees

  $ 544,520      $ 636,260      $ 750,031      $ 184,224      $ 185,259   

Incentive income

    173,876        175,065        413,240        149,569        130,889   

Investment income (loss)

    (151,249     289,001        149,449        40,656        53,017   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment revenues

    567,147        1,100,326        1,312,720        374,449        369,165   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

         

Compensation and benefits

    (218,128     (268,241     (287,067     (78,606     (78,312

Incentive income compensation expense

    (64,845     (65,639     (159,243     (57,586     (53,766

General, administrative and other expenses

    (70,459     (77,788     (87,602     (21,112     (20,250
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

    (353,432     (411,668     (533,912     (157,304     (152,328
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI before interest, other income (expense) and income taxes

    213,715        688,658        778,808        217,145        216,837   

Other income (expense)

    —          —          11,243        —          (763

Interest expense, net

    (6,437     (13,071     (26,173     (7,130     (8,720
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

    207,278        675,587        763,878        210,015        207,354   

ANI attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest

    (174,752     (571,219     (646,910     (177,856     (175,785

Non-Operating Group expenses

    (969     (1,008     (1,113     (198     (184
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI-OCG before income taxes

    31,557        103,360        115,855        31,961        31,385   

Income taxes-OCG

    (10,967     (14,850     (19,925     (7,837     (5,404
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI-OCG

  $ 20,590      $ 88,510      $ 95,930      $ 24,124      $ 25,981   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI-OCG per Class A and Class C unit

  $ 0.90      $ 3.88      $ 4.23      $ 1.06      $ 1.15   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of Class A and Class C units outstanding

    23,002        22,821        22,677        22,677        22,677   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fee-Related Earnings

Fee-related earnings, or FRE, is a non-GAAP profit measure that we use to monitor the baseline earnings of our business. FRE is comprised of segment management fees less segment operating expenses other than incentive income compensation expense. This calculation is considered baseline because it applies all bonus and other general expenses to management fees, even though a significant portion of those expenses is attributable to incentive and investment income. We expect that FRE will include non-cash equity compensation charges related to unit grants made after this offering. FRE is presented before income taxes.

Net fee-related earnings – OCG, or NFRE-OCG, is a non-GAAP measure of FRE applicable to the Class A unitholders. NFRE-OCG represents FRE including the effect of (1) the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007, (2) expenses, such as income tax expense, that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly, and (3) any Oaktree Operating Group income taxes attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC. FRE income taxes – OCG are calculated excluding any segment incentive or investment income (loss).

 

99


Table of Contents

Among other factors, our planned inclusion of non-cash equity compensation charges for unit grants made after this offering may make our calculations of FRE and NFRE-OCG not directly comparable to similarly named measures for other asset managers.

FRE and NFRE-OCG for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 are set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
     (in thousands, except per unit data)  

Management fees

   $ 544,520      $ 636,260      $ 750,031      $ 184,224      $ 185,259   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

          

Compensation and benefits

     (218,128     (268,241     (287,067     (78,606     (78,312

General, administrative and other expenses

     (70,459     (77,788     (87,602     (21,112     (20,250
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     (288,587     (346,029     (374,669     (99,718     (98,562
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FRE

     255,933        290,231        375,362        84,506        86,697   

FRE attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest

     (215,731     (245,202     (317,897     (71,578     (73,497

Non-Oaktree Operating Group expenses

     (864     (774     (1,119     (199     (185
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NFRE-OCG before income taxes

     39,338        44,255        56,346        12,729        13,015   

FRE income taxes – OCG

     (11,876     (14,569     (16,633     (4,337     (3,948
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NFRE-OCG

   $ 27,462      $ 29,686      $ 39,713      $ 8,392      $ 9,067   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NFRE-OCG per Class A and Class C unit(1)

   $ 1.19      $ 1.30      $ 1.75      $ 0.37      $ 0.40   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of Class A and Class C units outstanding(1)

     23,002        22,821        22,677        22,677        22,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) NFRE-OCG per Class A and Class C unit is calculated using the same weighted average number of Class A and Class C units used in the computation of net loss per Class A and Class C units. A reconciliation of NFRE-OCG to net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC follows below.

 

100


Table of Contents

The following table is a reconciliation of FRE to ANI and of ANI to net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC:

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands)  

FRE(1)

  $ 255,933      $ 290,231      $ 375,362      $ 84,506      $ 86,697   

Incentive income

    173,876        175,065        413,240        149,569        130,889   

Incentive income compensation expense

    (64,845     (65,639     (159,243     (57,586     (53,766

Investment income (loss)

    (151,249     289,001        149,449        40,656        53,017   

Interest expense, net of interest income

    (6,437     (13,071     (26,173     (7,130     (8,720

Other income (expense)

    —         —         11,243        —         (763
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

    207,278        675,587        763,878        210,015        207,354   

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units(2)

    (941,566     (940,683     (949,376     (233,439     (237,157

Income taxes(3)

    (17,341     (18,267     (26,399     (10,138     (7,010

Non-Oaktree Operating Group expenses(4)

    (969     (1,008     (1,113     (198     (184

OCGH non-controlling interest(5)

    625,285        227,313        163,555        22,135        26,870   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

  $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455   $ (11,625   $ (10,127
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) FRE is a component of ANI and is comprised of segment management fees less segment operating expenses other than incentive income compensation expense.
(2) This adjustment adds back the effect of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units, which is excluded from ANI and FRE because it is a non-cash charge that does not affect our financial position.
(3) Because ANI and FRE are pre-tax measures, this adjustment adds back the effect of income tax expense from ANI and FRE.
(4) Because ANI and FRE are calculated at the Oaktree Operating Group level, this adjustment adds back the effect of expenses that OCG or its Intermediate Holdings Companies bear directly.
(5) Because ANI and FRE are calculated at the Oaktree Operating Group level, this adjustment adds back the effect of the net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest.

 

101


Table of Contents

The following table is a reconciliation of NFRE-OCG to ANI-OCG and of ANI-OCG to net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC:

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands)  

NFRE-OCG (1)

  $ 27,462      $ 29,686      $ 39,713      $ 8,392      $ 9,067   

Incentive income attributable to OCG

    27,313        27,089        63,293        22,917        19,928   

Incentive income compensation expense attributable to OCG

    (10,187     (10,148     (24,386     (8,819     (8,186

Investment income (loss) attributable to OCG

    (23,754     44,420        22,886        6,226        8,072   

Interest expense, net of interest income attributable to OCG

    (1,153     (2,256     (4,006     (1,092     (1,328

Other income (expense) attributable to OCG

    —         —         1,722        —         (116

Non-FRE income taxes attributable to OCG(2)

    909        (281     (3,292     (3,500     (1,456
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI-OCG(1)

    20,590        88,510        95,930        24,124        25,981   

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units attributable to OCG (3)

    (147,903     (145,568     (145,385     (35,749     (36,108
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

  $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455   $ (11,625   $ (10,127
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) NFRE-OCG and ANI-OCG are calculated to evaluate the portion of ANI and FRE attributable to Class A unitholders. These measures are net of expenses that OCG or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and income taxes.
(2) This adjustment adds back income tax expense associated with segment incentive income, incentive income compensation expense or investment income (loss), which are not included in the calculation of NFRE.
(3) This adjustment adds back the effect of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units attributable to OCG, which is excluded from ANI-OCG and NFRE-OCG because it is a non-cash charge that does not affect our financial position.

 

 

102


Table of Contents

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Compared to March 31, 2010

Segment Revenues

Management Fees

A summary of our management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 is set forth below:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010      2011  
     (in thousands)  

Management Fees:

  

Closed-end funds

   $ 143,059       $ 141,476   

Open-end funds

     30,869         32,760   

Evergreen funds

     10,296         11,023   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 184,224       $ 185,259   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Management fees increased $1.1 million, or 0.6%, to $185.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from $184.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, for the reasons described below.

 

   

Closed-end funds .    Management fees attributable to closed-end funds for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased $1.6 million, or 1.1%, to $141.5 million from $143.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease occurred because the year-earlier period included $8.8 million in retroactive management fees earned upon the final close of Oaktree Principal Fund V, L.P., or PF V. The current-year period included management fees from new capital commitments to Opps VIII, Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III, L.P., Oaktree Mezzanine Fund III, L.P. and Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V, L.P. Our period-end weighted average annual management fee rate increased to 1.47% as of March 31, 2011 from 1.45% as of March 31, 2010, as a result of the new capital commitments described above, combined with the ongoing liquidation of our closed-end loan funds, which pay an annual management fee of 0.50%.

 

   

Open-end funds .    Management fees attributable to open-end funds for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $1.9 million, or 6.1%, to $32.8 million from $30.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, because between March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, market appreciation and net fund flows were $3.2 billion and $(0.7) billion, respectively. We believe the fund outflows in our corporate debt and convertible securities asset classes generally reflected asset rebalancing on the part of our investors following significant price gains in those asset classes. Our period-end weighted average annual management fee rate decreased to 0.50% as of March 31, 2011 from 0.52% as of March 31, 2010, as a result of lower annualized performance fees. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, total performance fees, a component of management fees, declined by $1.1 million.

 

   

Evergreen funds .    Management fees attributable to evergreen funds for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $0.7 million, or 6.8%, to $11.0 million from $10.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The increase resulted primarily from market value appreciation in VOF. Our period-end weighted average annual management fee rate increased to 1.86% as of March 31, 2011 from 1.35% as of March 31, 2010. We estimate that this increase had an immaterial impact as it primarily related to the inclusion of a restructured evergreen fund as of March 31, 2010 that was not paying management fees at the time, but had the potential to generate future fees. As of September 2010, it was determined this fund no longer had the potential to pay management fees, and we removed it from this weighted average management fee rate calculation as of that date.

 

103


Table of Contents

Incentive Income

A summary of our incentive income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 is set forth below:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010      2011  
     (in thousands)  

Incentive Income:

  

Closed-end funds

   $ 148,903       $ 127,489   

Evergreen funds

     666         3,400   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 149,569       $ 130,889   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Incentive income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased by $18.7 million, or 12.5%, to $130.9 million from $149.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease reflected the fact that the prior year’s first three months included tax-related incentive distributions by Opps VIIb for the full year 2009. In contrast, the three months ended March 31, 2011 included tax-related incentive distributions only as a true-up for the full year 2010. Generally, our incentive income generating funds make tax distributions only in the following year’s first quarter, at which point the income tax consequences of the prior year are more certain. In the case of Opps VIIb, however, consistently strong interest income and other characteristics of its portfolio caused the taxable income to become of such a size and sustainability that, starting in the second quarter of 2010, the fund began making these tax-related distributions intra-year rather than waiting until the first quarter of the following year. The amount of Opps VIIb’s tax distributions recognized as incentive income over the last nine months of 2010 (and thus not recognized in the first quarter of 2011, as would have been the case under the normal practice) aggregated $121.2 million.

Investment Income (Loss)

A summary of investment income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 is set forth below:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2011  
     (in thousands)  

Investment Income (Loss):

  

Distressed debt

   $ 31,303      $ 37,432   

Corporate debt

     3,729        1,998   

Control investing

     4,686        8,920   

Convertible securities

     39        76   

Real estate

     (749     2,034   

Listed equities

     1,300        923   

Non-Oaktree

     348        1,634   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 40,656      $ 53,017   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $12.3 million, or 30.2%, to $53.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $40.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily as a result of a 17.1% rise in the average invested balance and secondarily due to returns on the invested balance.

 

104


Table of Contents

Segment Expenses

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits decreased $0.3 million, or 0.4%, to $78.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $78.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease reflected a change in the management fee mix, which reduced the amounts paid under certain variable compensation arrangements. Specifically, certain of our portfolio managers are paid a portion of the gross management fees from certain funds in lieu of salary and bonus. The gross management fees from such funds decreased for the period, resulting in lower management fee sharing expense of $3.8 million. This decrease was partially offset by $1.0 million in higher employee bonus expense, which reflected a projected increase in our annual cash bonus pool related principally to increased headcount, and $2.1 million in increased expense related to our phantom equity plan for non-U.S. employees.

Incentive Income Compensation Expense

Incentive income compensation expense decreased $3.8 million, or 6.6%, to $53.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $57.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as a result of the 12.5% decrease in incentive income and an increase in incentive income compensation expense as a percentage of incentive income. As a percentage of incentive income, incentive income compensation expense increased to 41.1% in the three months ended March 31, 2011 from 38.5% in the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily as a result of differences in the mix of funds that comprised incentive income. Specifically, the proportion of segment incentive income derived from our control investing funds, which tend to have higher associated incentive compensation expense, increased, while the proportion from our distressed debt funds, which typically have lower associated incentive income compensation expense, decreased. The increase in the blended expense percentage translated to an increase in incentive income compensation expense of $3.4 million.

General, Administrative and Other Expenses

General, administrative and other expenses decreased $0.8 million, or 3.8%, to $20.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $21.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Excluding the impact of foreign currency-related items, general, administrative and other expenses were $0.5 million higher, as the effect of overall corporate growth was offset by the payment in the prior-year period of a Haitian disaster relief donation.

Other Income (Expense)

The net expense of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 reflected expenses incurred in managing real estate properties awarded us in the second quarter of 2010 upon settlement of an arbitration award related to a former principal and portfolio manager of our real estate group who left us in 2005.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net of interest income, increased to $8.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily as a result of the $300.0 million term loan that closed on January 7, 2011, which bears interest at the fixed annual rate of 3.19%.

Income Taxes – OCG

The estimated full-year effective income tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010 were 18% and 25%, respectively, applied against the OCG portion of income ,

 

105


Table of Contents

after adjusting for non-deductible compensation expense. The effective income tax rate is a function of the mix of income and other factors that often vary significantly within or between years, each of which can have a material impact on the particular year’s ultimate income tax expense. The rate used for interim fiscal periods is based on the estimated full year effective income tax rate.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted net income decreased $2.6 million, or 1.2%, from $210.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 to $207.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, primarily as a result of a $5.3 million, or 1.4%, decrease in total segment revenues.

Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009

Segment Revenues

Management Fees

A summary of our management fees for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 is set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
             2009                      2010          
     (in thousands)  

Management Fees:

  

Closed-end funds

   $ 485,328       $ 583,320   

Open-end funds

     111,455         124,651   

Evergreen funds

     39,477         42,060   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 636,260       $ 750,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Management fees increased $113.7 million, or 17.9%, to $750.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $636.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, for the reasons described below:

 

  Ÿ  

Closed-end funds . Management fees attributable to closed-end funds increased $98.0 million, or 20.2%, to $583.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the prior year, reflecting capital commitments to Opps VIII, PF V, Mezz III and Power Fund III during 2010. The decline in the year-end weighted average management fee rate from 1.48% to 1.46% primarily resulted from new capital commitments to PPIF, which has a lower annual management fee rate than most other closed-end funds.

 

  Ÿ  

Open-end funds . Management fees attributable to open-end funds increased $13.2 million, or 11.8%, to $124.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the prior year, reflecting the higher average AUM in 2010 stemming from market appreciation caused by the rally in credit and other financial markets in 2009. The decline in the year-end weighted average management fee rate from 0.52% to 0.51% primarily resulted from $0.4 million in lower performance fees than in the prior year.

 

  Ÿ  

Evergreen funds . Management fees attributable to evergreen funds increased $2.6 million, or 6.6%, to $42.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the prior year, reflecting the higher average AUM in 2010 stemming from market appreciation during 2009. Partially offsetting this increase were lower management fees from Oaktree Emerging Markets Absolute Return Fund, L.P., or EMAR, reflecting $417.0 million in redemptions and the reduction in the fund’s annual management fee rate from 2.00% to 1.50%, both as of July 1, 2009. The management fee rate reduction for EMAR resulted in lower management fees of

 

106


Table of Contents
 

$1.7 million for 2009 and $3.6 million for 2010. The change in the year-end weighted average management fee rate for evergreen funds from 1.35% to 1.85%, however, did not have a meaningful impact on management fees, as it resulted primarily from a restructured evergreen fund, as discussed previously in the three-month comparison.

Incentive Income

A summary of our incentive income for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 is set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
             2009                      2010          
     (in thousands)  

Incentive Income:

  

Closed-end funds

   $ 72,548       $ 326,688   

Evergreen funds

     102,517         86,552   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 175,065       $ 413,240   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Incentive income increased $238.1 million, or 136.0%, to $413.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $175.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as a result of growth of $231.2 million in tax-related incentive distributions and of $43.2 million in incentive income from two liquidating evergreen funds. The increase in tax-related incentive income in part reflected the aforementioned commencement in 2010 of intra-year tax distributions by Opps VIIb. Of Opps VIIb’s $209.0 million in tax-related incentive distributions in 2010, $121.2 million represented intra-year distributions for tax year 2010, with the remaining $87.8 million attributable to tax year 2009. Closed-end fund incentive income not related to tax distributions rose from $57.7 million in 2009 to $80.7 million in 2010, as a result of an increased level of realizations as the financial markets trended higher. Meanwhile, incentive income from the two active evergreen funds fell from $102.5 million in 2009 to $43.4 million in 2010 because the market prices for these funds’ holdings rose more in 2009 than in 2010.

Investment Income (Loss)

A summary of our investment income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 is set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
             2009                     2010          
     (in thousands)  

Investment Income (Loss):

  

Distressed debt

   $ 188,702      $ 102,333   

Corporate debt

     46,611        10,117   

Control investing

     41,492        25,568   

Convertible securities

     393        154   

Real estate

     7,626        6,502   

Listed equities

     5,704        2,873   

Non-Oaktree

     (1,527     1,902   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 289,001      $ 149,449   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment income (loss) decreased $139.6 million, or 48.3%, to $149.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 from $289.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2009, as financial market gains were more subdued in 2010 than in the prior year. The average invested balance rose to $990.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 from $737.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

107


Table of Contents

Segment Expenses

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits increased $18.9 million, or 7.0%, to $287.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $268.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase reflected a 6.0% increase in average headcount combined with increased profitability. The increased headcount principally reflected growth in non-investment areas of our company such as marketing, client services and infrastructure services and, to a lesser extent, growth in our control investing strategy.

Incentive Income Compensation Expense

Incentive income compensation expense increased $93.6 million, or 142.7%, to $159.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $65.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of the 136.0% increase in incentive income. As a percentage of incentive income, incentive income compensation expense increased from 37.5% in 2009 to 38.5% in 2010, reflecting a different mix of funds generating incentive income. In particular, tax distributions in 2010 from Opps VIIb, which has a higher compensation percentage than the 2009 blended percentage, caused the overall compensation percentage to increase in 2010. The increase in the blended expense percentage translated to an increase in incentive income compensation expense of $4.3 million.

General, Administrative and Other Expenses

General, administrative and other expenses increased $9.8 million, or 12.6%, to $87.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $77.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Excluding foreign currency-related items and the effect of a $5.0 million loss incurred in the year ended December 31, 2009 upon the termination of the operating lease for our prior corporate plane, general, administrative and other expenses increased $14.8 million, or 20.4%, from 2009 to 2010. This increase occurred primarily as a result of higher professional fees, travel and occupancy costs and other expenses associated with our overall corporate growth, as well as enhancements to our operational infrastructure.

Other Income (Expense)

We recognized other income of $11.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 as the result of reaching a final settlement of the arbitration award we received relating to a former principal and portfolio manager of our real estate group who left us in 2005.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net of interest income, increased to $26.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from $13.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of the issuance in November 2009 of $250.0 million in 10-year senior notes. The notes, which were issued at a slight discount, bear interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum. In June 2010, there were $21.4 million of scheduled principal repayments on the 10-year senior notes issued in 2001 and 2004.

Income Taxes – OCG

The effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were 17% and 15%, respectively, applied against the OCG portion of income, after adjusting for non-deductible compensation expense. The effective income tax rate is a function of the mix of income and other factors that often vary significantly within or between years, each of which can have a material impact on the particular year’s ultimate income tax expense.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted net income increased $88.3 million, or 13.1%, to $763.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $675.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, largely as a result of a

 

108


Table of Contents

$212.4 million, or 19.3%, increase in total segment revenues. The percentage increase in ANI was less than the corresponding increase in total revenues because of the relative shift in those revenues to management fees and incentive income from investment income. Investment income has, on average, less direct compensation and other expenses than management fees or incentive income.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008

Segment Revenues

Management Fees

A summary of our management fees for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 is set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
             2008                      2009          
     (in thousands)  

Management Fees:

  

Closed-end funds

   $ 407,095       $ 485,328   

Open-end funds

     93,595         111,455   

Evergreen funds

     43,830         39,477   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 544,520       $ 636,260   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Management fees increased $91.8 million, or 16.9%, to $636.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $544.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, for the reasons described below:

 

  Ÿ  

Closed-end funds . Management fees attributable to closed-end funds increased $78.2 million, or 19.2%, to $485.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the prior year. The increase primarily reflected the commencement of management fees from the $10.9 billion Opps VIIb in May 2008, and secondarily the launch of PF V and Opps VIII in 2009. The new capital commitments to PF V and Opps VIII, combined with the ongoing liquidations of older funds with lower management fee rates, resulted in an increase in the year-end weighted average management fee rate from 1.43% to 1.48%.

 

  Ÿ  

Open-end funds . Management fees attributable to open-end funds increased $17.9 million, or 19.1%, to $111.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the prior year. The increase was principally due to market price appreciation related to the sharp rebound in the credit and other financial markets, and secondarily to net inflows. The increase in the year-end weighted average management fee rate from 0.47% to 0.52% resulted primarily from $5.9 million in higher performance fees, also reflective of the recovery in the financial markets.

 

  Ÿ  

Evergreen funds . Management fees attributable to evergreen funds decreased $4.3 million, or 9.8%, to $39.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the prior year. The decrease reflected our decision to waive management fees starting in early 2009 for two evergreen funds that underwent restructurings and commenced liquidation. The decrease also was attributable to $417.0 million in redemptions from EMAR and a reduction in the annual management fee rate for EMAR from 2.00% to 1.50%, both as of July 1, 2009. Significantly offsetting those negative variances was an annual increase in management fees from VOF, primarily reflecting substantial asset appreciation on sharply rising credit markets. The year-end weighted average management fee rate declined from 1.65% to 1.35%, primarily as a result of the reduction in the management fee rate for EMAR, which resulted in $1.7 million in lower management fees for 2009, and the aforementioned restructuring of evergreen funds, which had $10.4 million in lower management fees during 2009.

 

109


Table of Contents

Incentive Income

A summary of our incentive income for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 is set forth below.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
             2008                      2009          
     (in thousands)  

Incentive Income:

  

Closed-end funds

   $ 173,660       $ 72,548   

Evergreen funds

     216         102,517   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 173,876       $ 175,065   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Incentive income rose $1.2 million, or 0.7%, to $175.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the prior year. Rebounding financial markets in 2009 led to significant annual incentive income from VOF and EMAR, more than offsetting the decline in incentive income from closed-end funds, including a decrease in tax-related distributions from $93.6 million in 2008 to $14.8 million in 2009.

Investment Income (Loss)

A summary of our investment income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 is set forth below:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
             2008                     2009          
     (in thousands)  

Investment Income (Loss):

  

Distressed debt

   $ (54,931   $ 188,702   

Corporate debt

     (64,392     46,611   

Control investing

     (18,018     41,492   

Convertible securities

     (257     393   

Real estate

     (4,021     7,626   

Listed equities

     (7,236     5,704   

Non-Oaktree

     (2,394     (1,527
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (151,249   $ 289,001   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment income (loss) rose $440.2 million, to income of $289.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from a loss of $151.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, reflecting significant mark-to-market increases as the credit markets rose sharply in 2009 following severe declines in 2008. The year-over-year improvement also resulted from significant capital contributions to our funds during the period 2008-2009. As many of our closed-end funds, most notably Opps VIIb, deployed considerable amounts of capital during the financial crisis, we funded our capital commitments as general partner.

Segment Expenses

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits increased $50.1 million, or 23.0%, to $268.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $218.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of increases in salaries, the annual bonus pool and other compensation expenses related to greater profitability. Additionally, we experienced a 14.9% increase in average headcount, additions in

 

110


Table of Contents

non-investment areas, such as infrastructure services and marketing as well as in certain investment areas, including the acquisition of the assets and hiring of the personnel of GFI Energy Ventures LLC.

Incentive Income Compensation Expense

Incentive income compensation expense increased $0.8 million, or 1.2%, to $65.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $64.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of slightly higher incentive income. As a percentage of incentive income, incentive income compensation expense increased slightly, from 37.3% in 2008 to 37.5% in 2009, reflecting a different mix of funds contributing to incentive income.

General, Administrative and Other Expenses

General, administrative and other expenses increased $7.3 million, or 10.4%, to $77.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $70.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase reflected expenses associated with our overall corporate growth and enhancements to our operational infrastructure.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net of interest income, increased $6.7 million, or 104.7%, to $13.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $6.4 million for the year ended 2008, principally as a result of lower interest income driven both by declining interest rates and lower cash balances. The lower balances reflected the use of cash for general partner investments in our funds.

Income Taxes – OCG

The effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were 15% and 36%, respectively, applied against the OCG portion of income, after adjusting for non-deductible compensation expense. The effective income tax rate is a function of the mix of income and other factors that often vary significantly within or between years, each of which can have a material impact on the particular year’s ultimate income tax expense.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted net income increased $468.3 million, or 225.9%, to $675.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $207.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, largely as a result of a $533.2 million, or 94.0%, increase in total segment revenues. The revenue increase resulted primarily from a $440.2 million positive change in investment income, for which direct compensation and other expenses were relatively small.

Segment Statement of Financial Condition

The following table presents our segment statement of financial condition as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and March 31, 2011. Since our founding, we have managed our financial condition in a way that builds our capital base and maintains sufficient liquidity for known and anticipated uses of cash. We have issued debt largely to help fund our investments, including as general partner of our funds. We believe that debt maturities should generally match the anticipated sources of repayments. Because the largest share of our general partner investments has been in closed-end funds with 10- to 11-year terms, most of our debt has been issued with 10-year terms. An exception to this practice was when we obtained a 5-year term loan in January 2011, which we did to capitalize on historically low interest rates. Our segment’s receivables do not include accrued incentives (fund level), an off-balance sheet metric, or the related incentive income compensation expense. For a reconciliation of segment total assets to our consolidated total assets, see note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

111


Table of Contents
     December 31,      March 31,
2011
 
     2009      2010     
     (in thousands)  

Assets:

        

Cash and cash-equivalents

   $ 433,769       $ 348,502       $ 597,907   

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

     74,900         170,564         200,625   

Management fees receivable

     24,348         29,642         28,577   

Incentive income receivable

     94,744         107,037         31,671   

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity

     909,329         1,108,690         1,060,227   

Deferred tax assets

     78,058         76,619         76,619   

Other assets

     87,255         103,747         116,082   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,702,403       $ 1,944,801       $ 2,111,708   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Capital:

        

Liabilities:

        

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and accrued incentive income compensation expense payable

   $ 236,630       $ 243,018       $ 155,895   

Due to affiliates

     80,940         61,496         62,100   

Debt obligations

     425,000         403,571         696,071   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     742,570         708,085         914,066   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital:

        

OCGH non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     804,319         1,036,363         997,650   

Unitholders’ capital attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

     155,514         200,353         199,992   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capital

     959,833         1,236,716         1,197,642   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and capital

   $ 1,702,403       $ 1,944,801       $ 2,111,708   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have managed our historical liquidity and capital requirements by focusing on our cash flows before the consolidation of our funds and the effect of normal changes in short-term assets and liabilities. Our primary cash flow activities on an unconsolidated basis involve: generating cash flow from operations; generating income from investment activities; funding capital commitments that we have made to our funds; funding our growth initiatives; distributing cash flow to our owners; and borrowings, interest payments and repayments under credit agreements, our senior notes and other borrowing arrangements. As of March 31, 2011, we had an available cash balance of $597.9 million, which rises to $798.5 million when including investments in U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government agency securities.

Ongoing sources of cash include: management fees, which are collected monthly or quarterly; incentive income, which is volatile and largely unpredictable as to amount and timing; and fund distributions related to our general partner investments. We primarily use cash flow from operations and fund distributions to pay compensation and related expenses, general, administrative and other expenses, income taxes, debt service, capital expenditures and distributions. This same cash flow, together with proceeds from equity and debt issuances, also is used to fund investments in limited partnerships, fixed assets and other capital items. If cash flow from operations were insufficient to fund distributions, we expect that we would suspend paying such distributions.

Seasonality typically affects cash flow as follows: (1) the first quarter of each year includes (a) as a source of cash, the prior year’s annual incentive income payments, if any, from our evergreen funds and tax distributions from certain investment funds that have allocated taxable income to us but have not yet distributed in cash a sufficient sum with which to pay the related income taxes and (b) as a use of cash, the vast majority of the prior fiscal year’s bonus expense and (2) the second quarter of each year includes annual principal repayments on the oldest two of our four series of senior notes (as described below).

 

112


Table of Contents

Tax distributions are not required in respect of the Class A units and are only required from the Oaktree Operating Group entities and only if and to the extent that there is sufficient cash available for distribution. Accordingly, if there were insufficient cash flow from operations to fund quarterly or tax distributions by the Oaktree Operating Group entities, we expect that these distributions would not be made. We believe that we have sufficient access to cash from existing balances, our operations and the revolving credit facility described below to fund our operations and commitments.

Adjusted Operating Cash Flow

In accordance with GAAP, certain of our funds are consolidated into our financial statements, notwithstanding the fact that we have only a minority economic interest in these funds. Consequently, our consolidated financial statements reflect the cash flow of our consolidated funds on a gross basis. We use adjusted operating cash flow, or AOCF, to measure our cash flow for purposes of operating our business, allocating resources and determining equity distributions from the Oaktree Operating Group because, by excluding the impact of our consolidated funds’ cash flows which are not directly available to fund our operations or make distributions, and including our deemed realized investment income distributions, we are better able to measure liquidity and cash flows that are actually available to operate our business.

AOCF is a non-GAAP measure of our segment’s liquidity and differs from cash provided by (used in) operations as determined by GAAP in that it: (1) reverses cash flow from the operating activities of OCG, the Intermediate Holding Companies, the consolidated funds and the impact of consolidating eliminations; (2) reverses cash flows resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities of the Oaktree Operating Group, such as timing differences related to the recognition and receipt of incentive income from evergreen funds and those related to quarterly bonus expense accruals; and (3) treats as a source of cash the portion of fund distributions to us that represents realization of investment income.

A reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to AOCF for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 is set forth below:

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2008     2009     2010     2010     2011  
    (in thousands)  

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities to AOCF:

         

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ (12,410,412   $ (631,558     $3,276,378      $ 927,338      $ 1,650,000   

Less: Net cash used in (provided by) operating activities associated with consolidated funds and OCG and its Intermediate Holding Companies (1)

    12,823,110        998,803        (2,708,124     (806,942     (1,512,910
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities – Oaktree Operating Group

    412,698        367,245        568,254        120,396        137,090   

Less: cash flows due to changes in operating assets and liabilities – Oaktree Operating Group

    (54,951     22,102        33,290        47,913        16,953   

Distributions of income from investments in limited partnerships (2)

    25,861        24,411        31,364        7,873        6,935   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

AOCF

  $ 383,608      $ 413,758      $ 632,908      $ 176,182      $ 160,978   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) This adjustment removes the net operating cash flows of our consolidated funds and the activity at OCG and the Intermediate Holding Companies, which are not a part of the Oaktree Operating Group. Net operating cash flows of our consolidated funds are largely driven by purchases and sales of investments, as well as realized investment gains and losses of our consolidated funds that are not directly available to fund our operations.

 

113


Table of Contents
(2) Unlike investment income, which is largely non-cash in nature, this adjustment characterizes a portion of cash distributions received from Oaktree and non-Oaktree funds as profits or losses. In general, the profit or loss component of a distribution from a fund is calculated by multiplying the ratio of our investment’s undistributed profit or loss by our remaining investment balance in the fund. In addition, if the distribution is subject to recall, it is not reflected in AOCF until it is no longer recallable.

The increase in AOCF of $219.1 million, or 52.9%, to $632.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $413.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, was driven primarily by higher segment incentive income and secondarily by higher segment management fees, net of increases in associated compensation and other expenses. The increase of $30.2 million, or 7.9%, to $413.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $383.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, largely resulted from higher segment management fees, net of increases in associated compensation and other expenses.

The decrease of $15.2 million, or 8.6%, to $161.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from $176.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, was primarily a result of lower segment incentive income.

Consolidated Cash Flows

The accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows include our consolidated funds, despite the fact that we have only a minority economic interest in those funds. The assets of consolidated funds, on a gross basis, are substantially larger than the assets of our business and, accordingly, have a substantial effect on the cash flows reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows. The primary cash flow activities of our consolidated funds involve:

 

  Ÿ  

raising capital from third-party investors;

 

  Ÿ  

using the capital provided by us and third-party investors to fund investments and operating expenses;

 

  Ÿ  

financing certain investments with indebtedness;

 

  Ÿ  

generating cash flows through the realization of investments, as well as the collection of interest and dividend income; and

 

  Ÿ  

distributing net cash flows to fund investors and to us.

Because our consolidated funds are treated as investment companies for accounting purposes, investing cash flow amounts are included in our cash flows from operations. We believe that the consolidated funds and Oaktree each has sufficient access to cash to fund their respective operations in the near term.

Significant amounts from our consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011 are summarized and discussed below. Negative amounts represent net cash outflows.

Operating Activities

The net cash provided by (used in) operating activities was $(12.4) billion, $(0.6) billion and $3.3 billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $0.9 billion and $1.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. These amounts included (1) net proceeds from (purchases of) investments for the consolidated funds of $(13.4) billion, $(2.6) billion and $1.7 billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively; (2) net realized gains on investments of the consolidated funds of $0.8 billion, $0.3 billion and $2.6 billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $0.7 billion and $0.8 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively; and (3) change in unrealized gains

 

114


Table of Contents

(losses) on investments of $(8.4) billion, $11.1 billion and $1.8 billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $0.6 billion and $0.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. These amounts are reflected as operating activities in accordance with investment company accounting standards.

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was $73.1 million, $(83.3) million and $(127.2) million for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $(43.4) million and $(21.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Investing activities are driven primarily by net U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government agency investment activities and secondarily by the use of cash for net investments in non-consolidated funds and strategic investments. The net use of cash in 2010 reflects a $20.0 million strategic equity investment in DoubleLine Capital LP and a $20.0 million investment in one of its fixed-income investment limited partnerships. The cash provided by investing activities in 2008 was primarily due to an absence of investment security purchases during the year.

General Partner and Other Capital Commitments

As of March 31, 2011, our capital commitments to our funds (as general partner) and certain non-Oaktree managed investment vehicles are set forth below. Subsequent to Opps VIIb, we adopted a policy of not committing more than $100 million to a single fund in our capacity as general partner.

 

     Capital
Commitments
     Undrawn
Commitments

as of March  31,
2011
 
     (in millions)  

Distressed Debt:

  

OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb, L.P.

   $ 274       $ 103   

Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII, L.P.

     100         40   

Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb, L.P.

     66         66   

Special accounts

     34         16   

Control Investments:

     

Oaktree Principal Fund V, L.P.

     71         53   

OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.

     10         1   

OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P.

     58         11   

OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

     38         38   

OCM Asia Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.

     12         4   

Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

     22         21   

Special accounts

     5         4   

Real Estate:

     

Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V, L.P.

     20         16   

Oaktree Asia Special Situations Fund, L.P.

     20         12   

Oaktree PPIP Fund, L.P.

     29         26   

Mezzanine Finance:

     

Oaktree Mezzanine Fund III, L.P.

     40         31   

Non-Oaktree

     22         5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 821       $ 447   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

115


Table of Contents

Financing Activities

The net cash provided (used) by financing activities was $13.7 billion, $0.3 billion and $(0.8) billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $0.0 billion and $(3.3) billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Financing activities included (1) net contributions from (distributions to) non-controlling interests of $14.0 billion, $0.3 billion and $(0.1) billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $0.2 billion and $(3.4) billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively; (2) repayment of debt obligations, net of proceeds received, of $0.0 billion, $0.2 billion and $(0.2) billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $0.0 billion and $(0.3) billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively; and (3) distributions to, net of capital contributions by, our unitholders of $0.2 billion, $0.2 billion and $0.5 billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and $0.1 billion and $0.2 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Future Sources and Uses of Liquidity

We expect to continue to make distributions to our Class A unitholders pursuant to our distribution policy. In the future, we may also issue additional units or debt and other equity securities with the objective of increasing our available capital.

In addition to our ongoing sources of cash that include management fees, incentive income and fund distributions related to our general partner investments, we also have access to liquidity through our debt financings and credit agreements. In January 2011, our subsidiaries Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. and Oaktree Capital I, L.P. entered into a credit agreement with a bank syndicate for senior unsecured credit facilities, consisting of a $300.0 million fully-funded term loan and a $250.0 million revolving credit facility. We are required to make a principal payment in respect of the term loan of $7.5 million on the last business day of each of March, June, September and December, with the final payment of $150.0 million, constituting the remainder of the term loan, due on January 7, 2016. The revolving credit facility, which expires on January 7, 2014, permits us to borrow up to an additional $146.4 million outside of the facility as of March 31, 2011.

In November 2009, our subsidiary Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due December 2, 2019, or the 2019 Notes. In addition to the 2019 Notes, as of March 31, 2011, we had four other series of senior notes outstanding, with an aggregate remaining principal balance of $153.6 million. These notes have aggregate principal repayments due of $21.5 million in 2011 and $10.7 million in each of 2012, 2013 and 2014, with the remaining $100.0 million payable in 2016. Agreements underlying the senior notes contain customary financial covenants, including ones requiring minimum levels of unitholders’ capital and interest expense coverage. As of March 31, 2011, we were in compliance with each of these covenants. See “Description of Our Indebtedness” for a more detailed description of our indebtedness.

We are required to maintain minimum net capital balances for regulatory purposes in certain international jurisdictions in which we do business, which are met in part by retaining cash and cash-equivalents in those jurisdictions. As a result, we may be restricted in our ability to transfer cash between different jurisdictions. As of March 31, 2011, we were required to maintain approximately $9.0 million in net capital at these subsidiaries, and we were in compliance with all regulatory minimum net capital requirements.

In May 2007, two of our Intermediate Holding Companies, Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., entered into a tax receivable agreement with OCGH unitholders that provides for the payment to an exchanging or selling OCGH unitholder of 85.0% of the amount of cash savings, if

 

116


Table of Contents

any, in U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income taxes that they actually realize (or are deemed to realize in the case of an early termination payment by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. or a change of control, as discussed below under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement”) as a result of an increase in the tax basis of the assets owned by Oaktree Operating Group. These payments are expected to occur over approximately the next 17 years. In connection with the 2007 Private Offering and related tax effects, a $77.6 million liability to the OCGH unitholders was recorded with respect to the tax receivable agreement. In the third quarter of 2008, we revised our estimate of the liability relating to the tax receivable agreement downward by $9.7 million as a result of further analysis of the valuations relating to future taxable deductions, resulting in a revised liability of $67.9 million. Payments of $1.3 million and $3.5 million were made to pre-2007 Private Offering OCGH unitholders by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. in 2009 related to tax benefits that Oaktree Holdings Inc., recognized, including interest thereon, with respect to the 2007 and 2008 taxable years, respectively. Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. did not generate taxable income in 2007 or 2008 and did not recognize any tax benefits related to the tax receivable agreement for those years. Accordingly, Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. did not make any payments in connection with the tax receivable agreement for 2007 or 2008. In connection with the tax return filed for the year ended December 31, 2009, $3.2 million was paid to the pre-2007 Private Offering OCGH unitholders by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. in October 2010, further lowering the estimated liability to $59.9 million. The deferred tax asset associated with this liability was $67.2 million at March 31, 2011.

Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, we and our consolidated funds enter into contractual arrangements that may require future cash payments. The following table sets forth information relating to anticipated future cash payments as of March 31, 2011:

 

    Remainder
of 2011
    2012-2013     2014-2015     Thereafter     Total  
    (in thousands)  

Oaktree and Operating Subsidiaries:

         

Operating lease obligations (1)

  $ 11,477      $ 23,895      $ 20,684      $ 23,280      $ 79,336   

Debt obligations payable

    43,929        81,428        70,714        500,000        696,071   

Interest obligations on debt (2)

    31,955        63,358        57,645        72,026        224,984   

Tax receivable agreement

    3,318        7,059        7,697        41,854        59,928   

Commitments to Oaktree and third-party funds (3)

    447,130        —          —          —          447,130   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total

    537,809        175,740        156,740        637,160        1,507,449   

Consolidated funds:

         

Debt obligations payable

    143,009        —          —          —          143,009   

Interest obligations on debt

    1,093        —          —          —          1,093   

Commitments to fund investments (4)

    1,203,456        —          —          —          1,203,456   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 1,885,367      $ 175,740      $ 156,740      $ 637,160      $ 2,855,007   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) We lease our office space under agreements that expire periodically through 2020. The table includes only guaranteed minimum lease payments for these leases and does not project other lease-related payments. These leases are classified as operating leases for financial statement purposes and as such are not recorded as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements.
(2) Interest obligations include accrued interest on outstanding indebtedness.
(3) These obligations represent commitments by us to provide general partner capital funding to our funds and limited partner capital funding to funds managed by unaffiliated third parties. These amounts are generally due on demand and are therefore presented in the 2011 column. Capital commitments are expected to be called over the next five years.
(4) These obligations represent commitments by our funds to make investments or fund uncalled contingent commitments. These amounts are generally due either on demand or by various contractual dates which vary by investment and are therefore presented in the 2011 column. Capital commitments are expected to be called over a period of several years.

 

117


Table of Contents

In some of our service contracts or management agreements, we have agreed to indemnify third-party service providers or separate account clients under certain circumstances. The terms of the indemnities vary from contract to contract and the amount of indemnification liability, if any, cannot be determined and has neither been included in the above table nor recorded in our financial statements as of March 31, 2011.

As of March 31, 2011, none of the incentive income we have received is subject to clawback by the funds.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We lease a corporate airplane for business purposes. We are responsible for any unreimbursed costs and expenses incurred in connection with the operation, crew, registration, maintenance, service and repair of the airplane. An unaffiliated third party manages the airplane and coordinates its use. The lease contains a buyout provision that would allow us to purchase the plane at the lease’s termination in February 2015. If we do not exercise that option, we would be responsible for any shortfall, up to $10.0 million, in sale proceeds the lessor might incur below an expected sale value of $12.3 million.

Critical Accounting Policies

We prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. In applying many of these accounting principles, we need to make assumptions, estimates or judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. These assumptions, estimates or judgments, however, are both subjective and subject to change, and actual results may differ from our assumptions and estimates. If actual amounts are ultimately different from our estimates, the revisions are included in our results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known. We believe the following critical accounting policies could potentially produce materially different results if we were to change underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments. See the notes to our consolidated financial statements for a summary of our significant accounting policies.

Principles of Consolidation

We consolidate all entities that we control through a majority voting interest or otherwise, including our funds in which we as the general partner are presumed to have control. Although we have a small single-digit equity percentage in the funds, the third-party limited partners do not have the right to dissolve the partnerships or substantive kick-out rights or participating rights that would overcome the presumption of control by the general partner. Accordingly, we consolidate the limited partnerships and record non-controlling interests to reflect the economic interests of the unaffiliated limited partners. Because limited partners in consolidated funds have been granted redemption rights exercisable in certain circumstances, amounts relating to third-party interests in consolidated funds are presented as non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds within the consolidated statements of financial condition, outside of the permanent capital section. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Our consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, investment income, expenses and cash flows of the consolidated funds on a gross basis, and the majority of the economic interests in those funds, which are held by third-party investors, are attributed to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated entities. Substantially all of the management fees and incentive income earned by us from those funds are eliminated in consolidation. However, because the eliminated amounts are earned from, and funded by, non-controlling interests, our attributable share of the net income from those funds is increased by the amounts eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination in consolidation of such amounts has no effect on net income (loss) attributable to us.

 

118


Table of Contents

Investments in unconsolidated funds are recorded using the equity method of accounting and reflect our ownership interest in each such fund that we do not control. Investment income represents our pro rata share of income or loss from these funds. Our general partnership interests are substantially illiquid. For purposes of valuing net assets, our funds carry investments at fair value, using methods we consider appropriate. Fair value of the underlying investments is based on our assessment, which takes into account expected cash flows, earnings multiples and/or comparisons to similar market transactions, among other factors. Valuation adjustments reflecting consideration of credit quality, concentration risk, sales restrictions and other liquidity factors are integral to valuing these instruments.

Revenue Recognition

Management Fees

We recognize management fees over the period in which the investment advisory services are performed. While we typically earn management fees for each of the funds that we manage, the contractual terms of management fees vary by fund structure. During the investment period of our closed-end funds, the management fee is a fixed percentage, generally in the range of 1.25% to 1.75% per year of total committed capital (up through the final close, these fees are earned on a retroactive basis to the fund’s first closing date). During the liquidation period, the management fee remains the same fixed percentage, applied against the lesser of the total funded capital and the cost basis of assets remaining in the fund, provided that our right to receive management fees typically ends after 10 or 11 years from the initial closing date or the start of the investment period, even if certain assets remain to be liquidated. For open-end and evergreen funds, the management fee is generally based on the NAV of the fund. Our open-end funds generally charge management fees of 0.50% of NAV per year, paid monthly or quarterly. Our evergreen funds pay a management fee quarterly, based on a fixed percentage of the NAV of the relevant fund.

Fee calculations that consider committed capital or cost basis are both objective in nature and therefore do not require the use of significant estimates or assumptions. Management fees related to our open-end and evergreen funds, by contrast, are typically based on NAV as defined in the respective partnership or investment management agreements. NAV is typically based on the current fair value of the underlying investments within the funds. Estimates and assumptions are made when determining the fair value of the underlying investments within the funds and could vary depending on the valuation methodology that is used. See “—Investments, at Fair Value” for further discussion related to significant estimates and assumptions used for determining fair value of the underlying investments in our funds.

We do not recognize incremental income for transaction, advisory, director and other ancillary fees received in connection with providing services to portfolio companies or potential investees of the funds; rather, any such fees are offset against management fees earned from the applicable fund. Inasmuch as these fees are not paid directly by the consolidated funds, such fees do not eliminate in consolidation; however, there is no impact to our net income as the amounts are included in income attributable to OCG.

Incentive Income

In calculating incentive income, we have elected to adopt “Method 1” from GAAP guidance applicable to accounting for revenues based on a formula. Under this method, we recognize incentive income when amounts are fixed or determinable, all related contingencies have been removed and collection is reasonably assured, which generally occurs in the quarter of, or the quarter immediately prior to, the distribution of the income by the fund to us.

 

119


Table of Contents

Other Income (Loss)

Other income (loss) consists primarily of the unrealized and realized gains (losses) on investments (including the impacts of foreign currency on non-dollar denominated investments), dividend and interest income received from investments and interest expense incurred in connection with investment activities. Unrealized gains or losses result from changes in the fair value of our funds’ investments during a period as well as the reversal of unrealized gains or losses in connection with realization events. Upon disposition of an investment, previously recognized unrealized gains or losses are reversed and a corresponding realized gain or loss is recognized in the current period. While this reversal generally does not significantly impact the net amounts of gains (losses) that we recognize from investment activities, it affects the manner in which we classify our gains and losses for reporting purposes.

Investments, at Fair Value

GAAP establishes a hierarchal disclosure framework which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring investments at fair value into three levels based on their market observability. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of instrument and the characteristics specific to the instrument. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices from an active market or for which fair value can be measured based on actively quoted prices generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment inherent in measuring fair value.

Non-publicly traded debt and equity securities and other securities or instruments for which reliable market quotations are not available, are valued by management. These securities may initially be valued at the acquisition price as the best indicator of fair value. Subsequent valuations will depend on facts and circumstances known as of the valuation date and the application of valuation methodologies further described below under “—Non-Publicly Traded Equity and Real Estate Investments.”

Exchange-Traded Investments

Securities listed on one or more national securities exchanges are valued at their last reported sales price on the date of valuation. If no sale occurred on the valuation date, the security is valued at the mean of the last “bid” and “ask” prices on the valuation date. Securities that are not marketable due to legal restrictions that may limit or restrict transferability are generally valued at a discount from quoted market prices. The discount would reflect the amount market participants would require due to the risk relating to the inability to access a public market for the security for the specified period and would vary depending on the nature and duration of the restriction and the risk and volatility of the underlying securities. Securities with longer duration restrictions or higher volatility are generally valued at a higher discount. Such discounts are generally estimated based on put option models or analysis of market studies. Instances where we have applied discounts to quoted prices of restricted listed securities have been infrequent. The impact of such discounts is not material to our consolidated statements of financial condition and results of operations for all periods presented.

Credit-Oriented Investments

Investments in corporate and government debt which are not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange are valued at the average mean of the last bid and ask prices on the valuation date based on quotations supplied by recognized quotation services or by reputable broker-dealers.

The market yield approach is considered in the valuation of non-publicly traded debt securities, utilizing expected future cash flows, discounted using estimated current market rates. Discounted cash flow calculations may be adjusted to reflect current market conditions and/or the perceived credit risk of the borrowers.

 

120


Table of Contents

Non-Publicly Traded Equity and Real Estate Investments

The fair values of private equity and real estate investments are determined by using a market approach or income approach. A market approach utilizes valuations of comparable public companies and transactions and generally seeks to establish the enterprise value of the portfolio company using a market multiple approach. This approach takes into account a specific financial measure (such as EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, net operating income, net income book value or net asset value) believed to be most relevant for the given company. Consideration may also be given to such factors as acquisition price of the security, historical and projected operational and financial results for the portfolio company, the strengths and weaknesses of the portfolio company relative to its comparable companies, industry trends, general economic and market conditions and other factors deemed relevant. The income approach is typically a discounted cash flow method that incorporates expected timing and level of cash flows. It incorporates assumptions in determining growth rates, income and expense projections, discount and capitalization rates, capital structure, terminal values and other factors. The applicability and weight assigned to market and income approaches are determined based on the availability of reliable projections and comparable companies and transactions.

The valuation of securities may be impacted by expectations of investors’ receptiveness to a public offering of the securities, the size of the holding of the securities and any associated control, information with respect to transactions or offers for the securities (including the transaction pursuant to which the investment was made and the period of time elapsed from the date of the investment to the valuation date) and applicable restrictions on the transferability of the securities.

These valuation methodologies involve a significant degree of management judgment. Accordingly, valuations by us do not necessarily represent the amounts which may eventually be realized from sales or other dispositions of investments. Fair values may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investment existed, and the differences could be material to the financial statements.

Investments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

 

  Ÿ  

Level I – Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which we have access at the date of measurement. The types of investments in Level I include exchange-traded equities, debt and derivatives with quoted prices.

 

  Ÿ  

Level II – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are directly or indirectly observable. Level II inputs include prices in markets for which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, little public information exists or prices vary substantially over time or among brokered market makers. Other inputs include interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment risks, loss severities, credit risks and default rates. The types of investments in Level II generally include corporate bonds and loans, government and agency securities, less liquid and restricted equity investments, over-the-counter traded derivatives and other investments where the fair value is based on observable inputs.

 

  Ÿ  

Level III – Model-derived valuations for which one or more significant inputs are unobservable. These inputs reflect our assessment of the assumptions that market participants use to value the investment based on the best available information. The types of investments in Level III include non-publicly traded equity, debt, real estate and derivatives.

In some instances, an investment may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such instances, the investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest of the three levels (with Level III being the lowest) that is significant to the value measurement. Our assessment of

 

121


Table of Contents

the significance of an input requires judgment and considers factors specific to the instrument. We account for the transfer of assets into or out of each fair value hierarchy level as of the beginning of the reporting period.

The table below summarizes the valuation of investments and other financial instruments, by fund type and fair value hierarchy levels, for each period presented in our consolidated statements of financial condition:

 

     As of March 31, 2011  
     (in thousands)  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Closed-end funds

   $ 3,534,508       $ 16,817,127       $ 12,060,991       $ 32,412,626   

Open-end funds

     3,561         4,361,679         15,541         4,380,781   

Evergreen funds

     753,432         1,040,155         445,772         2,239,359   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,291,501       $ 22,218,961       $ 12,522,304       $ 39,032,766   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     As of December 31, 2010  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Closed-end funds

   $ 3,433,518       $ 17,461,653       $ 11,543,649       $ 32,438,820   

Open-end funds

     2,576         4,106,921         25,450         4,134,947   

Evergreen funds

     690,180         1,181,078         593,265         2,464,523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,126,274       $ 22,749,652       $ 12,162,364       $ 39,038,290   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     As of December 31, 2009  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Closed-end funds

   $ 2,008,865       $ 19,841,016       $ 7,463,972       $ 29,313,853   

Open-end funds

     7,431         4,338,707         24,664         4,370,802   

Evergreen funds

     218,820         1,668,021         826,353         2,713,194   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,235,116       $ 25,847,744       $ 8,314,989       $ 36,397,849   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity-Based Compensation

Compensation expense is calculated based on the fair value of a unit at the time of grant, adjusted annually or more frequently, as necessary, for actual forfeitures to reflect expense only for those units that ultimately vest. We utilize a contemporaneous valuation report which incorporates market comparables for restricted stock liquidity discounts among other factors, in determining fair value. Prior to this offering, fair value is typically determined using the latest available closing price of our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market, discounted for a lack of marketability. Equity-based awards that do not require future service (i.e., awards vested at grant) are expensed immediately. Equity-based employee awards that require future service are recognized on a straight line basis over the requisite service period.

Recent Accounting Developments

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued guidance on disclosures surrounding fair value measurements. The guidance requires additional disclosure of significant transfers in and out of Levels I and II fair value measurements in the fair value hierarchy and

 

122


Table of Contents

the reasons for such transfers. In the case of Level III fair value measurements, the guidance requires the reconciliation of beginning and ending balances on a gross basis, with separate disclosure of gross purchases, sales, issuances, settlements and transfers in and out. The new guidance also requires that disclosures of the fair value hierarchy include disaggregation by class of assets and liabilities. In addition, an entity is required to provide further disclosures on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for either Level II or Level III. The guidance was effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about gross purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll-forward of activity in Level III fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. We adopted the guidance, excluding the reconciliation of Level III activity, with the issuance of our March 31, 2010 financial statements. The guidance related to the reconciliation of Level III activity was adopted effective with the issuance of our March 31, 2011 financial statements. Inasmuch as the guidance is limited to enhanced disclosures, the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in GAAP and IFRSs. This ASU represents the converged guidance of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB, on fair value measurement and is intended to result in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term “fair value.” The amendments are to be applied prospectively and are effective for public entities during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. Inasmuch as the guidance is limited to enhanced disclosures, the adoption is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to a broad range of risks inherent in the financial markets in which we participate, including price risk, interest rate risk, access to and cost of financing risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and foreign exchange rate risk. Potentially negative effects of these risks may be mitigated to a certain extent by those aspects of our investment approach, investment strategies, fundraising practices or other business activities that are designed to benefit, either in relative or absolute terms, from periods of economic weakness, tighter credit or financial market dislocations.

Our predominant exposure to market risk is related to our role as general partner or investment adviser to our funds and the sensitivities to movements in the fair value of their investments on management fees, incentive income and investment income. The fair value of the financial assets and liabilities of our funds may fluctuate in response to changes in, among many factors, the value of securities, foreign exchange, commodities and interest rates.

Price Risk

Impact on Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Consolidated Funds’ Investments

As of March 31, 2011, we had investments at fair value of $39.5 billion related to our consolidated funds. We estimate that a 10% decline in market values would result in a negative change in unrealized appreciation on the consolidated funds’ investments of $3.9 billion. Inasmuch as this effect would be attributable to non-controlling interests, net income attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC would be unaffected.

 

123


Table of Contents

Impact on Segment Management Fees

Management fees are generally assessed in the case of: (1) our open-end funds and evergreen funds, based on NAV; and (2) our closed-end funds, based on committed capital during the investment period and, during the liquidation period, based on the lesser of: (a) the total funded committed capital; and (b) the cost basis of assets remaining in the fund. Management fees are affected by short-term changes in market values to the extent they are based on NAV, in which case the effect is prospective. We estimate that for the year ended December 31, 2010, an incremental 10% decline in market values of the investments held in our funds would have caused an approximate $16.7 million decrease in management fees. This estimated effect is without regard to a number of factors that would be expected to increase or decrease the magnitude of the change to degrees that are not readily quantifiable, such as the use of leverage facilities in certain of our funds or the timing of fund flows. We estimate an incremental 10% decline in market values of the investments held in our funds would have a proportionately similar impact on our management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Impact on Segment Incentive Income

Incentive income is recognized only when it is fixed or determinable, which in the case of: (1) our closed-end funds generally occurs only after all contributed capital and an annual 8% preferred return on that capital have been distributed to the fund’s investors; and (2) our active evergreen funds occurs generally as of December 31, based on the increase in the fund’s NAV during the year, subject to any high-water marks. In the case of closed-end funds, the link between short-term fluctuations in market values and a particular period’s incentive income is indirect at best and, in certain cases, non-existent. Thus, the effect on incentive income of an incremental 10% decline in market values for the year ended December 31, 2010 or the three months ended March 31, 2011 is not readily quantifiable. Over a number of years, a decline in market values would be expected to cause a decline in incentive income. In the case of evergreen funds, we estimate the incentive income of $86.6 million recognized during the year ended December 31, 2010 would have been reduced by $39.1 million had fair values declined an incremental 10% during the year. Of the $39.1 million aggregate effect, we estimate $8.3 million was attributable to our restructured evergreen funds.

Impact on Segment Investment Income

Investment income arises from our investments in funds managed by us or third parties. This income is directly affected by changes in market risk factors. We estimate that for the year ended December 31, 2010, an incremental 10% decline in fair values of the investments held in our funds would have reduced our investment income by $107.7 million. This estimated effect is without regard to a number of factors that would be expected to increase or decrease the magnitude of the change to degrees that are not readily quantifiable, such as the use of leverage facilities in certain of our funds, the timing of fund flows or the timing of new investments or realizations. We estimate an incremental 10% decline in fair values of the investments held in our funds would have a proportionately similar impact on our investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Exchange Rate Risk

Our business is affected by movements in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar currencies in the case of: (1) management fees that vary based on the NAV of our funds that hold investments denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies; (2) management fees received in non-U.S. dollar currencies; (3) operating expenses for our foreign offices that are denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies; and (4) cash balances we hold in non-U.S. dollar currencies. We manage our exposure to exchange rate risks through our regular operating activities and, when appropriate, through the use of derivative financial instruments.

 

124


Table of Contents

We estimate that for the year ended December 31, 2010, a 10% decline in the average rate of exchange of the U.S. dollar would have had the following approximate effects on our segment results:

 

  Ÿ  

our management fees (relating to (1) and (2) above) would have increased by $4.0 million;

 

  Ÿ  

our operating expenses would have increased by $9.1 million;

 

  Ÿ  

OCGH interest in loss of consolidated subsidiaries would have increased by $4.3 million; and

 

  Ÿ  

our income tax expense would have increased by $0.5 million.

The effect of these movements on our net loss attributable to OCG would have been an incremental loss of $1.3 million. We estimate that a 10% decline in the average rate of exchange of the U.S. dollar would have a proportionately similar impact on our results for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

At any point in time, some investments held in the closed-end funds and evergreen funds are carried in non-U.S. dollar currencies on an unhedged basis. Changes in currency rates could affect incentive income, incentives created (fund level) and investment income for evergreen funds and closed-end funds, although the degree of impact is not readily determinable because of the many indirect effects that currency movements may have on individual investments.

Credit Risk

We are party to agreements providing for various financial services and transactions that contain an element of risk in the event that the counterparties are unable to meet the terms of such agreements. In such agreements, we depend on the respective counterparty to make payment or otherwise perform. We generally endeavor to minimize our risk of exposure by limiting to reputable financial institutions the counterparties with which we enter into financial transactions. In other circumstances, availability of financing from financial institutions may be uncertain due to market events, and we may not be able to access these financing markets.

Interest Rate Risk

As of March 31, 2011, Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries had $696.1 million in debt obligations consisting of five senior notes issuances and a funded term loan. Each senior notes issuance accrues interest at a fixed rate. The funded term loan accrues interest at a variable rate; however, we entered into an interest rate swap that effectively converted the term loan interest rate to a fixed rate. As a result, we estimate that there would be no material impact to interest expense of Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries resulting from a 100-basis points increase in interest rates. Based on segment cash and cash-equivalents of $597.9 million as of March 31, 2011, we estimate Oaktree and its operating subsidiaries would generate an additional $6.0 million in interest income on an annualized basis as a result of a 100-basis points increase in interest rates.

Our consolidated funds have debt obligations that include revolving credit agreements and certain other investment financing arrangements. These debt obligations accrue interest at variable rates, and changes in these rates would affect the amount of interest payments that we would have to make, impacting future earnings and cash flows. As of March 31, 2011, $143.0 million was outstanding under these credit facilities. We estimate that interest expense relating to variable rates would increase on an annual basis by $1.4 million in the event interest rates were to increase by 100 basis points.

As credit-oriented investors, we are also subject to interest rate risk through the securities we hold in our consolidated funds. A 100-basis points increase in interest rates would be expected to negatively affect prices of securities that accrue interest income at fixed rates and therefore negatively impact net change in unrealized appreciation on the consolidated funds’ investments. The actual

 

125


Table of Contents

impact is dependent on the average duration of such holdings. Conversely, securities that accrue interest at variable rates would be expected to benefit from a 100-basis points increase in interest rates because these securities would generate higher levels of current income and therefore positively impact interest and dividend income. Inasmuch as these effects are attributable to non-controlling interests, net income attributable to OCG would be unaffected. In the cases that our funds pay management fees based on NAV, we would expect our segment management fees to experience a change in direction and magnitude corresponding to that experienced by the underlying portfolios.

 

126


Table of Contents

INDUSTRY

Overview of the Asset Management Industry

The asset management industry generally involves the management of investments on behalf of investors. The total value of externally managed assets worldwide surpassed $87.5 trillion at the end of 2010, increasing from $50.4 trillion at the end of 2003.

LOGO

Asset managers employ a diverse range of strategies, which are generally divided into two broad categories: traditional asset management and alternative asset management. Traditional asset managers focus on mainstream equity and fixed income markets, while alternative asset managers tend to concentrate on other markets, such as non-investment grade debt, private equity, distressed assets, real estate, emerging markets and hedge funds.

Many of the investments favored by alternative asset managers are privately traded or otherwise more illiquid than the securities purchased by traditional asset managers. To accommodate this illiquidity, alternative asset managers often require their investors to commit their capital to multi-year periods in closed-end funds or other locked-up investment vehicles. This long-term capital commitment, coupled with the greater risk often associated with alternative asset strategies as compared with traditional investment products, has historically made alternative assets more acceptable and appealing to institutional investors than to individual investors.

Investors in alternative asset strategies are typically comprised of institutional and/or limited partner investors, including pension funds, endowment funds, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and high net worth individuals. Pension plans are among the largest investors in alternative asset managers. According to the 2011 Towers Watson Global Pension Asset Study, pension plans had an estimated $15.3 trillion of investible assets in the United States as of 2010. Sovereign wealth funds are foreign state-owned investment funds, whose aggregate assets under management increased by 11% in 2010 to approximately $4.2 trillion, according to TheCityUK estimates. With traditional equity fund performance remaining relatively flat, most of these investors are under performance pressure and are increasing allocations to alternative asset managers seeking superior returns, downside protection, diversification and a better pension liability solution.

Alternative Asset Managers: Leading Fund Asset Growth within the Sector

The size of the alternative asset management industry represents a growing portion of the global investable asset pool. According to TheCityUK, while the size of the alternative asset industry is only 10% of the global investable asset pool, the industry has grown from $3.3 trillion of assets under management in 2003 to $8.6 trillion in 2010, representing a compound average growth rate of 14.8%. This asset growth outpaced the 8.2% compound average growth rate for the broader asset management industry over the same period.

 

127


Table of Contents

LOGO

Although alternative asset management strategies currently account for a relatively small portion of total institutional assets under management, the allocation to alternative asset managers has increased significantly over the past decade. Pension funds in the seven major pension markets (Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) have nearly tripled their allocations to alternative assets, from 7% of their portfolios in 2000 to an estimated 19% of their portfolios in 2010, according to the 2011 Towers Watson Global Pension Study.

A confluence of factors is driving this increased allocation to alternative investment strategies, including:

Superior Returns :     Alternative asset managers have generally delivered superior returns with a lower correlation to the broader market than traditional asset management strategies. The chart below shows that indices of private equity, credit opportunities, hedge funds, real estate and emerging markets have delivered significantly better historical returns than indices that track more traditional asset classes, such as the S&P 500 and Barclays Aggregate Bond Index.

LOGO

Downside Protection :      In addition to superior returns, alternative asset managers have generally outperformed traditional asset managers through cycles, and offer downside support in periods of weak markets. For example, from January 2008 to September 2010, the Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index increased by 15.4%, whereas the S&P 500 was down 17%. Similarly, the Cambridge Associates U.S. PE Index returned 1.3% for the three years ended September 2010, as compared to a 7.2% decrease in the S&P 500.

 

128


Table of Contents

Diversification :    Investors seek diversification to decrease the correlation of returns on individual investments with the goal of reducing portfolio risk. Alternative asset management strategies pursue returns uncorrelated with the broader traditional equity and fixed income markets. Accordingly, many investors seek exposure to alternative assets.

Liability-Driven Investing :      Pension funds and other firms with long-dated liabilities have been challenged to meet their required rate of return (typically in the 7% to 8% return range) in order to cover their future liabilities. The combination of a decade of poor stock market performance (the S&P 500 returned 1.4% over the past decade) and historically low interest rates over the past few years have hindered pension fund abilities to meet such objectives. According to Milliman, Inc., as of June 2011, the overall plan funding ratio of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans was at 87%, meaning that such pension plans were underfunded by 13%. Alternative investments provide a long-term, potentially high-return investment vehicle for these institutions to help mitigate the asset-liability mismatch.

LOGO

Continued Growth in Allocation to Alternatives

Increasing institutional allocations to alternative asset managers are expected to continue. According to an eVestment Alliance/Casey Quirk survey in April 2011, these increased allocations are playing a key role in portfolio construction. The steady growth trend in alternative asset strategies and the decline in more traditional asset strategies are apparent both in the aggregate and within specific investor segments. According to J.P.Morgan Asset Management’s 2010 “Market Pulse: Alternative Assets Survey,” corporate plans, public funds, endowments and foundations all expect to increase their alternative allocation in the next two to three years, while reducing allocations to equities.

 

129


Table of Contents

LOGO

In addition, high net worth investors, who currently represent a small portion of alternative assets, are also increasing their allocation to alternative asset strategies. According to the 2010 Cap Gemini/Merrill Lynch World Wealth Report, high net worth investors are expected to allocate 8% of total financial assets in 2011, up from 6% in 2009. This increase translates into more than $700 billion of additional asset allocation (on a total of $39 trillion of financial assets held by high net worth investors).

Heightened Scrutiny from Investors and Regulators

Against this backdrop of rapid growth, the alternative asset management industry has experienced heightened regulatory scrutiny over the past several years. Many alternative asset managers are under pressure to develop more robust infrastructures and platforms, as large institutional investors require greater transparency, closer alignment of interests and enhanced risk management. As part of this closer alignment-of-interests effort, institutional investors have pushed for lower management fees, the removal of transaction and monitoring fees and more favorable back-ended incentive fees.

In 2009, the Institutional Limited Partners Association, or ILPA, was formed to address these concerns and aggregate the historically fragmented limited partner community. First published in September 2009, the ILPA Private Equity Principles, or ILPA Principles, outlined best practices with respect to establishing strong governance, appropriate transparency and the alignment of interests between limited partners and the alternative asset managers, or sponsors, of the funds in which they invest. Since 2009, ILPA has surveyed participants in the industry and found that most limited partners use the ILPA Principles as a framework to help assess and negotiate with sponsors. Additionally, a majority of responding sponsors believe the ILPA Principles will enhance relations between sponsors and limited partners and provide long-term benefits to the future success of the alternative asset management industry.

In addition, as the investor base of alternative asset managers continues to expand, there has been increased regulatory attention to the sector. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act, in addition to other impositions, imposes significant new regulations on nearly every aspect of the U.S. financial services industry, authorizes the Federal Reserve to regulate nonbank institutions, imposes new record keeping and reporting requirements on private fund investment advisors and requires most investment advisers to now register with the SEC. This heightened regulatory scrutiny is expected to continue.

 

130


Table of Contents

Growth in the Non-Investment Grade Corporate Debt Market

The advent of the high yield bond market played an instrumental role in the development and growth of the alternative asset management industry. Many of the investment strategies originally identified and followed by alternative asset managers today can trace their roots from the high yield bond markets of the 1970s and 1980s. Non-investment grade debt is a large and growing asset class, including high yield bonds, non-investment grade leveraged loans and other below investment grade debt. This market is subject to greater risk of principal loss and has a higher probability of default. Because of this risk profile, these instruments are typically purchased below par, have higher interest payments and generate attractive all-in yields, which attract many sophisticated investors looking for higher returns.

This market has been expanding over the last decade. For example, according to Standard & Poor’s High-Yield Weekly Review, the annual global issuance of high yield corporate debt has grown from $55 billion in 2000 to $287 billion in 2010, representing an 18% compound annual growth rate. The chart below also shows $1.6 trillion of total leveraged debt outstanding as of May 31, 2011, more than tripling the amount outstanding over the last 10 years.

Total Non-Investment Grade Debt Outstanding

LOGO

 

131


Table of Contents

BUSINESS

Our Company

Oaktree is a leading global investment management firm focused on alternative markets. We are experts in credit and contrarian, value-oriented investing. Over the past five years, we have more than doubled our AUM to over $80 billion as of March 31, 2011 and grown to over 600 employees in 13 offices around the world. Since our founding in 1995, our foremost priority has been to provide superior risk-adjusted investment performance for our clients. We have built Oaktree by putting our clients’ interests first and by forsaking short-term advantage for the long-term good of our business.

Unlike other leading alternative investment managers, our roots are in credit. A number of our senior investment professionals started investing together in high yield bonds in 1986 and convertible securities in 1987. From those origins, we have expanded into a broad array of complementary strategies in six asset classes: distressed debt, corporate debt, control investing, convertible securities, real estate and listed equities. We pursue these strategies through closed-end, open-end and evergreen investment vehicles. While we have expanded the scope of our investing activities, we have maintained our contrarian, value-oriented investment philosophy focused on providing superior risk-adjusted investment performance for our clients. This approach extends to how we manage and grow our business.

The following charts depict our AUM by asset class and fund structure as of March 31, 2011:

 

LOGO   LOGO

Our investment professionals have generated impressive investment performance through multiple market cycles, almost entirely without the use of fund-level leverage. Our closed-end funds have produced an aggregate gross IRR of 20.4% on over $50 billion of drawn capital, and our since-inception risk-adjusted returns (as measured by the Sharpe Ratio) for all seven of our open-end strategies have exceeded their Relevant Benchmarks.

In our investing activities, we adhere to the following fundamental tenets:

 

  Ÿ  

Focus on Risk-Adjusted Returns .    Our primary goal is not simply to achieve superior investment performance, but to do so with less-than-commensurate risk. We believe that the best long-term records are built more through the avoidance of losses in bad times than the achievement of superior relative returns in good times. Thus, our overriding belief is that “if we avoid the losers, the winners will take care of themselves.”

 

132


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

Focus on Fundamental Analysis .    We employ a bottom-up approach to investing, based on proprietary, company-specific research. We seek to generate outperformance from in-depth knowledge of companies and their securities, not from macro-forecasting. Our more than 200 investment professionals have developed a deep and thorough understanding of a wide number of companies and industries, providing us with a significant institutional knowledge base.

 

  Ÿ  

Specialization .    We offer a broad array of specialized investment strategies. We believe this offers the surest path to the results we and our clients seek. Clients interested in a single investment strategy can limit themselves to the risk exposure of that particular strategy, while clients interested in more than one investment strategy can combine investments in our funds to achieve their desired mix. Our focus on specific strategies has allowed us to build investment teams with extensive experience and expertise. At the same time, our teams access and leverage each other’s expertise, affording us both the benefits of specialization and the strengths of a larger organization.

Since our founding in 1995, our AUM has grown significantly, even as we have distributed more than $38 billion from our closed-end funds. Although we have limited our AUM when appropriate to generate superior risk-adjusted returns, we have a long-term record of organically growing our investment strategies, increasing our AUM and expanding our client base. We manage assets on behalf of many of the most significant institutional investors in the world, including 69 of the 100 largest U.S. pension plans, 36 states in the United States, over 350 corporations, approximately 300 university and charitable endowments and foundations, and over 150 non-U.S. institutional investors, including six of the top 10 sovereign wealth funds.

As shown in the chart below, AUM grew to $82.7 billion as of December 31, 2010 from $17.9 billion as of December 31, 2000 (representing a compound annual growth rate of 16.5%). Over the same period, the portion of our AUM that generates management fees, or management fee-generating AUM, grew from $16.7 billion to $66.2 billion, and the portion of our AUM that potentially generates incentive income, or incentive-creating AUM, increased from $6.7 billion to $39.4 billion.

LOGO

Our business generates revenue from three sources: management fees, incentive income and investment income. Management fees are calculated as a fixed percentage of the capital commitments (as adjusted for distributions during the liquidation period) or NAV of a particular fund. Incentive income represents our share (typically 20%) of the profits earned by certain of our funds, subject to applicable hurdle rates or high-water marks. Investment income is the return on our investments in each of our funds and, to a growing extent, funds and businesses managed by third parties with whom we have strategic relationships. Our business is comprised of one segment, our investment management segment, which consists of the investment management services that we provide to our clients.

 

133


Table of Contents

For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and for the three months ended March 31, 2011, our net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC (on a consolidated basis) was $127.3 million, $57.1 million, $49.5 million and $10.1 million, respectively. Our adjusted net income, or ANI, for our one segment, our investment management segment, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $207.3 million, $675.6 million, $763.9 million and $207.4 million, respectively. See note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements and note 13 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation of ANI to net let loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and a discussion of our segment’s revenues and total assets.

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC was formed on April 13, 2007 in connection with the May 2007 Restructuring and the consummation of the 2007 Private Offering. Prior to that time, we operated our business through OCM, which was formed in April 1995. OCM is considered our predecessor for accounting purposes, and its financial statements have become our historical financial statements. For more information, see “Organizational Structure—Summary,” “—The May 2007 Restructuring and the 2007 Private Offering” and “—Oaktree Capital Group, LLC.”

Our Competitive Strengths

We believe the following strengths will create long-term value for our unitholders:

Superior Risk-Adjusted Investment Performance Across Market Cycles .    Our primary goal is not simply to achieve superior investment performance, but to do so with less-than-commensurate risk. We believe that the best records are built on a “high batting average,” rather than a mix of brilliant successes and dismal failures. Our since-inception risk-adjusted returns have exceeded the Relevant Benchmarks for all of our strategies that have a benchmark. Our focus on downside protection has resulted in substantial relative outperformance in difficult economic environments. For example, the relative performance of our U.S. high yield bond strategy has historically been strongest when the actual or expected default rates are relatively high. In addition, our distressed debt funds have historically found their best investment opportunities during downturns in the economy, when credit is not as readily available. As market conditions improve and credit becomes more widely available, the securities in which we invest tend to become more liquid and viewed as less risky, offering us the chance to exit our investments at non-distressed prices.

Expertise in Credit .    We are experts in credit and contrarian, value-oriented investing. Many of our most senior investment professionals started working together in credit markets over 15 years ago. Today, we are recognized as an industry leader in our areas of specialty and believe that our breadth of alternative credit-oriented strategies is one of the most extensive and diverse among asset managers. For example, as of March 31, 2011, our distressed debt funds had aggregate gross and net IRRs of 23.8% and 18.6%, respectively, over 22 years. This record includes our $10.9 billion Opps VIIb, which began its investment period in May 2008 and as of March 31, 2011 had gross and net IRRs of 30.5% and 23.0%, respectively, on $9.8 billion of drawn capital.

Strong Earnings and Cash Flow.     Our business generates a high level of earnings and cash flow, reflecting our substantial locked-in capital, recurring incentive income, and the variable nature of a significant portion of our expenses. This has enabled us to make equity distributions every quarter since 1996. The sustainability of this performance is enhanced by our significant accrued incentives (fund level).

 

  Ÿ  

Consistent Profitability .    We have been consistently profitable, with positive adjusted net income for the last 15 years and 60 of the last 61 quarters (the exception being a segment loss of $6.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008). In the year ended December 31, 2010, we generated $375.4 million of fee-related earnings from $750.0 million of management fee

 

134


Table of Contents
 

revenues, and adjusted net income of $763.9 million from total segment revenues of $1.3 billion. The variable nature of our compensation, our largest expense item, contributes to the consistency of our profitability, as our incentive income compensation expense is directly variable and our annual bonus pool is discretionary.

 

  Ÿ  

Significant Management Fees .    Our management fees have historically provided a recurring and significant source of revenues. Over 70% of our management fees are attributable to closed-end funds with terms of 10 to 11 years and for which management fees during the investment period are based on committed capital. Furthermore, we do not benefit from transaction, monitoring or other ancillary fees, which can be an important but volatile component of other investment managers’ earnings and are currently being scrutinized by the limited partner community.

 

  Ÿ  

Recurring Incentive Income .    We have had incentive income for 14 consecutive years, and 33 of the past 34 quarters, and expect to continue earning substantial amounts of this revenue. As of March 31, 2011, the potential future incentive income to us represented by accrued incentives (fund level) totaled $2.4 billion, or $1.4 billion net of incentive income compensation expense. We believe our eventual realization of this revenue is highly likely, given that our funds tend to invest in securities that are structurally senior and generate current cash income and the substantial diversification among our funds and their investments.

Record of Long-Term Growth .    Since March 31, 2006, we have raised more than $60 billion in assets, including over $10 billion in each of the last four calendar years, despite a difficult fundraising environment. Our strong investment performance and our related success in raising capital from new and existing clients have increased our AUM from $35.6 billion as of December 31, 2006 to more than $80 billion as of March 31, 2011.

Client-First Organization.     Our clients’ trust is our most important asset, and we do everything we can to avoid jeopardizing that trust. In making decisions, we always strive to be conscious of the extraordinary responsibility of managing other people’s money, including the pension assets of millions of people around the world. As stated in our business principles: “It is our fundamental operating principle that if all of our practices were to become known, there must be no one with grounds for complaint.”

We have developed a broad base of institutional investors, who are among many of the world’s most significant and respected institutional investors. The strength of our client relationships and their loyalty to us flows from, among other factors, the firm-wide uniformity of our investment approach and the superior investment records it has produced, our dedication to their interests, our reputation for integrity and the fairness and transparency of our fee structures. Clients representing 76% of our AUM as of March 31, 2011 were invested in multiple strategies, and our top 25 clients were invested in three different strategies on average.

Alignment of Interests.     We seek to align our interests with our clients’ interests, even if it reduces our revenue in the short term. Since our inception, we have championed a number of investor-friendly terms, such as forgoing all transaction, monitoring and other ancillary fees; returning all capital and a preferred return to investors in our closed-end funds before taking incentive income; and adopting fair and transparent fee arrangements. Indeed, we have governed our business from its outset by a number of the principles that the Institutional Limited Partners Association (a group comprised of a number of the largest and most sophisticated institutional investors from around the world), or ILPA, has recently identified as “best practices” in terms of aligning the interests of limited and general partners.

As the general partner of our funds, we, along with our principals and employees, invest significantly in our own funds, demonstrating our confidence in our investment strategies and further

 

135


Table of Contents

aligning our interests with those of our clients and unitholders. As of March 31, 2011, we had invested $1.5 billion (including undrawn commitments) in our funds, and our professionals had voluntarily invested an additional $503.1 million (including undrawn commitments).

Broad Employee Ownership .    Our broad employee ownership and the resulting close alignment of interests with our clients and unitholders have been key to our success. Approximately 70% of the equity interests in the Oaktree Operating Group were indirectly owned by over 160 senior professionals. We believe this widespread employee ownership has helped to boost employee morale, encourage cooperation and reduce turnover, thus contributing to our success.

Substantial Institutional Depth and Breadth .    Many of our senior professionals are widely recognized as industry leaders and pioneers in their respective fields. In addition to our more than 200 investment professionals, we have more than 250 professionals in our non-investment and support groups. We benefit from longevity and stability among our senior management and investment professionals. For example, the original portfolio managers of our four largest and oldest investment strategies remain with us today. Our investment professionals pursue a broad array of complementary investment strategies – an approach that enhances the performance of individual strategies and gives us multiple products with similar investment philosophies to offer our clients. It is not unusual for our investment professionals to identify potential opportunities and collaborate with other investment teams within our company to optimize the investment process. We believe these synergies are reinforced by our broad employee equity ownership, which encourages cooperation across investment strategies.

Global Platform.     One quarter of our more than 600 employees are located outside of the United States. We believe this global footprint will continue to facilitate our growth over time. As of March 31, 2011, our non-U.S. investments represented $16.4 billion, or 24.3%, of our invested capital and our capital from non-U.S. clients represented $27.3 billion, or 31.9%, of our AUM with a much larger percentage in our most recent funds.

Our Strategy

Our strategy for the future is unchanged from our inception: we will seek to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns and focus on the interests of our clients. We intend to do this by adhering to the following tenets:

Investment Excellence .    We seek to generate superior investment performance through fundamental analysis in alternative investment specialties where we believe our expertise can create a competitive advantage. We believe we are among the most prominent and long-tenured managers in most of our investment strategies, which together with our fundamental credit and valuation expertise, often permits us to identify opportunities that may not be evident to others.

Recognition of Cycles .    We believe that successful investing requires recognition of market cycles. We adjust our fundraising in response to the investment environment, accepting more money when attractive opportunities are plentiful and less when they are not, even though this approach may reduce our AUM and profits in the short term. The alternative approach of continuously growing our AUM could jeopardize our superior long-term investment performance. We believe that our discipline in this regard is a major reason why our largest closed-end funds in each economic cycle have been among our best performers.

Expansion of Offerings .    We expect to continue to expand the number of our strategies and to develop new distribution channels. We have a proven record of organic growth – almost all of our current strategies have been natural step-outs from strategies we already managed – and expect that organic growth will continue. At the same time, we anticipate that as a public company we will have the opportunity to grow over time acquiring culturally compatible investment managers and recruiting talented individuals or investment teams to our organization.

 

 

136


Table of Contents

Extension of Global Presence.     Our global stature and reputation enhance our ability to source investment opportunities, recruit talented individuals and develop client relationships worldwide. We intend to further develop our presence by opportunistically expanding into new geographic regions and growing existing ones.

Adherence to Core Philosophy and Principles.     Above all, we will adhere to our founding investment philosophy and business principles. We will remain dedicated to the achievement of superior risk-adjusted returns through fundamental analysis, avoidance of loss, and we will continue to focus on the interests of our clients. We believe that our growth has been a byproduct of our clients’ success and that we will best serve the interests of our unitholders by continuing to deliver for our clients and forsaking short-term advantages for the long-term good of our business.

Why We are Conducting this Offering

We are conducting this offering because we see becoming a publicly traded company as a natural and desirable part of Oaktree’s maturation. We first sold a piece of Oaktree to outside investors in 2004 and again in 2006, when long-time clients acquired approximately 13% of the company. In May 2007, we sold 16% of Oaktree to outside institutional investors in a private placement that resulted in our Class A units becoming tradable on the GSTrUE OTC market. We believe that becoming a publicly traded company will continue this evolution and is the best way to make Oaktree an enduring institution. More specifically:

 

   

We believe that at some point Oaktree must be independent of its founders. To accomplish this, generational transfer of ownership is necessary. Public ownership is the most widely accepted way to go beyond an entrepreneur-led or family-owned company to one able to live on indefinitely.

 

   

We want to continue the transfer of ownership in the firm to key employees, but we also want a mechanism that will enable the founders to realize value from their remaining stakes over time. Thus we have decided to continue issuing equity to employees and also to sell part to the public.

 

   

The equity that we have given to our key employees, and the equity we plan to give them in the future, will be a much more powerful tool for retention and motivation if the employees can see a full public-company price and a route to liquidity. Having relied upon equity as an important form of compensation, we believe our employees should have an opportunity to realize its value over time. If we fail to do so, particularly when many of our competitors have gone public, we put at risk the goodwill of our most valuable employees.

 

   

We believe publicly listed equity will help us attract and retain the finest investment professionals and thus enhance Oaktree’s ability to provide excellent investment management in the future.

 

137


Table of Contents

Our Investment Approach

At our core, we are contrarian, value-oriented investors focused on buying securities and companies at prices below their intrinsic value and selling or exiting those investments when they become fairly or fully valued. We believe we can do this best by investing in markets where specialization and superior analysis can offer an investing edge.

We have a long track record of achieving competitive returns in up markets and substantial relative outperformance in down markets. We believe this approach leads to significant outperformance over the long term, as demonstrated below by the performance of our U.S. high yield bond strategy and U.S. convertible securities strategy as compared to the Relevant Benchmarks.

LOGO

LOGO

This outperformance was achieved with relatively less risk, as demonstrated by the fact that for the since-inception periods, the U.S. high yield bond and U.S. convertible securities strategies had Sharpe Ratios of 0.76 and 0.48, respectively, as compared to 0.50 and 0.29 for their respective Relevant Benchmarks.

 

138


Table of Contents

Our investment results are generally not dependent on the use of leverage to make investments or the strength of the equity capital markets to realize our investments. Most of our investment strategies focus on debt securities and many of our funds’ investments reside in the senior levels of an issuer’s capital structure, substantially reducing the downside risk of our investments and the volatility of our segment’s revenue and income. Debt securities by their nature require repayment of principal at par, typically generate current cash interest (reducing risk and augmenting investment returns) and, in cases where the issuer restructures, may provide an opportunity for conversion to equity in a company with a deleveraged balance sheet positioned for growth. As an example, our consolidated funds’ holdings produced interest and dividend income of $1.4 billion in 2008, $1.8 billion in 2009, $2.4 billion in 2010 and $734.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2011.

We invest throughout the capital structure because we seek the security that offers the best return for the risk we elect to bear. For example, in our principal investments strategy, we may acquire the bank debt or bonds of an issuer in financial distress so that, if the company restructures, we obtain the equity of the company at a low implied acquisition cost with significant upside potential. If the company recovers, the securities we bought at distressed prices may be repaid at par, producing attractive returns. Moreover, our funds – and the incentive income they produce – are also characterized by relatively high degrees of liquidity and diversification, as compared to other alternative asset managers, whose investments are often characterized by control positions in private companies for which there are no trading markets. In contrast, the majority of our funds’ holdings are in securities for which there are trading markets, even if those trading markets are not always active or are characterized at times by limited volume.

As of March 31, 2011, we had accrued incentives (fund level) of $2.4 billion ($1.4 billion net of incentive income compensation expense). Our aggregate holdings by security type across all funds that relate to this accrued incentives (fund level) are depicted below:

Security Type

LOGO

 

139


Table of Contents

Our Approach to Growth

Since March 31, 2006, we have raised more than $60 billion in assets, including over $10 billion in each of the last four calendar years, despite a difficult fundraising environment. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2011, we raised over $11 billion for 15 strategies from more than 300 different clients, reflecting the breadth of our product offerings and the depth of our client base. Our strong fundraising and investment performance have driven the growth of our business. AUM has increased from $35.6 billion as of December 31, 2006, to more than $80 billion as of March 31, 2011.

Sizing Funds for the Investment Environment

We neither make nor rely on macro predictions about the economy, interest rates or financial markets. However, we believe it is critical to take into account our view of where we are in the economic cycle and to size our investment capital accordingly. When we believe opportunities are scarce, we limit the amount of capital we raise to avoid jeopardizing returns. When we believe the investment environment offers substantial opportunities, we raise more capital. Our largest closed-end funds in each economic cycle have been among our best performers, demonstrating our success in appropriately sizing our funds to the investment opportunities.

One important factor we consider in assessing where we are in the cycle is the amount of debt issuance, such as high yield bonds and non-investment grade leveraged loans. We believe an increased volume of debt issuance, to the extent it reflects loosened credit standards, can foretell an increase in debt default rates and the distressed securities they often create. The chart below shows this historical correlation.

LOGO

 

(1) Includes U.S. high yield bond new issue volume (source: J.P. Morgan, High Yield Market Monitor report as of June 1, 2011) and non-investment grade leveraged loan new issue volume (source: Credit Suisse, Leveraged Finance Strategy Update report as of May 2, 2011).
(2) For the period 1989-1994, the Blended Annual Default Rate represents the annual U.S. high yield bond default rate (source: NYU Salomon Center, Altman & Kuehne High Yield Bond Default and Return Report as of May 3, 2011). For the period 1995-2011, we calculated the Blended Annual Default Rate by taking the simple average of the annual U.S. high yield bond default rate and the leveraged loan default rate (source: Credit Suisse, Leveraged Finance Strategy Update report as of May 2, 2011).

 

140


Table of Contents

We size our distressed debt funds based on the above relationship, our assessment of the economic cycle and other factors. By sizing funds in this manner, we intend to avoid both managing too much capital when bargain purchases are scarce and too little capital when they are plentiful. As a result, we have achieved positive gross and net IRRs as of March 31, 2011 for each of our 15 distressed debt funds. The chart below illustrates two benefits of our approach to sizing funds: the consistency of our positive performance and that, in each cycle, our largest funds have tended to be our best performers. Each bar represents a distressed debt closed-end fund, the height of the bar corresponds to the fund’s gross IRR as of March 31, 2011 and the dollar amount below each bar identifies the fund’s committed capital.

LOGO

 

  (1) We calculated the Blended Annual Default Rate by taking the simple average of the annual U.S. high yield bond default rate (source: NYU Salomon Center, Altman & Kuehne High-Yield Bond Default and Return Report as of May 3, 2011) and the leveraged loan default rate (source: Credit Suisse Leveraged Finance Strategy Update report dated May 2, 2011).

In 2001 and again in 2007, we anticipated the possibility of market dislocation, based in part on the considerable amount of debt issuance in the preceding years. While we did not attempt to predict the timing of the downturn, we thought the volume of lending relative to the fundamentals created a dynamic in which issuers would likely have difficulty meeting their obligations, resulting in an increased default rate or other factors that could result in expanded investment opportunities for us. Accordingly, we raised considerably more capital than we had historically so that we would be prepared if the markets experienced financial distress, creating attractive buying opportunities.

More specifically, in 2001-2002 we raised a total of $3.5 billion for OCM Opportunities Fund IV, L.P., or Opps IV, and OCM Opportunities Fund IVb, L.P., or Opps IVb, in anticipation of economic weakness. The opportunities arrived, first with the baring of accounting scandals at Enron, WorldCom, Tyco and Adelphia, and later with the meltdown of the overbuilt (and over-indebted) telecom industry. Opps IV and Opps IVb invested their capital quickly – within less than a year in each case – and as of March 31, 2011 Opps IV had produced gross and net IRRs of 35.0% and 28.1%, respectively, and Opps IVb had produced gross and net IRRs of 57.8% and 47.3%, respectively, as much of the debt we bought, especially in telecommunications, rebounded in price after it proved creditworthy.

In 2007-2008, we again anticipated possible economic weakness, and we raised $10.9 billion for our distressed debt fund Opps VIIb – which had gross and net IRRs of 30.5% and 23.0% as of

 

141


Table of Contents

March 31, 2011. Because we thought better buying opportunities lay ahead, we delayed the commencement of its investment period (and the start of management fees). We began investing Opps VIIb gradually in May 2008 and, in the fifteen weeks following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September of that year, we invested over $5.3 billion of Opps VIIb’s capital. We concentrated our buying on secured bank debt, consciously forgoing the greater gains that could be earned on subordinated debt if things went well, but confident that our downside would be protected in most scenarios. The confidence we derived from that downside protection – and our long experience in distressed investing – were critical in enabling us to quickly invest as much capital as we did.

The chart below shows the amount of capital invested by Oaktree’s distressed debt funds for the selected periods compared to the total capital invested in U.S. buyouts over this same period, highlighting Oaktree’s ability to both identify opportunities and effectively deploy capital during market dislocations.

LOGO

Conversely, when we perceive fewer opportunities, we raise smaller funds. After the success of Opps IV and Opps IVb, we capped OCM Opportunities Fund V, L.P. at $1.2 billion, notwithstanding that we believe we could have raised multiples of that and thus earned higher management fees. Similarly, we capped Opps VIII, the successor to our $10.9 billion Opps VIIb, at $4.5 billion and Opps VIIIb at $2.7 billion. We believe our discipline in this regard is critical to our success, as it allows us to be more selective when bargains are scarce and provides added credibility with our clients when we seek to raise larger funds.

Disciplined and Opportunistic Approach to Expansion of Offerings

We are both disciplined and opportunistic in adding new strategies. Our decision to create a new product starts with the identification of a market with the potential for attractive returns, and is dependent on both our conviction that the market can be exploited in a manner consistent with our risk-controlled philosophy and access to an investment team that we believe is capable of producing the results we seek. Because of the high priority we place on these requirements, our new products usually represent step-outs into related strategies led by senior investment professionals with whom we have had extensive first-hand experience.

 

142


Table of Contents

While many of our new strategies evolve from existing products over time, we also add new strategies opportunistically. For example, in 2007 we created our senior loan strategy to capitalize on the backlog of “hung” bridge loans held by investment banks and the exceptionally weak technical condition of the market at the time. We were able to raise $3.9 billion within 11 weeks. The development of our active investment strategies since our start with U.S. high yield bonds in 1986 is depicted below:

Development of Our Current Strategies

LOGO

We are also selective in forming strategic relationships only with firms that share our dedication to clients and long-term focus. For example, since 1996, we have been in business with The Vanguard Group, a leader in establishing investor-friendly practices. This relationship started with our management of U.S. convertible securities for the Vanguard Convertible Securities Fund (which recently expanded to include our non-U.S. convertibles strategy) and will be further strengthened when our emerging markets team begins managing a portion of Vanguard’s new long-only emerging markets equity fund on June 27, 2011.

In addition, as a corollary to our mezzanine strategy, we formed a finance company that commenced operations on May 5, 2011 as Oaktree Finance, LLC, or Oaktree Finance, and will focus on providing financing for larger middle-market companies. On May 11, 2011, Oaktree Finance filed a Form N-2 with the SEC to form a business development company, to be called Oaktree Finance Corp. upon its effectiveness.

Building a Scalable Platform for Global Growth

From our founding, we have built our firm with an eye to the future. We manage our financial affairs in the same risk-controlled manner as we manage our funds, with low debt levels and a disciplined approach to cash management. We have always reinvested a substantial portion of our profits back into our business. Thus, we have grown our segment unitholders’ capital to $1.2 billion as of March 31, 2011.

We believe that broad employee ownership encourages cooperation and teamwork, builds morale and yields other meaningful benefits. Therefore, we began to broaden the ownership of Oaktree beyond the five initial founders less than a year after Oaktree’s founding. Since then, we have frequently broadened employee ownership to achieve a smooth and gradual transition of ownership and management, such that today we have over 160 employee-owners.

 

143


Table of Contents

We have been investing in Asia and Europe for many years. We opened offices in London in 1998 and Tokyo and Singapore in 1999. Since then, we have also established offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Frankfurt and Paris and fund-affiliated offices in Luxembourg and Amsterdam. More than 70 of our investment professionals are located outside the United States, where we see some of our best investment opportunities. In Europe, for instance, we have a 29-person team that focuses on distress-for-control opportunities. This is a relatively new strategy to Europe, and we are not aware of any other investment manager that has such a large and experienced group focused on this opportunity or that has consummated distress-for-control transactions in so many different jurisdictions across the continent.

Recognizing early on that Asian and European investors were potentially significant sources of capital, we hired our first full-time overseas marketing representative in 2001 and since then have established substantial marketing groups in both Asia and Europe. Our global focus allowed us to continue to raise record amounts of new capital, notwithstanding the impact of the global financial crisis that began in 2007.

We continue to focus our efforts on ensuring that our support functions, such as accounting, trade support, client services, legal and compliance, keep up with the growth in our AUM. The global financial crisis heightened our focus as we simultaneously began to deploy record amounts of new capital and clients began to demand increased levels of transparency and reporting. In response, we hired dozens of new professionals with expertise in information systems and project management, and we organized new client reporting and client service teams.

Our ongoing efforts to upgrade our infrastructure and to build a robust platform will prove valuable in creating significant competitive advantage. In the wake of the financial crisis and the Madoff fraud, clients and their consultants are more demanding and often place as much focus on the quality of our support functions as our investment performance. Whereas in the past an accomplished investment professional may have been able to establish his own boutique and attract institutional capital, today clients tend to demand sophisticated infrastructure and reporting. We believe our platform will enable us to continue to retain and attract both clients and investment professionals unable or unwilling to build their own.

Our Sources of Revenue

Our segment revenue flows from the management fees, incentive income and investment income generated by the closed-end, open-end and evergreen funds that we manage in our various investment strategies. The management fees that we receive are based on the contractual terms of the relevant fund and are typically calculated as a fixed percentage of the capital commitments (as adjusted for distributions during a fund’s liquidation period) or NAV of the particular fund. Incentive income represents our share (typically 20%) of the profits earned by our closed-end and evergreen funds. Investment income refers to the investment return on a mark-to-market basis on the amounts that we invest in each of our funds and, to a growing extent, investments in funds and businesses managed by third parties with whom we have strategic relationships.

 

144


Table of Contents

A summary of our segment’s revenue sources is depicted below:

LOGO

Our segment has generated impressive and recurring earnings and cash flow. Our mix of management fees, incentive income and investment income has enabled our segment to be profitable every year for 15 years and 60 of the last 61 quarters. The sole exception to profitability was the fourth quarter of 2008, the worst of the financial crisis, when mark-to-market investment losses of $114.2 million resulted in a net loss of $6.9 million for our segment. Our segment’s strong earnings and cash flow have allowed us to make quarterly distributions to our unitholders for 60 consecutive quarters, including throughout the financial crisis.

Structure of Funds

Closed-End Funds

Our closed-end funds are typically structured as limited partnerships that have a 10- or 11-year term and have a specified period during which clients can subscribe for limited partnership interests in the fund. Once a client is admitted as a limited partner, that client is required to contribute capital when called by us as the general partner, and generally cannot withdraw its investment. Our closed-end funds have a three-, four- or five-year investment period, during which we are permitted to invest the committed capital. As our closed-end funds liquidate their investments, we typically distribute the proceeds to the clients, although during the investment period we have the ability to retain or recall such proceeds to make additional investments. Once we have committed to invest approximately 80% of the capital in a particular fund, we typically raise a new fund in the same strategy, ensuring that we always have capital to invest in new opportunities.

Open-End Funds

Our commingled open-end funds are typically structured as limited partnerships that are designed to admit clients as new limited partners (or accept additional capital from existing limited partners) on an ongoing basis during the fund’s life. Clients in our commingled open-end funds typically contribute all of their committed capital upon being admitted to the fund. These funds do not have an investment period and do not distribute proceeds of realized investments to clients. We are permitted to commit the fund’s capital (including realized proceeds) to new investments at any time during the fund’s life. Clients in our commingled open-end funds generally have the right to withdraw their capital from the fund at any time on a monthly basis (quarterly for our senior loan strategy).

We also provide discretionary management services for clients through separately managed accounts within our open-end fund strategies. Clients establish accounts with us by depositing funds or securities into accounts maintained by qualified independent custodians and granting us discretionary

 

145


Table of Contents

authority to invest such funds pursuant to their investment needs and objectives, as stated in an investment management agreement. Our separate account clients generally may terminate our services at any time by providing us with prior notice of 30 days or less.

Evergreen Funds

We use the term evergreen funds to describe funds that invest in marketable securities on a long and short basis. As with our open-end funds, our evergreen funds are designed to accept new capital on an ongoing basis and generally do not distribute proceeds of realized investments to clients. Clients in our evergreen funds are generally subject to a lock-up, which restricts their ability to withdraw their entire capital for a period of between one and three years after their initial subscription. Our two active evergreen funds are VOF, which focuses on liquid distressed and value-oriented opportunities, and EMAR, which focuses on emerging market equities. In addition, we have three small evergreen funds that underwent successful restructurings during the recent financial crisis and are in the midst of liquidation, which we refer to as the restructured evergreen funds. None of the restructured evergreen funds pays management fees, and each is closed to new investors or additional commitments from existing investors. These funds continue to sell assets and make liquidating distributions to their investors over time, and as of March 31, 2011, represented an aggregate $520.9 million of AUM.

Management Fees

Management fee revenues provide the recurring foundation for our earnings and cash flow. Our segment’s annual management fee revenues have grown from $221.6 million in 2005 to $750.0 million in 2010. Between December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2010, the AUM of our open-end and evergreen funds – where management fees are based on NAV – grew from $18.3 billion to $29.3 billion, and the AUM of our closed-end funds – which produce more than 70% of our current segment management fees – grew from $11.7 billion to $53.4 billion.

We receive management fees monthly or quarterly based on annual fee rates. While we typically earn management fees for each of the funds that we manage, the contractual terms of those management fees vary by fund structure. During the investment period of our closed-end funds, the management fee is a fixed percentage, generally in the range of 1.25% to 1.75% per year of total committed capital (up through the final close, these fees are earned on a retroactive basis to the fund’s first closing date). During the liquidation period, the management fee remains the same fixed percentage, applied against the lesser of the total funded capital and the cost basis of assets remaining in the fund, provided that our right to receive management fees typically ends after 10 or 11 years from the initial closing date or the start of the investment period, even if assets remain to be liquidated. For our open-end and evergreen funds, the management fee is generally based on the NAV of the fund. Our open-end funds generally pay management fees of 0.50% of NAV per year, paid monthly or quarterly. Our active evergreen funds pay a management fee quarterly, based on a fixed percentage of NAV. VOF pays a management fee of 2.0% of NAV per year, and EMAR pays a management fee of 1.5% of NAV per year.

 

146


Table of Contents

A summary of our segment’s management fees is depicted below:

LOGO

Incentive Income and Accrued Incentives

We have the potential to earn incentive income from our closed-end and evergreen funds. In our closed-end funds, we generally receive 20% of the fund’s profits, after the fund first distributes all contributed capital plus an annual preferred return, typically 8%. Once this occurs, we receive as incentive income 80% of all distributions otherwise attributable to our investors, and the fund’s investors (including us as general partner) receive the remaining 20%, until we have received, as incentive income, 20% of all such distributions in excess of the contributed capital from the inception of the fund. Thereafter, all such future amounts are distributed 80% to the fund’s investors (including us as general partner) and 20% to us with respect to incentive income. As a result, we generally receive incentive income, if any, in the latter part of a fund’s life, although earlier in a fund’s term we may receive tax distributions, which we recognize as incentive income, to cover our allocable share of income taxes until we are otherwise entitled to payment of incentive income. Each of our active evergreen funds pays annual incentive income equal to 20% of the year’s profits, subject to a high-water mark. The high-water mark is the highest historical NAV attributable to a limited partner’s account and means we will not earn incentive income with respect to such limited partner for a year if its account’s NAV at the end of the year is lower that year than any prior year NAV, in all cases excluding any contributions and redemptions for purposes of calculating NAV. We recognize the incentive income from our evergreen funds as it is earned, which typically is in the fourth quarter of the year.

A summary of our segment’s incentive income is depicted below:

LOGO

 

147


Table of Contents

We recognize incentive income when it becomes fixed or determinable, all related contingencies have been removed, and collection is reasonably assured, which generally occurs in the quarter, or the immediately preceding quarter, when we receive the cash attributable to the incentive income from the fund.

Although we do not recognize incentive income until we are entitled to it, we track the amounts we would be paid as incentive income if our funds’ assets were liquidated at their reported values as of the date of our financial statements and the proceeds from such liquidations were distributed in accordance with the funds’ respective partnership agreements. We call this amount accrued incentives (fund level). As of March 31, 2011, our accrued incentives (fund level) was $2.4 billion gross and $1.4 billion net of estimated incentive income compensation expense.

The fund assets that underlie the accrued incentives (fund level) as of March 31, 2011 related to over 350 investments across 36 funds, with the largest investment constituting only 6% of our accrued incentives. Moreover, as discussed in further detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies,” GAAP establishes a hierarchal disclosure framework that prioritizes the inputs used in measuring investments at fair value into three levels based on their market observability, with Level I investments valued on the highest level of observable inputs and Level III investments valued on the lowest level of observable inputs. The levels generally correlate to the relative liquidity of the particular security, with Level I being most liquid and Level III being least liquid.

The following charts illustrate the industry diversification and the fair value hierarchy level of the assets underlying our accrued incentives (fund level) as of March 31, 2011:

 

LOGO

Investment Income

We earn segment investment income primarily from our investments as general partner in the funds we manage. Our investment income is a function of the amount we invest in a particular fund and the performance of that fund. We typically invest, and expect to continue to invest, the greater of 2.5% of committed capital or $20 million in each of our closed-end funds and evergreen funds, not to exceed $100 million per fund. For our open-end funds, we invest at our discretion in excess of a relatively small percentage amount that we are required to invest by the funds’ governing documents.

In addition to investing in our funds, we invest with third-party managers with whom we have cultivated strategic relationships. Historically, these investments have tended to be in relatively small funds launched by investment advisers possessing expertise in a specific sector. In addition to the

 

148


Table of Contents

potential for financial gain through our direct fund holdings, these relationships have afforded us the opportunity to gain investment insights and, in certain cases, deal flow.

Investing with others also allows us to develop relationships with managers with whom we might want to work more closely. For instance, after a number of successful co-investments, we formed our power opportunities strategy together with GFI Energy Ventures, LLC. After many years of successful collaboration, the GFI professionals joined our firm and today constitute our power opportunities team.

Our growth in size and capability has caused an increasing number of boutique start-ups and other asset managers to approach us for financial and consultative support. The most significant of these relationships is our equity investment in DoubleLine Capital LP, an independent asset manager that relied on us for start-up assistance. While we have entered into other relationships and plan to explore other potential strategic relationships on a selective and opportunistic basis, they are not currently a material portion of our business.

Our Asset Classes

We manage investments in a number of strategies within six asset classes. The diversity of our investment strategies allows us to meet a wide range of investor needs suited for different market environments globally and, for certain strategies, targeted regions, while providing us with a long-term diversified revenue base. All of our largest investment strategies and most of our smaller strategies (as measured by AUM) invest on an unlevered basis at the fund level.

Distressed Debt

Our distressed debt asset class includes our distressed debt and value opportunities strategies.

Distressed Debt

Our distressed debt team has been one of the industry’s leaders, producing aggregate gross and net IRRs of 23.8% and 18.6%, respectively, across its closed-end funds since the inception of the strategy in 1988. Historically, the team has been able to successfully invest substantially all of each fund’s capital relatively quickly. Typically, each fund is invested within 18 to 24 months from fund inception and recycling of invested capital occurs over the remaining term of each fund’s three-year investment period. Each fund’s investment liquidation period begins in year four and typically the fund’s contributed capital is returned within five years from the fund’s inception. Fund profits are distributed thereafter and distributions continue until the fund is fully liquidated.

Our distressed debt team focuses primarily on investments in distressed companies that are perceived to have substantial asset values or business franchises, are in sound industries and have competent management. We take an opportunistic approach to investing, with the flexibility and expertise to choose from a broad range of investments, including leveraged loans, bonds, equity securities, companies or hard assets. Building on our distressed debt team’s experience in the United States, we have established a significant presence in Europe to capitalize on opportunities in that region. We believe that the securities of entities currently or likely to be involved in reorganization or restructuring proceedings often are available at prices that are depressed in relation to underlying asset values and prospects for recovery, and we have developed expertise in analyzing, valuing, managing and exiting these types of investments.

Opps VIIb with $10.9 billion of capital commitments, completed its three-year investment period in April 2011. In June 2010 we concluded marketing efforts for Opps VIII at $4.5 billion of committed capital. Opps VIII began investing in October 2009. Following our successful experience in 2000-2002 and 2007-2008 with standby distressed debt funds when it was relatively difficult to predict the potential level of supply of desirable investments, in early 2010 we formed a $2.7 billion standby fund, Opps VIIIb, which will begin to generate management fees when it commences investing.

 

149


Table of Contents

We managed $32.3 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 37.7% of our AUM.

Value Opportunities

We launched VOF in September 2007 for investors who had expressed interest in a more liquid version of our distressed debt strategy. The fund is managed by the distressed debt team and invests mainly in distressed debt and other value-oriented investments for which there is a liquid market. To this end, VOF has historically enjoyed an ability to build and maintain a broader range of investment types given its smaller relative fund size. Inasmuch as this strategy is intended to be opportunistic, the composition of the portfolio is expected to change with market conditions. When the investment environment for distressed debt is attractive, the weighting of distressed investments in the portfolio will likely increase. Conversely, when the opportunities in distressed debt are less plentiful, the portfolio is expected to shift more toward non-distressed investments. In general, this strategy employs similar strategies and tactics with regard to distressed investments as our distressed debt strategy, but it may be more aggressive and more oriented to short-term trading (and may make greater use of leverage, shorting and derivatives) with respect to its non-distressed investments.

We managed $1.8 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 2.1% of our AUM.

Corporate Debt

Our corporate debt asset class pursues investments in U.S. high yield bonds, European high yield bonds, U.S. senior loans, European senior loans and mezzanine finance. We believe that we are widely recognized as one of the premier managers in this asset class, which emphasizes fundamental credit analysis and risk control.

U.S. High Yield Bonds

High yield bonds are bonds that are rated BB or below by Standard & Poor’s, or Ba or below by Moody’s Investor Service, and pay higher yields to offset their greater risk. We view high yield bond investing as the conscious bearing of credit risk for potential profit, and we follow a defensive, credit-intensive strategy focused on gauging credit risk. Rather than stretching for higher yields, our primary focus is avoiding defaults. Our approach reflects our belief that the risks and rewards of bond investing are asymmetric and that the money an investor can lose to a default far exceeds the upside potential offered by even the best performing bonds. To measure credit risk, we employ a proprietary credit scoring matrix that we have used and refined over several market cycles as a systematic way of reviewing the key quantitative and qualitative variables impacting credit quality for each company. Since the inception of this strategy in 1986, our holdings have consistently experienced a lower default rate (at an average rate of approximately 1.5% per year) than the high yield market as a whole (experiencing an average rate of approximately 4.3% per year, as reported by the NYU Salomon Center), and in each of the past 25 years our portfolio holdings have garnered a larger percentage of rating agency upgrades than downgrades.

We managed $14.2 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 16.6% of our AUM.

European High Yield Bonds

In the late 1990s, a high yield bond market developed in Europe, leading us in 1999 to start the European high yield bond strategy in order to provide our clients increased diversification across the high yield bond asset class and to capitalize on our expertise and leadership in high yield bond management. This investment area is managed in London by an experienced team of professionals who employ the same credit research methodology and investment approach as the U.S. team.

 

150


Table of Contents

We managed $2.0 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing approximately 2.3% of our AUM.

U.S. Senior Loans

In September 2007, we formed the senior bank loan strategy to capitalize on the backlog of unsold or “hung” bridge loans held by investment banks near the start of the financial crisis. As the market environment changed, we expanded the strategy to include investing in senior bank loans in general with our open-end fund, Oaktree Senior Loan Fund, L.P. Investments include bank loans and senior debt from the middle- and upper-quality tiers of the non-investment grade debt market. In most instances, these instruments constitute the most senior position in the capital structure of the borrower.

We managed $1.8 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing approximately 2.1% of our AUM.

European Senior Loans

In May 2009, we capitalized on our experience in senior loans and European high yield bonds by forming a European senior loan fund to take advantage of opportunities in the primary and secondary loan markets that are senior in the capital structure and, therefore, relatively more beneficial to investors.

We managed $730.8 million in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing approximately 0.9% of our AUM.

Mezzanine Finance

In 2001, we created our mezzanine finance strategy to capitalize on our expertise in credit analysis after we observed a gap in the availability of mezzanine capital to many attractive companies that were considered too small for the high yield bond market. The strategy’s targeted investment size is $20 million to $100 million, where we believe many attractive opportunities exist to help finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, acquisitions and corporate growth.

Our mezzanine finance strategy seeks to earn a high current return and achieve long-term capital appreciation without subjecting principal to undue risk. The key elements of our approach include working with experienced management teams and strong equity sponsors, conducting in-depth due diligence, avoiding over-leveraged and/or under-capitalized deal structures, participating at the board level and actively monitoring portfolio investments to stay ahead of potential credit issues.

In 2010, Mezz II ended its five-year investment period, and the investment period commenced for Mezz III, which had its final closing in February 2011 for a total of $1.6 billion of committed capital.

We managed $2.5 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 2.9% of our AUM.

Control Investing

Our principal investments strategy began in 1994 as a step-out from our distressed debt strategy targeting “distress-for-control” opportunities and has evolved into a global strategy focusing on principal investments in both distressed and non-distressed companies.

Global Principal Investments

The global principal investments strategy and its step-out strategies described below typically target investments through (1) capital infusions into distressed or “stressed” companies, (2) acquisition

 

151


Table of Contents

of distressed securities with an expected outcome of a debt for equity conversion (“distress-for-control”) or (3) private equity investments in targeted industries.

We believe that our investment performance has been driven by a number of factors:

 

  Ÿ  

Our team’s private equity and distressed debt experience allows us a competitive advantage in accessing distressed debt, negotiating through the bankruptcy process for control of a business and maximizing the value of an investment once we obtain control.

 

  Ÿ  

We also have our global capabilities that give us a broader perspective and increased access to deal flow that is not available to most middle-market private equity funds.

 

  Ÿ  

We have created an in-house portfolio enhancement team dedicated to identifying and implementing operational, strategic and financial enhancements at acquired companies.

We have made over 100 core investments during the strategy’s nearly 17-year history. As compared with our other strategies, the funds in this strategy tend to hold fewer investments for a longer period of time.

We held the final closing for PF V in February 2010, bringing total commitments to PF V and an associated special account to approximately $3.3 billion.

As of March 31, 2011, we managed an aggregate of $8.6 billion in our global principal investment funds, which represented 10.0% of our AUM.

European Principal Investments

As a result of an increase in potentially attractive transactions in Europe, in 2006 we relocated to London certain U.S.-based investment professionals. We further grew our team by hiring European-based investment professionals. We formally launched our first dedicated fund in Europe later that year with approximately $500 million in committed capital. Our European control funds seek long-term capital appreciation by applying a customized model to target distressed debt and distressed private equity opportunities in Europe. Our European investments have focused on complex business restructurings and industries in which we have particular expertise. We enjoy a high quality and diverse deal flow, as a result of cultivating strong relationships with potential sources of investments across Europe. In 2010, we reached the 75% capital-drawn level for the 1.8 billion OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P., for which the five-year investment period ends in December 2012. Its successor fund, Oaktree European Principal Fund III, L.P., has capital commitments of 1.1 billion through its second closing.

As of March 31, 2011, we managed $5.0 billion in this strategy, representing 5.8% of our AUM.

Asia Principal Investments

In 2006, we raised an Asia-specific control investing fund, OCM Asia Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P., with an investment research team based in Hong Kong. This fund ended its five-year investment period in May 2011 and had AUM of approximately $536.0 million, or 0.6% of our AUM, as of March 31, 2011. Although there are no current plans to raise a successor fund, we plan to maintain offices in Asia to continue our focus on control investment opportunities in the region through the global principal investment funds.

Power Opportunities

Beginning in 1996, our control investing strategy made a number of power infrastructure investments jointly with an independent firm, GFI Energy Ventures LLC. Three years later, our

 

152


Table of Contents

successful collaboration resulted in the establishment of a dedicated investment strategy, and by 2004 there were two funds co-managed by us and GFI. In 2009, GFI personnel joined us and, starting with Power Fund III, we became the sole manager of the strategy. Our power opportunities funds seek to make controlling equity investments in companies providing equipment, software and services to aid in the generation, transmission, distribution, marketing, trading and consumption of power and natural gas. The strategy invests in proven performers and market leaders, not start-up ventures or turnarounds.

In 2009, OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II, L.P. reached the end of its five-year investment period and fundraising commenced for Power Fund III in the following year. As of March 31, 2011, Power Fund III’s capital commitments stood at $902.7 million.

We managed $1.3 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 1.5% of our AUM.

Convertible Securities

Our convertible securities strategies focus on different regions and market sectors – U.S. convertible securities, non-U.S. convertible securities and high income convertible securities. We believe that we are widely recognized as one of the premier managers in this area, which, like our high yield debt strategy, emphasizes fundamental credit analysis and risk control and investing in securities that provide an imbalance between upside potential and downside risk.

U.S. Convertible Securities

Convertible securities are part debt and part equity. Applying our risk-control investment approach to these securities, we attempt to capture most of the performance of equities in rising markets and to outperform equities in flat or down markets. We believe that, if we are successful, we will be able to capture the vast majority of the performance of equities over full market cycles with reduced volatility and/or substantially outperform straight bonds with similar levels of volatility. To reduce risk, we broadly diversify and focus on convertibles that provide pronounced downside protection (via elements such as short maturities or the right to “put” a security back to the issuer within a few years), underweight convertible preferred stocks relative to convertible bonds and perform a thorough credit analysis of current and potential investments.

We managed $5.4 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 6.3% of our AUM.

Non-U.S. Convertible Securities

Started in 1994 as a step-out of our U.S. convertibles strategy, non-U.S. convertibles applies the same investment approach to the broad universe of European, Asian and other global convertible securities. Historically, these convertible securities often have been more attractive than their U.S. counterparts in terms of fixed income characteristics, equity participation and quality of issuer. Among this strategy’s risk-control measures is currency hedging, when applicable.

We managed $2.8 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 3.3% of our AUM.

High Income Convertible Securities

High income, or “busted,” convertibles offer a unique combination of high current yield and yield-to-maturity, plus the potential for significant equity-driven capital appreciation. As a neglected niche within the convertible universe, high income convertibles are often available at attractive prices. When their underlying stocks collapse, convertible bond prices generally decline until they find yield support. These busted convertibles lose their equity sensitivity, and thus the attention of equity-oriented convertible investors, and they remain largely unwelcome in most of the fixed income market. We attempt to exploit the inefficiencies in these “special situation” securities to track the performance

 

153


Table of Contents

of the corporate bond markets when equity markets are flat or down and participate with stocks when equity markets are strong. By doing so, we attempt to capture a significant portion of equity market returns over full market cycles while providing levels of current income and volatility closer to that of the fixed income market. We managed $1.3 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 1.5% of our AUM.

Real Estate

Real estate investing was launched as a distinct strategy in 1994 in response to the significant opportunities in distressed real estate debt at that time. Sometimes in partnership with certain of our other strategies, our real estate team targets a diverse range of global investments, including direct property investments, investments in companies with extensive real estate assets, undervalued debt and equity securities and opportunities to develop and re-position properties in association with aligned, high-quality partners.

In 2009, we became pre-qualified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to participate in PPIP to purchase troubled real estate-related assets from certain financial institutions. As part of our participation in PPIP, we formed PPIF, which is focused exclusively on investments in commercial mortgage-backed securities and has capital commitments of $2.3 billion, including an equal match from the Treasury Department, that brings PPIF’s total potential purchasing power to approximately $4.6 billion.

In 2010, Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund IV, L.P. became fully drawn and its successor fund, Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V, L.P., has capital commitments of $202.0 million through its first closing.

We managed $4.1 billion in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, including $2.4 billion in PPIF, representing 4.8% of our AUM.

Listed Equities

Emerging Markets Absolute Return

Our emerging markets absolute return strategy is based on our belief that certain countries have non-mainstream financial markets where companies are often poorly analyzed and securities mispriced. Moreover, we believe that emerging markets tend to possess attractive investment environments on a fundamental basis given their higher rates of economic growth (as compared to developed countries) as a result, in part, of the upward pressures exerted by a desire for improved standards of living.

This strategy utilizes long and, to a lesser extent, short positions in the equity and other securities of companies based in emerging and growing countries, without significant leverage, in its effort to achieve substantial absolute total returns while reducing exposure to macro factors. In this strategy, we target companies with substantial assets, evaluate them primarily through a discounted cash flow analysis and diversify our holdings by industry and country. Our strategy concentrates on the Asia and Pacific region (including Japan, Australia and New Zealand), but also covers Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Russia.

We managed $721.6 million in this strategy as of March 31, 2011, representing 0.8% of our AUM.

Long-Only Emerging Market Equities

In March 2011, our emerging markets team was selected by The Vanguard Group as one of four advisers to actively manage a long-only emerging markets equity fund that will complement

 

154


Table of Contents

Vanguard’s existing emerging markets index fund. Our team will initially oversee 25% of the new fund’s assets. The fund is expected to commence management as of June 27, 2011.

Cautionary Note Regarding Historical Fund Performance

The historical results for our funds described in this prospectus may not be indicative of the future results that you should expect from us, which could negatively impact our AUM and the fees and incentive income received by us from such funds. In particular, our funds’ future results may differ significantly from their historical results for the following reasons:

 

  Ÿ  

the rates of returns of our funds reflect unrealized gains as of the applicable valuation date that may never be realized or that may require a substantial period of time for such gains to be realized, which may adversely affect the ultimate value realized from those funds’ investments;

 

  Ÿ  

while we do not intend to make any extraordinary distributions prior to or in connection with the offering, you will not benefit from any value that was created in our funds prior to the offering to the extent such value has been realized and distributed prior to the offering;

 

  Ÿ  

in recent historical periods, the rates of returns of some of our funds have been positively influenced by a number of investments that experienced a substantial decrease in the average holding period of such investments and rapid and substantial increases in value following the dates on which those investments were made; those trends and rates of return may not be repeated in the future (for example, there can be no assurance that the buying opportunities from which Opps VIIb benefited during the recent financial market distress will occur again or that we will be in a position to benefit from such opportunities should they arise);

 

  Ÿ  

our funds’ returns have benefited from investment opportunities and general market conditions that may not repeat themselves, and there can be no assurance that our current or future funds will be able to avail themselves of comparable investment opportunities or market conditions or that such market conditions will continue;

 

  Ÿ  

the rates of return reflect our historical cost structure, which may vary in the future due to various factors described elsewhere in this prospectus and other factors beyond our control, including changes in applicable laws and regulations and rules of self-regulatory organizations;

 

  Ÿ  

committed capital to future funds may be less than the historical size of funds, and as a result, our fees and incentive income may be less; and

 

  Ÿ  

we may create new funds and investment products in the future that reflect a different asset mix in terms of allocations among funds, investment strategies and geographic and industry exposure.

Fund Data

Information regarding our closed-end, open-end and evergreen funds is set forth below.

The tables contain information, including past performance results, of investment funds managed by certain of our investment professionals while previously employed at the Trust Company of the West and continued to be managed by such investment professionals after their departure from the Trust Company of the West. For our closed-end and evergreen funds, no benchmarks are presented in the tables as there are no known comparable benchmarks for these funds’ investment philosophy, strategy and implementation. For the purposes of the information set forth below, our funds’ investments were valued in accordance with our valuation methodology as set forth in “Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Investments, at Fair Value.”

 

155


Table of Contents
            As of March 31, 2011  
   

Investment Period

  Total
Committed
Capital
    Drawn
Capital  (1)
    Gross
Total
Value  (2)
    Net Asset
Value
    Accrued
Incentives
(Fund Level)
    Unreturned
Drawn Capital
Plus Accrued
Preferred
Return (3 )
    IRR Since
Inception (4 )
    Multiple
of

Drawn
Capital  (5 )
 
   

Start Date

 

End Date

              Gross     Net    
        (in millions)                    

Closed-End Funds

 

Distressed Debt

           

TCW Special Credits Fund I, L.P. (6)

  Oct.1988   Oct.1991   $ 97      $      97      $      224      $      —        $      —        $      —          29.0     24.7     2.3

TCW Special Credits Fund II, L.P. (6)

  Jul.1990   Jul.1993     261        261        777        —          —          —          41.6        35.7        3.1   

TCW Special Credits Fund IIb, L.P. (6)

  Dec.1990   Dec.1993     153        153        481        —          —          —          44.0        37.9        3.1   

TCW Special Credits Fund III, L.P. (6)

  Nov. 1991   Nov.1994     329        329        812        —          —          —          26.2        22.1        2.5   

TCW Special Credits Fund IIIb, L.P. (6)

  Apr.1992   Apr.1995     447        447        934        —          —          —          21.2        17.9        2.1   

TCW Special Credits Fund IV, L.P. (6)

  Jun.1993   Jun.1996     394        394        875        —          —          —          21.1        17.3        2.2   

OCM Opportunities Fund, L.P.

  Oct.1995   Oct.1998     771        771        1,394        —          —          —          12.4        10.2        1.8   

OCM Opportunities Fund II, L.P.

  Oct. 1997   Oct.2000     1,550        1,550        2,653        —          —          —          11.0          8.5        1.7   

OCM Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

  Sep.1999   Sep.2002     2,077        2,077        3,470        29        6        —          15.4        11.9        1.7   

OCM Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.

  Sep.2001   Sep.2004     2,125        2,125        3,934        7        1        —          35.0        28.1        1.9   

OCM Opportunities Fund IVb, L.P.

  May2002   May2005     1,339        1,339        2,637        —          —          —          57.8        47.3        2.0   

OCM Opportunities Fund V, L.P.

  Jun.2004   Jun.2007     1,179        1,179        2,167        383        68        —          19.2        14.7        1.8   

OCM Opportunities Fund VI, L.P.

  Jul.2005   Jul.2008     1,773        1,773        3,021        1,455        146        1,139        13.0          9.5        1.7   

OCM Opportunities Fund VII, L.P.

  Mar.2007   Mar.2010     3,598        3,598        5,046        3,314        173        3,063        12.1          8.4        1.4   

OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb, L.P.

  May2008   May2011     10,940        9,844        17,635        13,885        1,175        8,687        30.5        23.0        1.8   

Special Account A

  Nov.2008   Mar.2011     253        217        407        351        37        193        51.2        40.5        1.9   

Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII, L.P.

  Oct.2009   Oct.2012     4,507        2,689        3,224        3,095        85        2,816        29.7        18.5        1.2   

Special Account B

  Nov.2009   Nov.2012     1,031        515        622        620        19        552        30.4        24.0        1.2   

Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb, L.P.

 

*

 

*

    2,667        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   
                    23.8     18.6  

Global Principal Investments

                     

TCW Special Credits Fund V, L.P. (6)

  Apr.1994   Apr.1997   $ 401      $ 401      $ 765      $ —        $ —        $ —          17.2     14.6     1.9

OCM Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.

  Jul.1996   Jul.1999     625        625        951        —          —          —          6.4        5.4        1.5   

OCM Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P.

  Dec.2000   Dec.2005     1,275        1,275        2,411        288        56        —          22.9        17.3        1.9   

OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

  Nov.2003   Nov.2008     1,400        1,400        2,498        1,105        145        634        17.2        12.2        1.8   

OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.

  Oct.2006   Oct.2011     3,328        3,328        4,295        3,566        —          3,778        9.3        6.3        1.3   

Special Account C

  Dec.2008   Feb.2014     505        182        358        287        28        159        37.5        28.6        2.0   

Oaktree Principal Fund V, L.P.

  Feb.2009   Feb.2014     2,827        777        1,057        870        33        775        36.2        16.1        1.4   
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   
                    14.2     10.5  

Asia Principal Investments

                     

OCM Asia Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.

  May2006   May2011   $ 578      $ 422      $ 446      $ 323      $ —        $ 467        2.4     -3.7     1.1

European Principal Investments (7)

                     

OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.

  Mar.2006   Mar.2009   $ 495      $ 460      $ 921      $ 829      $ 80      $ 596        17.3     13.2     2.0

OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P.

  Dec. 2007   Dec.2012   1,759      1,380      1,852      1,487      57      1,341        20.3        11.6        1.3   

Oaktree European Principal Fund III, L.P.

 

*

 

*

  1,070      —        —        —        —        —          —          —          —     
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   
                    18.3     12.6  

Power Opportunities

                     

OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund, L.P.

  Nov.1999   Nov.2004   $ 449      $ 383      $ 694      $ —        $ —        $ —          20.1     13.1     1.8

OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II, L.P.

  Nov.2004   Nov. 2009     1,021        541        2,028        363        18        —          77.1        59.8        3.8   

Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

  Apr.2010   Apr.2015     903        86        88        73        —          88        nm        nm        nm   
                 

 

 

   

 

 

   
                    35.4     27.5  

 

156


Table of Contents
            As of March 31, 2011  
   

Investment Period

  Total
Committed
Capital
    Drawn
Capital  (1)
    Gross
Total
Value  (2)
    Net Asset
Value
    Accrued
Incentives
(Fund Level)
    Unreturned
Drawn Capital
Plus Accrued
Preferred
Return (3)
    IRR Since Inception (4)   Multiple
of

Drawn
Capital  (5)
 
   

Start Date

 

End Date

              Gross     Net  
        (in millions)                  

Real Estate

                     

TCW Special Credits Fund VI, L.P. (6)

  Aug. 1994   Aug.1997   $ 506      $ 506      $ 1,190      $ —        $   —        $   —          21.1%       17.4%     2.4x   

OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund A, L.P.

  Feb. 1996   Feb.1999     379        379        703        31        28        —           10.4          8.3     1.9     

OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund B, L.P.

  Mar. 1997   Mar.2000     285        285        461        28        —          86           7.8          6.7     1.6     

OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund II, L.P.

  Dec. 1998   Dec.2001     464        440        740        10        2        —           15.2        11.1     1.7     

OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

  Sep. 2002   Sep.2005     707        707        1,322        426        87        170         15.7        11.5     1.9     

Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.

  Dec. 2007   Dec.2011     450        450        629        586        24        502         23.7        14.9     1.4     

Special Account D

  Nov. 2009   Nov.2012     256        256        300        299        4        275         24.7        22.0     1.2     

Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V, L.P.

  Mar. 2011   Mar.2015     202        40        41        40        —          41        nm      nm     1.0     
                 

 

 

   

 

 
                    15.4%       12.0%  

Asia Real Estate

                     

Oaktree Asia Special Situations Fund, L.P.

  May 2008   Apr.2009   $ 50      $ 19      $ 24      $ 20      $ —        $ 23         12.0      3.1%     1.3x   

PPIP

                     

Oaktree PPIP Fund, L.P. (8)

  Dec. 2009   Dec.2012   $ 2,322      $ 234      $ 300      $ 294        N/A   (8)       N/A   (8)       33.1%  (8)      N/A (8)     1.3x   

Mezzanine Finance

                     

OCM Mezzanine Fund, L.P. (9)

  Oct. 2001   Oct.2006   $ 808      $ 773      $ 1,109      $ 86      $ 35      $ 10         14.5%      10.7% / 10.4%  (9)     1.4x   

OCM Mezzanine Fund II, L.P.

  Jun. 2005   Jun.2010     1,251        1,107        1,456        793        —          950           8.3          4.9     1.3     

Oaktree Mezzanine Fund III, L.P. (10)

  Dec. 2009   Dec.2014     1,592        306        328        290        —          315         12.5      -0.7 / -9.7  (10)     1.1     
                 

 

 

   

 

 
                     11.0%         6.8%  

 

* Not commenced.
(1) Reflects the capital contributions of investors in the fund net of any distributions to such investors of uninvested capital.
(2) Reflects the value of the fund’s income and realized and unrealized gains from fund inception to date before the allocation of management fees, general fund expenses and any incentive allocation to the fund’s general partner. Our valuations of unrealized investments are unaudited.
(3) Reflects the amount the fund needs to distribute to its investors as a return of capital and a preferred return before we are entitled to receive incentive income (other than tax distributions) from the fund.
(4) The internal rate of return, or IRR, is the annualized implied discount rate calculated from a series of cash flows. It is the return that equates the present value of all capital invested in an investment to the present value of all returns of capital, or the discount rate that will provide a net present value of all cash flows equal to zero. Fund-level IRRs are calculated based upon the actual timing of cash distributions to investors and the residual value of such investor’s capital accounts at the end of the applicable period being measured. Gross IRRs reflect returns before allocation of management fees, general fund expenses and any incentive allocation to the fund’s general partner. Net IRRs reflect returns to non-affiliated investors after allocation of management fees, general fund expenses and any incentive allocation to the fund’s general partner.
(5) Calculated as Gross Total Value divided by Drawn Capital.
(6) The fund was managed by certain of our investment professionals while employed at the Trust Company of the West prior to our founding in 1995. When these employees joined Oaktree upon, or shortly after, our founding, they continued to manage the fund through the end of its term pursuant to a sub-advisory relationship between the Trust Company of the West and us.
(7) Aggregate IRRs based on conversion of OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P. cash flows from Euros to USD at the March 31, 2011 spot rate of $1.419.
(8) Due to the differences in allocations of income and expenses to this fund’s two primary limited partners, the UST and Oaktree PPIP Private Fund, L.P., a combined net IRR is not represented. Of the $2,322 million in capital commitments, $1,161 million relates to the Oaktree PPIP Private Fund, L.P., for which we are the investment manager. As of March 31, 2011, Oaktree PPIP Private Fund, L.P. had accrued incentives (fund level) and gross and net IRRs of $6 million, 28.8% and 18.1%, respectively.
(9) The fund’s partnership interests are divided into Class A and Class B interests, with the Class A interests having priority with respect to the distribution of current income and disposition proceeds. Net IRR for Class A interests is 10.7% and Class B interests is 10.4%. Combined net IRR for the Class A and Class B interests is 10.5%.
(10) The fund’s partnership interests are divided into Class A and Class B interests, with the Class A interests having priority with respect to the distribution of current income and disposition proceeds. Net IRR for Class A interests is -0.7% and Class B interests is -9.7%. Combined net IRR for Class A and Class B interests is -2.9%.

 

157


Table of Contents

 

              Since Inception through March 31, 2011  
Open-End Funds   Inception  

AUM as of

    Annualized Rates of Return   (1)     Sharpe Ratio  
      Oaktree     Relevant
Benchmark
    Oaktree
Gross
    Relevant
Benchmark
 
    March 31, 2011     Gross     Net        
        (in millions)                                

U.S. High Yield Bonds

  Jan. 1986   $ 14,196        10.0     9.5     8.9     0.76        0.50   

European High Yield Bonds

  May 1999     2,040        8.0        7.4        6.6        0.54        0.32   

U.S. Convertibles

  Apr. 1987     5,390        10.4        9.8        8.2        0.48        0.29   

Non-U.S. Convertibles

  Oct. 1994     2,842        9.9        9.1        6.2        0.83        0.35   

High Income Convertibles

  Aug. 1989     1,326        12.9        12.1        8.7        1.07        0.53   

U.S. Senior Loans (2)

  Sep. 2008     533        10.6        10.1        7.3        1.22        0.52   

European Senior Loans

  May 2009     731        19.2        18.4        24.8        3.54        3.14   

 

(1) Represents Oaktree’s annualized time-weighted rates of return, including reinvestment of income, net of commissions and transaction costs. Returns for Relevant Benchmarks are presented on a gross basis.
(2) Excludes two closed-end funds in liquidation—Oaktree Loan Fund, L.P. and Oaktree Loan Fund, 2x, L.P. As of March 31, 2011, these funds had net asset values of $228 million and $562 million, respectively, gross IRRs of 2.7% and 2.9%, respectively, and net IRRs of 2.1% and 2.1%, respectively.

 

Evergreen Funds (1)

   Inception    AUM as of
March 31, 2011
     Annualized Rates of Return
Since Inception through
March 31, 2011
 
             Gross             Net      
          (in millions)               

Emerging Markets Absolute Return

   Apr. 1997    $ 722         17.9     12.4

Value Opportunities

   Sep. 2007      1,821         16.8        11.0   

 

(1) We also manage three restructured evergreen funds that are in liquidation—European Credit Opportunities, High Yield Plus and Japan Opportunities (Yen class). As of March 31 2011, these funds had gross and net IRRs since inception of -2.6% and -5.1%, 8.3% and 5.7% and -11.0% and -12.4%, respectively, and in the aggregate had AUM of $520.7 million as of March 31, 2011.

Synergies

We emphasize cross-group cooperation and collaboration among our investment professionals. Many of our investment strategies are complementary, and our investment professionals often identify and communicate potential opportunities to other groups, allowing our funds to benefit from the synergies created by the scale of our business and our proprietary research. Our high yield bond group, for instance, sometimes alerts our distressed debt group to issuers facing financial difficulties, and our distressed debt group sometimes identifies investment opportunities for our control investing group.

This cross-pollination among our investment groups occurs both formally and informally. For example, members of the distressed debt, principal investments and real estate groups attend each others’ meetings in order to ensure that each group keeps abreast of the others’ activities and has ready access to specialized expertise for more informed investment decisions. These groups periodically invest jointly, permitting us to make larger or more specialized investments than we could undertake in the absence of such collaboration. Our investment professionals also cooperate informally, consulting each other on a regular basis with respect to existing and proposed investments. Our culture encourages such cooperation, as does the broad ownership by all of our senior investment professionals, which gives each of them an indirect stake in the success of all of our investment strategies.

We have a shared trading desk in the U.S. for our distressed debt, high yield bond, senior loan, principal investments and real estate strategies. The shared trading desk provides all of these

 

158


Table of Contents

strategies the benefit of our traders’ deep experience with both performing and distressed securities, facilitates communication among the groups, and allows us to combine trades for larger orders with the preferential access and pricing that sometimes comes with larger orders. Additionally, the shared nature of the trading desk allows us to pursue individual opportunities without revealing to the broader market which of our strategies may be purchasing the targeted security, providing an advantage over our competitors who invest exclusively in distressed or distress-for-control strategies, thus revealing their expectations for their investments.

The scale of our investing activities makes us a significant client of many investment banks, brokers and consultants, and thus helps each group access opportunities that might not be available were it not part of our larger organization. Finally, the scale of our activities has permitted us to create significant shared resources. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Our failure to deal appropriately with conflicts of interest could damage our reputation and adversely affect our business.”

Marketing and Client Relations

Our client relationships are fundamental to our business. We strive to act with professionalism and integrity and believe our success is tied to the success of our clients. We have developed a loyal following among many of the nation’s most significant institutional investors. We believe their loyalty flows from our superior investment record, our reputation for integrity and the fairness and transparency of our fee structures. Outside of the U.S., we continue to develop deep client relationships and regional expertise, as reflected in the recent additions of a number of sovereign wealth fund and other non-U.S. investors to our client base. In recent years, many large sovereign wealth funds have committed significant capital to investment strategies such as ours.

As of March 31, 2011, our $85.7 billion of AUM was divided by client type and geographic origin as follows:

 

LOGO

Our extensive in-house global marketing and client relations group, comprised of over 40 individuals dedicated to relationship management and sales, client service or sales strategy in Europe, the Middle East, Asia/Pacific and the Americas, appropriately reflects the increasingly global composition of our client base. This team is augmented by 20 dedicated marketing support, portfolio analytics and client reporting professionals. The marketing and client relations leadership team reports directly to our Managing Principal. In addition, our Chairman devotes a significant amount of time in representing our company and meeting with clients and prospects.

We have devoted considerable resources to augmenting our marketing and client relations efforts. We created two new groups within marketing and client relations in 2009, one dedicated

 

159


Table of Contents

exclusively to servicing existing clients, and another focused on providing clients analytics regarding their Oaktree investments to better serve their own reporting and portfolio management needs.

Employees

We strive to maintain a work environment that fosters integrity, professionalism, excellence, candor and collegiality among our employees. As of March 31, 2011, we had over 600 employees:

 

     Total      Owners      Outside U.S.  

Investment professionals

     207         111         74   

Other professionals

     277         54         40   

Support staff

     123         —           30   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     607         165         144   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We have always believed that our personnel practices must contribute to the achievement of our clients’ objectives. Employee ownership and firm-wide profit participation are key to this. Thus, starting less than a year after our founding, we have consistently broadened employee ownership among senior employees and have had a single firm-wide annual bonus pool. These and other practices serve to attract, incentivize and retain employees who share our commitment to clients and the long term, while fostering a stable and experienced leadership team. For example, our 21 portfolio managers have an average 26 years of industry experience and average 14 years working together.

Competition

We compete with many other firms in every aspect of our business, including raising funds, seeking investments and hiring and retaining professionals. Many of our competitors are substantially larger than us and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources. Certain of these competitors periodically raise significant amounts of capital in investment strategies that are similar to ours. Some of these competitors also may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, which may create further competitive disadvantages for us with respect to investment opportunities. In addition, some of these competitors may have higher risk tolerances or make different risk assessments than we do, allowing them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish broader networks of business relationships. In short, we operate in a highly competitive business and many of our competitors may be better positioned than we are to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace. For additional information regarding the competitive risks that we face, see “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—The investment management business is intensely competitive.”

Regulatory Matters and Compliance

Our business, as well as the financial services industry generally, is subject to extensive regulation in the United States and elsewhere. Our indirect subsidiary, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. Registered investment advisers are subject to the requirements and regulations of the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act. These requirements relate to, among other things, fiduciary duties to clients, maintaining an effective compliance program, solicitation agreements, conflicts of interest, recordkeeping and reporting, disclosure, limitations on agency cross and principal transactions between an adviser and advisory clients and general anti-fraud prohibitions.

One of our indirect subsidiaries, OCM Investments, LLC, is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and is a member of the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA. As a broker-dealer, this subsidiary is subject to

 

160


Table of Contents

regulation and oversight by the SEC and state securities regulators. In addition, FINRA, a self-regulatory organization that is subject to oversight by the SEC, promulgates and enforces rules governing the conduct of, and examines the activities of, its member firms. Due to the limited authority granted to our subsidiary in its capacity as a broker-dealer, it is not required to comply with certain regulations covering trade practices among broker-dealers and the use and safekeeping of customers’ funds and securities. As a registered broker-dealer and member of a self-regulatory organization, we are, however, subject to the SEC’s uniform net capital rule. Rule 15c3-1 of the Exchange Act specifies the minimum level of net capital a broker-dealer must maintain and also requires that a significant part of a broker-dealer’s assets be kept in relatively liquid form. The SEC and FINRA impose rules that require notification when net capital falls below certain predefined criteria, limit the ratio of subordinated debt to equity in the regulatory capital composition of a broker dealer and constrain the ability of a broker-dealer to expand its business under certain circumstances. Additionally, the SEC’s uniform net capital rule imposes certain requirements that may have the effect of prohibiting a broker-dealer from distributing or withdrawing capital and requiring prior notice to the SEC for certain withdrawals of capital.

Another of our subsidiaries, Oaktree Capital Management Limited, or Oaktree Limited, is authorized and regulated by the FSA, as an investment manager in the United Kingdom. The U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, or FSMA, and rules promulgated thereunder, govern all aspects of the U.K. investment business, including sales, research and trading practices, the provision of investment advice, the use and safekeeping of client funds and securities, regulatory capital, record keeping, margin practices and procedures, the approval standards for individuals, anti-money laundering, periodic reporting and settlement procedures.

The SEC and other regulators have in recent years aggressively increased their regulatory activities in respect of asset management firms. On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, imposes significant new regulations on nearly every aspect of the U.S. financial services industry, including oversight and regulation of systemic market risk (including the power to liquidate certain institutions); authorizing the Federal Reserve to regulate nonbank institutions; generally prohibiting insured depositary institutions and their affiliates from conducting proprietary trading and investing in private equity funds and hedge funds; imposing minimum equity retention requirements for issuers of asset-backed securities; and imposing new registration, recordkeeping and reporting requirements on private fund investment advisers. The Dodd-Frank Act also prohibits investments in private equity and hedge funds by certain banking entities and covered nonbank companies as defined in the legislation, which will decrease the investor base in our funds and cause us to lose these covered financial institutions as a source of committed capital for our funds. Many of these provisions are subject to further rule making and to the discretion of regulatory bodies. While certain of our subsidiaries are already a registered investment adviser and registered broker-dealer and subject to SEC and FINRA examinations, compliance with any additional legal or regulatory requirements, including the need to register other of our subsidiaries as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act, could make compliance more difficult and expensive and affect the manner in which we conduct business.

Certain of our activities are subject to compliance with laws and regulations of U.S. federal, state and municipal governments, non-U.S. governments, their respective agencies and/or various self-regulatory organizations or exchanges relating to, among other things, antitrust laws, anti-money laundering laws, anti-bribery laws relating to foreign officials, and privacy laws with respect to client information, and some of our funds invest in businesses that operate in highly regulated industries. Any failure to comply with these rules and regulations could expose us to liability and/or reputational damage. Our business has operated for many years within a legal framework that requires our being able to monitor and comply with a broad range of legal and regulatory developments that affect our activities. However, additional legislation, changes in rules or changes in the interpretation or

 

161


Table of Contents

enforcement of existing laws and rules, either in the United States or elsewhere, may directly affect our mode of operation and profitability. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Regulatory changes in the United States, regulatory compliance failures and the effects of negative publicity surrounding the financial industry in general could adversely affect our reputation, business and operations.”

Properties

Our principal executive offices are located in leased office space at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071. We also lease the space for our offices in New York City, Stamford, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo. Certain affiliates of our managed funds lease office space in Amsterdam and Luxembourg. We do not own any real property. We consider our facilities to be suitable and adequate for the management and operation of our business.

Intellectual Property

We rely in part on trade secret protection to protect our confidential and proprietary research methodologies. Trade secret protection under U.S law is not subject to expiration. We have taken customary measures to protect our trade secrets and proprietary information, but these measures may not be effective. Failure to maintain trade secret protection for our proprietary research methodologies could adversely affect our competitive business position.

Legal Proceedings

On June 8, 2011, Kaplan Industry, Inc. v. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. In Kaplan , the plaintiff alleges that Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. tortiously interfered with a business relationship and engaged in a civil conspiracy through the actions of Gulmar Offshore Middle East, LLC, or Gulmar, a business recently acquired by subsidiaries of OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P., or EPOF II. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. serves as investment manager to EPOF II. The complaint alleges that Gulmar breached a consortium agreement between Gulmar and Kaplan Industry, Inc. relating to the consortium’s performance of services to Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the state-owned oil producer of Venezuela. The plaintiff alleges that Oaktree is responsible for these breaches by Gulmar. The complaint seeks damages in excess of $800 million. The substance of the claim relates almost exclusively to actions by Gulmar prior to EPOF II’s acquisition and the basis of the claim is currently subject to an on-going arbitration in the United Kingdom between Kaplan and Gulmar. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. believes the case is without merit.

 

162


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT

Management Approach

Throughout our history, we have employed a relatively decentralized management structure. Howard Marks, our Chairman, is responsible for ensuring our adherence to our core investment philosophy, communicating closely with our clients regarding products and strategies. Bruce Karsh serves as our President and manages our distressed debt strategy. John Frank, our Managing Principal, is responsible for the day-to-day management of our firm and, together with Mr. Marks and Mr. Karsh, oversees the operations of our company as a whole. Each of our other executive officers has substantial autonomy in his own area, and all of our portfolio managers enjoy substantial autonomy in their investing activities and with respect to the management of their respective investment teams.

We believe our management approach has been a significant strength and we intend to preserve our current management structure in order to maintain our focus on achieving successful growth over the long term. This desire to preserve our existing management structure is one of the principal reasons why upon listing of our Class A units on the NYSE, if achieved, we have decided to avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exemption from certain of the NYSE governance rules. This exemption eliminates the requirements that we have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors and a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors. In addition, because our manager is entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors, we will not be required to hold annual meetings of our unitholders so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied. Our board of directors will manage all of our operations and activities.

Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth information about our executive officers and directors as of July 29, 2011:

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Howard S. Marks

     65       Director, Chairman and Principal

Bruce A. Karsh

     55       Director, President and Principal

John B. Frank

     55       Director and Managing Principal

David M. Kirchheimer

     55       Director, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Principal

Kevin L. Clayton

     49       Director and Principal

Stephen A. Kaplan

     52       Director and Principal

Larry W. Keele

     54       Director and Principal

Sheldon M. Stone

     58       Director and Principal

D. Richard Masson

     53       Director and Principal Emeritus

Robert E. Denham

     65       Director

Wayne G. Pierson

     60       Director

Todd E. Molz

     40       General Counsel, Managing Director and Secretary

B. James Ford

     42       Managing Director

Caleb S. Kramer

     42       Managing Director

Each of our directors has been a director since 2007.

 

163


Table of Contents

Howard S. Marks is our Chairman, a co-founder and a director. Since our formation in 1995, Mr. Marks has been responsible for ensuring the firm’s adherence to its core investment philosophy, communicating closely with clients concerning products and strategies and managing the firm. From 1985 until 1995, Mr. Marks led the groups at The TCW Group, Inc. that were responsible for investments in distressed debt, high yield bonds and convertible securities. He was also Chief Investment Officer for domestic fixed income at TCW. Previously, Mr. Marks was with Citicorp Investment Management for 16 years, where from 1978 to 1985 he was Vice President and senior portfolio manager in charge of convertible and high yield securities. Between 1969 and 1978, he was an equity research analyst and, subsequently, Citicorp’s Director of Research. Mr. Marks holds a B.S.Ec. degree cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a major in finance and an M.B.A. in accounting and marketing from Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago, where he received the George Hay Brown Prize. He is a CFA ® charterholder and a Chartered Investment Counselor. Mr. Marks serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and from 2000 to 2010 was Chairman of its Investment Board. With over 40 years of investment experience, Mr. Marks’s extensive expertise in our industry, his perceptive market insights and his importance to our client development bring considerable value to our board of directors and our overall business.

Bruce A. Karsh is our President, a co-founder and a director. He serves as portfolio manager for our distressed debt funds. In addition, he oversees substantially all of our closed-end funds. Prior to co-founding us, Mr. Karsh was a Managing Director of TCW and the portfolio manager of the Special Credits Funds from 1988 until 1995. Before joining TCW, Mr. Karsh worked as Assistant to the Chairman of SunAmerica, Inc. Prior to that, he was an attorney with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers. Before working at O’Melveny & Myers, Mr. Karsh clerked for the Honorable Anthony M. Kennedy, then of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and presently Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Karsh holds an A.B. degree in Economics summa cum laude from Duke University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to earn a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as notes editor of the Virginia Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif. Mr. Karsh currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Duke University and is Chairman of its investment management subsidiary, DUMAC, LLC. Mr. Karsh currently serves on the boards of Charter Communications, Inc. and a number of privately held companies. He previously served on the boards of Furniture Brands International, KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc. and Littelfuse Inc. Mr. Karsh is highly respected as one of the leading portfolio managers in the area of distressed debt investing, one of our flagship investment strategies. Additionally, Mr. Karsh’s extensive leadership and management skills and his current and past service on boards of other public companies add significant value to our board of directors and our overall business.

John B. Frank is our Managing Principal and a director and works closely with Messrs. Marks and Karsh in managing our business. From July 2001 until early 2006, Mr. Frank was the General Counsel of Oaktree. Prior to joining Oaktree in July 2001, Mr. Frank was a partner of the Los Angeles law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. While at that firm, Mr. Frank acted as principal lawyer in a number of notable merger and acquisition transactions; as primary outside counsel to a number of public and privately held corporations; and as special counsel to various boards of directors and special board committees. Prior to joining Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in 1984, Mr. Frank served as a law clerk to the Honorable Frank M. Coffin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Frank served as a Legislative Assistant to the Honorable Robert F. Drinan, Member of Congress. Mr. Frank holds a B.A. degree with honors in history from Wesleyan University and a J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was Managing Editor of the Michigan Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. He is a member of the State Bar of California, and while in private practice, was listed in Woodward & White’s Best Lawyers in America . Mr. Frank is a trustee of Wesleyan University, Polytechnic School and Good Samaritan

 

164


Table of Contents

Hospital of Los Angeles. Mr. Frank brings a deep knowledge of our business to our board of directors, as well as many years of experience as a corporate lawyer. Mr. Frank has broad responsibility for our business and his service on our board of directors will help ensure both that our board is well informed about our operations and that the board’s priorities are implemented.

David M. Kirchheimer has been our Chief Financial and Administrative Officer since our founding, a principal since 2002 and is a director. Prior to joining us in 1995, Mr. Kirchheimer was a Vice President and the Chief Administrative Officer of Ticketmaster Corporation, a leading ticket processing and distribution company. Previously he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Republic Pictures Corporation, a publicly held entertainment company. From 1979 to 1986, Mr. Kirchheimer was with Price Waterhouse in Los Angeles, most recently serving as a Senior Audit Manager. Mr. Kirchheimer graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude with a B.A. degree in Economics from Colorado College and received an M.B.A. in Accounting and Finance from the Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). Mr. Kirchheimer serves on the Board of Trustees of Huntington Memorial Hospital. As our Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Mr. Kirchheimer has thorough knowledge of the day-to-day operations of our business. Additionally, his extensive experience in financial reporting, accounting and controls adds a valuable resource to our board of directors.

Kevin L. Clayton is a principal and director who is dedicated to developing and maintaining our key investor relationships. Mr. Clayton is also Supervising Principal of OCM Investments, LLC, Oaktree’s registered broker-dealer entity and member of FINRA. Mr. Clayton founded the Marketing and Client Services department at Oaktree in 1995 and managed the group until 2010. He spent five years in the marketing and client relations area at TCW before joining Oaktree in 1995. Mr. Clayton’s prior experience includes six years at Chrysler Corporation where he held a number of assignments in the U.S. Automotive Sales and Marketing Division. Mr. Clayton holds a B.A. degree from Lehigh University and an M.B.A. from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He is a member of Lehigh’s Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and chairs the University’s Advancement Committee. Mr. Clayton also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at Blair Academy and chairs the school’s Investment Committee. Mr. Clayton’s extensive experience and knowledge in developing and maintaining client relationships enhance the breadth of experiences of our board of directors.

Stephen A. Kaplan is a principal, a director and the head of our control investing group. Mr. Kaplan has been with us since our inception in 1995. Mr. Kaplan began his career as an attorney at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP from 1983 until 1993, rising to partner in charge of the East Coast insolvency practice of that firm. In 1993, he joined TCW to spearhead a new effort in investing for control of financially distressed companies. At TCW, Mr. Kaplan helped to establish TCW’s private equity strategy and acted as portfolio manager of an investment fund focused on control of distressed companies. At Oaktree, Mr. Kaplan has acted as portfolio manager or has overseen all of the Oaktree private partnerships that have focused on control investing. Mr. Kaplan graduated with a B.S. in Political Science summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law. Mr. Kaplan presently serves on the boards of Cannery Casino Resorts, Genco Shipping and Trading Ltd. and Regal Entertainment Group. He has previously served on the boards of Alliance Healthcare Services, Inc. and General Maritime Corporation. In addition, he currently serves on the boards of numerous private companies. Mr. Kaplan is also a trustee of numerous nonprofit boards of directors, including the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Foundation and the New York University School of Law. Mr. Kaplan has over 17 years of experience making and managing control investments. His knowledge of the private equity markets and his experiences as a director of public companies broadens and diversifies the experiences of our board of directors. He is very familiar with board responsibilities, oversight and control.

Larry W. Keele is a principal, co-founder and director. Mr. Keele heads our convertible securities group. In addition to managing our U.S. convertible securities portfolios, he oversees our non-U.S. and

 

165


Table of Contents

high income convertible investments strategies. Earlier, he was a Managing Director of TCW in charge of the firm’s convertible value portfolios from 1986 until his departure to co-found us in 1995. Prior to joining TCW, Mr. Keele organized and managed the NationsBank Equity Income Fund, a commingled fund specializing in convertible securities and high yielding equities. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Tennessee Technological University and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Keele is a CFA ® charterholder. With over 25 years of experience in investing and managing convertible securities, Mr. Keele has extensive experience in that asset class. As one of our co-founders, he is also closely familiar with our business. His investment background and insights to the convertible markets bring value to our board of directors and our business.

Sheldon M. Stone is a principal, co-founder and director. Mr. Stone directs our high yield bond group. In addition to managing our U.S. high yield bond strategy, Mr. Stone oversees the European high yield bond, European senior loan, U.S. senior loans and mezzanine finance strategies. Before joining us, Mr. Stone established TCW’s high yield bond group with Mr. Marks in 1985 and headed it until leaving TCW to co-found Oaktree. Earlier, he worked with Mr. Marks at Citicorp from 1983 until 1985, where he performed credit analysis on high yield bonds. Mr. Stone worked at The Prudential Life Insurance Company as a Director of Corporate Finance from 1978 to 1983, managing fixed income portfolios and instructing analysts in credit analysis. Mr. Stone holds an A.B. from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A. in Accounting and Finance from Columbia University. Mr. Stone is a trustee of Bowdoin College and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. In addition, he chairs the board of the California Community Foundation. With over 30 years of experience in the fixed income markets, Mr. Stone brings a wealth of knowledge. As one of our co-founders, he is also closely familiar with our business. His investment background and insights into the fixed income markets bring value to our board of directors and our business.

D. Richard Masson is a director. Prior to his retirement from Oaktree in 2009, Mr. Masson was a co-founder and principal of Oaktree, where he served as head of analysis of distressed debt strategy from 1995 to 2001 and as co-head of analysis from 2001 to 2009. Prior thereto, he was Managing Director of TCW and its affiliate, TCW Asset Management Company, and head of the Special Credits Analytical Group. Prior to joining TCW in 1988, Mr. Masson worked for three years at Houlihan, Lokey, Howard and Zukin, Inc., where he was responsible for the valuation and analysis of securities and businesses. Prior to Houlihan, Mr. Masson was a Senior Accountant with the Comprehensive Professional Services Group at Price Waterhouse in Los Angeles. Mr. Masson holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). Mr. Masson’s extensive experience in distressed debt investing and his knowledge of our company brings value to our board of directors and our business.

Robert E. Denham is a director. Mr. Denham is a partner in the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, having rejoined the firm as a partner in 1998 to advise clients on strategic and financial issues, after serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Salomon Inc. Mr. Denham joined Salomon in late August 1991 as General Counsel of Salomon and its subsidiary, Salomon Brothers, and became Chairman and CEO of Salomon in June 1992. Prior to joining Salomon, Mr. Denham had been at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP for twenty years, including five years as managing partner. Mr. Denham graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received a master’s degree in Government from Harvard University in 1968 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1971, where he graduated magna cum laude and was a Case and Developments Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Mr. Denham is a member of the California, American and Los Angeles County Bar Associations. Mr. Denham serves on the board of directors of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Chairman) and the Russell Sage Foundation and is a trustee of the Good Samaritan Hospital of Los Angeles (Vice Chairman). He is also a public member of the Professional Ethics Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

166


Table of Contents

Mr. Denham presently serves on the boards of the Chevron Corporation, Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A. de CV (FEMSA), The New York Times and Wesco Financial Corporation. Mr. Denham has served as a member of the board of directors of a number of publicly traded companies and, therefore, is experienced with board responsibilities, oversight and control which will benefit our board of directors and our business. Mr. Denham also provides a broader range of expertise on the board of directors given his background as a corporate lawyer and a former chief executive officer of a global financial services company.

Wayne G. Pierson is a director. Mr. Pierson is Chief Financial and Investment Officer of Meyer Memorial Trust, a member of the original consortium of seven longstanding Oaktree clients who became institutional investors in Oaktree in February, 2004. Mr. Pierson currently serves as President of Acorn Investors, LLC, an investor in OCGH. Prior to joining Meyer Memorial Trust, Mr. Pierson served as Treasurer of Gregory Affiliates from 1980 until 1982. From 1973 until 1980, he served as an audit supervisor with Ernst & Young. Mr. Pierson initiated and continues to conduct a comprehensive investment survey for the Foundation Financial Officers Group, representing more than 150 foundations with assets in excess of $200 billion. He serves on a number of private equity fund advisory boards and is a trustee for several private trusts. Mr. Pierson received a B.S. in Business Administration cum laude from California State University, Northridge and is a Certified Public Accountant and CFA charterholder. Mr. Pierson’s investment and finance expertise and his familiarity with our company add value to our board of directors and to our business.

Todd E. Molz is our general counsel and a Managing Director. Mr. Molz manages all aspects of our legal activities, including fund formation, acquisitions and other special projects. Prior to joining Oaktree in March 2006, Mr. Molz was a partner of the Los Angeles law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where his practice focused on tax and structuring aspects of complex and novel business transactions. Prior to joining Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Mr. Molz served as a law clerk to the Honorable Alfred T. Goodwin of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Molz received a B.A. in Political Science cum laude from Middlebury College and a J.D. with honors from the University of Chicago. While at Chicago, Mr. Molz served on the Law Review, received the John M. Olin Student Fellowship and was a member of the Order of the Coif. Mr. Molz serves on the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

B. James Ford is a Managing Director and co-portfolio manager of our global principal investments strategy. Since joining Oaktree in 1996, Mr. Ford has been involved in sourcing and executing a number of the firm’s most significant investments and led the group’s efforts in media and energy sectors prior to being named a portfolio manager in 2006. Mr. Ford serves on the board of directors of Crimson Exploration, Inc., Exco Resources, Inc. and numerous private companies. Prior to joining Oaktree, Mr. Ford worked at McKinsey & Co. and was an analyst in the investment banking division of PaineWebber Incorporated. Mr. Ford earned a BA in Economics from University of California at Los Angeles and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Ford also serves as an active member of the Children’s Bureau Board of Directors and as trustee of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Trust.

Caleb S. Kramer is a Managing Director and the portfolio manager of our European principal investments strategy. Prior to joining Oaktree in 2000, Mr. Kramer co-founded Seneca Capital Partners LLC, a private equity investment firm. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Kramer was employed by Archon Capital Partners, an investment firm. Prior to 1994, Mr. Kramer was a mergers and acquisitions associate at Dillon Read and Co. Inc. and an analyst at Merrill Lynch and Co. Inc. Mr. Kramer received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers and directors.

 

167


Table of Contents

Board Structure

Composition of Our Board of Directors After This Offering

Our operating agreement establishes a board of directors responsible for the oversight of our business and operations. So long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied, the number of directors that comprise our board of directors is determined from time to time by our manager. Upon the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will consist of              (for a total of              directors). Actions by our board of directors must be taken with the approval of a majority of its members. So long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied, our manager is entitled to designate all the members of our board of directors.

Control of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC

Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC acts as our manager and is the general partner of OCGH, which owns 100% of our outstanding Class B units. Under its operating agreement, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC is managed by an executive committee that is comprised of our eight principals. In general, the executive committee seeks to act by consensus or, absent a consensus, by a vote of a majority of the voting percentage of the executive committee members (or such higher threshold as may be determined from time to time by the executive committee). The executive committee also, from time to time, delegates to one or more of its members or to other persons such authority and duties as the executive committee may deem advisable. Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC has agreed that the admission of any member who is not a principal is prohibited.

The voting percentage of each member of the executive committee is equal to the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is his percentage interest in OCGH and the denominator of which is the aggregate percentage interest of all of the executive committee members in OCGH. Accordingly, members with larger economic stakes in the Oaktree Operating Group (including Messrs. Marks, Karsh and Stone) are able to exercise greater voting power than members with smaller economic stakes on any matter submitted to the executive committee for a vote. The combined voting percentages of Messrs. Marks and Karsh by themselves are sufficient, for the foreseeable future, to constitute a majority of the voting percentage of the executive committee members.

Controlled Company Exemption

Under the NYSE rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain NYSE corporate governance standards. After completion of this offering, the principals will continue to represent more than 50% of our voting power, and we will therefore be a “controlled company.” As a result, we will elect not to comply with certain NYSE corporate governance standards, including the following:

 

  Ÿ  

the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors;

 

  Ÿ  

the requirement to have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities;

 

  Ÿ  

the requirement to have a nominating/corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and

 

  Ÿ  

the requirement for an annual performance evaluation of the compensation and nominating/corporate governance committees.

 

168


Table of Contents

In addition to the above, we will not be required to hold annual meetings of our unitholders. Accordingly, you will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.

Audit Committee

The purpose of the audit committee will be to assist our board of directors in overseeing and monitoring the quality and integrity of our financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence and the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm. The members of the audit committee will meet the independence standards for service on an audit committee of a board of directors pursuant to federal and NYSE rules relating to corporate governance matters, including the permitted transition period for newly reporting issuers. Pending appointment of independent directors to our audit committee, it is currently comprised of             .

Lack of Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Because we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards, we do not have a compensation committee. Messrs. Marks, Karsh and Frank have historically made all final determinations regarding executive officer compensation. Our board of directors has determined that maintaining our existing compensation practices as closely as possible is desirable and intends that these practices will continue. Accordingly, our board of directors does not intend to establish a compensation committee. For a description of certain transactions involving us and our directors and executive officers, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview of Compensation Philosophy and Program

Our fundamental philosophy in compensating our key personnel has always been, and, following this offering, will continue to be, to align their interests with the interests of our clients and unitholders. The alignment of interests is a defining characteristic of our business and one that we believe best optimizes long-term sustainable value. None of our named executive officers, or NEOs, receives any salary or bonus. Most of our founding principals, including our Chairman, receive no compensation and receive only distributions on the OCGH units they have held since our inception. The remaining NEOs are compensated through a combination of equity grants, equity distributions and profit and/or fee sharing.

We intend to continue our historical compensation practices following this offering, although we anticipate that in the future we may find it appropriate to provide compensation to our founding principals in addition to their equity distributions. Nonetheless, we expect that the substantial majority of their compensation as a whole will continue to come from their indirect ownership of the Oaktree Operating Group for the foreseeable future.

In connection with this offering, we determined that our NEOs consisted of the following individuals: (i) Bruce A. Karsh, our President; (ii) David M. Kirchheimer, our Chief Financial and Administrative Officer; (iii) John B. Frank, our Managing Principal; (iv) Stephen A. Kaplan, who manages our Global Principal Investments; and (v) Caleb S. Kramer, who manages our European Principal Investments. Our Chairman, Howard S. Marks, and two other founding principals, Sheldon M. Stone and Larry W. Keele, are not among our NEOs because none of them receives any compensation and each receives only distributions in respect of their OCGH units.

 

169


Table of Contents

Compensation Elements for Named Executive Officers

As noted above, our NEOs are compensated primarily or exclusively through a combination of equity grants and profit and fee sharing. The compensation arrangements for each of our NEOs reflect individual factors such as the scope and complexity of the NEO’s responsibilities, the NEO’s individual performance, the alignment of interests between the NEO and our clients and unitholders, the NEO’s contributions to our business results and financial performance, and the outcome of negotiations between us and the NEO.

What We Reward and Why We Pay Each Pay Element

We have designed compensation packages for our NEOs to align their interests with our clients and unitholders, reward risk mitigation and sustained financial and operational performance and to motivate these individuals to remain with us for long and productive careers. Our compensation arrangements are intended to attract, retain and motivate individuals of the highest level of quality and effectiveness. We are focused on rewarding the types of sustained, longer-term performance that provides attractive risk-adjusted returns for clients and increases long-term unitholder value.

Our NEOs do not receive any salary or annual cash bonuses. Instead, our compensation structure enables our NEOs to receive remuneration via distributions on their indirect ownership of the Oaktree Operating Group and from various profit or fee sharing arrangements. Allowing our NEOs to participate in our profit or fee sharing arrangements enables us to align their interests with those of our unitholders and clients, eliminating the need to pay salaries and discretionary bonuses that do not consistently correlate to our profitability, creating a comprehensive approach to compensation for our NEOs and encouraging long-term retention. The indirect ownership of the Oaktree Operating Group by our NEOs results in distributions to our NEOs that are by design performance-based since all of the distributions are determined based on our profits and in respect of the officers’ allocated shares of the carried interest or incentive fees payable in respect of our investment funds. Equity grants under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and the Phantom Equity Plan further align the interests of our NEOs with those of our unitholders.

A portion of the compensation earned by Messrs. Karsh, Kaplan and Kramer consisted of carried interests, which they each received as a member of the portfolio management team for the funds in which they serve as the portfolio manager. Mr. Frank receives a share of the carried interest from our largest closed-end strategy, distressed debt, both in recognition of his historic contributions to the management of some of the strategy’s investments and in lieu of other compensation, such as a greater profit sharing percentage or additional OCGH units. In addition, a significant portion of the compensation earned by Messrs. Kaplan and Kramer consisted of their share of the management fees paid by the funds for which they serve as portfolio manager.

Indirect Ownership of the Oaktree Operating Group

All of our executive officers, including our NEOs, have significant indirect equity stakes in the Oaktree Operating Group through their holdings of OCGH units, which we believe provide a long-term incentive to improve the value of our business without creating undue risk. This ownership entitles our NEOs to a portion of the aggregate earnings of the Oaktree Operating Group, and allows our NEOs to realize appreciation in the value of our units through their ability to exchange OCGH units for Class A units and then sell such units. For purposes of our financial statements, we treat distributions paid on the Oaktree Operating Group units as distributions on equity rather than as compensation, and therefore these payments are not reflected in the Summary Compensation Table below. As described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Exchange Agreement,” subject to certain restrictions, each OCGH unitholder will have the right to request that OCGH exchange his or

 

170


Table of Contents

her vested OCGH units into Class A units pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement following the expiration of any applicable lock-up period.

The OCGH units held by our NEOs at the time of the May 2007 Restructuring vest in 20% increments on January 2 of the five succeeding years. As a result, 20% of the total award vested on January 2 of each of 2008 through 2011, inclusive, with the last 20% increment vesting on January 2, 2012. Each tranche of vested units is subject to a lock-up that expires on July 10 of the year in which the tranche vests. OCGH has the right to waive such vesting and lock-up periods in its discretion at any time.

Our NEOs will forfeit all unvested units in OCGH upon their departure from Oaktree for any reason unless the departure is due to death or disability, in which case all unvested units automatically vest in full, or if the forfeiture requirement is waived by us. Any OCGH units that were outstanding at the time of our May 2007 Restructuring that are forfeited by an OCGH unitholder are reallocated among the remaining OCGH unitholders as follows: 80% of the forfeited units are allocated pro rata in proportion to our founding principals’ respective unit ownership interests and the remaining 20% of the forfeited units are allocated among qualifying employee OCGH unitholders pro rata in proportion to such employees’ respective unit ownership interests, in both cases measured at the time of our May 2007 Restructuring. All of our NEOs are subject to transfer restrictions in respect of their OCGH units by virtue of the fact that each of our NEOs must obtain board approval to exchange their OCGH units for Class A units, which may be sold, as discussed above.

As of December 31, 2010, our NEOs each held the following number of OCGH units and Class C units:

 

Name

   Number of OCGH
Units
     Number of
Class C  Units  (1)
     Total Number of
Units
     Percentage of Beneficial
Ownership of
Oaktree Operating
Group
 

Bruce A. Karsh

     23,531,967         1,826         23,533,793         15.89

David M. Kirchheimer

     1,736,341         136         1,736,477         1.17

John B. Frank

     2,425,109         185         2,425,294         1.64

Stephen A. Kaplan

     2,279,982         181         2,280,163         1.54

Caleb S. Kramer

     993,383         79         993,462         0.67

 

(1) Prior to the completion of this offering, all outstanding Class C units will be converted into Class A units on a one-for-one basis.

Following the May 2007 Restructuring, the OCGH unitholders’ interests in OCGH continued to take into account any disproportionate sharing in historical incentive income in accordance with the terms of the OCGH limited partnership agreement that were in effect prior to the May 2007 Restructuring. As a result, distributions to the OCGH unitholders by OCGH that are attributable to historical incentive income are not made pro-rata in proportion to the OCGH unitholders’ interest in OCGH units but instead will be adjusted to account for the disproportionate sharing of historical incentive income. In addition, the right to receive distributions of historical incentive income is subject to vesting in accordance with the same vesting schedule (including reallocation provisions) as applicable to the underlying OCGH units.

Equity Grants

Our board of directors and the general partner of OCGH adopted the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan as part of the May 2007 Restructuring (see “—2007 Equity Incentive Plan,” below). All future grants of equity-based awards to be made to our NEOs will be made pursuant to the terms and conditions of this

 

171


Table of Contents

plan or any successor thereto. Historically, Mr. Frank has made all final recommendations regarding grants of equity-based awards to our NEOs (other than to himself), based on an evaluation of each NEO’s individual contribution, the performance of the group which the NEO directs and our overall profitability, and the advice and input of Messrs. Marks and Karsh, and all equity-based awards were formally granted either by our board of directors or by a committee composed of Messrs. Marks, Karsh and Frank serving as the Administrator under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. Following this offering, Mr. Frank will recommend grants to the board, subject to the input and advice of Messrs. Marks and Karsh, and our entire board will serve as the Administrator for purposes of making all future grants of equity-based incentive awards to our NEOs.

As part of the annual compensation process, Mr. Frank received restricted unit awards of 100,000 OCGH units, and Mr. Kirchheimer received restricted unit awards of 25,000 OCGH units, on each of February 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011. The 2010 grants vest in equal increments on each of the first five anniversaries of grant, subject to accelerated vesting upon death or disability. In addition, Mr. Kramer was awarded 7,500 OCGH units on January 31, 2011 and 67,500 notional phantom units under the Phantom Equity Plan of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and its affiliates on March 31, 2011. The notional phantom units provide for cash payments to the phantom unitholder in the same amounts and at the same times as payments are made in respect of actual OCGH Units granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. As we did solely for all grants made in 2011 to our executives located in the United Kingdom, we gave Mr. Kramer a choice between receiving actual OCGH units, phantom units or a mix of the two in light of a potential change in form of our United Kingdom entity and associated individual tax consequences. We are considering changing our United Kingdom entity from a limited corporation to a limited liability partnership, which could change the UK tax treatment of the grant of actual OCGH units. As a result, we offered to make all or any part of the 2011 award in phantom units. The OCGH units for Messrs. Frank and Kirchheimer granted in 2011 vest in ten equal annual increments beginning on January 1, 2012, with the last tranche vesting on January 1, 2021, and the OCGH units for Mr. Kramer, which is the first tenth of the combined actual-phantom OCGH grant for Mr. Kramer, vest entirely on January 1, 2012. Mr. Kramer’s phantom units vest in nine equal increments beginning on January 1, 2013. In each case, vesting accelerates upon death or disability. Except with respect to his own equity grants, Mr. Frank consults with Messrs. Marks and Karsh to determine the size of each grant.The different grant sizes are a result of an analysis of each NEO’s overall contribution to our business and a consideration of the NEO’s existing overall compensation.

Profit and Revenue Sharing Arrangements

In lieu of salary or bonus, we provide various forms of profit and revenue sharing arrangements for our NEOs. Each of Messrs. Karsh and Frank receives a share of the incentive income we receive with respect to certain of our distressed debt funds and each of Messrs. Kaplan and Kramer receives a share of the incentive income and management fees we receive from our control investing funds. Additionally, Messrs. Kirchheimer and Frank receive quarterly payments based on a percentage of our profits, as described below, which ties their compensation to the overall profitability of our business. Messrs. Kirchheimer and Frank’s profit sharing arrangement dates back to the beginning of 2003, when it was determined that compensating them by reference to our profits would be preferable than continuing to afford them salary and bonus or granting them equity sufficient to generate a comparable cash flow. Since Messrs. Kirchheimer and Frank are responsible for the day to day operations of our business and for managing our overall business, the profit sharing arrangements motivate them by tying their compensation to the success of our overall business.

Carried Interest or Incentive Income

As noted above, Messrs. Karsh, Frank, Kaplan and Kramer have the right to receive a portion of the incentive income generated by our funds through their participation interests in the carry pools generated by the general partners of these funds. The carry pools (and Messrs. Karsh, Frank, Kaplan

 

172


Table of Contents

and Kramer’s participation therein) are referred to as our “Carry Plans”. Under the terms of our closed-end funds, we (and our employees who share in our carried interest) are generally not entitled to carried interest distributions (other than tax distributions) until the investors in our funds have received a return of all contributed capital plus an 8% preferred return. Because the aggregate amount of carried interest payable through our Carry Plans is directly tied to the realized performance of the funds, we believe this fosters a strong alignment of interests among the investors in those funds and Messrs. Karsh, Frank, Kaplan and Kramer, and therefore benefits both those investors and our unitholders.

Participation in carried interest is a primary means of compensating and motivating many of our investment professionals. We believe such participation is one of the most effective ways to align the interests of our investment professionals with our clients and unitholders. We expect to continue to use participation in carried interest as a cornerstone of compensation for our investment professionals who manage closed-end funds. Grants of participation interests in incentive income for our closed-end funds are made in each specific fund and are subject to vesting, which typically runs over five years, subject to acceleration for death, disability or termination without cause. Vesting serves as an employment retention mechanism and thereby enhances the alignment of interests between a participant and us. We believe that vesting of participation in incentive income motivates participants to remain in our employ over the long term. For purposes of our financial statements, we treat the income allocated to all of our personnel who have participation interests in the incentive income generated by our funds as compensation and the allocations of incentive income earned by Messrs. Karsh, Frank, Kaplan and Kramer in respect of fiscal year 2010 are accordingly set forth under “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table below, even though they may not have received such amounts in cash.

Asset Based Management Fees

While all of our NEOs share indirectly in our management fees through their ownership of OCGH units, each of Messrs. Kaplan and Kramer also receives a direct share of the management fees paid by the control investing funds for which he serves as portfolio manager. During their investment period, these funds pay a management fee based on a percentage of limited partners’ capital commitments. Thereafter, the management fee is based on the lesser of a percentage of the portion of limited partners’ capital contributions that has been invested and not returned to such limited partners and the cost basis of the assets remaining in the fund. The amount paid to Messrs. Kaplan and Kramer as distributions of asset-based management fees is set forth under “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table.

Annual Profits Participation

So long as he remains employed by us, each of Messrs. Frank and Kirchheimer is entitled to receive a profit-sharing allocation based on a fixed percentage of the annual GAAP net income of the Oaktree Operating Group with adjustments (1) eliminating the compensation expense relating to equity granted on or before our 2007 Private Offering, (2) a 50% reduction to the compensation expense relating to all other equity grants, and (3) certain other minor items. This profit-sharing arrangement will terminate upon the termination of the employment of Messrs. Frank and Kirchheimer, respectively, for any reason. The amounts paid to Messrs. Frank and Kirchheimer as annual profits participation interests are set forth under “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table below.

Other Benefits

We provide an annual cost of living adjustment to Mr. Kramer to compensate him for the additional costs he incurs by being stationed in London with his family. We also cover the cost of travel for Mr. Kramer and his family from the United Kingdom to the United States to have leave at home. We agreed to provide this personal benefit in order to encourage Mr. Kramer to relocate to London and believe that it has contributed to the success of that arrangement. We provide minimal other

 

173


Table of Contents

perquisites to our executives and such perquisites form an insignificant element of our total compensation structure.

Determination of Executive Compensation

Compensation of our senior professionals is determined by the relevant portfolio manager or department head and by Mr. Frank, our Managing Principal, based on the performance of the individual and the relevant group. Although Mr. Frank, with the input of Messrs. Marks and Karsh, makes the final decisions in his subjective discretion, our compensation process is a collaborative and iterative effort. Similarly, Mr. Frank makes the final decisions regarding the compensation of our NEOs (with Mr. Frank not participating in decisions relating to his own compensation), in his subjective discretion, based upon input from Messrs. Marks, Karsh and others. The size and terms of each equity or compensation arrangement is determined based on what Mr. Frank believes will best advance the interests of our company. Following this offering, we expect to continue to make our compensation decisions in the same fashion.

Risk Analysis of Our Compensation Programs

We strive to invest in a risk-controlled fashion and seek to ensure that our compensation policies are consistent with that approach and discourage the incurrence of undue risk. Thus, we emphasize both the grant of equity and—for senior investment professionals in our closed-end funds—carried interest subject to multi-year vesting as key forms of compensation, particularly as employees become more senior in the organization and assume more leadership. We believe this policy encourages long-term thinking, fosters a collaborative culture and reduces any incentive to accept excessive risk in a search for short-term gain. With respect to participation in our incentive income, our closed-end funds generally distribute incentive income only after we have returned all capital plus a preferred return to our investors, meaning that in analyzing investments and making investment decisions, our investment professionals are motivated to take a long-term view of their investments, given that short-term results typically do not affect their compensation. Importantly, the amount of incentive income paid to these investment professionals is determined by the performance of the fund as a whole, rather than specific investments, meaning that they have a material interest in every investment. This approach discourages excessive risk taking, given that even a hugely successful investment will result in incentive compensation payments only if the overall performance of the fund exceeds the requisite hurdle.

Tax and Accounting Considerations

Beginning on May 25, 2007, we began accounting for share-based payments (i.e., OCGH units issued at the time of the May 2007 Restructuring and equity-based awards granted under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan) in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.

 

174


Table of Contents

Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2010

The following table provides summary information concerning the compensation of our president, our chief financial officer and each of our three other most highly compensated employees who served as executive officers at December 31, 2010, for services rendered to us during fiscal year 2010.

The distributions our NEOs receive in respect of their indirect ownership of the Oaktree Operating Group are based on their respective holdings of OCGH units and are not reflected as cash compensation in the table below:

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($) (1)
    Bonus
($) (1)
    Stock
Awards

($) (2)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
    All Other
Compensation
($) (3), (4)
    Total
($)
 

Bruce A. Karsh,

President

    2010      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 8,254,547      $ 8,254,547   

David M. Kirchheimer,

Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

    2010      $ —        $ —        $ 582,000      $ —        $ 7,303,995      $ 7,885,995   

John B. Frank,

Managing Principal

    2010      $ —        $ —        $ 2,328,000      $ —        $ 14,819,956      $ 17,147,956   

Stephen A. Kaplan,

Principal

    2010      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 22,031,295      $ 22,031,295   

Caleb S. Kramer,

Managing Director

    2010      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 15,185,125      $ 15,185,125   

 

(1) We do not pay salaries or bonus to our NEOs.
(2) The reference to “stock” in this table refers to units in OCGH. The grant date fair value of the OCGH units received by our NEOs during the 2010 fiscal year is reflected in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table because we must account for such units as compensation expense for financial statement reporting purposes. As part of the May 2007 Restructuring, our NEOs exchanged their interests in OCM for units in OCGH. We recognize expense for financial statement reporting purposes in respect of the unvested units in OCGH received by our NEOs on the basis of the value of those units at the time of the grant pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Codification (ASC) Topic 718 or “ASC Topic 718,” Accounting for Stock Compensation . See notes 2 and 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information concerning the assumptions underlying such expense.
(3) The amount reflects the total amount payable with respect to such NEO’s right to receive an allocation of the annual profits of the Oaktree Operating Group in respect of the 2010 fiscal year (see “—Compensation Elements for Named Executive Officers—Profit Sharing Arrangements”).
(4) See the “All Other Compensation Table” below.

All Other Compensation Supplemental Table

The following table provides additional information regarding each component of the All Other Compensation column in the Summary Compensation Table:

 

Name

  Year     Payments in
Respect of Carried
Interest (1)
    Asset Based
Management
Fees (2)
    Profits
Participation  (3)
    Cost of
Living
Allowance  (4)
    Travel
Allowance  (5)
    Total  

Bruce A. Karsh

    2010      $ 8,254,547      $ —        $ —            $ 8,254,547   

David M. Kirchheimer

    2010      $ —        $ —        $ 7,303,995          $ 7,303,995   

John B. Frank

    2010      $ 5,601,494      $ —        $ 9,218,462          $ 14,819,956   

Stephen A. Kaplan

    2010      $ 5,442,372      $ 16,588,923      $ —            $ 22,031,295   

Caleb S. Kramer

    2010      $ 1,309,493      $ 13,393,880      $ —        $ 327,952      $ 153,800      $ 15,185,125   

 

(1) Amounts included for 2010 represent amounts earned in respect of participation interests in incentive income generated by our funds with respect to the 2010 fiscal year.

 

175


Table of Contents
(2) Amounts included for 2010 represent cash management fees earned in respect of funds in which the NEO serves as a portfolio manager.
(3) Amounts included for 2010 represent the amounts earned in respect of the NEO’s annual profits participation interest.
(4) Amounts intended to compensate Mr. Kramer for the additional expenses incurred by being located in the United Kingdom.
(5) Amounts needed to cover the actual cost of travel between the United States and the United Kingdom for Mr. Kramer and his family.

Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Restrictions

Pursuant to the terms of OCGH’s partnership agreement, our executive officers (including our NEOs) are subject to customary provisions regarding non-solicitation of our clients and employees and confidentiality, intellectual property and nondisparagement obligations. In addition, during the term of employment and for the one-year period immediately following termination of employment, our executive officers may not, directly or indirectly:

 

  Ÿ  

engage in any business activity in which we operate, including any Competitive Business (as defined below);

 

  Ÿ  

render any services to any Competitive Business; or

 

  Ÿ  

acquire a financial interest in or become actively involved with any Competitive Business (other than as a passive investor holding a minimal percentage of the stock of a public company).

“Competitive Business” means any business which is competitive with the business of any member of the Oaktree Operating Group or any of its affiliates (including raising, organizing, managing or advising any fund having an investment strategy in any way competitive with any of the funds managed by any member of the Oaktree Operating Group or any of its affiliates) anywhere in the United States or any other country where a member of the Oaktree Operating Group or any of its affiliates conducts business. Additionally, during the term of employment and for the two-year period immediately following termination of employment, our executive officers may not solicit our customers or clients for a Competitive Business, induce any employee to leave our employ or hire or otherwise enter into any business affiliation with any person who was our employee during the twelve-month period preceding such executive officer’s termination of employment.

Incentive Income

Participation in incentive income generated by our funds is typically subject to vesting provisions (generally over a period of five years), subject to certain limitations set forth in the applicable governing document. All participation interests are automatically converted into a right to receive a residual distribution in the event the executive becomes “incapacitated,” is terminated without “cause” or resigns. The calculation of the residual percentage to be distributed varies based on the reason for the executive’s termination of employment and the percentage of the aggregate committed capital that has been drawn by the fund and may be subject to reduction in the event the executive engages in competitive activity within 24 months following termination of employment. Generally, in the event of a termination of employment without “cause” (as defined below) or due to the executive’s death or disability, the residual percentage is based on the percentage of the aggregate committed capital that has been drawn by the associated fund. In the event an executive officer is terminated for “cause,” all rights to incentive income distributions are automatically forfeited. For this purpose, “cause” generally includes gross negligence, willful misconduct and material breach of one or more agreements with us, fraud, theft and other criminal or unlawful conduct. Under the terms of the applicable governing documents, NEOs are subject to various covenants addressing confidentiality, intellectual property, non-solicitation, non-competition and non-disparagement.

 

176


Table of Contents

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2010

The following table provides information concerning the grant of equity-based awards made during the 2010 fiscal year. Other than the OCGH units granted to Messrs. Frank and Kirchheimer, we did not grant any OCGH units or other equity awards to any of our NEOs in fiscal year 2010.

 

Name

   Grant Date      All Other Stock Awards:
Number of Shares of
Stock or Units (1) (#)
     Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option
Awards ($) (2)
 

David M. Kirchheimer

     2/1/2010         25,000       $ 582,000   

John B. Frank

     2/1/2010         100,000       $ 2,328,000   

 

(1) The awards of OCGH units vest in five equal installments, beginning on January 1, 2011 and thereafter on January 1 in each of the following four years.
(2) The grant date fair value of the unit awards was recognized pursuant to ASC Topic 718. See notes 2 and 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information concerning the assumptions underlying such expense.

2007 Equity Incentive Plan

Our board of directors and the general partner of OCGH adopted the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan as part of the May 2007 Restructuring. As explained in more detail below, the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan is a source of equity-based awards, permitting us to grant to our investment professionals, other employees, directors and consultants options, unit appreciation rights, restricted units, phantom restricted units and other awards based on the units of OCGH, each of which represent an indirect interest in one Oaktree Operating Group unit.

Administration

The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan is administered by our board of directors with the general partner of OCGH. Our board of directors and the general partner of OCGH has delegated the authority to administer the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan to the Administrator, which is a committee consisting of Messrs. Marks, Karsh and Frank. The Administrator determines who will receive awards under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as well as the form of the awards, the number of units underlying the awards and the terms and conditions of the awards consistent with the terms of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, although following the completion of this offering, our entire board will serve as the Administrator for purposes of making grants. For each OCGH unit granted pursuant to an award under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Award Units, we issue one Class B unit and one Oaktree Operating Group unit to OCGH. For each OCGH unit granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan that is subsequently forfeited by the employee, the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan also provides for the automatic corresponding cancellation of one Class B unit and one Oaktree Operating Group unit held by OCGH.

Units Subject to the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan

As of the date of this offering,              OCGH units were issued to our employees under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. The plan allowed the Administrator to issue up to 19,990,252 OCGH units in 2010. As with the other OCGH units, pursuant to the exchange agreement and the terms of the OCGH partnership agreement, vested Award Units may be exchanged for the underlying Oaktree Operating Group units, which may then be exchanged for a corresponding number of our Class A units, subject to approval of our board of directors. At the beginning of each calendar year, the aggregate number of OCGH units covered by the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan will be increased on the first day of each fiscal year during the term of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan by the excess of (1) 15% of the aggregate number of Oaktree Operating Group units outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year over (2) the aggregate number of Oaktree Operating Group units issued or issuable under

 

177


Table of Contents

our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan as of such date (unless our board of directors and the general partner of OCGH should decide to increase the number of OCGH units and Oaktree Operating Group units covered by the plan by a lesser amount).

Options and Unit Appreciation Rights

The Administrator may cause options to be granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. Options to be granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan will vest and become exercisable at such times and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant, provided that an option granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan will generally not be exercisable for a period of more than 10 years after it is granted. The exercise price of each Award Unit subject to an option will not be less than the fair market value of an OCGH unit on the day the option is granted. To the extent permitted by the Administrator, the exercise price of an option may be paid in cash, in OCGH units having a fair market value equal to the aggregate option exercise price or in a combination thereof, partly in cash and partly in units, subject to such other requirements as may be imposed by our board of directors and the general partner of OCGH.

The Administrator may also cause unit appreciation rights to be granted independently of or in conjunction with an option. The exercise price of each unit appreciation right will not be less than the greater of (1) the fair market value of an OCGH unit on the date the unit appreciation right is granted and (2) the minimum amount permitted by applicable laws, rules, by-laws or policies of regulatory authorities or stock exchanges, except that, in the case of a unit appreciation right granted in conjunction with an option, the exercise price will not be less than the exercise price of the related option. Each unit appreciation right granted independently of an option shall entitle a participant upon exercise to an amount equal to (1) the excess of (a) the fair market value on the exercise date of one OCGH unit over (b) the exercise price per unit, multiplied by (2) the number of OCGH units covered by the unit appreciation right, and each unit appreciation right granted in conjunction with an option will entitle a participant to surrender to us the option and to receive such amount. Payment will be made in OCGH units and/or cash, as determined by our board of directors and the general partner of OCGH, with any OCGH units valued at fair market value.

Other Equity-Based Awards

Pursuant to the plan, we expect that the Administrator may cause OCGH to grant or sell units and awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the fair market value of, the OCGH units. Any of these other equity-based awards may be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Administrator determines, including without limitation, the right to receive, or vest with respect to, one or more OCGH units (or, if permitted by our board and the general partner of OCGH, the equivalent cash value of such units) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Subject to obtaining any necessary authorization from the general partner of OCGH and our board of directors, the Administrator may determine whether other equity-based awards will be payable in cash, units or a combination of both cash and units.

Adjustment Upon Certain Events

In the event of any change in the outstanding OCGH units by reason of any unit distribution or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or transaction or exchange of units or other corporate exchange, any distribution to holders of units other than regular cash distributions or any transaction similar to the foregoing, the Administrator in its sole discretion and without liability to any person will make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable as to (1) the number or kind of units or other securities issued or covered by our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan or pursuant to outstanding awards, (2) the maximum number of OCGH units for which

 

178


Table of Contents

options or unit appreciation rights may be granted during a fiscal year to any participant, (3) the maximum amount of a performance-based award that may be granted during a calendar year, (4) the option price or exercise price of any unit appreciation right and/or (5) any other affected terms of such awards.

Transferability

Unless otherwise determined by our board of directors and the general partner of OCGH, no award granted under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan will be transferable or assignable by a participant in the plan, other than (1) a division of property pursuant to community or quasi-community property laws, (2) a charitable gift, provided that the transferee or donee agrees to be subject to the same transfer restrictions, (3) a transfer to personal planning vehicles, (4) a transfer approved by the general partner of OCGH, (5) a pledge of the units to OCGH or (6) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

Amendment and Termination

Subject to obtaining any necessary authorization from the general partner of OCGH and our board of directors, the Administrator may amend or terminate the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, but no amendment or termination may be made without the consent of a participant, if such action would diminish any of the rights of the participant under any award previously granted to such participant under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. However, the Administrator (with authorization from the general partner of OCGH and our board of directors) may amend the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and/or any outstanding awards in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and/or any outstanding awards to satisfy applicable requirements of the Code or other applicable laws.

We expect that one or more of our NEOs will receive equity awards under this plan in the future.

Phantom Equity Plan of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Our board of directors adopted the Phantom Equity Plan of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and its affiliates effective as of January 1, 2008. The Phantom Equity Plan is a source of cash-based awards whose value is determined by reference to OCGH units.

Administration

The Phantom Equity Plan is administered by us. The board of directors make grants under the Phantom Equity Plan.

Units Subject to the Phantom Equity Plan

As the Phantom Equity Plan only provides for cash distributions, no OCGH units are subject to the Phantom Equity Plan.

Vesting

Each award granted under the Phantom Equity Plan vests in accordance with the terms of the relevant award agreement.

Distributions

Distributions in respect of awards under the Phantom Equity Plan are generally made at the same times and in the same amounts as would have been distributed had the award been a grant of actual OCGH units.

 

179


Table of Contents

Phantom Unit Redemptions

We may, from time to time, permit the redemption of some or all vested phantom units for cash, at the same time and in the same manner that the general partner of OCGH permits the redemption of actual OCGH units held by limited partners of OCGH.

Transferability

Unless otherwise determined by us, no award granted under the Phantom Equity Plan will be transferable or assignable by a participant in the plan.

Amendment and Termination

We may amend or terminate the Phantom Equity Plan, but no amendment or termination may be made without the consent of a participant, if such action would materially and adversely deprive a participant of the economic benefit of an existing award, unless the participant consents or we replace the award with a substitute arrangement no less favorable in any material economic aspect than the existing award.

Outstanding Equity at 2010 Year End

The following table provides information regarding outstanding unvested equity held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2010:

 

     Stock Awards  (1)  

Name

   Number of Units That
Have Not Vested
     Market Value of Units That
Have Not Vested  (2)
 

Bruce A. Karsh

     9,992,913       $ 248,323,888   

David M. Kirchheimer

     722,367       $ 17,950,820   

John B. Frank

     1,067,131       $ 26,518,205   

Stephen A. Kaplan

     929,055       $ 23,087,017   

Caleb S. Kramer

     412,339       $ 10,246,624   

 

(1) The references to Stock Awards or units in this table refer to OCGH units. The OCGH units received by our NEOs in the May 2007 Restructuring vest in 20% increments over a five-year period. As of the date of this offering, only the last tranche of these units remains unvested. Subject to their continued employment with us, our NEOs will vest in the last tranche of the OCGH units received in the May 2007 Restructuring on January 2, 2012.
(2) The fair market value of $24.85 per unit is based on the trading price for our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market on December 31, 2010, less a discount as further described in notes 2 and 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

180


Table of Contents

Stock Vested in 2010

The following table provides information regarding the number of outstanding equity units held by our NEOs that vested during the year ended December 31, 2010:

 

         Stock Awards  (1)  

Name

       Number of Units
Acquired on  Vesting

(#)
     Market Value of Units
Vesting  (2)

($)
 

Bruce A. Karsh

       4,530,277         $105,464,849   

David M. Kirchheimer

       338,315         $7,875,973   

John B. Frank

       449,756         $10,470,320   

Stephen A. Kaplan

       450,740         $10,493,227   

Caleb S. Kramer

       200,039         $4,656,908   

 

(1) The references to Stock Awards or units in this table refer to OCGH units and Class C Units. Prior to the completion of this offering, all outstanding Class C units will be converted into Class A units on a one-for-one basis.
(2) The fair market value of $23.28 per unit is based on the trading price for our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market on January 1, 2010 (the vesting date), less a discount as further described in notes 2 and 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control at 2010 Fiscal Year End

We do not have any formal severance or change of control arrangements or agreements in place for any of our NEOs. The impact of a termination of employment on the incentive income participation rights held by each of Messrs. Karsh, Kaplan, Kramer and Frank is described above (see “—Incentive Income”). In all cases, none of Messrs. Karsh, Kaplan, Kramer and Frank is entitled to any additional vesting of their participation rights in the incentive income generated by our funds as a result of a change in control of us or any of our affiliates. In addition, none of the OCGH units held by any of the executive officers is subject to accelerated vesting in connection with a change in control or termination of employment for any reason, except if termination is due to death or disability, in which case all unvested units automatically accelerate in full.

Benefits Payable Upon Termination of Employment Due to Death or Disability

The following table sets forth the estimated value of the acceleration of all unvested OCGH units held by each NEO, assuming a termination of employment due to death or disability on December 31, 2010:

 

     Stock Awards  (1)  

Name

   Number of Units of
Stock Subject to
Vesting Acceleration
     Market Value of
Accelerated Vesting of
Units  (2)
 

Bruce A. Karsh

     9,992,913         $248,323,888   

David M. Kirchheimer

     722,367         $17,950,820   

John B. Frank

     1,067,131         $26,518,205   

Stephen A. Kaplan

     929,055         $23,087,017   

Caleb S. Kramer

     412,339         $10,246,624   

 

(1) The references to Stock Awards or units in this table refer to OCGH units.
(2) The fair market value of $24.85 per unit is based on the trading price for our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market on December 31, 2010, less a discount as further described in notes 2 and 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

181


Table of Contents

Director Compensation in 2010

We compensate our outside directors through an annual cash retainer and, for one of our outside directors, the grant of our Class C units. Directors who are also principals do not receive any additional compensation for serving on our board of directors. However, all members of our board of directors are reimbursed for their reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in attending board meetings.

The following table sets forth the cash and equity compensation paid to our non-employee directors for fiscal year 2010:

 

Name

       Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash  (1)

($)
     Unit Awards  (2)
($)
     All Other
Compensation

($)
   Total
($)
 

Robert E. Denham

     $ 25,000       $ —            $ 25,000   

Wayne G. Pierson

     $ —         $ —            $ —     

 

(1) Annual cash retainer.
(2) On April 1, 2008, Mr. Denham was awarded 3,000 Class C units, vesting in equal increments on each of the first five anniversaries of January 1, 2008, such that the units will be fully vested on January 1, 2013, subject to Mr. Denham’s continuous service as a member of our board of directors. In addition, all unvested units automatically vest in full in the event of Mr. Denham’s death or disability. Each tranche of vested units is subject to a lock-up that expires on July 10 of the year that each such tranche of units vests. The full grant date fair value of the unit award was $74,250, recognized pursuant to ASC Topic 718 (see notes 2 and 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information concerning the assumptions underlying such expense). Prior to the completion of this offering, all outstanding Class C units will be converted into Class A units on a one-for-one basis.

 

182


Table of Contents

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Exchange Agreement

Under the terms of the OCGH limited partnership agreement, the general partner may elect in its discretion to declare an open period during which an OCGH unitholder may request to redeem its unrestricted vested OCGH units in exchange for Class A units. The general partner determines the number of units eligible for redemption within a given open period and, if the OCGH unitholders request to redeem a number of units in excess of the amount eligible for redemption, which units to redeem taking into account such factors as the general partner determines appropriate. OCGH units that are selected for redemption in accordance with the foregoing will be exchanged into Class A units pursuant to the terms of the exchange agreement. The exchange agreement provides that:

 

  Ÿ  

such units will be exchanged into Oaktree Operating Group units;

 

  Ÿ  

those Oaktree Operating Group units may then be exchanged for either a corresponding number of Class A units or an equivalent amount of cash based on then-prevailing market prices (with our board of directors determining whether payment is made in the form of Class A units or cash); and

 

  Ÿ  

we will cancel a corresponding number of Class B units.

Tax Receivable Agreement

As described above, subject to certain restrictions, each OCGH unitholder has the right to exchange his or her vested OCGH units for Oaktree Operating Group units. Our Intermediate Holding Companies will deliver Class A units, on a one-for-one basis, or an equivalent amount of cash in exchange for the applicable OCGH unitholder’s Oaktree Operating Group units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement. These exchanges, including our purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units in connection with the 2007 Private Offering and in connection with this offering, resulted in, and are expected to result in, increases in the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of the Oaktree Operating Group. These increases in tax basis have increased and will increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization deductions and reduce gain on sales of assets, and therefore reduce the taxes of two of our Intermediate Holding Companies, Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.

Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. entered into a tax receivable agreement with the OCGH unitholders that provides for the payment by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. to the OCGH unitholders of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. actually realizes (or is deemed to realize in the case of an early termination payment by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. or a change of control, as discussed below) as a result of these increases in tax basis and of certain other tax benefits related to our entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. These payment obligations are obligations of Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. and not of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. expect to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash savings, if any, in income tax that they realize. For purposes of the tax receivable agreement, cash savings in income tax will be computed by comparing the actual income tax liability of Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. to the amount of such taxes that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. would have been required to pay had there been no increase to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of the Oaktree Operating Group as a result of the exchanges and had Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. not entered into the tax receivable agreement. An OCGH unitholder may also elect to make a charitable contribution of Oaktree Operating Group units. In such a case, the contribution will not result in an increase in the tax

 

183


Table of Contents

basis of the assets of the Oaktree Operating Group, and no payments will be made under the tax receivable agreement.

The term of the tax receivable agreement commenced upon the consummation of the 2007 Private Offering and continues until all such tax benefits have been utilized or expired, unless Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. exercise its right to terminate the tax receivable agreement for an amount based on the agreed payments remaining to be made under the agreement. Estimating the amount of payments that may be made under the tax receivable agreement is by its nature imprecise, as the calculation of amounts payable depends on a variety of factors. The actual increase in tax basis, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the tax receivable agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors, including:

 

  Ÿ  

the timing of the exchanges – for instance, the increase in any tax deductions will vary depending on the fair market value, which may fluctuate over time, of the depreciable or amortizable assets of the Oaktree Operating Group at the time of the transaction;

 

  Ÿ  

the price of our Class A units at the time of the exchanges – the increase in any tax deductions, as well as the tax basis increase in other assets, of the Oaktree Operating Group, is directly proportional to the market value of our Class A units at the time of the exchange;

 

  Ÿ  

the extent to which an exchange of Oaktree Operating Group units is taxable – if an exchange is not taxable for any reason (for instance, in connection with a charitable contribution), increased deductions will not be available;

 

  Ÿ  

the amount and timing of our income – Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. will be required to pay 85% of the tax savings as and when realized, if any; and

 

  Ÿ  

the corporate income tax rates (both U.S. federal and state and local) in effect at the time the tax deductions are utilized to offset taxable income – since an increase in tax rates will generally result in higher payments, and a decrease in tax rates will generally result in lower payments.

If Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. do not have taxable income, they are not required to make payments under the tax receivable agreement for that taxable year because no tax savings will have been actually realized. Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. did not have taxable income in 2007 or 2008 and therefore did not make any payments under the tax receivable agreement for those years. We expect that as a result of the size of the increases in the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of the Oaktree Operating Group, the payments that we may make under the tax receivable agreement will be substantial. Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax law and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize the full tax benefit of the increased amortization of our assets, we expect that payments under the tax receivable agreement in respect of our purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units in the 2007 Private Offering, or TRA payments, which we began to make in January 2009, will aggregate to $59.9 million over the next 17 years. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we made TRA payments in respect of fiscal year 2007 of $253,289, $253,289 and $139,954 to Howard Marks, our Chairman, a principal and a director, Bruce Karsh, our President, a principal and a director, and Sheldon Stone, a principal and a director, respectively, and $121,286 to Acorn Investors, LLC and TRA payments in respect of fiscal year 2008 of $679,931, $679,931, $375,695, $196,764 and $120,229, respectively, to Messrs. Marks, Karsh and Stone, D. Richard Masson, a director, and Larry Keele, a principal and a director, and $325,582 to Acorn Investors, LLC. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we made TRA payments in respect of fiscal year 2009 of $609,355, $609,355, $336,698 and $176,341 to Messrs. Marks, Karsh, Stone and Masson, respectively, and $291,787 to Acorn Investors, LLC. In addition, we expect that the TRA payments in connection with this offering will aggregate to $ million, of which approximately $ will be paid to Messrs.                     , respectively, and $             will be paid to Acorn Investors, LLC. Future payments under the tax receivable agreement in respect of subsequent exchanges of Oaktree Operating Group units would

 

184


Table of Contents

be in addition to these amounts and are expected to be substantial. The payments under the tax receivable agreement are not conditioned upon OCGH unitholders’ continued ownership of interests in OCGH.

In addition, the tax receivable agreement provides that, upon certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control, the obligations of Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. (or their successors) with respect to purchased interests would be based on certain assumptions, including that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the deductions arising from the increased tax deductions and tax basis and other benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement.

Decisions we make in the course of running our business, such as with respect to the realization of an investment by one of our funds, may influence the timing and amount of payments made under the tax receivable agreement. For example, if one of our funds disposes of assets, the disposition may accelerate payments under the tax receivable agreement and increase the present value of such payments.

Although we are not aware of any issue that would cause the IRS to challenge a tax basis increase, Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. will not be reimbursed for any payments previously made under the tax receivable agreement. As a result, in certain circumstances, payments could be made under the tax receivable agreement in excess of Oaktree Holdings, Inc.’s and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.’s cash tax savings. However, the value of such excess payments may be recouped through reduced future payments of amounts otherwise payable by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. pursuant to the tax receivable agreement.

Oaktree Operating Group Partnership Agreements

Each of the Oaktree Operating Group partnerships either has as its sole general partner one of the Intermediate Holding Companies or is indirectly controlled by the Intermediate Holding Companies. Accordingly, Oaktree Capital Group, LLC operates and controls all of the business and affairs of the Oaktree Operating Group and conducts our business through the Oaktree Operating Group and its subsidiaries.

Pursuant to the partnership agreements of the Oaktree Operating Group partnerships, the Intermediate Holding Companies that are the general partners of those partnerships (or entities controlled by the Intermediate Holding Companies) have the right to determine when distributions will be made to the holders of Oaktree Operating Group units and the amounts of any such distributions. If a distribution is authorized, the distribution will be made to the holders of Oaktree Operating Group units pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective interests.

Each of the Oaktree Operating Group partnerships has an identical number of units outstanding, and we use the term “Oaktree Operating Group unit” to refer, collectively, to a unit in each of the Oaktree Operating Group partnerships. The holders of Oaktree Operating Group units, including the Intermediate Holding Companies, will incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any net taxable income of the Oaktree Operating Group. Net profits and net losses of Oaktree Operating Group units generally are allocated to the holders of such units (including the Intermediate Holding Companies) pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective interests. The partnership agreement of each Oaktree Operating Group partnership provides for cash distributions, which we refer to as “tax distributions,” to the partners of such partnership if we determine that the allocation of the partnership’s income will give rise to taxable income for its partners. Generally, these tax distributions are computed based on our estimate of the net taxable income of the relevant entity allocable to a partner multiplied by an assumed tax rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account the

 

185


Table of Contents

nondeductibility of certain expenses and the character of our income). Tax distributions are made only to the extent that all distributions from the Oaktree Operating Group for the relevant year were insufficient to cover such tax liabilities.

The partnership agreements of the Oaktree Operating Group partnerships also provide that substantially all of our expenses will be borne by the Oaktree Operating Group (including, for example, expenses incurred in connection with this offering, but not including obligations incurred under the tax receivable agreement by the Intermediate Holding Companies, income tax expenses of the Intermediate Holding Companies and payments on indebtedness incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies).

Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. Units

OCGH unitholders hold OCGH units. OCGH, in turn, holds an equivalent number of Oaktree Operating Group units. The units in OCGH held by the OCGH unitholders as of December 31, 2010 have vesting provisions (and certain of these units also have lockup provisions). Upon expiration of the vesting period and, if relevant, any lock-up period, OCGH unitholders may sell their OCGH units or exchange their OCGH units into Class A units and, subsequently, sell such Class A units. As of March 31, 2011, the lock-up period for 73.8 million vested units had expired. OCGH may limit the number of OCGH units that may be exchanged after expiration of the relevant lock-up, based on such factors as it deems appropriate, including the market’s ability to absorb sales of the exchanged Class A units. As of the date of this prospectus, sales of Class A units by our employees may only be effected during “open periods” authorized by us. As of March 31, 2011, associated lock-ups will expire for 25.0 million vested and 25.1 million unvested OCGH units in each of 2011 and 2012, respectively. The amount of OCGH units vesting and lock-ups expiring thereafter will vary year to year, sometimes materially, but as of March 31, 2011, OCGH units due to vest or whose lock-ups are due to expire after 2012 represented less than two percent of the total outstanding number of Oaktree Operating Group units.

OCGH unitholders that are employees will generally forfeit all unvested units in OCGH upon termination of their employment for any reason unless the termination is due to death or disability or if the forfeiture requirement is waived. Any of the OCGH units that were outstanding at the time of the 2007 Private Offering that are forfeited will be reallocated among the remaining OCGH unitholders at the time of such offering. Any of the OCGH units issued after the date of the 2007 Private Offering that are forfeited will result in a corresponding forfeiture of Oaktree Operating Group units held by OCGH.

Our Manager

Our operating agreement provides that so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied, our manager will control the membership of our board of directors. Our board of directors will manage all of our operations and activities and will have discretion over significant corporate actions, such as the issuance of securities, payment of distributions, sales of assets, making certain amendments to our operating agreement and other matters. See “Description of Our Units.”

Holders of our Class A units and Class B units have no right to elect our manager, which is controlled by our principals.

Units Sold and Purchased by Related Persons

On February 8, 2011, OCGH redeemed a portion of the indirect interest in the Oaktree Operating Group held by certain of our longstanding investors that held their interest in OCGH through Acorn Investors, LLC. The Oaktree Operating Group made a corresponding repurchase of Oaktree Operating Group units held by OCGH. These transactions resulted in the retirement of 1,075,539 Oaktree Operating Group units for an aggregate purchase price to the sellers of $39,622,850, or $36.84 per

 

186


Table of Contents

unit. Acorn Investors, LLC originally acquired the repurchased interest in Oaktree’s business in 2004 and continues to hold an interest in OCGH representing a 7.6% stake in the Oaktree Operating Group.

Aircraft Use

In January 2010, we exercised a buyout provision in our then aircraft lease agreement and thereafter sold the acquired plane to Mr. Karsh for an aggregate purchase price of $11,080,000. We and Mr. Karsh agreed that we would have the option of leasing the plane from him for business-related purposes on a non-exclusive basis pursuant to a lease agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we paid Mr. Karsh $1,472,733 in connection with our use of his plane under this lease agreement, and Mr. Karsh paid us $332,493 in reimbursement for operating costs of the plane that we had incurred on his behalf in connection with his personal use of the plane. As of March 31, 2011, we had paid Mr. Karsh $217,760 in connection with our use of his plane during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

In 2004, Mr. Karsh personally acquired a fractional interest in a different plane. At that time, we entered into an agreement under which we assumed Mr. Karsh’s obligations related to his fractional interest and Mr. Karsh agreed to make the allotted airplane time related to the fractional interest available to us for business purposes for an amount equal to his aggregate purchase price for the fractional interest, less (1) the amount he would receive from the resale of his fractional interest and (2) the cost attributable to his personal use of the plane over the term of our arrangement. In the year ended December 31, 2008, we paid Mr. Karsh $800,000 as partial reimbursement for the fractional interest. In December 2009, Mr. Karsh sold all of his fractional interests in the plane (including an additional fractional interest that he had acquired in 2008) to an unaffiliated third party, and as a result, our arrangement with Mr. Karsh terminated.

Investments in Funds

Our executive officers are permitted to invest their own capital in our funds. These investment opportunities are available to all of our professionals who we have determined have a status that reasonably permits us to offer them these types of investments in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. These investment opportunities are available on the same terms and conditions as those applicable to third-party investors in our funds and bear their share of management fees, except that they are not subject to incentive fees. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, the following executive officers invested their own capital in our funds: Mr. Clayton invested an aggregate of $1,134,490, $84,788, $544,026 and $236,525; Mr. Frank invested an aggregate of $4,146,943, $237,750, $189,325 and $510,750; Mr. Kaplan invested an aggregate of $1,878,400, $0, $165,942 and $5,000; Mr. Karsh and organizations affiliated with Mr. Karsh invested an aggregate of $42,674,400, $6,478,182, $1,650,000 and $931,250; Mr. Keele invested an aggregate of $8,812,500, $3,831,971, $6,276,000 and $1,160,000; Mr. Kirchheimer invested an aggregate of $1,517,375, $232,217, $949,750 and $1,062,500; Mr. Kramer invested an aggregate of $1,900,000, $150,000, $2,050,000 and $1,000,000; Mr. Marks and a related trust invested an aggregate of $26,374,579, $3,034,000, $9,778,348 and $500,000; Mr. Masson invested an aggregate of $3,536,472, $2,061,914, $329,418 and $5,169,588; and Mr. Stone invested an aggregate of $15,211,689, $6,724,683, $13,791,433 and $510,510, respectively. During the year ended 2010, Mr. Ford invested an aggregate of $165,942 and during the year ended 2008 Mr. Molz invested an aggregate of $158,630. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, the following executive officers received net distributions from our funds as a result of their invested capital: Mr. Clayton received $81,463, $250,666, $732,046 and $329,246. Mr. Frank received $34,440, $4,172,290, $1,317,832 and $493,649. Mr. Kaplan received $0, $204,626, $629,481 and $605,446; Mr. Karsh and organizations affiliated with Mr. Karsh received $2,988,539, $10,242,125, $27,535,592 and $6,965,745; Mr. Keele received $130,415, $2,712,193, $2,819,044 and $2,620,323; Mr. Kirchheimer received $191,824, $448,384, $879,052 and $526,059;

 

187


Table of Contents

Mr. Kramer received $0, $536,976, $167,780 and $400,252; Mr. Marks and a related trust received $934, $5,060,912, $20,028,719 and $8,203,606; Mr. Masson received $350,408, $2,876,916, $3,565,708 and $11,688,364; and Mr. Stone received $622,954, $4,747,471, $10,880,792 and $3,954,889 from our funds, respectively.

Other Investment Transactions

As discussed above, our executive officers are permitted to invest their own capital in our funds. To simplify the handling of contributions and distributions relating to investments in our funds by our employees (including our executive officers), we advance, on a short-term basis, the amount of these capital calls and hold distributions until shortly before quarter end, at which time we generally send the distributions and receive reimbursement of these advances. Accordingly, depending on the timing of these capitals calls, we may have advanced funds for a very short period or as long as, but generally not in excess of, 90 days. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, the maximum amounts outstanding under such arrangements were $495,998, $11,578, $185,384 and $78,410 for Mr. Clayton; $373,575, $212,217, $161,478 and $0 for Mr. Frank; $2,894,023, $164,629, $474,759 and $0 for Mr. Keele and $3,022,129, $3,512,885, $1,066,032 and $0 for Mr. Stone, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, the maximum amounts outstanding under such arrangements were $2,450,000 and $1,699,000 for Mr. Masson. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the maximum amount outstanding under such arrangements was $250,000 for Mr. Kaplan and $457,560 for Mr. Kirchheimer. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 the maximum amount outstanding under such arrangements was $500,000 for Mr. Marks. No amounts are currently outstanding with respect to our executive officers under such arrangements, and we will no longer make such advances to our executive officers.

Loan to Executive Officer to Pay Income Taxes

As a privately owned company, we have from time to time made loans to our employees to assist them in their obligations to pay income and withholding taxes triggered by the vesting or, in certain circumstances, the grant of their OCGH units. These loans typically had terms ranging from one to five years. The loans’ annual interest rates for each year may vary based on our determination as to our own cost of capital, which may be based on a LIBOR rate. Since the inception of these loans, the annual interest rates have been within the ranges of 3.2% and 7%. During the year ended December 31, 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, the maximum amounts outstanding under such loans to Mr. Molz, including interest thereon, were $285,763 and $325,441, respectively. All such loans to Mr. Molz have been fully repaid, and we will no longer make such loans to Mr. Molz or our other executive officers.

Tax Advances to Executive Officers to Pay Income Taxes

We have made, interest-free advances to our employees, including executive officers, in connection with their obligation to pay income and withholding taxes relating to their share of the incentive income attributable to our funds. We expect to continue the practice with respect to our employees other than our executive officers. During the years ended 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, the maximum amounts outstanding under such arrangements were $422,872, $190,408, $326,313 and $0 for Mr. Clayton; $694,292, $404,573, $760,869 and $188,504 for Mr. Ford; $952,222, $410,664, $1,096,633 and $329,106 for Mr. Frank; $1,425,614, $830,722, $1,157,322 and $387,061 for Mr. Kaplan; $284,625, $128,159, $370,284 and $146,596 for Mr. Kirchheimer and $810,008, $472,001, $877,769 and $219,921 for Mr. Kramer.

Transactions with Meyer Memorial Trust

Mr. Pierson, one of our directors, is the chief financial and investment officer of Meyer Memorial Trust. During the years ended 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011, Meyer Memorial Trust contributed $31,695,000 in capital to our funds on substantially the same terms as the other investors in those funds.

 

188


Table of Contents

Offsets to Distributions in Respect of OCGH Units

Pursuant to an agreement between Mr. Marks, one of our directors and executive officers, and Oaktree Capital Management Limited, a subsidiary of ours in the United Kingdom, we provide £100,000 ($155,020 based on the average exchange rate for the 24-hour period ending December 31, 2010 as reported by www.oanda.com) per year to Mr. Marks, which is offset by distributions in respect of OCGH units to which Mr. Marks is entitled. In accordance with ASC Topic 718, the payment of future distributions in respect of OCGH units is factored into the grant date fair value of the OCGH units (which value is used for determining the compensation expense for such units under ASC Topic 718) and any distributions made with respect to such units are therefore not treated as an additional compensation expense by such subsidiary in the year in which such distributions are paid.

Limitations on Liability; Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Manager

Our operating agreement provides that our directors and officers will be liable to us or our unitholders for an act or omission only if such act or omission constitutes a breach of the duties owed to us or our unitholders, as applicable, by any such director or officer and such breach is the result of (1) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of law, in each case, that has or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse affect on us or (2) fraud and that our manager will not be liable to us or our unitholders for its actions.

Moreover, in our operating agreement we have agreed to indemnify our directors, officers and manager, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with our approval and counsel fees and disbursements) arising from the performance of any of their obligations or duties in connection with their service to us, including in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding to which any such person may hereafter be made a party by reason of being or having been one of our directors or officers or our manager, except for any expenses or liabilities that have been finally judicially determined to have arisen primarily from acts or omissions that violated the standard set forth in the preceding paragraph.

The indemnification rights that we provide to our directors and officers are more expansive than those provided to the directors and officers of a Delaware corporation.

In addition to the indemnity that exists in our operating agreement, our subsidiary Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. has entered, or will enter, into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and our executive officers, that would indemnify them, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest and amounts paid in settlement) incurred by them in connection with any proceeding in which any of them are made a party to or any claim, issue or matter, except to the extent that it shall have been determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such expenses and liabilities arose primarily from acts or omissions that constituted a breach of their duties and such breach was the result of (1) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable law (including any federal or state securities law), in each case, that resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on us or our affiliates or (2) fraud. Such indemnification agreements will continue until and terminate upon the later of (1) 10 years after the indemnitee has ceased to occupy any positions or have any relationships with us or any of our affiliates and (2) the final termination of all proceedings pending or threatened during such period to which any indemnitee may be subject.

Statement of Policy Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

Before the completion of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a written statement of policy for our company regarding transactions with related persons.

 

189


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF OUR INDEBTEDNESS

Senior Notes due 2019

General

On November 24, 2009, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., one of our subsidiaries, issued $250 million of senior notes due December 2, 2019, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, or the 2019 Notes. The 2019 Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. The 2019 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by Oaktree, OCGH, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., or the Guarantors. The guarantees are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantors. The 2019 Notes are governed by an Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2009, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

Interest Rate

The 2019 Notes, which were issued at a 1.252% discount, bear interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum.

Payment Terms

Interest is payable semiannually in arrears on June 2 and December 2 of each year. We are not required to make any payments of principal until the 2019 Notes become due on December 2, 2019.

Voluntary Repurchase

We may, at our discretion, repurchase or redeem the 2019 Notes on any date for an amount equal to the sum of (1) the greater of (x) the principal amount of the 2019 Notes being redeemed and (y) the present value of the remaining scheduled interest and principal payments discounted at a rate based on the rates being paid by U.S. Treasury Department securities of comparable maturities then in effect plus 0.50% and (2) interest accrued but not yet paid as of such date.

Mandatory Repurchase

If a “change of control” (as defined in the Indenture) of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. or the Guarantors occurs, which results in a downgrade of the credit rating of the 2019 Notes and the 2019 Notes are rated below investment grade, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. would be required to repurchase the 2019 Notes at their principal amount, plus a 1.0% penalty, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

Affirmative and Negative Covenants

The Indenture contains customary covenants and financial restrictions that, among other things, limit Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and the Guarantors’ ability, subject to certain exceptions, to incur indebtedness secured by liens on voting stock or profit-participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or lease assets. The 2019 Notes do not contain financial maintenance covenants.

Events of Default

The 2019 Notes also contain customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, failure to comply with covenants and bankruptcy and insolvency.

 

190


Table of Contents

Other Senior Notes

General

In addition to the 2019 Notes, we have three other issues of senior notes outstanding, with an aggregate remaining principal balance of $142.9 million as of March 31, 2011, or the Other Senior Notes. The Other Senior Notes were issued pursuant to Note Purchase Agreements by and among OCM and the banks which purchased the notes, dated as of June 14, 2004, June 6, 2006 and November 8, 2006. We refer to these three separate issuances of the notes making up the Other Senior Notes as the 2014 Notes, the June 2016 Notes and the November 2016 Notes, respectively. OCM and the holders of the 2014 Notes entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Note Purchase Agreement on March 15, 2006 and Amendment No. 2 to the Note Purchase Agreement on June 6, 2006. OCM and the holders of the Other Senior Notes entered into an Amendment and Waiver to the Note Purchase Agreements on May 16, 2007 in conjunction with the May 2007 Restructuring. Also in connection with the May 2007 Restructuring, Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. became co-issuers of the Other Senior Notes and Oaktree Capital I, L.P. became a guarantor of the Other Senior Notes. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and the holders of the Other Senior Notes entered into a Second Amendment and Waiver to the Note Purchase Agreements on July 6, 2010. OCM is our predecessor. For more information see “Organizational Structure—The May 2007 Restructuring and the 2007 Private Offering—The May 2007 Restructuring.”

The outstanding principal on the 2014 Notes as of March 31, 2011 is $42.9 million. The outstanding principal on each of the June 2016 Notes and November 2016 Notes is $50 million. The 2014 Notes are governed by the Note Purchase Agreement by and among OCM and the note purchasers which purchased the 2014 Notes, dated as of June 14, 2004, as amended. The June 2016 Notes are governed by the Note Purchase Agreement by and among OCM and the note purchasers which purchased the June 2016 Notes, dated as of June 6, 2006, as amended. The November 2016 Notes are governed by the Note Purchase Agreement by and among OCM and the note purchasers which purchased the November 2016 Notes, dated as of November 8, 2006, as amended.

Interest Rate

The 2014 Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.03% per annum. The June 2016 Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.09% per annum. The November 2016 Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.82% per annum.

Payment Terms

Interest is payable on the 2014 Notes semiannually in arrears on June 14 and December 14 of each year. We are required to make a principal payment of $10.7 million on June 14 of each year, with the final payment under the 2014 Notes being due on June 14, 2014.

Interest is payable on the June 2016 Notes semiannually in arrears on June 6 and December 6 of each year and on the November 2016 Notes on May 8 and November 8 of each year. We are not required to make any payments of principal on the June 2016 Notes or November 2016 Notes until they each become due on June 6, 2016 and November 8, 2016, respectively.

Voluntary Prepayment

We may, at our discretion, prepay the Other Senior Notes on any date for an amount equal to the sum of (1) the principal amount of the Other Senior Notes being redeemed, (2) the present value of the remaining scheduled interest payments discounted at a rate based on the rates being paid by U.S. Treasury Department securities of comparable maturities then in effect plus 0.50% and (3) interest accrued but not yet paid as of such date.

 

191


Table of Contents

Mandatory Prepayment

If a “change of control” (as defined in each of the Note Purchase Agreements governing the Other Senior Notes) of Oaktree occurs, we would be required to prepay the Other Senior Notes at the same price we would pay if we were exercising our rights to voluntarily prepay the Other Senior Notes.

Affirmative and Negative Covenants

The Note Purchase Agreements underlying the Other Senior Notes contain customary affirmative and negative covenants and financial restrictions. Among other things, our subsidiaries are restricted from incurring additional indebtedness and we and our subsidiaries are restricted from merging, consolidating, transferring, leasing or selling assets, incurring certain liens and making restricted payments, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, the agreements contain the following financial covenants: (1) a maximum consolidated leverage ratio covenant that requires us and our subsidiaries to maintain a ratio calculated by dividing consolidated total debt (for us and our subsidiaries) by Consolidated EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters, as defined in each Note Purchase Agreement, below 3.0 to 1.0, (2) a maximum interest coverage ratio covenant that requires us and our subsidiaries to maintain a ratio calculated by dividing Consolidated EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters by consolidated interest expense (for us and our subsidiaries), below 4.0 to 1.0, (3) a minimum consolidated members’ capital covenant that requires us and our subsidiaries to maintain consolidated members’ capital above $40 million and (4) an assets under management covenant that requires us to maintain assets under management above $20 billion (in the case of the 2014 Notes only, the assets under management covenant requires us to maintain assets under management above $15 billion). As of March 31, 2011, we were in compliance with each of these covenants.

Failure to comply with these covenants and restrictions or the occurrence of certain other events could result in an event of default under the Note Purchase Agreements governing the Other Senior Notes. In such an event, the Other Senior Notes, together with accrued interest, could then be declared immediately due and payable.

Events of Default

The agreements underlying the Other Senior Notes also contain customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, failure to comply with covenants and bankruptcy and insolvency.

Senior Unsecured Credit Facility

As of January 7, 2011, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. and Oaktree Capital I, L.P. executed a credit agreement with a bank syndicate for senior unsecured credit facilities, or, collectively, the Credit Facilities, consisting of a $300 million fully-funded term loan, or the Term Loan, and a $250 million revolving credit facility, or the Revolving Credit Facility. Subject to certain restrictions, the borrowers can increase the Revolving Credit Facility, by paying certain fees, to $300 million. As of March 31, 2011, the borrowers had no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Interest Rate and Fees

The Credit Facilities bear interest, at the borrowers’ option, equal to the Alternate Base Rate or LIBOR, as defined in the credit agreement, plus a margin based on the rating of our debt. In the event our debt is not rated, the margin is based on our combined leverage ratio. At our current A- rating, the Eurodollar margin equals 1.50%. The margins range from 0.25% to 1.00% for loans bearing interest with a reference to the Alternate Base Rate and 1.25% to 2.0% for loans bearing interest with a

 

192


Table of Contents

reference to LIBOR. In December 2010 we entered into an interest rate swap that, together with the 1.50% Eurodollar margin, has the effect of fixing the Term Loan’s annual interest rate at 3.19%. Additionally, we pay a commitment fee on the unused revolving credit facility commitments ranging from 0.175% to 0.25% per annum, also based on our debt rating, or in the absence of a debt rating, our combined leverage ratio. Based on our current A- rating, the unused commitment fee is 0.20%.

Payment Terms

Interest is payable quarterly in arrears on the Credit Facilities. We are required to make a principal payment in respect of the Term Loan of $7.5 million on the last business day of each of March, June, September and December, with the final payment of $150 million, constituting the remainder of the Term Loan, being due on January 7, 2016. The Revolving Credit Facility expires on January 7, 2014.

Voluntary Prepayment

The borrower may prepay loans under the Credit Facilities in whole or in part, without penalty or premium, subject to certain minimum amounts and increments and the payment of customary breakage costs.

Mandatory Prepayment

Other than customary repayment terms in the event borrowings under the Credit Facilities exceed the amounts available to be borrowed thereunder, and the quarterly payments discussed under “Payment Terms” above, no prepayments are required exist under the Credit Facilities.

Affirmative and Negative Covenants

The Credit Facilities contains customary covenants and financial restrictions that, among other things, limit the borrowers’ ability, subject to certain exceptions, to incur indebtedness, incur liens, merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or lease assets, make investments, make restricted payments and transact with affiliates. In addition, the Credit Facilities contain the following financial covenants: (1) a maximum combined leverage ratio covenant that requires the borrowers to maintain a ratio calculated by dividing combined total debt (for the borrowers and their consolidated subsidiaries) by Combined EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters, as defined in the Credit Facilities, below 2.5 to 1.0, (2) a maximum combined fixed charge coverage ratio covenant that requires the borrowers and their consolidated subsidiaries to maintain a ratio calculated by dividing Consolidated EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters by the sum of combined interest expense and principal payments on indebtedness (for the borrowers and their subsidiaries), but not including the final principal payments on the Term Loan, the 2019 Senior Notes or the Other Senior Notes, below 2.5 to 1.0, (3) a minimum combined net worth covenant that requires the borrowers and their subsidiaries to maintain consolidated partners’ capital above $400 million and (4) an assets under management covenant that requires the borrowers and their subsidiaries to maintain assets under management above $50 billion. As of March 31, 2011, we were in compliance with each of these covenants.

Events of Default

The Credit Facilities also contain customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, cross-defaults, change in control, failure to comply with covenants and bankruptcy and insolvency.

 

193


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL UNITHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information regarding the current beneficial ownership of our Class A units and Class B units and the OCGH units by:

 

  Ÿ  

each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of the outstanding voting securities of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC;

 

  Ÿ  

each of our directors;

 

  Ÿ  

each of our named executive officers; and

 

  Ÿ  

all directors and executive officers as a group.

For purposes of the table below, we have assumed the conversion of all of our Class C units into Class A units and no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional Class A units. Applicable percentage ownership is based on 22,677,100 Class A units outstanding, 125,786,115 Class B units outstanding and 125,786,115 OCGH units outstanding, each as of March 31, 2011. Although holders of OCGH units are entitled, subject to vesting and minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, to exchange their OCGH units for our Class A units on a one-for-one basis, such exchanges require board approval and thus holders of OCGH units are not deemed to beneficially own the equivalent number of Class A units.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner of securities as to which he has no economic interest. To our knowledge, each person named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to all of the interests shown as beneficially owned by such person, except as otherwise set forth in the notes to the table and pursuant to applicable community property laws. The address of each person named in the table is c/o Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

    Class A Units Beneficially Owned   Class B Units
Beneficially Owned
    OCGH Units Beneficially Owned  (1)
    Pre-Offering     Post-Offering               Pre-Offering     Post-Offering
    Number     Percent     Number   Percent   Number     Percent     Number     Percent  (2)     Number   Percent

Howard S. Marks

    1,826        *            —          —          23,552,113        15.86    

Bruce A. Karsh

    1,826        *            —          —          23,552,113        15.86       

John B. Frank

    185        *            —          —          2,525,109        1.70       

David M. Kirchheimer

    136        *            —          —          1,761,341        1.19       

Kevin L. Clayton

    275        *            —          —          3,458,081        2.33       

Stephen A. Kaplan

    181        *            —          —          2,279,982        1.54       

Larry W. Keele

    322        *            —          —          4,158,293        2.80       

Sheldon M. Stone

    1,009        *            —          —          13,013,666        8.76       

D. Richard Masson

    513        *            —          —          3,809,786        2.56       

Robert E. Denham

    3,000        *            —          —          —          —         

Wayne G. Pierson  (3)

    —          —              —          —          —          —         
                   
                   

All directors and executive officers as a group (             persons)

            —          —          78,110,484        52.61    

Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P.

    13,000        *            125,786,115        100     —          —         

 

* Represents less than 1%.
(1) Subject to certain restrictions, each OCGH unitholder has the right to require OCGH to exchange his or her vested units following the expiration of any applicable lock-up period pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement. Pursuant to the exchange agreement and the terms of the OCGH partnership agreement, the OCGH units will be exchanged for Oaktree Operating Group units. Those Oaktree Operating Group units may then be exchanged for a corresponding number of Class A units, and we will cancel a corresponding number of Class B units. Post-Offering reflects the application of use of a portion of our proceeds from this offering, which will be used to purchase Oaktree Operating Group units from OCGH.
(2) Represents the percentage of the total outstanding Oaktree Operating Group units that would be received in exchange for the OCGH units.
(3) Excludes 11,333,089 OCGH units held by Acorn Investors, LLC, which Mr. Pierson may be deemed to beneficially own. Mr. Pierson is the President of Acorn Investors, LLC and disclaims beneficial ownership of the OCGH units held by it.

 

194


Table of Contents

SELLING UNITHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information regarding Class A units held by each selling unitholder as of the date of this prospectus. All holders of our Class A units have been offered the opportunity to sell up to 100% of their Class A units as selling unitholders in this offering, subject in each case to a pro rata cutback to ensure that in the aggregate, the Class A units sold by existing unitholders do not exceed 33% of the aggregate offering size. A portion of the Class A units to be sold by our unitholders is subject to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Class A units. Net proceeds to the selling unitholders will be the public offering price set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount, which for each selling unitholder is 2.0% of the offering price per Class A unit sold in the offering. Based on the assumed initial offering price of $             per Class A unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, the underwriting discount will be $             per Class A unit.

 

    Class A Units Beneficially Owned
Before this Offering
      Class A Units Beneficially Owned
After this Offering
    Number   Percent   Number of Class A
Units Being Offered
  Number   Percent

Selling Unitholder:

         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

 

 

 

195


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC as it will be in effect at the time of this offering, which we refer to as our operating agreement, and certain relevant provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, or the Act. Since the terms of our operating agreement and the Act are more detailed than the general information provided below, we urge you to read the actual provisions of our operating agreement, which is attached hereto as Appendix A, and the Act. The following information assumes the conversion of all our outstanding Class C units into 13,000 Class A units prior to the completion of this offering.

General

Our operating agreement authorizes our board of directors to issue an unlimited number of additional units and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to such units for consideration or for no consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our board of directors in its sole discretion without the approval of any Class A unitholders. These additional securities may be used for a variety of purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. Our operating agreement currently authorizes the issuance of Class A and Class B units. As of March 31, 2011, there were 22,677,100 Class A units, 125,786,115 Class B units issued and outstanding (assuming the conversion of all outstanding Class C units in to Class A units on a one-for-one basis).

Class A Units

Upon consummation of this offering, all of our outstanding Class A units will be duly issued. Upon payment in full of the consideration payable with respect to our Class A units, as determined by our board of directors, the holders of such units will not be liable to us to make any additional capital contributions with respect to such units (except as otherwise required by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Act). No holder of our Class A units will be entitled to preemptive, redemption or conversion rights.

Voting Rights

Holders of Class A units are entitled to one vote per unit held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our unitholders. Generally, all matters to be voted on by our unitholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors when the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, by a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all Class A units and Class B units present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting of unitholders, voting together as a single class.

Distribution Rights

Holders of Class A units will share ratably (based on the number of units held) in any distribution authorized by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on distributions and to any restrictions on distributions imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred units.

Liquidation Rights

Upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred units having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our Class A units and any other equity securities we may subsequently issue that are pari passu with our Class A units will be entitled to receive our remaining assets available for distribution in proportion to the Class A units and other equity securities held by them as of a record date determined by the liquidator.

 

196


Table of Contents

Other Matters

Under our operating agreement, in the event that our board of directors determines that we should seek relief pursuant to Section 7704(e) of the Code to preserve our status as a partnership for federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes, we and each of our unitholders will be required to agree to adjustments required by the tax authorities, and we will pay such amounts as required by the tax authorities to preserve our status as a partnership.

Class B Units

All of our Class B units have been duly issued and are held by OCGH, which is controlled by our principals. No holder of Class B units is entitled to preemptive, redemption or conversion rights.

Voting Rights

Holders of our Class B units are entitled to ten votes per unit held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our unitholders. However, in the event that the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, our Class B units will be entitled to only one vote per unit. Generally, all matters to be voted on by our unitholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors when the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all Class A units and Class B units present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting of unitholders, voting together as a single class.

Distribution Rights

Holders of our Class B units do not have any right to receive distributions other than distributions consisting of Class B units paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding Class B unit.

Liquidation Rights

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, no holder of Class B units has any right to receive distributions in respect of its Class B units.

Preferred Units

Our operating agreement authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred units. Unless required by law or by any securities exchange on which our units are listed for trading, the authorized preferred units will be available for issuance without further action by Class A unitholders. Our board of directors is able to determine, with respect to any series of preferred units, the terms and rights of that series, including:

 

  Ÿ  

the designation of the series;

 

  Ÿ  

the number of preferred units of the series;

 

  Ÿ  

whether distributions, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and the distribution rate of the series;

 

  Ÿ  

the dates at which distributions, if any, will be payable;

 

  Ÿ  

the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for preferred units of the series;

 

  Ÿ  

the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of the preferred units of the series;

 

  Ÿ  

the amounts payable on preferred units of the series in the event of our liquidation or dissolution;

 

197


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

whether the preferred units of the series will be convertible into or exchangeable for interests of any other class or series or any other security of our company or any other entity;

 

  Ÿ  

restrictions on the issuance of preferred units of the series or of any units of any other class or series; and

 

  Ÿ  

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the preferred units of the series.

We could issue a series of preferred units that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede or discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the holders of Class A units might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of Class A units might receive a premium for their Class A units over the market price of the Class A units.

Class Structure

Our Class B units have ten votes per unit, while our Class A units, which is the class of units that we are selling in this offering and which will be the only class of units which will be traded, have one vote per unit. All of our Class B units, representing 98.23% of the voting power of our outstanding membership interests, are controlled indirectly by our principals through their control of OCGH. Because of our dual-class structure, our principals are able to control all matters submitted to our unitholders for approval even if OCGH owns significantly less than 50% of our outstanding units. This concentrated control could discourage others from initiating any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transaction that other unitholders may view as beneficial.

Listing and Trading

We intend to apply for listing of our Class A units on the NYSE under the symbol “OAK”.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A units is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Our Operating Agreement

Organization and Duration

We were formed in Delaware on April 13, 2007 and will remain in existence until dissolved in accordance with our operating agreement and the Act.

Purpose

Under our operating agreement, we are permitted to engage in any business activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company organized under Delaware law and to conduct any and all activities related to such business activity.

Agreement to be Bound by Our Operating Agreement; Power of Attorney

By purchasing a Class A unit, you will be admitted as a member of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and become bound by the terms of our operating agreement. Pursuant to our operating agreement, each unitholder and each person who acquires a Class A unit from a unitholder grants to us (and, if appointed, a liquidator) a power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants us the authority to make certain amendments to, and to make consents and waivers under, our operating agreement and certificate of formation, in each case in accordance with our operating agreement.

 

198


Table of Contents

Duties of Officers, Directors and Manager

Our operating agreement provides that our business and affairs will be managed under the direction of our board of directors, which will have the power to appoint our officers. Our operating agreement further provides that the authority and function of our board of directors and officers are identical to the authority and functions of a board of directors and officers of a corporation organized under the DGCL, except as expressly modified by the terms of the operating agreement. Finally, our operating agreement provides that, except as specifically provided therein, the fiduciary duties and obligations owed to us and to our unitholders are the same as the respective duties and obligations owed by officers and directors of a corporation organized under the DGCL to their corporation and stockholders, respectively. Our manager, whose only function is to designate the members of our board of directors so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied, will not owe any duties to our unitholders.

There are certain provisions in our operating agreement regarding exculpation and indemnification of our officers, directors and manager that differ from the DGCL.

First, our operating agreement provides that our officers and directors will be liable to us or our unitholders for an act or omission only if such act or omission constitutes a breach of the duties owed to us or our unitholders, as applicable, by any such officer or director and such breach is the result of (1) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of law, in each case, that has or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse affect on us or (2) fraud, and that our manager will not be liable to us or our unitholders for its actions. Moreover, we have agreed to indemnify our officers, directors and manager to the fullest extent permitted by law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with our approval and counsel fees and disbursements) arising from the performance of any of their obligations or duties in connection with their service to us, including in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding to which any such person may be made a party by reason of being or having been one of our officers or directors or our manager, except for any expenses or liabilities that have been finally judicially determined to have arisen primarily from acts or omissions which violate the standard set forth in the preceding sentence. Under the DGCL, a corporation can only indemnify officers and directors for acts or omissions if any such officer or director acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the corporation and, in a criminal action, if the officer or director had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

Second, our operating agreement provides that, in the event of an existing or potential conflict of interest involving OCGH, our directors or their respective affiliates, a resolution or course of action by our directors or their affiliates will be deemed approved by all our unitholders, and will not constitute a breach of our operating agreement or any duty (including any fiduciary duty), if such resolution or course of action is approved by a majority of the total voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B units held by disinterested unitholders or a majority of our directors who are not employed by us, our subsidiaries or our affiliates controlled by our principals or meets certain standards as described in “—Conflicts of Interest” below. Under the DGCL, a corporation is not permitted to automatically exempt board members from claims of breach of fiduciary duty under such circumstances. In addition, our operating agreement provides that all conflicts of interest described in this prospectus are deemed to have been specifically approved by all our unitholders who acquire units on or after the date of this offering.

Election of Members of Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors consists of              directors. For so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied, the size of our board of directors will be determined, and the directors will be designated, by our manager. Directors serve until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until

 

199


Table of Contents

their earlier death, disability, resignation or removal from office. Any vacancy on our board of directors, including any vacancy arising from the creation of a new directorship, will be filled by our manager. While our Class A and Class B units vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of unitholders, including certain amendments of our operating agreement, our operating agreement does not obligate us to hold annual meetings for any purpose so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied.

After the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, the size of our board of directors will be set by resolution of our board of directors, and directors will be elected by the vote of a plurality of our outstanding Class A and Class B units, voting together as a single class, to serve until our next annual meeting is held and until their successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, disability, resignation or removal from office. After the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, any vacancy arising from the creation of a new directorship may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors or, if there are no directors in office, the vote of a plurality of our outstanding Class A and Class B units voting together as a single class.

Removal of Members of Our Board of Directors

Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by our manager for so long as the Oaktree control condition is satisfied. The vacancy in our board of directors caused by any such removal will be filled by our manager. After the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of our outstanding Class A and Class B units, voting together as a single class. The vacancy in our board of directors caused by any such removal will be filled by the vote of a plurality of our outstanding Class A and Class B units, voting together as a single class.

Limited Liability

Delaware law provides that a member who receives a distribution from a Delaware limited liability company and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of Delaware law will be liable to the company for three years for the amount of the distribution. Under Delaware law, a limited liability company may not make a distribution to a member if, after the distribution, all liabilities of the company, other than liabilities to members on account of their limited liability company interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the company, would exceed the fair value of the assets of the company. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a company, Delaware law provides that the fair value of property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited is included in the assets of the company only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. Under Delaware law, an assignee who becomes a substituted member of a company is liable for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the company, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to the assignee at the time the assignee became a member and that could not be ascertained from our operating agreement.

Amendment of Our Operating Agreement

Amendments to our operating agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of our board of directors. To adopt a proposed amendment and except as set forth below, our board of directors is required to seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of our unitholders to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as set forth below an amendment must be approved by holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B units, voting together as a single class, and to the extent that such amendment would have a material adverse effect on the

 

200


Table of Contents

holders of any class or series of units, by the holders of a majority of the holders of such class or series. Issuances of units with rights superior to those of our then-outstanding units of any class or series or having a dilutive effect on our then-outstanding units will not be deemed to have a material adverse effect on the holders of the outstanding units.

Prohibited Amendments

No amendment may be made that would:

 

  Ÿ  

enlarge the obligations of any unitholder without such unitholder’s consent, unless approved by at least a majority of the class or series of units so affected;

 

  Ÿ  

change the provision in our operating agreement that provides that we will be dissolved upon an election to dissolve us by our board of directors that is approved by holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B units;

 

  Ÿ  

change our term of existence; or

 

  Ÿ  

give any person the right to dissolve us other than our board of directors’ right to dissolve us with the approval of holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B units, voting together as a single class.

The provision of our operating agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in any of the clauses above can be amended upon the approval of holders of at least two-thirds of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B units.

No Unitholder Approval

Our board of directors may generally make amendments to our operating agreement without the approval of any unitholder (including a unitholder that may be materially and adversely affected by such amendments) to reflect:

 

  Ÿ  

a change in our name, the location of our principal place of our business, our registered agent or our registered office;

 

  Ÿ  

the admission, substitution, resignation or removal of unitholders in accordance with our operating agreement;

 

  Ÿ  

the merger of us or any of our subsidiaries into, or the conveyance of all of our assets to, a newly formed entity, if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity;

 

  Ÿ  

a change that our board of directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate for us to qualify or continue our qualification as a company in which our members have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than as we specifically so designate;

 

  Ÿ  

a change that our board of directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation;

 

  Ÿ  

an amendment that our board of directors determines, based upon the advice of counsel, to be necessary or appropriate to prevent us, members of our board of directors, or our officers, agents or trustees from having a material risk of being in any manner subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, Title I of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable similar law currently applied or proposed;

 

201


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

an amendment or issuance that our board of directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate for the authorization of additional securities;

 

  Ÿ  

any amendment expressly permitted in our operating agreement to be made by our board of directors acting alone;

 

  Ÿ  

an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of our operating agreement;

 

  Ÿ  

any amendment that our board of directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate for the formation by us of, or our investment in, any corporation, partnership or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our operating agreement;

 

  Ÿ  

an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by an amendment to the operating agreement or other governing document of one of our direct subsidiaries that requires the equity holders of such subsidiary to provide a statement, certification or other proof of evidence to the subsidiary regarding whether such equity holder is subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by such subsidiary;

 

  Ÿ  

a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes that our board of directors determines to be necessary, desirable or appropriate as a result of a change in our fiscal year or taxable year; and

 

  Ÿ  

any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in the clauses above.

In addition, our board of directors may make any amendment to our operating agreement without the approval of any unitholder (including a unitholder that may be materially and adversely affected by any such amendment) if our board of directors in its sole discretion determines that the amendment:

 

  Ÿ  

does not adversely affect our unitholders as a whole (including any particular class or series of units as compared to other classes or series of units) in any material respect;

 

  Ÿ  

is necessary, desirable or appropriate to satisfy any requirement, condition or guideline contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. agency or judicial authority or contained in any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. statute;

 

  Ÿ  

is necessary, desirable or appropriate to facilitate the trading of units or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange or market on which our units are or will be listed for trading, compliance with any of which our board of directors deems to be in the best interests of us and our unitholders;

 

  Ÿ  

is necessary or appropriate for any action taken by our board of directors relating to splits or combinations of units under the provisions of our operating agreement; or

 

  Ÿ  

is required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus or the intent of the provisions of our operating agreement or is otherwise contemplated by our operating agreement.

Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets

If certain conditions specified in our operating agreement are satisfied, our board of directors may convert or merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey all of our assets to, a newly formed limited liability entity, in each case without any approval of our unitholders, if the sole purpose of the conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity. All other mergers, consolidations and other business combinations require the approval of both our board of directors and a majority of the total combined voting power of all of our outstanding Class A and Class B units, voting together as a single class. Our unitholders are not entitled to

 

202


Table of Contents

dissenters’ rights of appraisal under our operating agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a merger, consolidation or other business combination, a conversion or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or any other similar transaction or event.

Grantor Trust

In the future, our board of directors may consider implementing a reorganization without the consent of our unitholders whereby a Delaware statutory trust would hold all of our outstanding Class A units and each of our Class A unitholders would receive units of the trust in exchange for its Class A units. Our board of directors will have the power to decide in its sole discretion to implement such a trust structure. Our trust would be treated as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, each investor would be treated as the beneficial owner of a pro rata portion of the units held by the trust and our unitholders would receive annual tax information relating to their investment on Form 1099 (or substantially similar forms as required by law), rather than on Schedule K-1. Our board of directors will not implement such a trust structure if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the reorganization would be taxable or otherwise alter the benefits or burdens of ownership of our Class A units, including a unitholder’s allocation of items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or the treatment of such items for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our board of directors will also be required to implement the reorganization in a manner that does not have a material effect on the voting and economic rights of our Class A and Class B units.

The IRS could challenge the trust’s manner of reporting to investors (for example, if the IRS asserts that the trust constitutes a partnership or is ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes). In addition, the trust could be subject to penalties if it were determined that the trust did not satisfy applicable reporting requirements.

Limited Call Right

If at any time less than 10% of the then issued and outstanding units of any class or series, including our Class A units, are held by unitholders other than the principals, their successors or entities controlled by them, we will have the right, which we may assign in whole or in part to any of our affiliates, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining units of the class or series held by such unitholders as of a record date to be selected by us, on at least ten but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price in the event of this purchase will be the greater of:

 

  Ÿ  

the average daily closing price on the primary securities exchange on which units of such class or series are traded for the 20 business days preceding the date that is three days before the date the notice is mailed; and

 

  Ÿ  

the highest cash price paid by us or any of our affiliates for any unit of the class or series purchased within the 90 days preceding the date on which we first mail notice of our election to purchase those units.

As a result of our right to purchase outstanding units, a unitholder may have his or her units purchased at an undesirable time or price. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of his units in the market. See “Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations—Consequences to U.S. Holders of Class A Units—Sale or Exchange of Class A Units.”

 

203


Table of Contents

Termination and Dissolution

We will continue as a limited liability company until terminated under our operating agreement. We will dissolve:

 

  Ÿ  

upon the election of our board of directors to dissolve us, if approved by holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of all of our outstanding Class A and Class B units, voting together as a single class;

 

  Ÿ  

upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution; or

 

  Ÿ  

at any time that we no longer have any members, unless our business is continued in accordance with Delaware law.

Election to be Treated as a Corporation

If our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our board of directors may elect to treat us as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes.

Books and Reports

We are required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. Our fiscal year is the calendar year ending December 31. Our board of directors in its sole discretion may change our fiscal year at any time as may be required or permitted under the Code or applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations. It may require a substantial period of time after the end of our fiscal year to obtain the requisite information from all lower-tier entities to enable us to prepare and deliver Schedule K-1s to IRS Form 1065. We expect to provide estimates of such tax information (including your allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding year) by February 28 of each year; however, there is no assurance that the Schedule K-1s, which will be provided after the estimates, will be the same as our estimates. For this reason, holders of Class A units who are U.S. taxpayers may want to file annually with the IRS (and certain states) a request for an extension past the due date of their income tax returns. See “Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations—Administrative Matters—Information Returns.”

Unrestricted Ability to Issue Additional Securities

Our operating agreement authorizes us to issue additional securities, including preferred units entitled to a preference or priority over our Class A units in the right to share in our distributions, for the consideration (or for no consideration) and on the terms and conditions established by our board of directors without the approval of any of our unitholders. These additional securities may be used for a variety of purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. Our ability to issue additional Class A units and other equity securities could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control over us, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the interests held by our unitholders or that a unitholder might consider to be in its best interest.

Conflicts of Interest

In general, whenever an actual or potential conflict of interest arises between OCGH, one or more of our directors or their respective affiliates, on the one hand, and us, one or more of our subsidiaries or one or more of our other Class A unitholders, on the other hand, any resolution or course of action

 

204


Table of Contents

taken by our directors or their respective affiliates will be deemed approved by all of our unitholders and will not constitute a breach of our operating agreement or any legal or equitable duty (including any fiduciary duty) if the resolution or course of action in respect of the conflict of interest is:

 

  Ÿ  

approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all disinterested unitholders;

 

  Ÿ  

on terms no less favorable to us or our subsidiaries or our unitholders than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties;

 

  Ÿ  

fair and reasonable to us taking into account the totality of the relationships among the parties involved; or

 

  Ÿ  

approved by a majority of our directors who are not employed by us, our subsidiaries or our affiliates controlled by our principals.

Failure to seek the approval of our unitholders or outside directors described above will not be deemed to indicate that a conflict of interest exists or that approval could not have been obtained. If our board of directors determines that any resolution or course of action satisfies the second or third standards described above, it will be presumed that our board of directors acted in good faith in making such determination, and a Class A unitholder seeking to challenge our board of directors’ determination would bear the burden of overcoming this presumption.

Any conflicts of interest described in this prospectus will be deemed approved by our unitholders who acquire units on or after the date of this offering and will not constitute a breach of our operating agreement or any legal, equitable or other duty.

In addition to the provisions relating to conflicts of interest, our operating agreement contains provisions that waive or consent to conduct by us, our manager, our directors or our affiliates that might otherwise raise issues about compliance with fiduciary duties or otherwise applicable law. For example, our operating agreement provides that when we, our board of directors or our manager is permitted or required to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or that it deems “necessary or appropriate” or “necessary or advisable” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we, our board of directors or our manager, as the case may be, may make such decision in its sole discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to “sole discretion” or “discretion”), and will be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and will have no duty or obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting us or any Class A unitholders, and will not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by our operating agreement, any other agreement contemplated thereby, under the Act, the DGCL or under any other law or in equity, but in all circumstances must exercise such discretion in good faith. These modifications of fiduciary duties are expressly permitted by Delaware law. Hence, we and our Class A unitholders will only have recourse and be able to seek remedies against our directors if our directors breach their obligations pursuant to our operating agreement. Unless our directors breach their obligations pursuant to our operating agreement, we and our Class A unitholders will not have any recourse even if our directors were to act in a manner that was inconsistent with traditional fiduciary duties. Furthermore, even if there has been a breach of the obligations set forth in our operating agreement, our operating agreement provides that our directors will not be liable to us or our Class A shareholders for errors of judgment or for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that such breach is the result of (1) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of law, in each case, that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on us or (2) fraud. In addition, our operating agreement provides that our manager will owe no duties to us or our unitholders and will have no liability to us or any unitholder for monetary damages or otherwise for its actions. These modifications are detrimental to the Class A unitholders because they restrict the remedies available to Class A

 

205


Table of Contents

unitholders for actions that without those limitations might constitute breaches of duty (including fiduciary duty).

Conflicts of interest could arise in the situations described below, among others.

Actions taken by our board of directors may affect the amount of cash flow from operations available for distribution to our Class A unitholders.

The amount of cash flow from operations that is available for distribution to our Class A unitholders is affected by decisions of our board of directors regarding such matters as:

 

  Ÿ  

amount and timing of cash expenditures, including those relating to compensation;

 

  Ÿ  

amount and timing of investments and dispositions;

 

  Ÿ  

levels of indebtedness;

 

  Ÿ  

tax matters;

 

  Ÿ  

levels of reserves; and

 

  Ÿ  

issuance of additional equity securities, including Class A units, or additional Oaktree Operating Group units.

Our Class A unitholders will have no right to enforce obligations of our affiliates under agreements with us.

Any agreements between us, on the one hand, and our affiliates, on the other, will not grant to the Class A unitholders, separate and apart from us, the right to enforce the obligations of our affiliates in our favor.

Contracts between us, on the one hand, and our affiliates, on the other, will not be the result of arm’s-length negotiations.

Neither our operating agreement nor any of the other agreements, contracts and arrangements between us, on the one hand, and our affiliates, on the other, are or will be the result of arm’s-length negotiations. Our board of directors will determine the terms of any of these transactions on terms that it considers are fair and reasonable to us.

We may choose not to retain separate counsel for ourselves or for the holders of Class A units.

Attorneys, independent accountants and others who will perform services for us are selected by our board of directors and may perform services for us and our affiliates. We may retain separate counsel for ourselves or our Class A unitholders in the event of a conflict of interest between our affiliates, on the one hand, and us or our Class A unitholders, on the other, depending on the nature of the conflict, but are not required to do so.

Certain of our subsidiaries have obligations to investors in our funds and may have obligations to other third parties that may conflict with your interests.

Our subsidiaries that serve as the general partners of our funds have fiduciary and contractual obligations to the investors in those funds and some of our subsidiaries may have contractual duties to other third parties. As a result, we expect to regularly take actions with respect to the allocation of investments among our funds (including funds that have different fee structures), the purchase or sale

 

206


Table of Contents

of investments in our funds, the structuring of investment transactions for those funds, the advice we provide or otherwise that comply with these fiduciary and contractual obligations. In addition, certain of our directors, officers and employees have made personal investments in a variety of our funds, which may result in conflicts of interest among investors in our funds or our unitholders regarding investment decisions for these funds. Some of these actions might at the same time adversely affect our near-term results of operations or cash flow.

U.S. federal income tax considerations of our directors, officers and employees may conflict with your interests.

Because our directors, officers and employees hold their Oaktree Operating Group units through entities that are not subject to corporate income taxation, and we hold Oaktree Operating Group units through wholly owned subsidiaries, two of which are subject to corporate income taxation, conflicts may arise between us and our directors, officers and employees relating to the selection and structuring of investments. Our Class A unitholders will be deemed to expressly acknowledge that our board of directors is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of such holders, including among other things the tax consequences to our Class A unitholders, in deciding whether to cause us to take or decline to take any actions.

Meetings of Unitholders; Action Without a Meeting

We are not required under our operating agreement to hold regular meetings of our unitholders. Meetings may be called by a majority of our board of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by our unitholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors if the Oaktree control condition is no longer satisfied, a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all Class A and Class B units present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting of unitholders, voting together as a single class. Under Delaware law, we may hold unitholder meetings in person or by conference call.

In addition, any action that may be taken at a meeting of our unitholders may instead be taken upon the written approval of unitholders representing not less than the minimum percentage of the votes entitled to be cast by all Class A and Class B units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all of our unitholders were present and voted. Actions by written approval may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice.

Transfer Restrictions

Transfers of our Class A units may only occur in accordance with the procedures set forth in our operating agreement. Our Class A units may not be transferred in any transaction that would:

 

  Ÿ  

violate then-applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws or regulations or any governmental authority with jurisdiction over the transfer;

 

  Ÿ  

terminate our existence or qualification under the laws of any jurisdiction;

 

  Ÿ  

cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent that we are not already so treated or taxed); or

 

  Ÿ  

require us to become subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, a purported transfer of Class A units in violation of the restrictions set forth in our operating agreement will be null and void, and we will not be required to and will not recognize the transfer. In the event of a purported transfer prohibited by our operating agreement, we may, in our discretion, require that the purported transferor take steps to unwind, cancel or reverse the purported transaction. The purported transferee will have no rights or economic

 

207


Table of Contents

interest in the Class A units. In addition, we may, in our discretion, redeem the Class A units or cause the transfer of the Class A units to a third party and distribute the proceeds of the sale (net of any expenses) to the purported transferor.

Non-Citizen Assignee; Redemption

If we or our affiliates are or become subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations that in our determination create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which we or the affiliate has an interest because of the nationality, citizenship or other related status of any Class A unitholder, we may redeem the Class A units held by that holder at their current market price. To avoid any cancellation or forfeiture, we may require each Class A unitholder to furnish information about such unitholder’s nationality, citizenship or related status or the nationality, citizenship or related status of any beneficial owner of such holder’s Class A units. If a Class A unitholder fails to furnish information about its nationality, citizenship or other related status within 30 days after a request for the information or we determine, with the advice of counsel, after receipt of the information that the Class A unitholder is not an eligible citizen, we may redeem or require a transfer of the unitholder’s Class A units. Pending such a transfer or redemption, the unitholder’s right to vote or receive distributions in respect of the Class A units may be suspended.

 

208


Table of Contents

UNITS ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A units. Our Class A units currently trade on the GSTrUE OTC market, which is limited to institutional investors who are both qualified purchasers (as such term is defined for purposes of the Investment Company Act) and qualified institutional buyers (as such term is defined for purposes of the Securities Act). There has not been an active trading market for a significant volume of our Class A units on the GSTrUE OTC market and only a limited number of investors have registered to participate on the GSTrUE OTC market. Prior to the completion of this offering, we will cease all trading on the GSTrUE OTC market. We cannot predict the effect, if any, that public market sales of our Class A units or the availability of our Class A units for sale after this offering will have on the market price of our Class A units prevailing from time to time. Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of our Class A units in the public market after this offering could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of our equity securities in the future.

Upon the closing of this offering, we will have            Class A units outstanding. Of these units, all Class A units sold in this offering by us and the selling unitholders, plus any additional Class A units sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Class A units, will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, unless they are held by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which is summarized below.

The remaining Class A units will be deemed restricted securities as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Subject to the lock-up agreements and transfer restrictions described below, these restricted securities are eligible for sale in the public market only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, which are summarized below.

Subject to the lock-up agreements described below and the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, these restricted securities will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

Date

   Number of
Class A Units

On the date of this prospectus

  

Beginning 60 days (subject to extension) after the date of this prospectus

  

Beginning 120 days (subject to extension) after the date of this prospectus

  

At various times beginning 180 days after the date of this prospectus

  

Lock-up Agreements and Other Restrictions on Transfer

Holders of                      Class A that are traded on the GSTrUE OTC market units have executed lock-up agreements with the underwriters pursuant to which they have agreed not to dispose of or hedge any Class A units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A units or substantially similar securities, referred to collectively as the restricted securities, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through (1) with respect to all of such Class A unitholders’ restricted securities not sold in this offering, the date that is 60 days after the date of this prospectus and (2) solely with respect to one half of such Class A unitholder’s restricted securities not sold in this offering, the date that is 120 days after the date of this prospectus, in each case, without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. Among other customary exceptions, the restrictions on transfer described above are subject to exceptions that permit a Class A unitholder to transfer its Class A units:

 

  Ÿ  

if such Class A units were acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering;

 

209


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

to us;

 

  Ÿ  

following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for Class A units that is subject to the provisions of the Exchange Act by a third party not affiliated with us; or

 

  Ÿ  

in connection with any acquisition, sale or merger of us with an unaffiliated third party in which all of the holders of Class A units are entitled to participate.

In addition, our directors and executive officers (which includes our principals), other employees and certain other investors hold Oaktree Operating Group units through OCGH and, subject to certain restrictions, have the right to require OCGH to exchange their Oaktree Operating Group units for Class A units in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Exchange Agreement.” Our directors and executive officers also hold a small number of Class A units. Our directors and executive officers have executed lock-up agreements with the underwriters pursuant to which each has agreed not to dispose of or hedge any of such OCGH units, any Class A units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such OCGH units or Class A units or substantially similar securities, or to exercise their rights to exchange their Oaktree Operating Group units for Class A units, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date that is 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. Among other customary exceptions, these restrictions on transfer described above are subject to exceptions that permit a Class A unitholder to transfer Class A units:

 

  Ÿ  

if such Class A units were acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering, provided that such transactions do not require a public filing;

 

  Ÿ  

to us, provided that such transactions do not require a public filing;

 

  Ÿ  

following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for Class A units that is subject to the provisions of the Exchange Act by a third party not affiliated with us; or

 

  Ÿ  

in connection with any acquisition, sale or merger of us with an unaffiliated third party in which all of the holders of Class A units are entitled to participate.

With respect to all other holders of OCGH units, we and OCGH have agreed with the underwriters not to permit any disposition of any OCGH units owned by such holders, or any exchange of OCGH units owned by them into Class A units, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date that is 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters. The foregoing restrictions on transfer and exchange are subject to customary exceptions.

Each of the restricted periods described in the preceding three paragraphs will be automatically extended if: (1) during the last 17 days of such restricted period, we issue an earnings release or announce material news or a material event; or (2) prior to the expiration of such restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 15-day period following the last day of such period, in which case the restrictions for such period described in the preceding paragraphs will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release of the announcement of the material news or material event.

In addition to the lock-up arrangements with the underwriters described above, pursuant to an amendment to our operating agreement adopted in connection with this offering, all holders of Class A units that are traded on the GSTrUE OTC market that have not executed a lock-up agreement with the underwriters described above are prohibited from transferring such Class A units during the period from the date of the prospectus continuing through the date 120 days after the date of this prospectus; provided, however that the foregoing restrictions do not apply to any Class A units acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering.

 

210


Table of Contents

Lastly, following the 180-day period described above, each of our directors, officers and other employees may be permitted to transfer up to one third of their then-vested holdings during each successive 12-month period; provided, however, that our Chairman may be permitted to sell up to an additional 15% of his holdings during the first 24-month period. All such exchanges will be subject to the terms of the OCGH partnership agreement and the exchange agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Exchange Agreement.”

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to public company reporting requirements for at least 90 days, a person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates for purposes of the Securities Act at any time during the three months preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned the Class A units proposed to be sold for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, is entitled to sell those Class A units without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144, subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the Class A units proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, then that person is entitled to sell those Class A units without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144, including the 90-day public company requirement.

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, our affiliates or persons selling Class A units on behalf of our affiliates are entitled to sell upon expiration of the lock-up agreements described above, within any three-month period, a number of Class A units that does not exceed the greater of:

 

  Ÿ  

1% of the number of Class A units then outstanding, which will equal approximately             Class A units immediately after this offering; or

 

  Ÿ  

the average weekly trading volume of the Class A units during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to that sale.

Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling Class A units on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

 

211


Table of Contents

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS

This summary discusses the material U.S. federal income and estate tax considerations related to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A units as of the date hereof. This summary is based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, on the regulations promulgated thereunder and on published administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is necessarily general and may not apply to all categories of investors, some of which, such as banks, thrifts, insurance companies, persons liable for the alternative minimum tax, dealers and other investors that do not own their Class A units as capital assets, may be subject to special rules. Tax-exempt organizations and mutual funds are discussed separately below. The actual tax consequences of the purchase and ownership of Class A units will vary depending on your circumstances.

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial holder of a Class A unit that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes (1) an individual citizen or resident of the United States; (2) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (3) an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (4) a trust if it (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. A “non-U.S. Holder” is a holder that is not a U.S. Holder.

If a partnership holds Class A units, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our Class A units, you should consult your tax advisers. This discussion does not constitute tax advice and is not intended to be a substitute for tax planning.

Prospective holders of Class A units should consult their own tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state and local income tax and estate tax consequences in their particular situations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of a Class A unit, as well as any consequences under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Taxation of Issuer and the Intermediate Holding Companies

Subject to the discussion in the next paragraph, an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not a taxable entity and incurs no U.S. federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner is required to take into account its allocable share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing its U.S. federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made. Distributions of cash by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable unless the amount of cash distributed to a partner is in excess of the partner’s adjusted basis in its partnership interest.

An entity that would otherwise be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes may nonetheless be taxable as a corporation if it is a “publicly traded partnership,” unless an exception applies. An entity that would otherwise be classified as a partnership is a publicly traded partnership if (1) interests in the partnership are traded on an established securities market or (2) interests in the partnership are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. We will be publicly traded. However, an exception to taxation as a corporation, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists if at least 90% of such partnership’s gross income for every taxable year consists of “qualifying income” and the partnership is not required to register under the Investment Company Act. Qualifying income includes certain interest income, dividends, real property rents, gains

 

212


Table of Contents

from the sale or other disposition of real property and any gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset or other property held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income.

We intend to manage our affairs so that we will meet the Qualifying Income Exception in each taxable year. We believe we will be treated as a partnership and not as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP will provide an opinion to us based on factual statements and representations made by us, including statements and representations as to the manner in which we intend to manage our affairs and the composition of our income, that we will be treated as a partnership and not as an association or publicly traded partnership (within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code) subject to tax as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, this opinion will be based solely on current law and will not take into account any proposed or potential changes in law, which may be enacted with retroactive effect. Moreover, opinions of counsel are not binding upon the IRS or any court, and the IRS may challenge this conclusion and a court may sustain such a challenge.

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than for a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, or if we are required to register under the Investment Company Act, we will be treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed the stock to the holders of Class A units in liquidation of their interests in us. This contribution and liquidation should generally be tax-free to holders so long as we do not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If we were treated as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our tax return rather than being passed through to holders of Class A units, and we would be subject to U.S. corporate income tax on our taxable income. Distributions made to holders of our Class A units would be treated as either taxable dividend income, which may be eligible for reduced rates of taxation, to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, or in the absence of earnings and profits, as a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the holder’s tax basis in the Class A units, or as taxable capital gain, after the holder’s basis is reduced to zero. In addition, in the case of non-U.S. Holders, income that we receive with respect to investments may be subject to a higher rate of U.S. withholding tax if we are treated as a corporation. Accordingly, treatment as a corporation could materially reduce a holder’s after-tax return and thus could result in a substantial reduction of the value of the Class A units.

If at the end of any taxable year we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, we may still qualify as a partnership if we are entitled to relief under the Code for an inadvertent termination of partnership status. This relief will be available if (1) the failure is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, (2) the failure is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and (3) we agree to make such adjustments (including adjustments with respect to our partners) or to pay such amounts as are required by the IRS. It is not possible to state whether we would be entitled to this relief in any or all circumstances. It also is not clear under the Code whether this relief is available for our first taxable year as a publicly traded partnership. If this relief provision is inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances involving us, we will not qualify as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Even if this relief provision applies and we retain our partnership status, we or the holders of our Class A units (during the failure period) will be required to pay such amounts as are determined by the IRS.

The remainder of this section assumes that we will be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

213


Table of Contents

Oaktree Holdings, LLC

Oaktree Holdings, LLC is a wholly owned limited liability company. Oaktree Holdings, LLC will be treated as an entity disregarded as a separate entity from us for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, all the assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of Oaktree Holdings, LLC will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit.

Oaktree Holdings, Inc.

Oaktree Holdings, Inc. is taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore, as the holder of Oaktree Holdings, Inc.’s common stock, we will not be taxed directly on earnings of entities we hold through Oaktree Holdings, Inc. Distributions of cash or other property that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. pays to us will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). If the amount of a distribution by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. exceeds its current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of our tax basis in Oaktree Holdings, Inc.’s common stock, and thereafter will be treated as a capital gain.

As general partner of Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Holdings, Inc. will incur U.S. federal income taxes on its proportionate share of any net taxable income of Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.

Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. is taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore, as the holder of Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.’s common stock, we will not be taxed directly on earnings of entities we hold through Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. Distributions of cash or other property that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. pays to us will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). If the amount of a distribution by Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. exceeds its current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of our tax basis in Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.’s common stock, and thereafter will be treated as a capital gain.

As general partner of Oaktree AIF Investment, L.P., Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. will incur U.S. federal income taxes on its proportionate share of any net taxable income of Oaktree AIF Investment, L.P.

Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.

Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. is an exempted limited liability company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and is taxable as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Distributions of cash or other property that Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. pays to us will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). We intend to operate so as not to produce effectively connected income, or ECI. Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.’s income will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent it has a foreign source and is not treated as ECI. If the amount of a distribution by Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. exceeds its current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of our tax basis in Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.’s common stock, and thereafter will be treated as a capital gain.

 

214


Table of Contents

Oaktree Operating Group

Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P. and Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. are Delaware limited partnerships and will be taxed as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P. is a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership and will be taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The items of income, deduction and credit of these entities will be treated as items of income, deduction and credit of the Intermediate Holding Companies, discussed above.

Personal Holding Companies

Each of Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. could be subject to additional U.S. federal income tax on a portion of its income if it is determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation generally will be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (1) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations and pension funds) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (2) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year, consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents). The PHC rules do not apply to non-U.S. corporations. No assurance can be given that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. will not become a PHC following this offering or in the future.

If Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. is or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, it would be subject to an additional 15% PHC tax on its undistributed PHC income, which generally includes the company’s taxable income, subject to certain adjustments. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, the PHC tax rate on undistributed PHC income will be equal to the highest marginal rate on ordinary income applicable to individuals (currently 35%). If Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. were to become a PHC and had significant amounts of undistributed PHC income, the amount of PHC tax could be material; in that event, distribution of such income would generally reduce the PHC income subject to tax.

Certain State, Local and Non-U.S. Tax Matters

We and our subsidiaries will be subject to state, local or non-U.S. taxation in various jurisdictions, including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. We may be required to file tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. The state, local or non-U.S. tax treatment of us and our holders may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment discussed herein. We will pay non-U.S. taxes, and dispositions of foreign property or operations involving, or investments in, foreign property may give rise to non-U.S. income or other tax liability in amounts that could be substantial. Any non-U.S. taxes incurred by us may not pass through to Class A unitholders as a credit against their federal income tax liability.

Consequences to U.S. Holders of Class A Units

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a U.S. Holder of Class A units.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, your allocable share of our items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit will be governed by our operating agreement if such allocations have “substantial

 

215


Table of Contents

economic effect” or are determined to be in accordance with your interest in us. We believe that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such allocations will be given effect, and we intend to prepare tax returns based on such allocations. If the IRS successfully challenged the allocations made pursuant to our operating agreement, the resulting allocations for U.S. federal income tax purposes might be less favorable than the allocations set forth in our operating agreement.

We may derive taxable income from an investment that is not matched by a corresponding distribution of cash. This could occur, for example, if we used cash to make an investment or to reduce debt instead of distributing profits. In addition, special provisions of the Code may be applicable to certain of our investments and may affect the timing of our income, requiring us to recognize taxable income before we receive cash attributable to such income. Accordingly, it is possible that the U.S. federal income tax liability of a holder with respect to its allocable share of our income for a particular taxable year could exceed the cash distribution to the holder for the year, thus giving rise to an out-of-pocket tax liability for the holder.

With respect to U.S. Holders who are individuals, certain dividends paid by Oaktree Holdings, Inc., Oaktree AIF Holdings Inc. or certain qualified foreign corporations to us and that are allocable to such U.S. Holders prior to January 1, 2013 may be subject to reduced rates of taxation. A qualified foreign corporation includes a foreign corporation that is eligible for the benefits of specified income tax treaties with the United States. In addition, a foreign corporation is treated as a qualified corporation with respect to shares that are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Among other exceptions, a U.S. Holder who is an individual will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any dividend if the payer is a PFIC (as defined below) in the taxable year in which such dividend is paid or in the preceding taxable year or on any income required to be reported by the U.S. Holder as a result of a QEF election (as defined below) that is attributable to an entity that is a PFIC and in which we hold a direct or indirect interest. Dividends paid by Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. and “Subpart F” inclusions attributable to Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. will not be eligible for such reduced rates of taxation. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of the foregoing rules to their particular circumstances.

Basis

You will have an initial tax basis for your Class A unit equal to the amount you paid for the Class A unit plus your share, under partnership tax rules, of our liabilities, if any. That basis will be increased by your share of our income and by increases in your share under partnership tax rules of our liabilities, if any. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by your share, under partnership tax rules, of our losses and by any decrease in your share under partnership tax rules of our liabilities.

Holders who purchase Class A units in separate transactions must combine the basis of those units and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those units. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of the Class A units, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the Class A units sold.

Limits on Deductions for Losses and Expenses

Your deduction of your share of our losses will be limited to your tax basis in your Class A units and, if you are an individual or a corporate holder that is subject to the “at risk” rules, to the amount for which you are considered to be “at risk” with respect to our activities, if that is less than your tax basis. In general, you will be at risk to the extent of your tax basis in your Class A units, reduced by (1) the portion of that basis attributable to your share of our liabilities for which you will not be personally liable and (2) any amount of money you borrow to acquire or hold your Class A units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to you or can look only to the Class A units for

 

216


Table of Contents

repayment. Your at-risk amount will generally increase by your allocable share of our income and gain and decrease by cash distributions to you and your allocable share of losses and deductions. You must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause your at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that your tax basis or at-risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, subsequently increases. Any excess loss above that gain previously suspended by the at-risk or basis limitations may no longer be used.

We will not generally generate income or losses from “passive activities” for purposes of Section 469 of the Code. Accordingly, income allocated by us to a holder may not be offset by the Section 469 passive losses of such holder and losses allocated to a holder generally may not be used to offset Section 469 passive income of such holder. In addition, other provisions of the Code may limit or disallow any deduction for losses by a holder of our Class A units or deductions associated with certain assets of the limited liability company in certain cases. Holders should consult with their tax advisers regarding their limitations on the deductibility of losses under applicable sections of the Code.

Limitations on Deductibility of Organizational Expenses and Syndication Fees

In general, neither we nor any U.S. Holder may deduct organizational or syndication expenses. An election may be made by us to amortize organizational expenses over a 15-year period. Syndication fees (which would include any sales or placement fees or commissions or underwriting discount) must be capitalized and cannot be amortized or otherwise deducted.

Limitations on Interest Deductions

Your share of our interest expense is likely to be treated as “investment interest” expense. If you are a non-corporate taxpayer, the deductibility of “investment interest” expense is generally limited to the amount of your “net investment income.” Your share of our dividend and interest income will be treated as investment income, although “qualified dividend income” subject to reduced rates of tax in the hands of an individual will only be treated as investment income if you elect to treat such dividend as ordinary income not subject to reduced rates of tax. In addition, state and local tax laws may disallow deductions for your share of our interest expense.

The computation of your investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase a Class A unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment. For this purpose, any long-term capital gain or qualifying dividend income that is taxable at long-term capital gain rates is excluded from net investment income, unless the U.S. holder elects to pay tax on such gain or dividend income at ordinary income rates.

Deductibility of Partnership Investment Expenditures by Individual Partners and by Trusts and Estates

Subject to certain exceptions, all miscellaneous itemized deductions of an individual taxpayer, and certain of such deductions of an estate or trust, are deductible only to the extent that such deductions exceed 2% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income. Moreover, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, the otherwise allowable itemized deductions of individuals whose gross income exceeds an applicable threshold amount are subject to reduction by an amount equal to the lesser of (1) 3% of the excess of the individual’s adjusted gross income over the threshold amount or (2) 80% of the amount of the itemized deductions. The operating expenses of the Oaktree Operating

 

217


Table of Contents

Group may be treated as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the foregoing rule. Accordingly, if you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, you should consult your tax advisers with respect to the application of these limitations.

Treatment of Distributions

Distributions of cash by us will not be taxable to you to the extent of your adjusted tax basis (described above) in your Class A units. Any cash distributions in excess of your adjusted tax basis will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of Class A units (described below). Under current laws, such gain would be treated as capital gain and would be long-term capital gain if your holding period for your Class A units exceeds one year, subject to certain exceptions (described below). A reduction in your allocable share of our liabilities, and certain distributions of marketable securities by us, are treated similar to cash distributions for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Sale or Exchange of Class A Units

You will recognize gain or loss on a sale of Class A units equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realized and your tax basis in the Class A units sold. Your amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property received by you plus your share, under partnership tax rules, of our liabilities, if any.

Gain or loss recognized by you on the sale or exchange of a Class A unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if all of the Class A units you hold were held for more than one year on the date of such sale or exchange. Assuming we have not made an election, referred to as a “QEF election,” to treat our interest in a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund,” or QEF, gain attributable to such investment in a PFIC would be taxable as ordinary income and would be subject to an interest charge. See “—Passive Foreign Investment Companies.” In addition, certain gain attributable to our investment in a controlled foreign corporation, or CFC, may be ordinary income and certain gain attributable to “unrealized receivables” or “inventory items” would be characterized as ordinary income rather than capital gain. For example, if we hold debt acquired at a market discount, accrued market discount on such debt would be treated as “unrealized receivables.” The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Holders who purchase units at different times and intend to sell all or a portion of the units within a year of their most recent purchase are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the application of certain “split holding period” rules to them and the treatment of any gain or loss as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss.

Foreign Tax Credit Limitations

You will generally be entitled to a foreign tax credit with respect to your allocable share of creditable foreign taxes paid on our income and gains. Complex rules may, depending on your particular circumstances, limit the availability or use of foreign tax credits. Gains from the sale of our investments may be treated as U.S. source gains. Consequently, you may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any foreign taxes imposed on such gains unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against tax due on other income treated as derived from foreign sources. Certain losses that we incur may be treated as foreign source losses, which could reduce the amount of foreign tax credits otherwise available.

Section 754 Election

We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code. The election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election generally requires us to adjust the tax basis in our assets,

 

218


Table of Contents

or “inside basis,” attributable to a transferee of Class A units under Section 743(b) of the Code to reflect the purchase price of the Class A units paid by the transferee. However, this election does not apply to a person who purchases Class A units directly from us, including in this offering. For purposes of this discussion, a transferee’s inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) the transferee’s share of our tax basis in our assets, or “common basis,” and (2) the Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.

The calculations under Section 754 of the Code are complex, and there is little legal authority concerning the mechanics of the calculations, particularly in the context of publicly traded partnerships. To help reduce the complexity of those calculations and the resulting administrative costs to us, we will apply certain conventions in determining and allocating basis adjustments. For example, we may apply a convention in which we deem the price paid by a holder of Class A units to be the lowest quoted trading price of the Class A units during the month in which the purchase occurred, irrespective of the actual price paid. Nevertheless, the use of such conventions may result in basis adjustments that do not exactly reflect a holder’s purchase price for its Class A units, including less favorable basis adjustments to a holder who paid more than the lowest quoted trading price of the Class A units for the month in which the purchase occurred. It is possible that the IRS will successfully assert that the conventions we use do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code or the Treasury Regulations and thus will require different basis adjustments to be made. If the IRS were to sustain such a position, a holder of Class A units may have adverse tax consequences. Moreover, the benefits of a Section 754 election may not be realized because we directly and indirectly invest in pass-through entities that do not have in effect a Section 754 election. You should consult your tax adviser as to the effects of the Section 754 election.

Uniformity of Class A Units

We will adopt depreciation, amortization and other tax accounting positions that may not conform with all aspects of existing Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to our Class A unitholders. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain on the sale of Class A units and could have a negative impact on the value of our Class A units or result in audits of and adjustments to our Class A unitholders’ tax returns.

Foreign Currency Gain or Loss

Our functional currency will be the U.S. dollar, and our income or loss will be calculated in U.S. dollars. It is likely that we will recognize “foreign currency” gain or loss with respect to transactions involving non-U.S. dollar currencies. In general, foreign currency gain or loss is treated as ordinary income or loss. You should consult your tax adviser with respect to the tax treatment of foreign currency gain or loss.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

You may be subject to special rules applicable to indirect investments in foreign corporations, including an investment in a PFIC.

A PFIC is defined as any foreign corporation with respect to which either (1) 75% or more of the gross income for a taxable year is “passive income” or (2) 50% or more of its assets in any taxable year (generally based on the quarterly average of the value of its assets) produce “passive income.” There are no minimum stock ownership requirements for PFICs. Once a corporation qualifies as a PFIC, it is, subject to certain exceptions, always treated as a PFIC, regardless of whether it satisfies either of the qualification tests in subsequent years. Any gain on disposition of stock of a PFIC, as well

 

219


Table of Contents

as income realized on certain “excess distributions” by the PFIC, is treated as though realized ratably over the shorter of your holding period of Class A units or our holding period for the PFIC. Such gain or income is taxable as ordinary income and, as discussed above, dividends paid by a PFIC to an individual will not be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation that are available for certain qualifying dividends. In addition, an interest charge would be imposed on you based on the tax deferred from prior years.

We may make a QEF election, where possible, with respect to each entity treated as a PFIC to treat such non-U.S. entity as a QEF in the first year we hold shares in such entity. However, we expect that in many circumstances we may not have access to information necessary to make a QEF election. A QEF election is effective for our taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. If we make a QEF election under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to our interest in a PFIC, in lieu of the foregoing treatment, we would be required to include in income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the QEF called “QEF Inclusions,” even if not distributed to us. Thus, holders may be required to report taxable income as a result of QEF Inclusions without corresponding receipts of cash. However, a holder may elect to defer, until the occurrence of certain events, payment of the U.S. federal income tax attributable to QEF Inclusions for which no current distributions are received, but will be required to pay interest on the deferred tax computed by using the statutory rate of interest applicable to an extension of time for payment of tax. However, net losses (if any) of a non-U.S. entity that is treated as a PFIC will not pass through to us or to holders and may not be carried back or forward in computing such PFIC’s ordinary earnings and net capital gain in other taxable years. Consequently, holders may over time be taxed on amounts that, as an economic matter, exceed our net profits. Our tax basis in the shares of such non-U.S. entities, and a holder’s basis in our Class A units, will be increased to reflect QEF Inclusions. No portion of the QEF Inclusion attributable to ordinary income will be eligible for reduced rates of taxation. Amounts included as QEF Inclusions with respect to direct and indirect investments generally will not be taxed again when actually distributed. You should consult your tax advisers as to the manner in which QEF Inclusions affect your allocable share of our income and your basis in your Class A units. Alternatively, in the case of a PFIC that is a publicly traded foreign portfolio company, an election may be made to “mark to market” the stock of such foreign portfolio company on an annual basis. Pursuant to such an election, you would include in each year as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such stock over its adjusted basis at the end of the taxable year. You may treat as ordinary loss any excess of the adjusted basis of the stock over its fair market value at the end of the year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the election in prior years.

We may make certain investments through non-U.S. corporate subsidiaries. Such an entity may be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, certain of our investments could be in PFICs. Thus, we can make no assurance that some of our investments will not be treated as held through a PFIC or as interests in PFICs or that such PFICs will be eligible for the “mark to market” election, or that as to any such PFICs we will be able to make QEF elections.

If we do not make a QEF election with respect to a PFIC, Section 1291 of the Code will treat all gain on a disposition by us of shares of such entity, gain on the disposition of Class A units by a holder at a time when we own shares of such entity, as well as certain other defined “excess distributions,” as if the gain or excess distribution were ordinary income earned ratably over the shorter of the period during which the holder held its Class A units or the period during which we held our shares in such entity. For gain and excess distributions allocated to prior years, (1) the tax rate will be the highest in effect for that taxable year and (2) the tax will be payable generally without regard to offsets from deductions, losses and expenses. Holders will also be subject to an interest charge for any deferred tax. No portion of this ordinary income will be eligible for the favorable tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” for individual U.S. persons.

 

220


Table of Contents

Controlled Foreign Corporations

A non-U.S. entity will be treated as a CFC if it is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and if more than 50% of (1) the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the non-U.S. entity entitled to vote or (2) the total value of the stock of the non-U.S. entity is owned by U.S. Shareholders on any day during the taxable year of such non-U.S. entity. For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Shareholder” with respect to a non-U.S. entity means a U.S. person that owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the non-U.S. entity entitled to vote.

When making investment or other decisions, we will consider whether an investment will be a CFC and the consequences related thereto. If we are a U.S. Shareholder in a non-U.S. entity that is treated as a CFC, each Class A unitholder generally may be required to include in income its allocable share of the CFC’s “Subpart F” income reported by us. Subpart F income generally includes dividends, interest, net gain from the sale or disposition of securities, non-actively managed rents, fees for services provided to certain related persons and certain other generally passive types of income. The aggregate Subpart F income inclusions in any taxable year relating to a particular CFC are limited to such entity’s current earnings and profits. These inclusions are treated as ordinary income (whether or not such inclusions are attributable to net capital gains). Thus, an investor may be required to report as ordinary income its allocable share of the CFC’s Subpart F income reported by us without corresponding receipts of cash and may not benefit from capital gain treatment with respect to the portion of our earnings (if any) attributable to net capital gains of the CFC.

The tax basis of our shares of such non-U.S. entity, and a holder’s tax basis in our Class A units, will be increased to reflect any required Subpart F income inclusions. Such income will be treated as income from sources within the United States, for certain foreign tax credit purposes, to the extent derived by the CFC from U.S. sources. Such income will not be eligible for the reduced rate of tax applicable to “qualified dividend income” for individual U.S. persons. See the introduction to this “—Consequences to U.S. Holders of Class A Units” section. Amounts included as such income with respect to direct and indirect investments generally will not be taxable again when actually distributed.

Regardless of whether any CFC has Subpart F income, any gain allocated to a Class A unitholder from our disposition of stock in a CFC will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the holder’s allocable share of the current and/or accumulated earnings and profits of the CFC. In this regard, earnings would not include any amounts previously taxed pursuant to the CFC rules. However, net losses (if any) of a non-U.S. entity owned by us that is treated as a CFC will not pass through to our holders. Moreover, a portion of any gain from the sale or exchange of a Class A unit may be taxable as ordinary income.

If a non-U.S. entity held by us is classified as both a CFC and a PFIC during the time we are a U.S. Shareholder of such non-U.S. entity, a holder will be required to include amounts in income with respect to such non-U.S. entity pursuant to this subheading, and the consequences described under the subheading “—Passive Foreign Investment Companies” above will not apply. If our ownership percentage in a non-U.S. entity changes such that we are not a U.S. Shareholder with respect to such non-U.S. entity, then Class A unitholders may be subject to the PFIC rules. The interaction of these rules is complex, and prospective holders are urged to consult their tax advisers in this regard.

It is expected that Oaktree Holdings, Ltd. will be a CFC, subject to the foregoing rules and as such, each Class A unitholder that is a U.S. person will be required to include in income its allocable share of Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.’s “Subpart F” income reported by us.

 

221


Table of Contents

Investment Structure

To manage our affairs so as to meet the Qualifying Income Exception and comply with certain requirements in our operating agreement, we may need to structure certain investments through an entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such investment structures will be entered into as determined in the sole judgment of our board of directors in order to create a tax structure that generally is efficient for our Class A unitholders. However, because our Class A unitholders will be located in numerous taxing jurisdictions, no assurances can be given that any such investment structure will be beneficial to all our Class A unitholders to the same extent, and may even impose additional tax burdens on some of our Class A unitholders. As discussed above, if the entity were a non-U.S. corporation it may be considered a PFIC or a CFC. If the entity were a U.S. corporation, it would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its operating income, including any gain recognized on its disposal of its investments. In addition, if the investment involves U.S. real estate, gain recognized on disposition would generally be subject to such tax, whether the corporation is a U.S. or a non-U.S. corporation.

Taxes in Other State, Local, and Non-U.S. Jurisdictions

In addition to U.S. federal income tax consequences, you may be subject to potential U.S. state and local taxes because of an investment in us in the U.S. state or locality in which you are a resident for tax purposes or in which we have investments or activities. You may also be subject to tax return filing obligations and income, franchise or other taxes, including withholding taxes, in state, local or non-U.S. jurisdictions in which we invest, or in which entities in which we own interests conduct activities or derive income. Income or gains from investments held by us may be subject to withholding or other taxes in jurisdictions outside the United States, subject to the possibility of reduction under applicable income tax treaties. If you wish to claim the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty, you may be required to submit information to tax authorities in such jurisdictions. You should consult your own tax advisers regarding the U.S. state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of an investment in us.

Transferor/Transferee Allocations

In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined and apportioned among investors using conventions we regard as consistent with applicable law. As a result, if you transfer your Class A units, you may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized by us after the date of transfer.

Although Section 706 of the Code generally provides guidelines for allocations of items of partnership income and deductions between transferors and transferees of partnership interests, it is not clear that our allocation method complies with its requirements. If our convention were not permitted, the IRS might contend that our taxable income or losses must be reallocated among the investors. If such a contention were sustained, your respective tax liabilities would be adjusted to your possible detriment. Our board of directors is authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferors and transferees (as well as among investors whose interests otherwise vary during a taxable period).

U.S. Federal Estate Taxes

If Class A units are included in the gross estate of a U.S. citizen or resident for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, then a U.S. federal estate tax might be payable in connection with the death of such person. Prospective individual U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisers concerning the potential U.S. federal estate tax consequences with respect to our Class A units.

 

222


Table of Contents

U.S. Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Holders of Class A Units

A holder of Class A units that is a tax-exempt organization for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore generally exempt from U.S. federal income taxation may nevertheless be subject to “unrelated business income tax” to the extent, if any, that its allocable share of our income consists of “unrelated business taxable income,” or UBTI. A tax-exempt partner of a partnership that regularly engages in a trade or business which is unrelated to the exempt function of the tax-exempt partner must include in computing its UBTI its pro rata share (whether or not distributed) of such partnership’s gross income derived from such unrelated trade or business. Moreover, a tax-exempt partner of a partnership could be treated as earning UBTI to the extent that such partnership derives income from “debt-financed property,” or if the partnership interest itself is debt financed. Debt-financed property means property held to produce income with respect to which there is “acquisition indebtedness” (that is, indebtedness incurred in acquiring or holding property).

Because we are under no obligation to minimize UBTI, tax-exempt U.S. Holders of Class A units should consult their own tax advisers regarding all aspects of UBTI.

Investments by U.S. Mutual Funds

U.S. mutual funds that are treated as regulated investment companies, or RICs, for U.S. federal income tax purposes are required, among other things, to meet an annual 90% gross income and a quarterly 50% asset value test under Section 851(b) of the Code to maintain their favorable U.S. federal income tax status. The treatment of an investment by a RIC in Class A units for purposes of these tests will depend on whether we are treated as a “qualifying publicly traded partnership.” If our limited liability company is so treated, then the Class A units themselves are the relevant assets for purposes of the 50% asset value test and the net income from the Class A units is the relevant gross income for purposes of the 90% gross income test. RICs may not invest greater than 25% of their assets in one or more qualifying publicly traded partnerships. All income derived from a qualifying publicly traded partnership is considered qualifying income for purposes of the RIC 90% gross income test described above. However, if we are not treated as a qualifying publicly traded partnership for purposes of the RIC rules, then the relevant assets for the RIC asset test will be the RIC’s allocable share of the underlying assets held by us and the relevant gross income for the RIC income test will be the RIC’s allocable share of the underlying gross income earned by us. Whether we will qualify as a “qualifying publicly traded partnership” depends on the exact nature of our future investments, but it is possible we will not be treated as a “qualifying publicly traded partnership.” In addition, as discussed above under “—Consequences to U.S. Holders of Class A Units”, we may derive taxable income from an investment that is not matched by a corresponding cash distribution. Accordingly, a RIC investing in our Class A units may recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements under Section 852 and 4982 of the Code for avoiding income and excise taxes. RICs should consult their own tax advisers about the U.S. tax consequences of an investment in Class A units.

Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders of Class A Units

U.S. Income Tax Consequences

We intend to use reasonable efforts to structure our investments in a manner such that non-U.S. Holders do not incur ECI with respect to an investment in our Class A units. However, we may invest in flow-through entities that are engaged in a U.S. trade or business and, in such case, we and non-U.S. Holders of Class A units would be treated as being engaged in a U.S. trade or business for U.S. federal income tax purposes even if we do not recognize ECI from such investments. Current Treasury Regulations provide that non-U.S. Holders that are deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business are required to file a U.S. federal income tax return even if such holders do not recognize any ECI. In

 

223


Table of Contents

addition, although we intend to take the position that income allocated to us from our investments is not ECI, if the IRS successfully challenged certain of our methods of allocation of income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is possible non-U.S. Holders could recognize ECI with respect to their investment in our Class A units.

To the extent our income is treated as ECI, non-U.S. Holders generally would be (1) subject to withholding tax on their allocable share of such income, (2) required to file a U.S. federal income tax return for such year reporting their allocable share, if any, of income or loss effectively connected with such trade or business, including certain income from U.S. sources not related to us, and (3) required to pay U.S. federal income tax at regular U.S. federal income tax rates on any such income. Moreover, a corporate non-U.S. Holder might be subject to a U.S. branch profits tax on its allocable share of its ECI. Any amount so withheld would be creditable against such non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and such non-U.S. Holder could claim a refund to the extent that the amount withheld exceeded such non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability for the taxable year. Finally, if our income is treated as ECI, a portion of any gain recognized by a holder who is a non-U.S. Holder on the sale or exchange of its Class A units could be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as ECI, and hence such non-U.S. Holder could be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the sale or exchange.

To the extent we receive dividends from a U.S. corporation through the Oaktree Operating Group and its investment vehicles, your allocable share of distributions of such dividend income will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30%, unless you are eligible for a reduced rate of such withholding and provide us with certain relevant tax status information. Distributions to you may also be subject to withholding to the extent they are attributable to the sale of a U.S. real property interest or if the distribution is otherwise considered fixed or determinable annual or periodic income under the Code, provided that an exemption from or a reduced rate of such withholding may apply if certain tax status information is provided. If such information is not provided and you would not be subject to U.S. tax based on your tax status or are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding, you may need to take additional steps to receive a credit or refund of any excess withholding tax paid on your account, which may include the filing of a non-resident U.S. income tax return with the IRS. Among other limitations, if you reside in a treaty jurisdiction which does not treat our limited liability company as a pass-through entity, you may not be eligible to receive a refund or credit of excess U.S. withholding taxes paid on your account. You should consult your tax advisers regarding the treatment of U.S. withholding taxes.

Special rules may apply in the case of a non-U.S. Holder that (1) has an office or fixed place of business in the United States, (2) is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a taxable year or (3) is a former citizen of the United States, a foreign insurance company that is treated as holding interests in us in connection with their U.S. business, a PFIC or a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax. You should consult your tax advisers regarding the application of these special rules.

U.S. Federal Estate Tax Consequences

The U.S. federal estate tax treatment of our Class A units with regards to the estate of a non-citizen who is not a resident of the United States is not entirely clear. If our Class A units are includable in the U.S. gross estate of such person, then a U.S. federal estate tax might be payable in connection with the death of such person. Prospective individual non-U.S. Holders who are non-citizens and not residents of the United States should consult their own tax advisers concerning the potential U.S. federal estate tax consequences with regard to our units.

 

224


Table of Contents

Administrative Matters

Taxable Year

We currently intend to use the calendar year as our taxable year for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under certain circumstances which we currently believe are unlikely to apply, a taxable year other than the calendar year may be required for such purposes.

Tax Matters Member

OCGH will act as our “tax matters member.” As the tax matters member, OCGH will have the authority, subject to certain restrictions, to act on our behalf in connection with any administrative or judicial review of our items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit.

Information Returns

It may require a substantial period of time after the end of our fiscal year to obtain the requisite information from all lower-tier entities to enable us to prepare and deliver Schedule K-1s to IRS Form 1065. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we expect to provide estimates of such tax information (including your allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding year) by February 28 of each year; however, there is no assurance that the Schedule K-1s, which will be provided after the estimates, will be the same as our estimates. For this reason, holders of Class A units who are U.S. taxpayers may want to file annually with the IRS (and certain states) a request for an extension past the due date of their income tax return.

In preparing this information, we will use various accounting and reporting conventions, some of which have been mentioned in the previous discussion, to determine your share of income, gain, loss and deduction. The IRS may successfully contend that certain of these reporting conventions are impermissible, which could result in an adjustment to your income or loss.

We may be audited by the IRS. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require you to adjust a prior year’s tax liability and possibly may result in an audit of your own tax return. Any audit of your tax return could result in adjustments not related to our tax returns as well as those related to our tax returns.

Tax Shelter Regulations

If we were to engage in a “reportable transaction,” we (and possibly you and others) would be required to make a detailed disclosure of the transaction to the IRS in accordance with recently issued regulations governing tax shelters and other potentially tax-motivated transactions. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly identified by the IRS as a “listed transaction” or that it produces certain kinds of losses in excess of $2 million. An investment in us may be considered a reportable transaction if, for example, we recognize certain significant losses in the future. In certain circumstances, a Class A unitholder who disposes of an interest in a transaction resulting in the recognition by such holder of significant losses in excess of certain threshold amounts may be obligated to disclose its participation in such transaction. Our participation in a reportable transaction also could increase the likelihood that our U.S. federal income tax information return (and possibly your tax return) would be audited by the IRS. Certain of these rules are currently unclear and it is possible that they may be applicable in situations other than significant loss transactions.

Moreover, if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to (1) significant accuracy-related

 

225


Table of Contents

penalties with a broad scope, (2) for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on federal tax deficiencies, nondeductibility of interest on any resulting tax liability and (3) in the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of limitations.

Class A unitholders should consult their tax advisers concerning any possible disclosure obligation under the regulations governing tax shelters with respect to the dispositions of their interests in us.

Constructive Termination

Subject to the large partnership election rules described below, we will be considered to have been terminated for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period.

Our termination would result in the close of our taxable year for all holders of Class A units. In the case of a holder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending on our year-end, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than 12 months of our taxable income or loss being includable in such holder’s taxable income for the year of termination. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new tax election under Section 754 of the Code. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination.

Elective Procedures for Large Partnerships

The Code allows large partnerships to elect streamlined procedures for income tax reporting. This election would reduce the number of items that must be separately stated on the Schedules K-1 that are issued to the Class A unitholders, and such Schedules K-1 would have to be provided to Class A unitholders on or before the first March 15 following the close of each taxable year. In addition, this election would prevent us from suffering a “technical termination” (which would close our taxable year) if within a twelve-month period there is a sale or exchange of 50 percent or more of our total interests. We have the discretion to make such an election, if eligible. If we make such election, IRS audit adjustments will flow through to holders of the Class A units for the year in which the adjustments take effect, rather than the holders of Class A units in the year to which the adjustment relates. In addition, we, rather than the holders of the Class A units individually, generally will be liable for any interest and penalties that result from an audit adjustment.

Withholding and Backup Withholding

For each calendar year, we will report to you and the IRS the amount of distributions we made to you and the amount of U.S. federal income tax (if any) that we withheld on those distributions. The proper application to us of rules for withholding under Section 1441 of the Internal Revenue Code (applicable to certain dividends, interest and similar items) is unclear. Because the documentation we receive may not properly reflect the identities of partners at any particular time (in light of possible sales of Class A units), we may over-withhold or under-withhold with respect to a particular holder of Class A units. For example, we may impose withholding, remit that amount to the IRS and thus reduce the amount of a distribution paid to a non-U.S. Holder. It may turn out, however, the corresponding amount of our income was not properly allocable to such holder, and the withholding should have been less than the actual withholding. Such holder would be entitled to a credit against the holder’s U.S. tax liability for all withholding, including any such excess withholding, but if the withholding exceeded the holder’s U.S. tax liability, the holder would have to apply for a refund to obtain the benefit of the excess withholding. Similarly, we may fail to withhold on a distribution, and it may turn out the corresponding

 

226


Table of Contents

income was properly allocable to a non-U.S. Holder and withholding should have been imposed. In that event, we intend to pay the under-withheld amount to the IRS, and we may treat such under-withholding as an expense that will be borne by all holders of Class A units on a pro rata basis (since we may be unable to allocate any such excess withholding tax cost to the relevant non-U.S. Holder).

Under the backup withholding rules, you may be subject to backup withholding tax (at the applicable rate, currently 28%) with respect to distributions paid unless: (1) you are a corporation or come within another exempt category and demonstrate this fact when required or (2) you provide a taxpayer identification number, certify as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding tax and otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding tax rules. If you are an exempt holder, you should indicate your exempt status on a properly completed IRS Form W-9. A non-U.S. Holder may qualify as an exempt recipient by submitting a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable W-8 form). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund.

If you do not timely provide us (or the clearing agent or other intermediary, as appropriate) with IRS Form W-8 or W-9, as applicable, or such form is not properly completed, we may become subject to U.S. backup withholding taxes in excess of what would have been imposed had we received certifications from all investors. Such excess U.S. backup withholding taxes may be treated by us as an expense that will be borne by all investors on a pro rata basis (since we may be unable to allocate any such excess withholding tax cost to the holders that failed to timely provide the proper U.S. tax certifications).

Additional Withholding Requirements

Under recently enacted legislation and administrative guidance, the relevant withholding agent may be required to withhold 30% of any interest, dividends and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits and income from sources within the United States paid after December 31, 2013 or gross proceeds from the sale of any property of a type that can produce interest or dividends from sources within the United States paid after December 31, 2014 to (1) a foreign financial institution (which for this purpose includes foreign broker-dealers, clearing organizations, investment companies, hedge funds and certain other investment entities) unless such foreign financial institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department pursuant to which it agrees to verify, report and disclose its U.S. accountholders to the Internal Revenue Service and complies with certain other specified requirements or (2) a non-financial foreign entity that is a beneficial owner of the payment unless such entity (a) certifies that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners, (b) provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each of its substantial U.S. owners and meets certain other specified requirements or (c) otherwise qualifies for an exemption from this withholding. Non-U.S. and U.S. Holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this proposed legislation on their investment in our Class A units.

Nominee Reporting

Persons who hold an interest in our limited liability company as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

 

  Ÿ  

the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;

 

  Ÿ  

whether the beneficial owner is (1) a person that is not a U.S. person, (2) a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing or (3) a tax-exempt entity;

 

227


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

the amount and description of Class A units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and

 

  Ÿ  

specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales.

Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on Class A units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the Class A units with the information furnished to us.

New Legislation or Administrative or Judicial Action

The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process, the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, frequently resulting in revised interpretations of established concepts, statutory changes, revisions to regulations and other modifications and interpretations. No assurance can be given as to whether, or in what form, any proposals affecting us or our Class A unitholders will be enacted. The IRS pays close attention to the proper application of tax laws to partnerships or entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our Class A units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time, and any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made. Changes to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the Qualifying Income Exception for us to be treated as a partnership that is not taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, affect or cause us to change our investments and commitments, affect the tax considerations of an investment in us and adversely affect an investment in our Class A units. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to United States Taxation—Our structure involves complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. Our structure also is subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative change and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis” and “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to United States Taxation—The U.S. Congress has considered legislation that would have taxed certain income and gains at increased rates and may have precluded us from qualifying as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. If any similar legislation were to be enacted and apply to us, the after-tax income and gain related to our business, as well as the market price of our Class A units, could be reduced.” We and our Class A unitholders could be adversely affected by any such change in, or any new, tax law, regulation or interpretation.

Our organizational documents and agreements permit our board of directors to modify the amended and restated operating agreement from time to time, without the consent of the Class A unitholders, in order to address certain changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation. In some circumstances, such revisions could have a material adverse impact on some or all of our Class A unitholders.

THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION IS NOT INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CAREFUL TAX PLANNING. THE TAX MATTERS RELATING TO US AND OUR UNITHOLDERS ARE COMPLEX AND ARE SUBJECT TO VARYING INTERPRETATIONS. MOREOVER, THE EFFECT OF EXISTING INCOME TAX LAWS, THE MEANING AND IMPACT OF WHICH IS UNCERTAIN AND OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN INCOME TAX LAWS WILL VARY WITH THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH PROSPECTIVE HOLDER AND IN REVIEWING THIS PROSPECTUS THESE MATTERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. PROSPECTIVE UNITHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS WITH RESPECT TO THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF ANY INVESTMENT IN THE CLASS A UNITS.

 

228


Table of Contents

CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase of Class A units by (1) employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of ERISA, (2) plans that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code and (3) entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of such employee benefit plans and plans. We refer to each of the foregoing in clauses (1), (2) and (3) as an ERISA Plan.

Prohibited Transaction Issues

ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan that has engaged in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code.

We, directly or through our affiliates, may be considered a party in interest or a disqualified person with respect to certain ERISA Plans. The acquisition of our Class A units by an ERISA Plan with respect to which we are considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption.

Plan Asset Issues

ERISA and the regulations promulgated under ERISA by the U.S. Department of Labor, or the Plan Asset Regulations, generally provide that when an ERISA Plan acquires an equity interest in an entity that is neither a “publicly-offered security” nor a security issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act, the ERISA Plan’s assets include both the equity interest and an undivided interest in each of the underlying assets of the entity unless it is established either that less than 25% of the total value of each class of equity interests in the entity is held by “benefit plan investors” as defined in Section 3(42) of ERISA or that the entity is an “operating company,” as defined in the Plan Asset Regulations. There can be no assurance that we will satisfy the 25% exemption and it is not anticipated that we will qualify as an operating company. We will not register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. However, it is anticipated that the Class A units offered hereby will qualify for the exemption for a “publicly-offered security”.

For purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations, a “publicly offered security” is a security that is (1) “freely transferable,” (2) part of a class of securities that is “widely held,” and (3) (a) sold to the ERISA Plan as part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and the class of securities to which such security is a part is registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering of such securities to the public has occurred or (b) is part of a class of securities that is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. We intend to effect such a registration of this offering under the Securities Act and of our Class A units under the Exchange Act. The Plan Asset Regulations provide that a security is “widely held” only if it is part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and one another. A security will not fail to be “widely held” because the number of independent investors falls below 100 subsequent to the initial offering thereof as a result of events beyond the control of the issuer. The Plan Asset Regulations provide that whether a security is “freely transferable” is a factual question to be determined on the

 

229


Table of Contents

basis of all the relevant facts and circumstances. It is anticipated that our Class A units to be sold in this offering will be “widely held” and “freely transferable,” although no assurances can be given in this regard.

If our assets were deemed to be “plan assets” under ERISA, this would result, among other things, in (1) the application of the prudence and other fiduciary responsibility standards of ERISA to investments made by us, and (2) the possibility that certain transactions in which we might seek to engage could constitute “prohibited transactions” under ERISA.

Governmental plans, certain church plans and non-U.S. plans, while not subject to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, may nevertheless be subject to other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws that are substantially similar to the foregoing provisions of ERISA or the Code. We collectively refer to these laws as Similar Laws.

Representation

Because of the foregoing, the Class A units should not be purchased by any person investing “plan assets” of any plan, unless the purchase will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a violation of any applicable Similar Laws. Accordingly, by its acquisition of a Class A unit, each holder will be deemed to have represented and warranted that its acquisition and holding of such Class A units does not and will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

The foregoing discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful consideration of issues under ERISA which may be relevant to a person purchasing Class A Units with “plan assets”. The ERISA and prohibited transaction laws and regulations applicable to persons investing “plan assets” are complex and are subject to varying interpretations. Moreover, the effect of such laws and regulations and the potential availability of exemptions thereto will vary with the particular circumstances of each prospective holder and in reviewing this prospectus these matters should be considered. Each plan fiduciary or other person considering a purchase of Class A Units on behalf of, or with the assets of, any plan should consult its legal advisor concerning the matters described herein.

 

230


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

We, the selling unitholders and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the Class A units being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of Class A units indicated in the following table. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriters

   Number of Units

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  

Total

  

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the Class A units being offered, if any are taken, other than the Class A units covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

If the underwriters sell more Class A units than the total number set forth in the table above, the underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional              Class A units from us and              Class A units from the selling unitholders. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any Class A units are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase Class A units in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above. To the extent that the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Class A units is not exercised in full, the units to be sold by us and each of the selling unitholders pursuant to such option will be reduced proportionately.

The following tables show the per Class A unit and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us and the selling unitholders. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Class A units.

Paid by the Company

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Unit

   $                    $                

Total

   $         $     

Paid by the Selling Unitholders

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Unit

   $                    $                

Total

   $         $     

Class A units sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any Class A units sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $              per Class A unit from the initial public offering price. If all the Class A units are not sold at the initial public offering price, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the Class A units by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We and OCGH have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Class A units, Class B units, any Oaktree Operating Group units, any other securities substantially similar to the Class A units, Class B units or Oaktree Operating Group units or any securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Class A units, Class B units

 

231


Table of Contents

or Oaktree Operating Group units or substantially similar securities during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of the representatives.

In addition, our directors and executive officers (which includes our principals), other employees and certain other investors hold Oaktree Operating Group units through OCGH and, subject to certain restrictions, have the right to require OCGH to exchange their Oaktree Operating Group units for Class A units in accordance with the terms of the exchange agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Exchange Agreement.” Our directors and executive officers also hold a small number of Class A units. Our directors and executive officers have executed lock-up agreements with the underwriters pursuant to which each has agreed not to dispose of or hedge any of such OCGH units, any Class A units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such OCGH units or Class A units or substantially similar securities, or to exercise their rights to exchange their Oaktree Operating Group units for Class A units, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date that is 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the representatives. Among other customary exceptions, these restrictions on transfer described above are subject to exceptions that permit a Class A unitholder to transfer Class A units:

 

  Ÿ  

if such Class A units were acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering, provided that such transactions do not require a public filing;

 

  Ÿ  

to us, provided that such transactions do not require a public filing;

 

  Ÿ  

following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for Class A units that is subject to the provisions of the Exchange Act by a third party not affiliated with us; or

 

  Ÿ  

in connection with any acquisition, sale or merger of us with an unaffiliated third party in which all of the holders of Class A units are entitled to participate.

With respect to all other holders of OCGH units, we and OCGH have agreed with the underwriters not to permit any disposition of any OCGH units owned by such holders, or any exchange of OCGH units owned by them into Class A units, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date that is 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the representatives. The foregoing restrictions on transfer and exchange are subject to customary exceptions.

Finally, holders of                      Class A units that are traded on the GSTrUE OTC market have executed lock-up agreements with the underwriters pursuant to which they have agreed not to dispose of or hedge any Class A units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A units or substantially similar securities, referred to collectively as the restricted securities, during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through (1) with respect to all of such Class A unitholders’ restricted securities not sold in this offering, the date that is 60 days after the date of this prospectus and (2) solely with respect to one half of such Class A unitholder’s restricted securities not sold in this offering, the date that is 120 days after the date of this prospectus, in each case, without the prior written consent of the representatives. Among other customary exceptions, the restrictions on transfer described above are subject to exceptions that permit a Class A unitholder to transfer its Class A units:

 

  Ÿ  

if such Class A units were acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering;

 

  Ÿ  

to us;

 

  Ÿ  

following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer for Class A units that is subject to the provisions of the Exchange Act by a third party not affiliated with us; or

 

232


Table of Contents
  Ÿ  

in connection with any acquisition, sale or merger of us with an unaffiliated third party in which all of the holders of Class A units are entitled to participate.

Each of the restricted periods described in the preceding four paragraphs will be automatically extended if: (1) during the last 17 days of such restricted period, we issue an earnings release or announce material news or a material event; or (2) prior to the expiration of such restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 15-day period following the last day of such period, in which case the restrictions for such period described in the preceding paragraphs will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release of the announcement of the material news or material event.

In addition to the lock-up arrangements with the underwriters described above, pursuant to an amendment to our operating agreement adopted in connection with this offering, all holders of Class A units that are traded on the GSTrUE OTC market that have not executed a lock-up agreement with the underwriters described above are prohibited from transferring such Class A units during the period from the date of the prospectus continuing through the date 120 days after the date of this prospectus; provided, however that the foregoing restrictions do not apply to any Class A units acquired in this offering or on the open market after this offering. See “Description of Our Units” and “Units Eligible for Future Sale” for additional information. In addition, certain OCGH units held by our principals and employees are unvested. See “Units Eligible for Future Sale” for additional information.

Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the Class A units. The initial public offering price will be negotiated among the representatives and us. Among the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price of the Class A units, in addition to prevailing market conditions, will be our historical performance, estimates of our business potential and earnings prospects, an assessment of our management, the consideration of the foregoing factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses and the historical GSTrUE OTC market trading prices of the Class A units.

We will make an application to list the Class A units on the NYSE under the symbol “OAK.” In order to meet one of the requirements for listing the Class A units on the NYSE, the underwriters have undertaken to sell lots of 100 or more Class A units to a minimum of 400 beneficial holders.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell Class A units in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Shorts sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of Class A units than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Class A units from the selling unitholders in the offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional Class A units or purchasing Class A units in the open market. In determining the source of Class A units to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of Class A units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional Class A units pursuant to the option granted to them. “Naked” short sales are any sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing Class A units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Class A units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of Class A units made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the

 

233


Table of Contents

representatives have repurchased Class A units sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our Class A units, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Class A units. As a result, the price of the Class A units may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of Class A units to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Class A units which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of Class A units to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

(a) to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than 43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

(c) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

(d) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, (1) the expression an “offer of Class A units to the public” in relation to any Class A units in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Class A units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Class A units, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and (2) the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

(a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, or the FSMA, received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Class A units in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA would not, if the issuer was not an authorized person, apply to the issuer; and

 

234


Table of Contents

(b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Class A units in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The Class A units may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (1) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), (2) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (3) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Class A units may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Class A units which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Class A units may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Class A units be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (2) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (3) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the Class A units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (1) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (2) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the Class A units under Section 275 except: (a) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (b) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (c) by operation of law.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

 

235


Table of Contents

The underwriters do not expect sales to discretionary accounts to exceed five percent of the total number of Class A units offered.

The company and the selling unitholders estimate that their share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $        .

We and the selling unitholders have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In particular, affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are lenders under our existing credit facility described under “Description of Our Indebtedness.”

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

236


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Class A units being offered by us in this offering will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Los Angeles, California, and for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Los Angeles, California. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Los Angeles, California has provided a tax opinion in connection with the Class A units being offered hereby.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the Class A units offered in this prospectus. The term registration statement means the original registration statement and any and all amendments thereto, including the exhibits and schedules to the original registration statement and any amendments. This prospectus, filed as part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us and the Class A units offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and to its exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract, agreement or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

Anyone may inspect the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules filed therewith without charge at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549, and copies of all or any part of the registration statement may be obtained from such offices upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the site is www.sec.gov .

Upon effectiveness of the registration statement, we will become subject to the informational and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we will file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.oaktreecapital.com . You will be able to access our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to purchase our Class A units.

 

237


Table of Contents

GLOSSARY

As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires:

“2007 Private Offering” refers to the sale completed on May 25, 2007 of 23,000,000 of our Class A units to Goldman, Sachs & Co., as initial purchaser (including those Class A units sold pursuant to the exercise of the initial purchaser’s option to purchase additional units), as more fully described below in “Organizational Structure—The May 2007 Restructuring and the 2007 Private Offering—The 2007 Private Offering.”

“assets under management,” or “AUM,” generally refers to the assets we manage and equals the NAV (as defined below) of our funds, plus the undrawn capital that we are entitled to call from investors in those funds pursuant to their capital commitments and fund-level leverage that generates management fees. Our AUM amounts include assets under management for which we do not charge a management fee or earn incentive income. Our definition of AUM is not based on any definition contained in our operating agreement or the agreements governing the funds that we manage. Our calculation of AUM and the two AUM-related metrics discussed in this prospectus may not be directly comparable to the AUM metrics of other investment managers.

“consolidated funds” refers to those funds that Oaktree consolidates through a majority voting interest or otherwise, including those funds in which Oaktree as the general partner is presumed to have control.

“funds” refers to funds and, where applicable, separate accounts that are managed by us or our subsidiaries.

“Intermediate Holding Companies” collectively refers to the subsidiaries wholly owned by us.

“May 2007 Restructuring” refers to the series of transactions that occurred immediately prior to the 2007 Private Offering whereby OCGH contributed our business to the Oaktree Operating Group in exchange for limited partnership interests in each Oaktree Operating Group entity, as more fully described below in “Organizational Structure—The May 2007 Restructuring and the 2007 Private Offering—The May 2007 Restructuring.”

“net asset value,” or “NAV,” refers to, as of any date, the value of all the assets of a fund (including cash and accrued interest and dividends) less all liabilities of the fund (including accrued expenses and any reserves established by us, in our discretion, for contingent liabilities) without reduction for accrued incentives (fund level) because they are reflected in the partners’ capital of the fund.

“Oaktree,” “OCG,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “our company” refers to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and, where applicable, its predecessor, OCM (as defined below), and the respective subsidiaries and affiliates of such entities.

“Oaktree Operating Group” refers collectively to the entities that control the general partners and investment advisors of the Oaktree funds, in which we have a minority economic interest and indirect control.

“OCGH” refers to Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, which holds an interest in the Oaktree Operating Group and all of our Class B units.

“OCGH unitholders” refers collectively to the principals, employees and certain other investors who hold their interest in the Oaktree Operating Group through OCGH.

 

238


Table of Contents

“OCM” refers to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company, our predecessor.

“principals” refers collectively to Kevin L. Clayton, John B. Frank, Stephen A. Kaplan, Bruce A. Karsh, Larry W. Keele, David M. Kirchheimer, Howard S. Marks and Sheldon M. Stone.

“Relevant Benchmark” refers, with respect to:

 

  Ÿ  

our U.S. high yield bond strategy, to the Citigroup U.S. High Yield Cash-Pay Capped Index;

 

  Ÿ  

our European high yield bond strategy, to the BofA Merrill Lynch Global High Yield European Issuers excluding Russia 3% Constrained Index (USD Hedged);

 

  Ÿ  

our U.S. senior loan strategy (with the exception of the closed-end funds), to the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index;

 

  Ÿ  

our European senior loan strategy, to the Credit Suisse Western European Leveraged Loan Index (EUR Hedged);

 

  Ÿ  

our U.S. convertible securities strategy, to an Oaktree custom convertible index that represents the Credit Suisse Convertible Securities Index from inception through December 31, 1999, the Goldman Sachs/Bloomberg Convertible 100 Index from January 1, 2000 through June 30, 2004 and the BofA Merrill Lynch All U.S. Convertibles Index thereafter;

 

  Ÿ  

our non-U.S. convertible securities strategy, to the JACI Global ex-U.S. (Local) Index; and

 

  Ÿ  

our high income convertible securities strategy, to the Citigroup U.S. High Yield Market Index.

“Sharpe Ratio” refers to a metric used to calculate risk-adjusted return. The Sharpe Ratio is the ratio of excess return to volatility, with excess return defined as the return above that of a riskless asset (based on the three-month U.S. Treasury bill, or for our European senior loan strategy, the Euro Overnight Index Average) divided by the standard deviation of such returns. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates a return that is higher than would be expected for the level of risk compared to the risk-free rate.

 

239


Table of Contents

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page  

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements :

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2009 and 2010

     F-3   

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010

     F-4   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010

     F-5   

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Unitholders’ Capital for the Years Ended December  31, 2008, 2009 and 2010

     F-7   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-8   

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements :

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011

     F-52   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2011

     F-53   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2011

     F-54   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Unitholders’ Capital for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2011

     F-56   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-57   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Unitholders of

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in unitholders’ capital present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Los Angeles, California

June 16, 2011

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

($ in thousands)

 

     As of December 31,  
     2009     2010  

Assets

    

Cash and cash-equivalents

   $ 433,769      $ 348,502   

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

     74,900        170,564   

Investments in limited partnerships

     36,992        72,199   

Due from affiliates

     9,355        20,768   

Deferred tax assets

     78,058        76,619   

Other assets

     102,248        125,449   

Assets of consolidated funds:

    

Cash and cash-equivalents

     3,488,744        5,957,252   

Investments, at fair value

     36,743,380        39,559,170   

Dividends and interest receivable

     330,847        228,520   

Due from brokers

     1,298,533        992,103   

Receivable for securities sold

     413,726        156,364   

Derivative assets, at fair value

     118,213        84,036   

Other assets

     66,966        52,114   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 43,195,731      $ 47,843,660   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Unitholders’ Capital

    

Liabilities:

    

Accrued compensation expenses

   $ 174,544      $ 191,343   

Accounts payable, other accrued expenses and other liabilities

     59,100        50,189   

Due to affiliates

     80,940        61,496   

Debt obligations

     425,000        403,571   

Liabilities of consolidated funds:

    

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     105,500        32,001   

Payables for securities purchased

     1,109,012        480,260   

Securities sold short, at fair value

     347,641        367,155   

Derivative liabilities, at fair value

     116,103        235,758   

Distributions payable

     122,810        227,910   

Borrowings under revolving credit facilities

     275,342        91,145   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,815,992        2,140,828   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     39,419,906        44,466,116   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital:

    

Class A units, no par value, unlimited units authorized, 22,664,100 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2010

     —          —     

Class B units, no par value, unlimited units authorized, 124,327,088 and 125,430,854 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively

     —          —     

Class C convertible units, no par value, unlimited units authorized, 13,000 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2010

     —          —     

Paid-in capital

     455,305        549,466   

Accumulated deficit

     (299,286     (348,741

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (505     (372
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class A and Class C Unitholders’ capital

     155,514        200,353   

OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     804,319        1,036,363   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Unitholders’ capital

     959,833        1,236,716   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and Unitholders’ capital

   $ 43,195,731      $ 47,843,660   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Please see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  

Revenues:

      

Management fees

   $ 95,842      $ 115,839      $ 162,051   

Incentive income

     1,682        37,293        44,130   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     97,524        153,132        206,181   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

      

Compensation and benefits

     (218,148     (268,272     (287,092

Incentive income compensation expense

     (64,845     (65,639     (159,243

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

     (941,566     (940,683     (949,376
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total compensation and benefits expense

     (1,224,559     (1,274,594     (1,395,711

General, administrative and other expenses

     (71,302     (78,531     (90,432

Consolidated fund expenses

     (68,148     (73,193     (94,508
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     (1,364,009     (1,426,318     (1,580,651
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (loss):

      

Interest expense

     (73,474     (34,942     (55,921

Interest and dividend income

     1,385,594        1,833,509        2,369,590   

Net realized gain on consolidated funds’ investments

     763,521        251,507        2,583,676   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on consolidated funds’ investments

     (8,432,832     11,113,865        1,766,450   

Investment income

     2,986        1,778        6,620   

Other income, net

     —          —          11,243   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (loss)

     (6,354,205     13,165,717        6,681,658   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (7,620,690     11,892,531        5,307,188   

Income taxes

     (17,341     (18,267     (26,399
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     (7,638,031     11,874,264        5,280,789   

Less:

      

Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     6,885,433        (12,158,635     (5,493,799

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     625,285        227,313        163,555   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions declared per Class A and Class C unit

   $ 0.76      $ 0.65      $ 2.17   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss per unit (basic and diluted):

      

Net loss per Class A and Class C units

   $ (5.53   $ (2.50   $ (2.18
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of Class A and Class C units outstanding

     23,002        22,821        22,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Please see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

($ in thousands)

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income (loss)

   $ (7,638,031   $ 11,874,264      $ 5,280,789   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

      

Investment income

     (2,986     (1,778     (6,620

Depreciation and amortization

     6,738        6,792        6,481   

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

     941,566        940,683        949,376   

Gain related to arbitration award settlement

     —          —          (11,730

Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses from consolidated funds’ investments

     7,669,311        (11,365,372     (4,350,126

Amortization of original issue and market discount of consolidated funds’ investments

     (42,693     (85,365     (298,296

Cash flows due to changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Decrease in other assets

     109,685        27,021        35,687   

Increase (decrease) in net due to affiliates

     (94,916     3,674        (30,857

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, other accrued expenses and other liabilities

     75,790        (75,269     (65,611

Cash flows due to changes in operating assets and liabilities of consolidated funds:

      

(Increase) decrease in dividends and interest receivable

     (237,462     48,346        102,327   

(Increase) decrease in due from brokers

     (746,576     1,577,237        306,430   

(Increase) decrease in receivables for securities sold

     (33,220     (319,138     257,362   

Increase (decrease) in payables for securities purchased

     971,571        (670,549     (628,752

Purchases of securities

     (24,084,490     (16,969,909     (18,311,399

Proceeds from maturities and sales of
securities

     10,695,301        14,377,805        20,041,317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (12,410,412     (631,558     3,276,378   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Purchases of U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

     —          (99,900     (180,664

Proceeds from maturities and sales of U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

     75,339        25,000        85,000   

Investments in limited partnerships

     (8,799     (2,151     (44,090

Distributions from investment limited partnerships

     9,699        3,779        15,503   

Purchases of fixed assets

     (3,157     (6,983     (2,949

Other

     —          (3,061     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     73,082        (83,316     (127,200
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (continued )   

Please see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – (Continued)

($ in thousands)

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Proceeds from issuance of debt obligations

   $ —        $ 246,870      $ —     

Payment of debt issuance costs

     —          (1,625     —     

Repayments of debt obligations

     (21,429     (21,428     (21,429

Repurchase and cancellation of Class A units

     —          (4,660     —     

Purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units

     —          —          (7,132

Distributions to Class A and Class C Unitholders

     (30,362     (14,773     (49,209

Distributions to OCGH Unitholders

     (197,775     (168,735     (404,005

Cash flows from financing activities of consolidated funds:

      

Contributions from non-controlling interests

     16,622,389        4,564,451        6,559,325   

Distributions to non-controlling interests

     (2,640,179     (4,219,937     (6,648,062

Borrowings on revolving credit facilities

     154,643        —          422,947   

Repayments on revolving credit facilities

     (166,699     (65,078     (607,144
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     13,720,588        315,085        (754,709
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (15,428     11,412        (11,228
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash-equivalents

     1,367,830        (388,377     2,383,241   

Cash and cash-equivalents at beginning of year

     2,943,060        4,310,890        3,922,513   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash-equivalents at end of year

   $ 4,310,890      $ 3,922,513      $ 6,305,754   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

*        *         *

  

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:

      

Fair value of properties received in connection with arbitration award (non-cash)

   $ —        $ —        $ 11,680   

Cash paid for interest

     49,347        17,175        31,783   

Cash paid for income taxes

     7,855        8,583        23,050   

Please see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Unitholders’ Capital

(in thousands)

 

    Oaktree Capital Group, LLC     OCGH Non-
Controlling
Interest in
Consolidated
Subsidiaries
    Total
Capital
 
    Class A
Units
    Class B
Units
    Class C
Units
    Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
     

Unitholders’ capital as of December 31, 2007

    23,000        122,638        —        $ 198,841      $ (114,915   $ 410      $ 369,398      $ 453,734   

Activity for the year ended December 31, 2008:

               

Issuance of Class B and Class C units

    —          841        3        —          —          —          —          —     

Deferred tax effect resulting from purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units

    —          —          —          (1,711     —          —          —          (1,711

Capital increase related to equity-based compensation

    —          —          —          147,903        —          —          793,663        941,566   

Distributions declared

    —          —          —          (17,482     —          —          (125,418     (142,900

Other

    —          —          —          —          —          —          923        923   

Comprehensive loss:

               

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          (127,313     —          (625,285     (752,598

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

    —          —          —          —          —          (1,482     (7,957     (9,439
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

            (127,313     (1,482     (633,242     (762,037
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital as of December 31, 2008

    23,000        123,479        3        327,551        (242,228     (1,072     405,324        489,575   

Activity for the year ended December 31, 2009:

               

Issuance of Class B units

    —          862        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Exchange of Class A units for newly issued Class C units

    (10     —          10        —          —          —          —          —     

Forfeitures of Class B Units

      (14     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Repurchase and cancellation of Class A Units

    (326     —          —          (4,660     —          —          —          (4,660

Equity reallocation between controlling and non-controlling interests

    —          —          —          1,862        —          —          (1,862     —     

Capital increase related to equity-based compensation

    —          —          —          145,568        —          —          795,115        940,683   

Distributions declared

    —          —          —          (14,773     —          —          (168,735     (183,508

Other

    —          —          —          (243     —          —          (1,330     (1,573

Comprehensive loss:

               

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          (57,058     —          (227,313     (284,371

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

    —          —          —          —          —          567        3,120        3,687   
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

            (57,058     567        (224,193     (280,684
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital as of December 31, 2009

    22,664        124,327        13        455,305        (299,286     (505     804,319        959,833   

Activity for the year ended December 31, 2010:

               

Issuance of Class B units

    —          1,357        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Forfeitures of Class B Units

      (15     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Repurchase and cancellation of Class B Units

    —          (238     —          —          —          —          —          —     

Repurchase and cancellation of OCGH Units

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (7,132     (7,132

Equity reallocation between controlling and non-controlling interests

    —          —          —          (2,015     —          —          2,015        —     

Capital increase related to equity-based compensation

    —          —          —          145,385        —          —          803,991        949,376   

Distributions declared

    —          —          —          (49,209     —          —          (404,005     (453,214

Comprehensive loss:

               

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          (49,455     —          (163,555     (213,010

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

    —          —          —          —          —          (107     (600     (707

Unrealized gain on interest rate swap designated as cash flow hedge, net of tax

    —          —          —          —          —          240        1,330        1,570   
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

            (49,455     133        (162,825     (212,147
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital as of December 31, 2010

    22,664        125,431        13      $ 549,466      $ (348,741   $ (372   $ 1,036,363      $ 1,236,716   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Please see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC (together with its subsidiaries, “Oaktree” or the “Company”) is a leading global investment management firm focused on alternative markets. Oaktree manages funds (the “Oaktree funds”) in investment strategies that fall into the following six asset classes: distressed debt, corporate debt, control investing, convertible securities, real estate and listed equities. Funds managed by Oaktree include both separate accounts and commingled funds. The commingled funds include open-end and closed-end limited partnerships, for which the Company makes an investment in and serves as the general partner or, in certain limited cases, co-general partner.

Reorganization of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC was formed on April 13, 2007 for the purpose of effecting a private over-the-counter equity offering. On May 21, 2007, the Company sold 23,000,000 Class A Units to qualified institutional buyers, as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 as amended, (the “2007 Private Offering”) for net proceeds of $944.2 million. Prior to the 2007 Private Offering, our business was operated through Oaktree Capital Management, LLC (“OCM” or the “Predecessor Company”), formed in April 1995, which was owned by its principals, senior employees and certain other investors. In connection with the 2007 Private Offering, OCM caused all of its business to be contributed to a group of operating entities collectively referred to as the Oaktree Operating Group. In addition to the contribution and assignment of OCM’s business to the Oaktree Operating Group, the owners who held interests in OCM immediately prior to the 2007 Private Offering exchanged those interests for units of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. (“OCGH”) and became limited partners of OCGH (together with any subsequently admitted limited partners, the “OCGH Unitholders”). In exchange for the assignment and contribution of OCM’s business to the Oaktree Operating Group, OCGH received limited partnership units in each Oaktree Operating Group entity. These series of transactions are collectively referred to as the May 2007 Restructuring. An Oaktree Operating Group unit is not a legal interest but represents one limited partnership interest in each of the Oaktree Operating Group entities.

As a result of the May 2007 Restructuring and other transactions associated with the 2007 Private Offering, the Company became the owner of, and our Class A Unitholders therefore had, a 15.86% indirect economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group, while OCGH retained an 84.14% direct economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group. Additionally, the Company issued all of its outstanding Class B units to OCGH. The Class B units are entitled to ten votes per unit whereas the Class A units are only entitled to one vote per unit. Therefore, the Class B units initially held 98.15% of the voting interest of the Company.

OCM is considered the predecessor of the Company for accounting purposes and its financial statements are the historical financial statements of the Company. The May 2007 Restructuring was accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. Accordingly, the value of assets and liabilities recognized in OCM’s financial statements were unchanged when those assets and liabilities were carried forward into the Company’s financial statements. When the Company indirectly purchased Oaktree Operating Group units from OCGH and directly from the Oaktree Operating Group, it recorded the proportion of Oaktree Operating Group net assets acquired at their historical carrying value and proportionately reduced the OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries. Subsequent to the completion of the May 2007 Restructuring, the OCGH Unitholders’ economic

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

interest in the Oaktree Operating Group is reflected as OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Consolidation

The Company consolidates those entities where it has a direct or indirect controlling financial interest based on either a variable interest model or voting interest model. This includes one entity determined to be a variable interest entity (“VIE”), for which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary, and substantially all of Oaktree’s closed-end, commingled open-end and evergreen funds for which the Company acts as the sole general partner and is deemed to control through a voting interest model.

Variable interest model - The Company consolidates entities determined to be VIEs for which it is considered the primary beneficiary. An enterprise is determined to be the primary beneficiary if it holds a controlling financial interest. A controlling financial interest is defined as (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s business and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The consolidation rules which were revised effective January 1, 2010, require an analysis to (a) determine whether an entity in which the Company holds a variable interest is a VIE and (b) whether the Company’s involvement, through holding interests directly or indirectly in the entity or contractually through other variable interests (e.g., management and performance-related fees), would give it a controlling financial interest. Where the Company has an interest in an entity that has qualified for the deferral of the consolidation rules as discussed in “Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements”, the analysis is based on consolidation rules prior to January 1, 2010. These rules require an analysis to (a) determine whether an entity in which the Company holds a variable interest is a VIE and (b) whether the Company’s involvement, through holding interests directly or indirectly in the entity or contractually through other variable interests (e.g., management and performance-related fees), would be expected to absorb a majority of the variability of the entity. Under either guideline, the Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes involved with a VIE and reconsiders that conclusion at each reporting date. In evaluating whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company evaluates its economic interests in the entity held either directly by the Company or indirectly through related parties. The consolidation analysis can generally be performed qualitatively; however, if it is not readily apparent that the Company is not the primary beneficiary, a quantitative analysis may also be performed. Investments and redemptions (either by the Company, affiliates of the Company or third parties) or amendments to the governing documents of the respective Oaktree funds could affect an entity’s status as a VIE or the determination of the primary beneficiary.

While the Company holds variable interests in the Oaktree funds, these funds do not meet the characteristics of a VIE. As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, the Company consolidates one entity as a VIE for which it is the primary beneficiary, Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., or AIF, and there are no VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. AIF was formed to hold certain assets for regulatory purposes and is immaterial to the Company, with total assets and total liabilities each representing less than 0.1% of consolidated assets and consolidated liabilities, respectively, as of December 31, 2009 and 2010.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Voting interest model - For entities that do not meet the criteria for consolidation under a variable interest model, the Company evaluates those entities that it controls through a majority voting interest, including those Oaktree funds in which the Company as the sole general partner is presumed to have control (the “consolidated funds”). Although as general partner the Company typically only has a small, single-digit equity interest in each fund, the funds’ third-party limited partners do not have the right to dissolve the partnerships or have substantive kick-out or participating rights that would overcome the presumption of control by the Company.

Accordingly, Oaktree’s consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, investment income, expenses and cash flows of the consolidated funds on a gross basis, and the majority of the economic interests in those funds, which are held by third-party investors, are attributed to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Substantially all of the management fees and incentive income earned by Oaktree from those funds are eliminated in consolidation. However, because the eliminated amounts are earned from, and funded by, non-controlling interests, Oaktree’s attributable share of the net income from those funds is increased by the amounts eliminated. The elimination in consolidation of such amounts, thus, has no effect on net income (loss) attributable to the Company. Potential incentive allocations at the consolidated fund level that have not yet been recognized by the Company are included in non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds.

The Company records non-controlling interests to reflect the economic interests of the unaffiliated limited partners. These interests are presented as non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds within the consolidated statements of financial condition, outside of the permanent capital section. Limited partners in open-end and evergreen funds generally have the right to withdraw their capital, subject to the terms of the respective limited partnership agreements, over periods ranging from one month to three years. While limited partners in consolidated closed-end funds generally have not been granted redemption rights, they do have such rights in certain limited circumstances that are beyond the control of the Company, such as instances in which retaining the limited partnership interest could cause the limited partner to violate a law, regulation or rule.

All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain funds for which the Company shares general partner responsibilities or where the Company has no general partner responsibility, but the ability to exert significant influence through other means, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

Use of Estimates

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of income and expenses during the period then ended. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Fair value of financial instruments

GAAP establishes a hierarchal disclosure framework which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring financial instruments at fair value into three levels based on their market observability. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of instrument and the characteristics specific to the instrument. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices from an active market or for which fair value can be measured based on actively quoted prices generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment inherent in measuring fair value.

Financial assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value are classified as follows:

 

  Ÿ  

Level I —Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which the Company has access at the date of measurement.

 

  Ÿ  

Level II —Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are directly or indirectly observable. Level II inputs include prices in markets for which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, little public information exists or prices vary substantially over time or among brokered market makers. Other inputs include interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment risks, loss severities, credit risks and default rates.

 

  Ÿ  

Level III— Model-derived valuations for which one or more significant inputs are unobservable. These inputs reflect the Company’s assessment of the assumptions that market participants use to value the investment based on the best available information.

In some instances, an instrument may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such instances, the instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest of the three levels (with Level III being the lowest) that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of an input requires judgment and considers factors specific to the instrument. The Company accounts for the transfer of assets into or out of each fair value hierarchy level as of the beginning of the reporting period.

Investments in limited partnerships

Investments in limited partnerships that the Company does not control are recorded using the equity method of accounting and reflect Oaktree’s ownership interest in each limited partnership. Investment income represents Oaktree’s pro-rata share of income or loss from these limited partnerships, which are primarily investment funds. Oaktree’s general partnership interests are substantially illiquid. For purposes of valuing net assets, the limited partnerships carry investments at fair value in accordance with GAAP, based on the principles and methods of valuation further described above and in Note 4. Fair value of the underlying investments is based on management’s assessment, which takes into account expected cash flows, earnings multiples and/or comparisons to similar market transactions, among other factors. Valuation adjustments reflecting consideration of credit quality, concentration risk, sales restrictions and certain other liquidity factors are an integral part of valuing these instruments.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Cash and cash-equivalents

Cash and cash-equivalents include demand deposit accounts, as well as money market funds and short-term investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition.

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

Includes holdings of U.S. Treasury bills and other securities issued by U.S. government agencies with maturities greater than three months at the date of acquisition. These securities, classified as available-for-sale, are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value included in other comprehensive income (loss).

Foreign currency

Assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries of Oaktree having non-U.S. dollar functional currencies are translated at exchange rates prevailing at the end of each reporting period. Results of foreign operations are translated at the weighted average exchange rate for each reporting period. Translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in general, administrative and other expenses.

Derivatives

The Company recognizes all derivatives as assets or liabilities on its consolidated statements of financial condition at fair value. On the date the Company enters into a derivative contract, it designates and documents each derivative contract as one of the following: (a) a hedge of a recognized asset or liability (“fair value hedge”); (b) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”); (c) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation; or (d) a derivative instrument not designated as a hedging instrument (“free standing derivative”). For a fair value hedge, Oaktree records changes in the fair value of the derivative and, to the extent that it is highly effective, changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, in current period earnings in the same caption in the consolidated statements of operations as the hedged item. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recorded in current period earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as hedging instruments caused by factors other than changes in the risk being hedged, which are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, are recognized in current period earnings. For free-standing derivative contracts, the Company records changes in fair value in current period earnings.

Oaktree formally documents at inception its hedge relationships, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives, strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction and evaluation of effectiveness of its hedged transaction. On a quarterly basis, using regression analysis, the Company formally assesses whether the derivative it designated in each hedging relationship is expected to be, and has been, highly effective in offsetting changes in estimated fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective at hedging the designated exposure, hedge accounting is discontinued and remaining amounts in other comprehensive income are released to earnings.

 

F-12


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation of furniture and equipment is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset, generally three-to-five years, beginning in the first full month after the asset is placed in service. The cost of leasehold improvements is amortized using the straight-line basis over the shorter of the respective estimated useful life or the lease term.

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other gains and losses affecting Unitholders’ capital that, under GAAP, are excluded from net income (loss). Other gains and losses result from unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges and foreign currency cumulative translation adjustments, net of tax.

Management fees

Management fees are recognized over the period in which the investment advisory services are performed. The contractual terms of management fees vary by fund structure. Management fees for closed-end funds are paid quarterly, generally in the range of 1.25% to 1.75% per year, of total committed capital during the investment period. During the liquidation period, the management fee remains the same fixed percentage, applied against the lesser of the total funded capital and the cost basis of assets remaining in the fund. For open-end and evergreen funds, management fees are generally 0.50% of NAV per year and 1.5% to 2.0% of NAV per year, respectively, based on the net asset value, or NAV, of the fund.

The Company does not recognize incremental income for transaction, advisory, director and other ancillary fees received in connection with providing services to portfolio companies or potential investees of the funds; rather, any such fees are offset against management fees earned from the applicable fund. Inasmuch as these fees are not paid directly by the consolidated funds, such fees do not eliminate in consolidation and may impact the presentation of gross consolidated management fees; however, there is no impact to the Company’s net income as the amounts are included in income attributable to the Company. Ancillary fees recognized in management fees for the years ended December 31, 2008, December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 were $5.7 million, $12.0 million and $46.2 million, respectively.

Incentive income

Incentive income generally represents 20% of each closed-end fund’s profits, subject to a preferred return of typically 8% per annum, and 20% of each evergreen fund’s annual profits, subject to high-water marks. The Company has elected to adopt “Method 1” for revenue recognition based on a formula. Under this method, incentive income is recognized when fixed or determinable, all related contingencies have been removed and collection is reasonably assured, which generally occurs in the quarter of, or the quarter immediately prior to, the distribution of the income by the fund to Oaktree. The Method 1 criteria for revenue recognition is typically met (i) for closed-end funds, only after all contributed capital and the preferred return on that capital have been distributed to the fund’s investors, and (ii) for evergreen funds, at the conclusion of each annual measurement period. Incentives received by Oaktree before the above criteria are met are deferred and recorded as a deferred incentive income liability within accounts payable, other accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company may receive tax distributions, related to taxable

 

F-13


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

income allocated by funds, which are treated as an advance of incentive income and subject to the same recognition criteria, which generally results in income recognized when received. Tax distributions are contractually not subject to clawback.

Incentive income compensation expense

The Company has an obligation to pay a fixed percentage of the incentive income earned from a particular fund, including income from consolidated funds that is eliminated in consolidation, to specified investment professionals responsible for the management of the fund. Such professionals’ participation in incentive income generated by our funds is subject to forfeiture upon departure, subject to vesting provisions (generally over a period of 5 years), with certain limitations set forth in the applicable governing documents. Incentive income compensation is expensed in the same period as the underlying income is recognized.

Other income

In 2010, the Company gained control of a partnership through an arbitration award settlement agreement and recognized a gain of $11.7 million, included in other income on the consolidated statements of operations, which represented the fair value of assets contributed to the partnership. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, additional contributions may be received in the future. Gains or losses that result from the operations of the partnership are recognized as they occur. The Company has accounted for this transaction as a business combination.

Equity-based compensation

Equity-based compensation expense is calculated based on the fair value of a unit at the time of grant, adjusted annually or more frequently, as necessary, for actual forfeitures to reflect expense only for those units that ultimately vest. Equity-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, with a corresponding increase in capital.

Income taxes

Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., two of the Company’s intermediate holding companies which were established as wholly-owned corporate subsidiaries in connection with the May 2007 Restructuring, are subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. The remainder of Oaktree’s income is generally not subject to U.S. corporate-level taxation.

Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, using currently enacted tax rates. The effect on deferred assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Oaktree analyzes its tax filing positions in all of the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, for all open tax years in these jurisdictions. If, based on this analysis, the Company determines that uncertainties in tax positions exist, a reserve is

 

F-14


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

established. Oaktree recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expenses within the consolidated statements of operations.

Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and respective governmental taxing authorities. Significant judgment is required in determining tax expense and in evaluating tax positions, including evaluating uncertainties under GAAP. Oaktree reviews its tax positions quarterly and adjusts its tax balances as new information becomes available.

The Oaktree funds are exempt from federal and state income taxes and, consequently, no income tax provision has been made in the accompanying consolidated financial statements because individual partners are responsible for their proportionate share of the taxable income.

Revision to consolidated statements of cash flows

The Company has made an immaterial revision within the consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company has determined that the classification of cash flows related to U.S. Treasury and government agency securities that were previously included in operating activity is more appropriately included in investing activity, which better reflects the underlying nature of the Company’s investment in these securities. This revision had no impact on the net change in cash and cash-equivalents as previously reported.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts reported in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Accounting policies of consolidated funds

Although as general partner the Company only has a minority economic interest in the consolidated funds, the third-party limited partners neither have the right to dissolve the partnerships nor possess substantive kick-out or participating rights that would overcome the presumption of control by the Company. Accordingly, the Company consolidates the consolidated funds and records non-controlling interests to reflect the economic interests of the unaffiliated limited partners.

Investment transactions and income recognition

The consolidated funds record investment transactions at cost on trade date for publicly traded securities or when they have an enforceable right to acquire the security, which is generally on the closing date if not publicly traded. Realized gains and losses on investments are recorded on a specific identification basis. The consolidated funds record dividend income on the ex-dividend date and interest income on an accrual basis, unless the related investment is in default or if collection of the income is otherwise considered doubtful. The consolidated funds may hold investments which provide that interest is payable in-kind rather than in cash, in which case the related income is recorded at its estimated net realizable amount.

Cash and cash-equivalents

Cash and cash-equivalents held at consolidated funds represents cash that, although not legally restricted, is not available to support general liquidity needs of Oaktree, as the use of such amounts is generally limited to the investment activities of the consolidated funds.

 

F-15


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Foreign currency

Investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies are recorded in the consolidated financial statements after translation into U.S. dollars utilizing rates of exchange on the last business day of the period. Interest and dividend income is recorded net of foreign withholding taxes and calculated using the exchange rate in effect when the income is recognized. The effects of changes in exchange rates on assets and liabilities, income and realized gains or losses are included in net realized gains or loss on investments and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments.

Investments, at fair value

The consolidated funds are investment companies that reflect their investments, including majority-owned and controlled investments (the “portfolio companies”), at fair value. The Company has retained the specialized investment company accounting guidance under GAAP for the consolidated funds with respect to consolidated investments. Thus, the consolidated investments are reflected on the consolidated statements of financial condition at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation on consolidated funds’ investments in the consolidated statements of operations. Fair value is the amount that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price).

Investment valuations

Non-publicly traded debt and equity securities and other securities or instruments for which reliable market quotations are not available, are valued by management. These securities may initially be valued at the acquisition price as the best indicator of fair value. Subsequent valuations will depend on facts and circumstances known as of the valuation date and the application of valuation methodologies further described below under “—Non-Publicly Traded Equity and Real Estate Investments.”

Exchange-Traded Investments

Securities listed on one or more national securities and exchanges are valued at their last reported sales price on the date of valuation. If no sale occurred on the valuation date, the security is valued at the mean of the last “bid” and “ask” prices on the valuation date. Securities that are not marketable due to legal restrictions that may limit or restrict transferability are generally valued at a discount from quoted market prices. The discount would reflect the amount market participants would require due to the risk relating to the inability to access a public market for the security for the specified period and would vary depending on the nature and duration of the restriction and the risk and volatility of the underlying securities. Securities with longer duration restrictions or higher volatility are generally valued at a higher discount. Such discounts are generally estimated based on put option models or analysis of market studies. Instances where the Company has applied discounts to quoted prices of restricted listed securities have been infrequent. The impact of such discounts is not material to the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition and results of operations for all periods presented.

 

F-16


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Credit-Oriented Investments

Investments in corporate and government debt which are not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange are valued at the average mean of the last bid and ask prices on the valuation date based on quotations supplied by recognized quotation services or by reputable broker-dealers.

The market yield approach is considered in the valuation of non-publicly traded debt securities, utilizing expected future cash flows, discounted using estimated current market rates. Discounted cash flow calculations may be adjusted to reflect current market conditions and/or the perceived credit risk of the borrowers.

Non-Publicly Traded Equity and Real Estate Investments

The fair values of private equity and real estate investments are determined by using a market approach or income approach. A market approach utilizes valuations of comparable public companies and transactions and generally seeks to establish the enterprise value of the portfolio company using a market multiple approach. This approach takes into account a specific financial measure (such as EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, net operating income, net income book value or net asset value) believed to be most relevant for the given company. Consideration may also be given to such factors as acquisition price of the security, historical and projected operational and financial results for the portfolio company, the strengths and weaknesses of the portfolio company relative to its comparable companies, industry trends, general economic and market conditions and other factors deemed relevant. The income approach is typically a discounted cash flow method that incorporates expected timing and level of cash flows. It incorporates assumptions in determining growth rates, income and expense projections, discount and capitalization rates, capital structure, terminal values and other factors. The applicability and weight assigned to market and income approaches are determined based on the availability of reliable projections and comparable companies and transactions.

The valuation of securities may be impacted by expectations of investors’ receptiveness to a public offering of the securities, the size of the holding of the securities and any associated control, information with respect to transactions or offers for the securities (including the transaction pursuant to which the investment was made and the period of time elapsed from the date of the investment to the valuation date) and applicable restrictions on the transferability of the securities.

These valuation methodologies involve a significant degree of management judgment. Accordingly, valuations by Oaktree do not necessarily represent the amounts which may eventually be realized from sales or other dispositions of investments. Fair values may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investment existed, and the differences could be material.

Securities sold short

Securities sold short represent obligations of the consolidated funds to make a future delivery of a specific security and, correspondingly, create an obligation to purchase the security at prevailing market prices (or deliver the security, if owned by the consolidated funds) as of the delivery date. As a result, these short sales create the risk that the funds’ obligations to satisfy the delivery requirements may exceed the amount recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Securities sold short are recorded at fair value, with the resulting change in value reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on consolidated funds’ investments. When the securities are delivered, any gain or loss is included in net realized gain or loss on consolidated funds’ investments. The funds maintain cash deposits with prime brokers in order to cover their obligations on short sales. These amounts are included in due from brokers in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Options

The purchase price of a call option or a put option is recorded as an investment, which is carried at fair value. If a purchased option expires, a loss in the amount of the cost of the option is realized. When there is a closing sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized if the proceeds are greater or less than, respectively, the cost of the option. When a call option is exercised, the cost of the security purchased upon exercise is increased by the premium originally paid.

When a consolidated fund writes an option, the premium received is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current fair value of the option written. If a written option expires, a gain is realized in the amount of the premium received. The difference between the premium and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain or loss. The writer of an option bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. Options written are included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Credit default swaps

A credit default swap (“CDS”) is a financial instrument used to transfer the credit risk of a reference entity from one party to another for a specified period of time. In a standard CDS contract, one party (the “protection buyer”) agrees to pay a premium (commonly based on a rate of a notional principal amount) to another party (the “protection seller”) in exchange for a contingent payment in the event of a pre-defined credit event that relates to an obligation of a reference entity. The reference entity of the swap can be a single issuer, a basket of issuers, or an index. Types of underlying referenced obligations can be, but are not limited to, corporate bonds, bank loans, sovereign debt and asset-backed securities. When a credit event is triggered, the protection seller is obligated to pay the contingent payment to the buyer, which is typically the par value (full notional value) of the reference obligation, though the actual payment may be mitigated by terms of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) Master Agreement allowing for netting arrangements and collateral. The contingent payment may be a cash settlement or a physical delivery of the reference obligation in return for payment of the face amount of the obligation. These contingent amounts are partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement, if any, or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection agreements entered into by the consolidated funds for the same referenced entity or entities. If a consolidated fund is a protection buyer and no credit event occurs, the fund may lose its investment and recover nothing. However, if a credit event occurs, the protection buyer typically receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value. Based on the complex nature of these settlement process and volatility of the market, the Company is generally unable to reasonably estimate the amount of potential future recovery values.

 

F-18


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

In addition to general market risks, CDS contracts are subject to liquidity and counterparty risk. A CDS may entail greater risks than those of other instruments, including the risk of mispricing due to limited availability of pricing sources and the risk that changes in the value of the swap may not correlate with the underlying asset. A CDS may be highly illiquid because such instruments typically are entered into over the counter and are not exchange traded. When a fund is a protection buyer, the fund is exposed to credit risk relating to whether the counterparty will meet its obligation upon the occurrence of a credit event. When a fund is a protection seller, it is exposed to off-balance sheet risk to the extent that its ultimate obligation to the counterparty upon the occurrence of a credit event may be significantly higher than the fair value reflected in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

CDS contracts are valued by the Company based in part on quotations provided by an independent pricing service, with changes in value recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Upfront payments received or paid by the consolidated funds are reflected as an asset or liability on the consolidated statements of financial condition. For further information regarding CDS contracts see Note 5.

Total return swaps

A total return swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on an underlying asset. Pursuant to these agreements, a fund may deposit collateral with the counterparty and may pay a swap fee in cash equal to a fixed percentage of the value of the underlying security (notional amount). A fund earns interest on cash collateral held on account with the counterparty and may be required to deposit additional collateral equal to the unrealized appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset. Changes in the underlying value of the swaps recorded as unrealized gains or losses are based on changes in the underlying value of the security. All amounts exchanged with the swap counterparty representing capital appreciation or depreciation, dividend income and expense, items of interest income on short proceeds, borrowing costs on short sales, and commissions are recorded as realized gains or losses. Dividend income and expense on the underlying assets are accrued as unrealized gains or losses on the ex-date. The average notional amounts of total return swap contracts outstanding during 2009 were $931,880 long and $47,317 short. The average notional amounts outstanding during 2010 were $871,818 long and $51,371 short.

Due from brokers

Due from brokers represents cash maintained with the brokers for investment securities and with counterparties for swaps. Cash and securities owned by consolidated funds and on deposit with brokers may be used as collateral for the consolidated funds’ securities and swaps.

Risks and uncertainties

Certain consolidated funds invest primarily in the securities of entities that are undergoing, or are considered likely to undergo, reorganization, debt restructuring, liquidation or other extraordinary transactions. Investments in such entities are considered speculative and involve substantial risk of principal loss. In addition, investments are subject to concentration and industry risks, reflecting numerous factors, including political, regulatory or economic issues that could cause the investments and their markets to be relatively illiquid and their prices relatively volatile. Investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies or involving non-U.S. domiciled entities are subject to risks and special

 

F-19


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

considerations not typically associated with U.S. investments. Such risks may include, but are not limited to, investment and repatriation restrictions, currency exchange rate fluctuations, adverse political, social and economic developments, less liquidity and smaller capital markets and certain local tax law considerations.

Credit risk is the potential loss that may be incurred from the failure of a counterparty or an issuer to make payments according to the terms of a contract. Some consolidated funds are subject to additional credit risk due to strategies of investing in debt of financially distressed issuers or derivative instruments, as well as involvement in privately negotiated structured notes and structured credit transactions. Counterparties include custodian banks, major brokerage houses and their affiliates. The Company monitors the creditworthiness of the financial institutions with which it conducts business.

Bank debt has exposure to certain types of risk, including interest rate, market and the potential non-payment of principal and interest as a result of default or bankruptcy of the issuer. Loans are generally subject to prepayment risk, which will affect the maturity of such loans. The consolidated funds may enter into bank debt participation agreements through contractual relationships with a third-party intermediary, causing the consolidated funds to assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the intermediary.

Recent accounting developments

On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) on issues related to VIEs. The amendments significantly affect the overall consolidation analysis, changing the approach taken by companies in both identifying which entities are VIEs and determining which party is the primary beneficiary. The guidance requires continuous assessment of the reporting entity’s involvement with such VIEs. The revised guidance also increases the disclosure requirements for a reporting entity’s involvement with VIEs, irrespective of whether they qualify for deferral, as noted below. The guidance provides a limited scope deferral for a reporting entity’s interest in an entity that meets all of the following conditions: (i) the entity has all the attributes of an investment company as defined under AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, Investment Companies , or does not have all the attributes of an investment company but is an entity for which it is acceptable based on industry practice to apply measurement principles that are consistent with that guide, (ii) the reporting entity does not have explicit or implicit obligations to fund any losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity, and (iii) the entity is not a securitization entity, asset-backed financing entity or an entity that was formerly considered a qualifying special-purpose entity. The reporting entity is required to perform a consolidation analysis for entities that qualify for the deferral in accordance with previously issued guidance on VIEs. All three of the above conditions are met for the Company’s funds and, therefore, they qualify for the deferral of the revised consolidation rules. As a result, the Company’s consolidation analysis continues to be based on the previous consolidation rules. Accordingly, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance on disclosures surrounding fair value measurements. The guidance requires additional disclosure of significant transfers in and out of Levels I and II fair value measurements in the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for such transfers. In the case of Level III fair value measurements, the guidance requires the reconciliation of beginning and ending balances on a gross basis, with separate disclosure of gross purchases, sales, issuances,

 

F-20


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

settlements and transfers in and out. The new guidance also requires that disclosures of the fair value hierarchy include disaggregation by class of assets and liabilities. In addition, an entity is required to provide further disclosures on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for either Level II or Level III. The guidance was effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about gross purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll-forward of activity in Level III fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted the guidance, excluding the reconciliation of Level III activity, with the issuance of its March 31, 2010 consolidated financial statements. Inasmuch as the guidance is limited to enhanced disclosures, the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued converged guidance of the FASB and the IASB on fair value measurement intended to result in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term “fair value.” The amendments are to be applied prospectively and are effective, for public entities, during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. Inasmuch as the guidance is limited to enhanced disclosures, the adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

F-21


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

3. INVESTMENTS, AT FAIR VALUE

Investments held and securities sold short in the consolidated funds are summarized below:

 

    Fair value at
December 31,
    Fair value as a
percentage of investments
of consolidated funds at
December 31,
 
Investments :   2009     2010     2009     2010  

United States:

       

Fixed income securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

  $ 8,519,529      $ 10,574,333        23.2     26.7

Consumer staples

    406,196        445,799        1.1        1.1   

Energy

    452,810        585,662        1.2        1.5   

Financials

    3,523,327        1,552,388        9.6        3.9   

Health care

    800,181        617,235        2.2        1.6   

Industrials

    2,481,393        2,033,635        6.8        5.1   

Information technology

    1,481,609        1,027,838        4.0        2.6   

Materials

    2,097,948        1,372,722        5.7        3.5   

Telecommunication services

    245,838        193,567        0.7        0.5   

Utilities

    1,653,401        1,944,643        4.5        4.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities (cost: $19,016,374 and $17,618,028 at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)

    21,662,232        20,347,822        59.0        51.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

    1,537,218        2,186,904        4.2        5.6   

Consumer staples

    348,368        279,607        0.9        0.7   

Energy

    858,218        821,534        2.3        2.1   

Financials

    435,758        1,285,383        1.2        3.2   

Health care

    222,768        203,170        0.6        0.5   

Industrials

    541,608        839,442        1.5        2.1   

Information technology

    32,239        95,431        0.1        0.2   

Materials

    219,244        1,597,608        0.6        4.0   

Telecommunication services

    262,674        399,200        0.7        1.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities (cost:
$4,934,501 and $7,344,602 at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)

    4,458,095        7,708,279        12.1        19.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Europe:

       

Fixed income securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

    2,089,016        1,949,737        5.7        4.9   

Consumer staples

    541,682        516,993        1.5        1.3   

Energy

    83,171        37,474        0.2        0.1   

Financials

    1,119,728        456,180        3.0        1.2   

Health care

    33,487        77,234        0.1        0.2   

Industrials

    916,130        635,510        2.5        1.6   

Information technology

    710,150        505,228        1.9        1.3   

Materials

    816,056        703,157        2.2        1.8   

Telecommunication services

    16,289        58,561        0.0        0.1   

Utilities

    72,928        32,234        0.2        0.1   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities (cost:
$5,354,186 and $3,952,790 at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)

    6,398,637        4,972,308        17.3        12.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-22


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

    Fair value at
December 31,
    Fair value as a
percentage of investments
of consolidated funds at
December 31,
 
    2009     2010         2009             2010      

Equity securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

  $ 132,058      $ 734,865        0.4     1.9

Consumer staples

    1,199,255        1,345,337        3.3        3.4   

Energy

    252,802              0.7        0.0   

Financials

    607,174        805,518        1.7        2.0   

Industrials

    6,829        16,222        0.0        0.0   

Materials

    383,447        509,742        1.0        1.3   

Telecommunication services

    3,953        9,655        0.0        0.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities (cost:
$2,161,407 and $2,348,936 at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)

    2,585,518        3,421,339        7.1        8.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Asia and other:

       

Fixed income securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

    165,370        871,817        0.5        2.2   

Consumer staples

    12,738        3,620        0.0        0.0   

Energy

    71,511        185,696        0.2        0.5   

Financials

    65,410        30,072        0.2        0.1   

Health care

    1,812        3,817        0.0        0.0   

Industrials

    27,627        20,258        0.1        0.1   

Information technology

    57,308        80,937        0.2        0.2   

Materials

    55,867        34,149        0.2        0.1   

Telecommunication services

    1,606        287        0.0        0.0   

Utilities

    2,887        221,224        0.0        0.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities (cost:
$401,198 and $1,275,351 at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)

    462,136        1,451,877        1.4        3.8   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

    89,817        144,575        0.2        0.4   

Consumer staples

    71,191        116,864        0.2        0.3   

Energy

    53,373        70,047        0.1        0.2   

Financials

    460,680        562,794        1.3        1.4   

Health care

    10,292        10,275        0.0        0.0   

Industrials

    280,105        517,177        0.8        1.3   

Information technology

    117,602        114,968        0.3        0.3   

Materials

    45,235        75,813        0.1        0.2   

Telecommunication services

    43,583        34,267        0.1        0.1   

Utilities

    4,884        10,765        0.0        0.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities (cost:
$1,187,727 and $1,391,796 at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)

    1,176,762        1,657,545        3.1        4.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities

    28,523,005        26,772,007        77.7        67.8   

Total equity securities

    8,220,375        12,787,163        22.3        32.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments, at fair value

  $ 36,743,380      $ 39,559,170        100.0     100.0
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Securities sold short :

       

Fixed income securities

  $ (39,127   $ (359,943    

Equity securities

    (308,514     (7,212    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total securities sold short, at fair value

  $ (347,641   $ (367,155    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

F-23


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

At December 31, 2010, no single issuer or investment, including derivative instruments, had a fair value which exceeded 5% of Oaktree’s total consolidated net assets.

Net gains (losses) from investment activities of consolidated funds

Net gains (losses) from investment activities in the consolidated statements of operations consist primarily of the realized and unrealized gains and losses on the consolidated funds’ investments (including foreign exchange gains and losses attributable to foreign denominated investments and related activities) and other financial instruments. Unrealized gains or losses result from changes in the fair value of these investments and other financial instruments during a period. Upon disposition of an investment, previously recognized unrealized gains or losses are reversed and an offsetting realized gain or loss is recognized in the current period.

The following table summarizes net gains (losses) from investment activities:

 

    Year ended December 31, 2008     Year ended December 31, 2009     Year ended December 31, 2010  
    Net realized
gain
(loss) on

investments
    Net change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation) on
investments
    Net realized
gain
(loss) on

investments
    Net change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation) on
investments
    Net realized
gain
(loss) on

investments
    Net change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation) on
investments
 

Investments and other instruments

  $ 442,290      $ (7,665,259   $ 444,729      $ 9,874,724      $ 2,050,683      $ 1,899,616   

Total return and credit default swaps

    214,078        (986,270     (52,593     1,084,206        69,643        91,302   

Foreign currency forward contracts

    33,986        131,667        (221,850     271,381        474,628        (234,366

Options

    73,167        87,030        81,221        (116,446     (11,278     9,898   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 763,521      $ (8,432,832   $ 251,507      $ 11,113,865      $ 2,583,676      $ 1,766,450   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

4. FAIR VALUE

Fair value of financial assets and liabilities

The carrying value of cash and cash-equivalents, U.S. Treasury and government agency securities, receivables, consolidated fund credit facilities and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value, due to the short-term nature of these items. The fair value of the senior notes and borrowings under revolving credit facilities is a Level III valuation estimated based on the current rates offered to Oaktree for debt of similar terms and maturities. The fair value of debt obligations was $411.0 million and $433.9 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, utilizing average borrowing rates of 7% and 4.8%, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap, a Level II valuation included in other assets, was $1.6 million as of December 31, 2010.

 

F-24


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Fair value of financial instruments held by consolidated funds

The table below summarizes the valuation of investments and other financial instruments by fair value hierarchy levels described in Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” as of December 31, 2009:

 

     Level I     Level II     Level III      Total  

Corporate debt—bank debt

   $ —        $ 13,996,146      $ 592,410       $ 14,588,556   

Corporate debt—all other

     684        10,848,714        3,085,051         13,934,449   

Equities—common stock

     2,541,356        986,894        3,779,292         7,307,542   

Equities—preferred stock

     —          —          846,872         846,872   

Other

     1,590        53,007        11,364         65,961   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment securities

   $ 2,543,630      $ 25,884,761      $ 8,314,989       $ 36,743,380   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate debt

   $ —        $ (39,127   $ —         $ (39,127

Equities

     (308,514     —          —           (308,514
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total securities sold short

   $ (308,514   $ (39,127   $ —         $ (347,641
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Swaps (net)—corporate debt

   $ —        $ (51,142   $ —         $ (51,142

Forward contracts (net)

     —          53,252        —           53,252   

In the consolidated statements of financial condition, unrealized gains on swaps of $18,843 and unrealized gains on forward contracts of $99,370 were included in derivative assets at December 31, 2009.

The table below summarizes the valuation of investments by fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2010:

 

     Level I     Level II     Level III      Total  

Corporate debt—bank debt

   $ —        $ 13,893,029      $ 1,330,000       $ 15,223,029   

Corporate debt—all other

     —          8,227,927        3,321,051         11,548,978   

Equities—common stock

     4,385,036        834,583        6,759,282         11,978,901   

Equities—preferred stock

     1,866        750        735,855         738,471   

Other

     1,087        52,528        16,176         69,791   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment securities

   $ 4,387,989      $ 23,008,817      $ 12,162,364       $ 39,559,170   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate debt

   $ (254,038   $ (105,905   $ —         $ (359,943

Equities

     (7,212     —          —           (7,212
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total securities sold short

   $ (261,250   $ (105,905   $ —         $ (367,155
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options written

   $ —        $ (2,003   $ —         $ (2,003

Swaps (net)—corporate debt

     —          56,399        —           56,399   

Forward contracts (net)

     (465     (207,656     —           (208,121

In 2010, $680.5 million of common equity securities transferred from Level II to Level I due to the restructuring of a portfolio company’s equity and an increase in the volume of market activity for the investment, resulting in the availability of market quotation.

 

F-25


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

In the consolidated statements of financial condition, unrealized gains on swaps of $80,485 and unrealized gains on forward contracts of $3,551 were included in derivative assets at December 31, 2010.

The following tables set forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Level III investments for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010:

 

    Corporate
debt – bank
debt
    Corporate
debt – all
other
    Equities –
common
stock
    Equities –
preferred
stock
    Options     Other     Total  

2009

             

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 505,387      $ 3,169,721      $ 2,741,737        $924,688      $ 2,092      $ (15,722   $ 7,327,903   

Transfers in or out of Level III, net

    16,532        (441,102     148,599        106,530        —          46,564        (122,877

Purchases (sales), net

    51,750        (146,083     304,620        (22,641     500        2,837        190,983   

Realized gains (losses), net

    4,384        (376,093     (19,608     6,437        —          —          (384,880

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net

    14,357        878,608        603,944        (168,142     (92     (24,815     1,303,860   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 592,410      $ 3,085,051      $ 3,779,292        $846,872      $ 2,500      $ 8,864      $ 8,314,989   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Corporate
debt – bank
debt
    Corporate
debt – all
other
    Equities –
common
stock
    Equities –
preferred
stock
    Options     Other     Total  

2010

             

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 592,410      $ 3,085,051      $ 3,779,292        $846,872      $ 2,500      $ 8,864      $ 8,314,989   

Transfers in or out of Level III, net

    26,436        34,589        297,030        (283,425     —          —          74,630   

Purchases (sales), net

    373,581        189,727        1,891,907        149,408        4,500        162        2,609,285   

Realized gains (losses), net

    128,651        (7,484     (24,152     28,551        —          (565     125,001   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net

    208,922        19,168        815,205        (5,551     —          715        1,038,459   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,330,000      $ 3,321,051      $ 6,759,282        $735,855      $ 7,000      $ 9,176      $ 12,162,364   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded for Level III investments are reported in net realized gain on consolidated funds’ investments or net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on consolidated funds’ investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Additionally, total unrealized gains and losses for Level III investments include changes in unrealized appreciation of $573.3 million and $1,050.2 million relating to investments held at December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Specific valuation metrics, primarily public or private company comparables and discounted cash flow valuation methodologies, were used to value 100% of Level III investments at December 31, 2009 and 2010. Transfers out of Level III are generally attributable to certain investments that experienced a more significant level of market activity during the period and thus were valued using observable inputs. Transfers into Level III are typically due to certain investments that experienced a less significant level of market activity during the period or portfolio companies that undertook restructurings or bankruptcy proceedings and thus were valued in the absence of observable inputs.

5. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Oaktree enters into derivative contracts in the normal course of business to achieve certain risk management objectives. As a result of the use of derivative contracts, Oaktree is exposed to the risk that counterparties will fail to fulfill their contractual obligations. To mitigate such counterparty risk, Oaktree enters into contracts with certain major financial institutions, all of which have investment grade ratings. Counterparty credit risk is evaluated in determining the fair value of derivative instruments.

Cash flow hedges

The Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge all or a portion of the interest rate risk associated with its variable rate borrowings. The Company has designated these financial instruments as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective as and is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, to the extent that the hedge is effective, are recorded in other comprehensive income, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recorded in current-period earnings. Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income to earnings are recorded within interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of the derivative instrument is reflected within other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

As of December 31, 2010, Oaktree’s only cash flow hedge outstanding was a $300,000 notional interest rate swap with a fair value of $1,570. The fair value, which is expected to be reclassified into earnings during 2011, is a component of other comprehensive income and included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Freestanding derivatives

Freestanding derivatives are instruments that Oaktree entered into as part of its overall risk management strategies. These derivative contracts are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes and may include foreign exchange contracts, interest rate swaps and other derivative contracts. The fair value of freestanding derivative assets and liabilities are recorded within the same caption as the underlying hedged items in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Prior to 2010, the Company’s only derivatives were zero-cost currency collars with a fair value of $0.1 million at December 31, 2009. These freestanding derivatives resulted in net losses of $3.7 million and net gains of $3.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively.

The Company’s freestanding derivatives consisted of the following net forward currency contracts at December 31, 2010:

 

Net sell contracts:

   Contract amount in
local currency
     Contract amount in
U.S. dollars
     Market value in
U.S. dollars
     Net unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
 

Euro, expiring 1/14/11-1/31/11

     24,023       $ 30,914       $ 32,090       $ (1,176

Euro, expiring 1/14/11-1/31/11

     11,400         15,404         15,228         176   

Japanese Yen, expiring 2/28/11

     1,821,000         21,622         22,432         (810
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

      $ 67,940       $ 69,750       $ (1,810
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The impact of freestanding derivative instruments (including both realized and unrealized gains and losses) on the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 was as follows:

 

     Investment income (loss)     Incentive
income
     General, administrative
and other expense
 

Foreign currency forward contracts

   $ (2,512   $ 772       $ (410
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Company had not designated any derivatives as fair value hedges or hedges of net investments in foreign operations.

Derivatives held by consolidated funds

Certain consolidated funds utilize derivative instruments in ongoing investment operations. These derivatives primarily consist of foreign currency forward contracts utilized to manage currency risks, options used to hedge exposure for specific securities, and total return swaps and credit default swaps utilized mainly to obtain exposure to leveraged loans or to participate in foreign markets not readily accessible to the consolidated funds. None of the derivative instruments are accounted for as hedging instruments utilizing hedge accounting.

 

F-28


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The impact of derivative instruments held by the consolidated funds on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 was as follows:

 

    2009     2010  
    Net realized gain
(loss) on investments
    Net change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation) on
investments
    Net realized gain
(loss) on investments
    Net change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation) on
investments
 

Total return and credit default swaps

  $ (52,593   $ 1,084,206      $ 69,643      $ 91,302   

Foreign currency forward contracts

    (221,850     271,381        474,628        (234,366

Options

    81,221        (116,446     (11,278     9,898   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ (193,222   $ 1,239,141      $ 532,993      $ (133,166
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Foreign currency contracts

Certain consolidated funds enter into foreign currency contracts to hedge foreign currencies utilized in certain current investments or future purchase commitments, except for occasional unhedged changes in the market value of the underlying investments. All commitments are valued using the applicable foreign exchange rate, with the resulting unrealized gain or loss included in income. The consolidated funds realize gains or losses at the time forward contracts are either extinguished or closed if entering into an offsetting contract.

Outstanding foreign currency contracts as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, which include $99,370 and $3,551 of gross unrealized appreciation, and $46,118 and $211,672 of gross unrealized depreciation, respectively, were as follows:

 

As of December 31, 2009:

  Contract
amount in
local currency
    Contract
amount in
U.S. dollars
    Market
value in
U.S. dollars
    Net unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
 

Euro, expiring 1/08/10 – 12/31/10

    2,853,708      $ 4,644,602      $ 4,607,101      $ 37,501   

Pound Sterling, expiring 1/08/10 – 3/18/10

    400,956        710,037        697,885        12,152   

Canadian Dollar, expiring 1/14/10 – 3/18/10

    55,526        54,944        55,607        (663

Australian Dollar, expiring 1/14/10 – 3/18/10

    148,217        175,095        184,174        (9,079

Hong Kong Dollar, expiring 1/14/10

    4,015        518        517        1   

Japanese Yen, expiring 1/14/10 – 6/2/10

    26,471,573        296,881        288,000        8,881   

Swiss Franc, expiring 1/14/10

    845        827        818        9   

Singapore Dollar, expiring 1/14/10

    485        347        346        1   

U.S. Dollar, expiring 1/14/10

    166,192        165,971        161,522        4,449   

UAE Dirham, expiring 1/14/10

    435        118        118        —     
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $ 6,049,340      $ 5,996,088      $ 53,252   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-29


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

 

As of December 31, 2010:

  Contract
amount in
local currency
    Contract
amount in
U.S. dollars
    Market
value in
U.S. dollars
    Net unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
 

Euro, expiring 1/7/11 – 6/30/11

    2,469,584      $ 3,218,567      $ 3,350,751      $ (132,184

Pound Sterling, expiring 1/7/11 – 5/26/11

    399,106        629,186        631,085        (1,899

Canadian Dollar, expiring 1/20/11 – 3/24/11

    13,136        12,615        13,208        (593

Australian Dollar, expiring 1/18/11 – 3/24/11

    439,434        395,925        447,663        (51,738

Hong Kong Dollar, expiring 1/20/11

    4,862        627        625        2   

Japanese Yen, expiring 1/20/11 – 2/6/14

    25,677,279        295,489        316,952        (21,463

Swiss Franc, expiring 1/18/11 – 1/20/11

    145,749        21,943        22,203        (260

Singapore Dollar, expiring 1/20/11

    815        623        636        (13

U.S. Dollar, expiring 1/18/11

    (106,899     106,899        106,851        48   

UAE Dirham, expiring 1/20/11

    440        120        120        —     

Norwegian Krone, expiring 1/18/11

    9,479        1,604        1,625        (21
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    $ 4,683,598      $ 4,891,719      $ (208,121
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Credit default swaps

Changes in the value of CDSs are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Upfront payments received or paid by the consolidated funds are reflected as an asset or liability on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

As of December 31, 2009, payments in the amount of $23,138 had been received or paid as upfront payments. Periodic payments and premiums received or made by the consolidated funds are recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as realized gains or losses on consolidated funds’ investments, respectively. Gains or losses are realized upon early termination of the swap agreement. Collateral, in the form of cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with a custodian in compliance with the credit default swap contracts.

The consolidated funds sold protection and bought protection on various single-name swaps and index swaps. As of December 31, 2009, there was a maximum payout of approximately $1,352,622 on sell protection contracts and maximum receipt of approximately $196,000 on buy protection contracts, with terms up to five years. Maximum payout amounts could be offset by the subsequent sales, if any, of assets obtained via the execution of a payout event. The net unrealized depreciation on these contracts was $44,074. The table below summarizes CDS for which the consolidated funds were protection sellers as of December 31, 2009:

 

     Single-name CDS     Bank loan
swap index
 

Reference asset type

   Bank loan     Corporate
bond
   

Fair value of sell protection

   $ (16,246   $ 32,122      $ (46,689

Maximum potential future payments

     530,000        530,372        292,250   

Collateral held at third party

     (92,149     (35,995     (110,960

 

F-30


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The credit spread on the underlying asset is generally indicative of the current status of the underlying risk of the CDS. Higher credit spreads with a shorter contract term could be indicative of a higher likelihood for the protection seller to perform. The current credit spreads for each contract term period where the consolidated funds were protection sellers is summarized below:

 

     Maximum payout amounts by
contract terms
 

Current credit spread (in basis points)

   0-1 year      1-3 years      3-5 years  

0-1,000

   $ 48,000       $ 315,423       $ 754,449   

1,000-2,000

     —           67,500         157,250   

>2,000

     —           —           10,000   

As of December 31, 2010, net payments in the amount of $7,188 had been received or paid as upfront payments. Periodic payments and premiums received or made by the consolidated funds are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as realized gains or losses on consolidated funds’ investments, respectively. Gains or losses are realized upon early termination of the swap agreement. Collateral, in the form of cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with a custodian in compliance with the CDS contracts.

The consolidated funds have sold protection and bought protection on various single-name swaps and index swaps. As of December 31, 2010, there was a maximum payout of approximately $999,730 on sell protection contracts and maximum receipts of approximately $50,000 on buy protection contracts, with terms up to five years. Maximum payout amounts could be offset by the subsequent sales, if any, of assets obtained via the execution of a payout event. The net unrealized depreciation on these contracts was $53,434. The table below summarizes CDS for which the consolidated funds were protection sellers as of December 31, 2010:

 

     Single-name CDS     Bank
loan

swap
index
 

Reference asset type

   Bank loan     Corporate
bond
   

Fair value of sell protection

   $ 6,146      $ 38,460      $ 7,336   

Maximum potential future payments

     507,000        422,830        67,500   

Collateral held at third party

     (37,580     (14,466     (1,233

The credit spread on the underlying asset is generally indicative of the current status of the underlying risk of these CDS. Higher credit spreads with a shorter contract term could be indicative of a higher likelihood for the protection seller to perform. The credit spreads as of December 31, 2010 for each contract term period where the consolidated funds were protection sellers is summarized below:

 

     Maximum payout amounts by contract terms  

Current credit spread (in basis points)

           0-1 year                      1-3 years          

0-1,000

   $ 127,448       $ 869,882   

 

F-31


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

6. DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND CREDIT FACILITIES

As of December 31, Oaktree had the following issues of senior notes outstanding:

 

     2009      2010  

$75,000, 7.93%, issued in June 2001, payable in seven equal annual installments starting June 25, 2005

   $ 21,429       $ 10,714   

$75,000, 5.03%, issued in June 2004, payable in seven equal annual installments starting June 14, 2008

     53,571         42,857   

$50,000, 6.09%, issued in June 2006, payable on June 6, 2016

     50,000         50,000   

$50,000, 5.82%, issued in November 2006, payable on November 8, 2016

     50,000         50,000   

$250,000, 6.75%, issued in November 2009, payable on December 2, 2019

     250,000         250,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total remaining principal

   $ 425,000       $ 403,571   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future principal payments of senior notes are as follows:

 

2011

   $ 21,429   

2012

     10,714   

2013

     10,714   

2014

     10,714   

2015

     —     

Thereafter

     350,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 403,571   
  

 

 

 

On November 24, 2009, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (the “Issuer”), a subsidiary of the Company, issued $250 million of senior notes due December 2, 2019 (the “Notes”). The Notes, which were issued at a discount, have an interest rate of 6.75% per annum. Interest is payable semiannually in arrears on June 2 and December 2 of each year, commencing on June 2, 2010. The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Company, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. (the “Guarantors”). The guarantees are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantors. Transaction costs related to the issuance of the Notes have been capitalized in other assets and are being amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method basis, over the life of the Notes.

The Notes’ indenture contains covenants, including limitations on the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ ability to, subject to exceptions, incur indebtedness secured by liens on voting stock or profit-participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or lease assets. The indenture also provides for events of default and further provides that the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the Notes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default after expiration of any applicable grace period. In the case of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal amount of the Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes automatically become due and payable. All or a portion of the Notes may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, prior to their stated maturity, at the make-whole redemption price set

 

F-32


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

forth in the Notes. If a change of control repurchase event occurs, the holders of the Notes may require the Issuer to repurchase the Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

The Notes and other senior notes outstanding have typical financial and other covenants. As of all year ends presented, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.

On August 6, 2008, the Company entered into a three-year, $210 million senior unsecured revolving bank credit facility (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility allowed for the future increase in aggregate capacity up to $250 million, subject to securing bank commitments. At the Company’s election, outstanding borrowings bore interest based on LIBOR plus 1.50% or a base rate, as defined. A commitment fee was payable at an annual rate of 0.25% on unused funds. The Credit Facility agreement contained typical financial covenants, as defined, including a maximum leverage ratio of 2.5-to-1, a minimum interest coverage ratio of 5-to-1, an annual fixed asset expenditure limit of $35 million and minimum required levels of assets under management and net worth, as defined, of $35 billion and $300 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2010 and for all periods presented, the Company was in compliance with each of these covenants and had not borrowed under the Credit Facility.

On January 7, 2011, the Company terminated the Credit Facility and replaced it with a $250 million three-year senior unsecured revolving bank credit facility (see Note 17).

Credit facilities of the consolidated funds

Certain of the consolidated funds have entered into credit agreements to fund investments between capital drawdowns. These facilities generally: (i) are collateralized by the unfunded capital commitments of the consolidated funds’ limited partners, (ii) bear an annual commitment fee based on unfunded commitments, and (iii) contain various affirmative and negative covenants and reporting obligations, including restrictions on additional indebtedness, liens, margin stock, affiliate transactions, dividends and distributions, release on capital commitments, and portfolio asset dispositions. The obligations of the consolidated funds are non-recourse to the Company. As of December 31, 2010, the consolidated funds were in compliance with all covenants.

 

F-33


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The consolidated funds had the following revolving bank credit facilities and term loans outstanding as of December 31:

 

Credit agreement

  Outstanding amount     Facility
capacity
    LIBOR
margin
 (a)
    Maturity     Commitment
fee rate
    LOC
fee
 (b)
 
  2009     2010            

Multi-currency term loan  (c)

  $ 275,342      $ 56,845      $ 275,000        3.00     12/23/13        N.A.        N.A.      

Revolving credit facility

    —          —        $ 150,000        1.75     12/15/12        0.35     N.A.      

Revolving credit facility

    —          19,100      $ 100,000        1.75     05/20/13        0.35     N.A.      

Revolving credit facility

    —          10,200      $ 55,000        2.00     09/15/13        0.35     2.0%   

Euro denominate revolving credit facility

    —          —          55,000        1.50     12/11/12        0.30     N.A.      

Euro denominate revolving credit facility

    —          —          55,000        1.75     12/17/13        0.30     N.A.      

Revolving credit facility

    —          5,000      $ 20,000        2.25     08/01/11        0.38     N.A.      
 

 

 

   

 

 

           
  $ 275,342      $ 91,145             
 

 

 

   

 

 

           

 

(a) The facilities bear interest at the borrower’s option of (i) an annual rate of LIBOR plus the applicable margin or (ii) an alternate base rate, as defined in the respective credit agreements.
(b) Certain facilities allow for the issuance of letters of credit at an applicable annual fee. As of December 31, 2010, there were no outstanding standby letters of credit.
(c) A four-year $275,000 aggregate principal amount term loan that consists of (i) a U.S. Dollar-denominated loan in an aggregate principal amount of $221,451, (ii) a Euro-denominated loan in an aggregate principal amount of 26,491 and (iii) an Australian Dollar-denominated loan in an aggregate principal amount of AU$17,660. The loan is guaranteed by the fund and, with certain limited exceptions, all of the subsidiaries of the fund, and is collateralized by both the unfunded capital commitments of the partners and, with certain exceptions, the portfolio investments of the fund and its subsidiaries. In connection with the term loan, $4,125 was paid to the administrative agent as a structuring fee and is being amortized over the 4-year life of the term loan.

7. NON-CONTROLLING REDEEMABLE INTERESTS IN CONSOLIDATED FUNDS

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the non-controlling interests in the consolidated funds for the years ended December 31:

 

     2008     2009     2010  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 19,289,951      $ 26,872,769      $ 39,419,906   

Contributions

     16,622,389        4,564,451        6,559,325   

Distributions

     (2,298,092     (4,310,684     (7,375,253

Net income (loss)

     (6,741,479     12,293,370        5,862,138   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 26,872,769      $ 39,419,906      $ 44,466,116   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-34


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

8. UNITHOLDERS’ CAPITAL

Set forth below are the distributions per Class A and Class C unit:

 

Payment date

  

Record date

  

Applicable to

quarterly period ended*

   Distribution
per unit
 

April 11, 2008

   April 4, 2008    March 31, 2008    $ 0.23   

July 11, 2008

   July 7, 2008    June 30, 2008      0.32   

October 10, 2008

   October 3, 2008    September 30, 2008      0.21   
        

 

 

 
  

Total 2008

   $ 0.76   
        

 

 

 

January 30, 2009

   January 26, 2009    December 31, 2008    $ 0.03   

April 30, 2009

   April 23, 2009    March 31, 2009      0.07   

July 31, 2009

   July 23, 2009    June 30, 2009      0.30   

October 30, 2009

   October 22, 2009    September 30, 2009      0.25   
        

 

 

 
  

Total 2009

   $ 0.65   
        

 

 

 

January 29, 2010

   January 25, 2010    December 31, 2009    $ 0.75   

April 30, 2010

   April 26, 2010    March 31, 2010      0.70   

July 30, 2010

   July 26, 2010    June 30, 2010      0.36   

October 29, 2010

   October 25, 2010    September 30, 2010      0.36   
        

 

 

 
  

Total 2010

   $ 2.17   
        

 

 

 

 

* Commencing with the distribution paid January 30, 2009, distributions were declared and paid to holders of record in the month following the quarter to which the distribution pertained; accordingly, the distribution pertaining to the last quarter of each year presented was declared, paid and recorded in the subsequent annual period.

The OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries is determined at the Oaktree Operating Group level, based on the weighted average proportionate share of Oaktree Operating Group units held by the OCGH Unitholders. Certain expenses, such as income tax and related administrative expenses of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and its intermediate holding companies (see Note 11) are solely attributable to the Class A and Class C Unitholders.

See Notes 9, 10 and 11 for additional information regarding transactions that impacted Unitholders’ capital.

 

F-35


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

9. EARNINGS PER UNIT

The weighted average units outstanding include both the Class A units and Class C units because both classes have the same economic interest on a per unit basis. The computations of net loss per unit are set forth below (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

 

     For the years ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  

Weighted average units outstanding:

      

Class A and Class C units outstanding

     23,002        22,821        22,677   

OCGH units exchangeable into Oaktree Operating Group units  (1)

     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total weighted average units outstanding

     23,002        22,821        22,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per Class A and Class C unit:

      

Net loss

   $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding

     23,002        22,821        22,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per unit

   $ (5.53   $ (2.50   $ (2.18
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) As of December 31, 2010, there were 125,430,854 OCGH units outstanding. Other than the units issued after April 2008, vested units are subject to lock-ups that generally expire on July 10 of the year in which the units vest. Units issued after April 2008 and prior to January 2011 vest over a five-year period, but are not subject to post-vesting lock-ups. The units in OCGH held by the institutional investors are fully vested but are subject to a five-year lock-up that is being released 20% per year commencing July 10, 2008. Accordingly, the Company may cumulatively issue up to 125,430,854 additional Class A units through June 2015, including approximately 100,000,000 additional Class A units in 2011 and roughly 25,000,000 units in 2012, in connection with the possible exchange of Oaktree Operating Group units by the OCGH Unitholders. These units are anti-dilutive and therefore they have been excluded from the diluted net loss calculation for all periods presented.

From time to time, the Company may repurchase Class A units in open market transactions on the GSTrUE OTC market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and the actual number of units repurchased, if any, will be influenced by a variety of factors, including, without limitation, price, market conditions and legal considerations. During the year ended December 31, 2009, Oaktree repurchased and subsequently cancelled 325,900 Class A units in a privately negotiated transaction for a total cost of $4.7 million. The repurchase resulted in a reduction to Class A and Class C Unitholders paid-in capital. Oaktree did not repurchase any Class A Units during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2010.

10. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

As a part of the May 2007 Restructuring, the OCGH Unitholders exchanged their interests in the Predecessor Company for units in OCGH. From time to time, the general partner of OCGH may designate dates on which OCGH Unitholders may have their vested OCGH units redeemed for Oaktree Operating Group units. Those Oaktree Operating Group units will then be exchanged by the

 

F-36


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

OCGH Unitholder for Class C units in the Company. Holders of Class C units are entitled to ten votes per unit and share ratably in any authorized distributions. Upon approval by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Class C units may be converted at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis into Class A units. The partnership agreement of OCGH generally provides that, in the event an employee’s employment with the Oaktree Operating Group is terminated for any reason, the unvested portion of his or her OCGH units will be forfeited and, with respect to OCGH units outstanding at the time of the 2007 Private Offering, will be reallocated among certain other OCGH Unitholders, unless the termination is due to his or her death or disability. As a result of the service requirement, the OCGH units subject to the risk of forfeiture, equal to $4,644.8 million based on the fair value of Class A units sold in the 2007 Private Offering, is being charged to compensation expense over the service period from May 25, 2007 through January 2, 2012. These units vested 20% on each of January 2, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, with the remaining 20% vesting on January 2, 2012. When Oaktree records this equity-based compensation expense, it also records a corresponding increase in capital.

Subsequent to the 2007 Private Offering, the Company’s only significant awards to employees have been grants of restricted OCGH units. A total of 3,000 Class C units have also been awarded, subject to the same valuation methodology and assumptions as the OCGH units. The Company utilizes a contemporaneous valuation report in determining fair value at the date of grant. Each valuation report is based on the market price of Oaktree’s Class A units, which are traded on the GSTrUE OTC market. A discount is then applied to the Class A unit market price to reflect the lack of marketability for the OCGH units. The determination of an appropriate discount for lack of marketability is based primarily on a review of discounts on the sale of restricted shares of publicly traded companies. Factors that influence the size of the discount for lack of marketability include: the estimated time it would take for an OCGH unitholder to exchange shares into Class A units; the volatility of the Company’s business; restrictive trading of the Class A units; and thin trading of the Class A units. The estimated time to liquidity is influenced primarily by the need for the general partner to establish an open period in which an election to exchange OCGH units for Oaktree Class C units may occur, and board approval to convert Class C units into Class A units. Approval is based primarily on the objective of maintaining an orderly market for Oaktree’s shares. Discount rates were 10%, 25% and 30% for units granted in the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. To assess the reasonableness of the discount rate, consideration is also given to the cost of a synthetic put option that is calculated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The calculation of compensation expense assumes a forfeiture rate of up to 1.5% annually, based on expected turnover. Compensation expense is revised annually or more frequently, as necessary, to adjust for actual forfeitures and reflect expense only for those units that ultimately vest. In each period presented, forfeitures were not materially different from the assumed rate.

Equity-based compensation expense of $941.6 million was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2008. Based on the respective percentage shares of Oaktree Operating Group units held by the Company and OCGH Unitholders, 15.71%, or $147.9 million, was credited to paid-in capital, and the remaining 84.29%, or $793.7 million, was credited to OCGH’s non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries. For the year ended December 31, 2009, equity-based compensation expense of $940.7 million was recognized. Of the $940.7 million, 15.47%, or $145.6 million, was credited to paid-in capital, and the remaining 84.53%, or $795.1 million, was credited to OCGH’s non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries. Equity-based compensation expense of $949.4 million was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2010. Based on the respective percentage shares of Oaktree Operating Group units held by the Company and OCGH Unitholders, 15.31% of the $949.4 million, or $145.4 million, was credited to paid-in capital, and the remaining 84.69%, or $804.0

 

F-37


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

million, was credited to OCGH’s non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries. As of January 1, 2011, Oaktree will recognize compensation expense on its non-vested equity-based awards of $969.5 million over a weighted average recognition period of 1.1 years.

A maximum of 22,050,628 OCGH units have been authorized for issuance pursuant to the 2007 Oaktree Capital Group Equity Incentive Plan and 3,431,676 have been issued as of December 31, 2010. These units, each of which represents an indirect interest in one Oaktree Operating Group unit, can be awarded in the form of options, unit appreciation rights or other unit-based awards. Total vested and unvested outstanding units, including Class A Units, Class C Units and OCGH Units, were 148,107,954 as of December 31, 2010.

A summary of the status of the Company’s unvested equity-based awards as of December 31, 2010 and a summary of changes for each of the three years then ended, are presented below (actual dollars per unit):

 

     Class C Units      OCGH Units  
     Number of
Units
    Weighted-
average grant
date fair value
     Number of
Units
    Weighted-
average grant
date fair value
 

Balance, December 31, 2007

     —        $ —           106,164,536      $ 43.96   

Granted

     3,000        24.75         841,286        28.95   

Vested

     —          —           (21,249,111     43.92   

Exchanged

     —          —           —          —     

Forfeited

     —          —           (800     29.25   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2008

     3,000        24.75         85,755,911        43.82   

Granted

     —          —           862,346        13.95   

Vested

     (600     24.75         (21,589,050     43.63   

Exchanged

     —          —           —          —     

Forfeited

     —          —           (14,000     29.25   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2009

     2,400        24.75         65,015,207        43.48   

Granted

     —          —           1,356,500        23.31   

Vested

     (600     24.75         (21,488,900     43.79   

Exchanged

     —          —           —          —     

Forfeited

     —          —           (15,000     23.26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2010

     1,800      $ 24.75         44,867,807      $ 42.73   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2010, unvested units were expected to vest as follows:

 

     Number of
Units
     Weighted-average
remaining service term
(years)
 

OCGH Units

     44,867,807         1.1   

Class C Units

     1,800         2.3   

As part of the year-end 2010 personnel and compensation review process, 1,443,300 restricted units were issued with a grant date during the first quarter of 2011, subject to equal annual vesting over periods of five or ten years.

 

F-38


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

11. INCOME TAXES AND RELATED PAYMENTS

Prior to May 25, 2007, OCM was treated as a partnership for tax purposes, with the effects of its activities flowing through to the income tax returns of its members. Consequently, no provision for income taxes was made except for non-U.S., city and local income taxes incurred directly by OCM. In connection with the 2007 Private Offering, Oaktree was established as a publicly traded partnership and Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., two of its intermediate holding companies, were established as wholly-owned corporate subsidiaries. Accordingly, income earned by these corporate subsidiaries is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxation and taxed at prevailing rates. Income earned by non-corporate subsidiaries is not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax and is allocated to the Oaktree Operating Group’s unitholders. Oaktree incurs income tax expense despite reporting a loss before income taxes for financial reporting purposes because the non-cash compensation expense arising from the 2007 Private Offering that causes the reported loss is generally not deductible for income tax purposes. The Company’s effective income tax rate is dependent on many factors, including the estimated nature of many amounts and the mix of revenues and expenses between the two corporate subsidiaries that are subject to income taxes and the three other subsidiaries that are not; consequently, the effective income tax rate is subject to significant variation from period to period.

The May 2007 Restructuring involved Oaktree’s purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units from the OCGH Unitholders and an election by certain Oaktree Operating Group entities under Section 754 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, resulting in an increase in the tax basis of the assets owned by the Oaktree Operating Group. As of May 25, 2007, Oaktree established a deferred tax asset for the expected tax benefit associated with the difference between the book value and tax basis of net assets, based on an estimated combined marginal U.S. federal and state tax rate of approximately 41% and the expectation, based on an analysis of expected future earnings, that it is probable that this benefit will be realized. The establishment of the deferred tax asset increased additional paid-in capital, because the transaction was between Oaktree and its unitholders. The deferred tax asset reflects the tax impact of payments expected to be made under the tax receivable agreement (described below), which further increase Oaktree’s deferred tax benefits and the estimated future payments due under the tax receivable agreement.

 

F-39


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Income tax expense from operations consisted of the following for the years ended December 31:

 

     2008      2009      2010  

Current:

        

U.S. federal income tax

   $ 6,352       $ 10,459       $ 13,665   

State and local income tax

     2,556         4,201         5,573   

Foreign income tax

     6,246         1,963         4,984   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 15,154       $ 16,623       $ 24,222   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred:

        

U.S. federal income tax

   $ 1,929       $ 1,184       $ 1,907   

State and local income tax

     258         460         270   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 2,187       $ 1,644       $ 2,177   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total:

        

U.S. federal income tax

   $ 8,281       $ 11,643       $ 15,572   

State and local income tax

     2,814         4,661         5,843   

Foreign income tax

     6,246         1,963         4,984   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax expense

   $ 17,341       $ 18,267       $ 26,399   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate for the following reasons for the years ended December 31:

 

     2008     2009     2010  

Income tax expense at federal statutory rate

     35.00     35.00     35.00

Income passed through

     (34.21     (35.49     (35.53

State and local taxes, net of federal benefit

     (0.03     0.03        0.11   

Foreign taxes

     (0.30     0.18        (0.02

Share-based compensation expense

     (0.67     0.42        0.94   

Other, net

     (0.02     0.01        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total effective rate

     (0.23 )%      0.15     0.50
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The income tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows as of December 31:

 

     2008     2009     2010  

Deferred tax assets:

      

Investment in partnerships

   $ 78,909      $ 74,695      $ 72,177   

Equity-based compensation expense

     305        1,648        3,010   

Other, net

     159        1,715        1,432   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     79,373        78,058        76,619   

Total deferred tax liabilities

     3,268        3,598        4,336   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance

     76,105        74,460        72,283   

Valuation allowance

     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $ 76,105      $ 74,460      $ 72,283   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-40


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Net deferred tax liabilities are included in accounts payable, other accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is probable that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining whether the deferred taxes are realizable, the Company considers the period of expiration of the tax asset, historical and projected taxable income, and tax liabilities for the tax jurisdiction in which the tax asset is located. As of December 31, 2010, the Company determined that all deferred tax assets will be realizable in future periods.

As of January 1, 2009, the Company adopted accounting guidance issued by the FASB that requires companies to recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Pursuant to the guidance, the Company analyzed its tax filing positions in all of the federal, state and foreign tax jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as for all open tax years in these jurisdictions. Based on this review, total reserves of $6.6 million were recorded for uncertain income tax positions, including cumulative effect adjustments at the date of adoption of $0.3 million and $1.3 million to Class A and Class C Unitholder’s capital and OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, the total reserve balance was $9.3 million.

Oaktree recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognized $0.4 million and $1.0 million in interest and penalties expense for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, resulting in reserves for interest and penalties of $0.4 million and $1.4 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

The following is a tabular reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits (excluding interest and penalties thereon):

 

     2008      2009      2010  

Unrecognized tax benefits, January 1

   $ 295       $ 2,812       $ 6,142   

Additions for tax positions related to the current year

     2,517         3,330         1,813   

Additions for tax positions related to prior years

     —           —           —     

Reductions for tax positions related to prior years

     —           —           —     

Settlement of tax positions

     —           —           —     

Lapse of statute of limitations

     —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrecognized tax benefits, December 31

   $ 2,812       $ 6,142       $ 7,955   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company files its tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, Oaktree is subject to examination by federal, state, local and foreign tax regulators. With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax audits by taxing authorities for the years before 2006. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, the Company does not believe the outcome of any current audit will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated cash flows, financial position or results of operations. Oaktree does not believe that it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change within the next twelve months as a result of settlements or lapses of statutes of limitation.

 

F-41


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Tax receivable agreement

Subject to certain restrictions, each holder of OCGH units has the right to exchange his or her vested units for Oaktree Operating Group units and then to exchange those units for Class C units. Certain of the Oaktree Operating Group entities made an election under Section 754 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which may result in an adjustment to the tax basis of the assets owned by Oaktree Operating Group at the time of an exchange. These exchanges may result in increases in tax deductions and tax basis that would reduce the amount of tax that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF, Holdings, Inc. would otherwise be required to pay in the future. Additionally, the acquisition of Oaktree Operating Group units from the OCGH Unitholders also may result in increases in tax deductions and tax basis that would reduce the amount of tax that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF, Holdings, Inc. would otherwise be required to pay in the future.

Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. entered into a tax receivable agreement with each of the OCGH Unitholders that provides for the payment to an exchanging or selling OCGH Unitholder equal to 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income taxes that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. would actually realize (or is deemed to realize in the case of an early termination payment by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. or Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. or a change of control, as defined) as a result of these increases in tax basis. These payments are expected to occur over the period ending approximately in 2029. In connection with the May 2007 Restructuring and related tax effects, a $77.6 million capital decrease and offsetting liability to the OCGH Unitholders was recorded with respect to the tax receivable agreement, which is a component, along with the previously described $91.3 million deferred tax asset, of the deferred tax effects as of December 31, 2007. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company finalized valuations needed to estimate the future taxable deductions created in connection with the sale of the OCGH Unitholders’ interests in the Oaktree Operating Group, which resulted in a decrease to the deferred tax assets of $11.4 million, offset by a decrease to the liability for amounts payable under the tax receivable agreement of $9.7 million and a decrease to paid-in capital of $1.7 million. Payments of $1.3 million and $3.5 million were made to certain OCGH Unitholders by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. in 2009 related to tax benefits that Oaktree Holdings, Inc. recognized, including interest thereon, with respect to the 2007 and 2008 taxable years, respectively. Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. did not generate taxable income in 2007 or 2008 and did not recognize any tax benefits related to the tax receivable agreement for those years. Accordingly, Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. did not make any payments in connection with the tax receivable agreement for 2007 or 2008. In connection with the tax return filed for the year ended December 31, 2009, $3.2 million was paid to certain OCGH Unitholders by Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. in October 2010.

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the normal course of business, Oaktree enters into contracts that contain certain representations, warranties and indemnifications. The Company’s exposure under these arrangements would involve future claims that have not yet been asserted. Inasmuch as no such claims currently exist or are expected to arise, the Company has not accrued any liability in connection with these indemnifications.

 

F-42


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Legal actions

Periodically, the Company is a party to legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company is currently not subject to any actions that individually, or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Incentive income

In addition to the incentive income recognized by Oaktree, certain of its funds have amounts recorded as potentially allocable to Oaktree as its share of potential future incentive income, based on each fund’s NAV. Inasmuch as this incentive income is contingent upon future investment activity and other factors, it is not recognized by Oaktree until it is fixed or otherwise determinable. As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the aggregate of such amounts recorded at the fund level in excess of incentive income recognized by Oaktree was $526,116, $1,590,365 and $2,066,846, respectively, for which related incentive income compensation expense was estimated to be $240,800, $710,500 and $900,263, respectively.

Commitments to funds

As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, Oaktree, generally in the capacity as general partner, had undrawn capital commitments of $305,048 and $322,881, respectively, including commitments to both non-consolidated and consolidated funds.

Operating leases

Oaktree leases its main headquarters office in Los Angeles and offices in New York City, Stamford and eight cities in Asia and Europe, pursuant to current lease terms expiring through 2020. Occupancy costs for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, were $13,712, $16,269 and $17,693, respectively. Additionally, as of December 31, 2009, Oaktree leased a corporate plane pursuant to an agreement with a scheduled termination in March 2014. In December 2009, the Company exercised an early termination option and ultimately acquired the plane from the lessor in January 2010. Concurrent with this transaction, Oaktree sold the plane and entered into a five-year lease for a different corporate plane.

Aggregate estimated minimum commitments under Oaktree’s operating leases at December 31, 2010 were as follows:

 

2011

   $ 15,304   

2012

     12,352   

2013

     10,902   

2014

     10,811   

2015

     9,196   

Thereafter

     22,783   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 81,348   
  

 

 

 

 

F-43


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Investment commitments of consolidated funds

The consolidated funds are parties to certain credit agreements, providing for the issuance of letters of credit and revolving loans, which may require the consolidated funds to extend additional loans to investee companies. The consolidated funds use the same investment criteria in making these unrecorded commitments as they do for investments that are included in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The unfunded liability associated with these credit agreements is equal to the amount by which the contractual loan commitment exceeds the sum of the amount of funded debt and cash held in escrow, if any. As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, these commitments were $597,329 and $538,230, respectively.

As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, the consolidated funds had aggregate commitments in the ordinary course of business to fund potential investments of $168,471 and $665,226, respectively. These commitments will be funded by contributions to the consolidated funds from existing investors.

The consolidated funds may agree to guarantee the repayment obligations of certain investee companies. The guaranteed amounts were not material to the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2009 and 2010.

13. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Oaktree provides certain employee benefits, including a voluntary 401(k) savings plan for which the Company makes an annual profit sharing contribution, up to 4% of total compensation for employees below certain compensation levels and up to 12% of total compensation, subject to prescribed limits, for employees meeting certain eligibility requirements in 2010. In prior years, the voluntary 401(k) plan included a matching contribution of up to 3% of total compensation for employees below certain compensation levels, subject to prescribed limits. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Company incurred expenses of $0.3 million, $0.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, in connection with the plan. Oaktree also has a discretionary annual bonus program for all employees, which is based, in part, on annual income.

 

F-44


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Oaktree considers its principals, employees and non-consolidated Oaktree funds to be affiliates. Amounts due from and to affiliates were comprised of the following as of December 31:

 

     2009      2010  

Due from affiliates:

     

Loans

   $ 7,290       $ 14,062   

Amounts due from non-consolidated funds

     757         815   

Payments made on behalf of non-consolidated entities

     1,012         2,416   

Non-interest bearing advances made to certain principals, non-controlling interest holders and employees

     296         3,475   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total due from affiliates

   $ 9,355       $ 20,768   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Due to affiliates:

     

Due to OCGH Unitholders in connection with the tax receivable agreement (see Note 11)

   $ 63,081       $ 59,928   

Distributions received on behalf of certain principals, current and former employees

     12,309         —     

Amounts due to principals, certain non-controlling interest holders and employees

     5,550         1,568   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total due to affiliates

   $ 80,940       $ 61,496   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loans

Loans primarily consist of interest bearing advances made to certain non-controlling interest holders, primarily Oaktree employees, to meet tax obligations related to equity vesting compensation. The notes, which are generally recourse to the borrower or secured by vested equity and other collateral, bear interest at Oaktree’s cost of capital and generated interest income of $0, $51 and $1,068 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Due from Oaktree funds and portfolio companies

In the normal course of business, the Company pays certain expenses on behalf of the Oaktree funds, for which it is ultimately reimbursed. Amounts advanced on behalf of consolidated funds are eliminated in consolidation. Certain expenses initially paid by Oaktree, primarily employee travel and other costs associated with particular portfolio company holdings, are reimbursed by the portfolio companies.

Other investment transactions

The Company’s principals and senior professionals are permitted to invest their own capital in Oaktree funds. The Company waives any right to incentive income that would ordinarily be earned on such investments, but assesses the normal management fee. To facilitate the funding of capital calls by funds in which principals and senior professionals are invested, the Company advances on a short-term basis the amount of capital calls on their behalf. These advances are generally reimbursed toward the end of the calendar quarter in which the capital calls occurred. Amounts temporarily advanced by

 

F-45


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

the Company are included in non-interest bearing advances made to certain non-controlling interest holders and employees, and any amounts owed by the Company under these arrangements are included in the total distributions received on behalf of certain current and former employees.

Aircraft and other services

The Company leases an airplane for business purposes. Oaktree employees and principals are permitted to charter the aircraft for personal use at rates that cover the costs of operation. Additionally, the Company occasionally makes use of an airplane owned by one of its principals for business purposes at a negotiated cost that is based on market rates.

Special allocations

Certain principals receive special allocations based on a percentage of profits of the Oaktree Operating Group. These special allocations, which are recorded as compensation expense, are made on a current basis only for so long as they remain principals of the Company.

Transactions with Meyer Memorial Trust

One of the Company’s directors, Mr. Pierson, is the chief financial and investment officer of Meyer Memorial Trust. Meyer Memorial Trust invests in certain Oaktree funds on substantially the same terms as the other investors in those funds.

15. CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATED ENTITIES

Oaktree has a registered broker-dealer that is subject to the minimum net capital requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Additionally, Oaktree has an entity based in London which is subject to the capital requirements of the U.K. Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) and another entity based in Hong Kong which is subject to the capital requirements of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Ordinance. These entities operate in excess of their respective regulatory capital requirements.

The regulatory capital requirements referred to above may restrict the Company’s ability to withdraw capital from its entities. At December 31, 2010, approximately $7.5 million may be restricted as to the payment of cash dividends and advances to the Company.

16. SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company’s business is comprised of one segment, the investment management segment. As a leading global investment manager, Oaktree provides investment management services to a largely institutional client base through closed-end, open-end and evergreen funds. Management makes operating decisions and assesses business performance based on financial and operating metrics and data that are presented without the consolidation of any funds.

Oaktree primarily conducts its investment management business and generates substantially all of its revenues in the United States.

 

F-46


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Adjusted Net Income

Our chief operating decision maker uses adjusted net income, or ANI, to evaluate the financial performance of, and make resource allocations and other operating decisions for, the investment management segment. The components of revenues and expenses used in the determination of ANI do not give effect to the consolidation of the funds that the Company manages. In addition, ANI excludes the effect of: (a) non-cash compensation charges related to the vesting of OCGH units, (b) income taxes, (c) expenses that Oaktree Capital Group, LLC or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and (d) the adjustment for the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007. ANI is calculated at the Oaktree Operating Group level. ANI was as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  

Revenues:

      

Management fees

   $ 544,520      $ 636,260      $ 750,031   

Incentive income

     173,876        175,065        413,240   

Investment income (loss)

     (151,249     289,001        149,449   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment revenues

     567,147        1,100,326        1,312,720   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

      

Compensation and benefits

     (218,128     (268,241     (287,067

Incentive income compensation expense

     (64,845     (65,639     (159,243

General, administrative and other expenses

     (70,459     (77,788     (87,602
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     (353,432     (411,668     (533,912
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income, net

     —          —          11,243   

Interest expense, net of interest income

     (6,437     (13,071     (26,173
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

   $ 207,278      $ 675,587      $ 763,878   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

A reconciliation of net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC to ANI of the investment management segment is presented below.

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010  

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ (127,313   $ (57,058   $ (49,455

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

     941,566        940,683        949,376   

Income taxes

     17,341        18,267        26,399   

Non-Oaktree Operating Group expenses

     969        1,008        1,113   

OCGH non-controlling interest

     (625,285     (227,313     (163,555
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

   $ 207,278      $ 675,587      $ 763,878   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-47


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The following tables reconcile the Company’s segment information to the consolidated financial statements:

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2008  
     Segment     Adjustments     Consolidated  

Management fees (a)

   $ 544,520      $ (448,678   $ 95,842   

Incentive income (a)

     173,876        (172,194     1,682   

Investment income (loss) (a)

     (151,249     154,235        2,986   

Total expenses (b)

     (353,432     (1,010,577     (1,364,009

Interest expense, net (c)

     (6,437     (67,037     (73,474

Other income (loss) of consolidated funds (d)

     —          (6,283,717     (6,283,717

Income taxes

     —          (17,341     (17,341

Net loss attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     —          6,885,433        6,885,433   

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     —          625,285        625,285   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI/Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ 207,278      $ (334,591   $ (127,313
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity (e)

   $ 606,478      $ (569,636   $ 36,842   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets (f)

   $ 913,757      $ 30,883,521      $ 31,797,278   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) The adjustment represents the elimination of amounts attributable to the consolidated funds.
(b) The expense adjustment consists of the inclusion of $941,566 of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units, $68,042 of consolidated fund expenses and $969 of expenses incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies.
(c) The interest expense adjustment represents the inclusion of interest expense attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(d) The adjustment to other income (loss) of consolidated funds primarily represents the inclusion of interest, dividend and other investment income attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(e) The adjustment to investments in limited partnerships is to remove from segment assets the consolidated funds that are treated as equity method investments for segment reporting purposes.
(f) Total assets adjustment represents the inclusion of investments and other assets of the consolidated funds, net of segment assets eliminated in consolidation, which are primarily investments in limited partnerships and incentive income receivable.

 

F-48


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2009  
     Segment     Adjustments     Consolidated  

Management fees (a)

   $ 636,260      $ (520,421   $ 115,839   

Incentive income (a)

     175,065        (137,772     37,293   

Investment income (a)

     289,001        (287,223     1,778   

Total expenses (b)

     (411,668     (1,014,650     (1,426,318

Interest expense, net (c)

     (13,071     (21,871     (34,942

Other income of consolidated funds (d)

     —          13,198,881        13,198,881   

Income taxes

     —          (18,267     (18,267

Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     —          (12,158,635     (12,158,635

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     —          227,313        227,313   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI/Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ 675,587      $ (732,645   $ (57,058
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity (e)

   $ 909,329      $ (872,337   $ 36,992   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets (f)

   $ 1,702,403      $ 41,493,328      $ 43,195,731   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) The adjustment represents the elimination of amounts attributable to the consolidated funds.
(b) The expense adjustment consists of the inclusion of $940,683 of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units, $72,959 of consolidated fund expenses and $1,008 of expenses incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies.
(c) The interest expense adjustment represents the inclusion of interest expense attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(d) The adjustment to other income of consolidated funds primarily represents the inclusion of interest, dividend and other investment income attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(e) The adjustment to investments in limited partnerships is to remove from segment assets the consolidated funds that are treated as equity method investments for segment reporting purposes.
(f) Total assets adjustment represents the inclusion of investments and other assets of the consolidated funds, net of segment assets eliminated in consolidation, which are primarily investments in limited partnerships and incentive income receivable.

 

F-49


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

 

     Year Ended December 31, 2010  
     Segment     Adjustments     Consolidated  

Management fees (a)

   $ 750,031      $ (587,980   $ 162,051   

Incentive income (a)

     413,240        (369,110     44,130   

Investment income (a)

     149,449        (142,829     6,620   

Total expenses (b)

     (533,912     (1,046,739     (1,580,651

Other income, net

     11,243        —          11,243   

Interest expense, net (c)

     (26,173     (29,748     (55,921

Other income of consolidated funds (d)

     —          6,719,716        6,719,716   

Income taxes

     —          (26,399     (26,399

Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     —          (5,493,799     (5,493,799

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     —          163,555        163,555   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI/Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ 763,878      $ (813,333   $ (49,455
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity (e)

   $ 1,108,690      $ (1,036,491   $ 72,199   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets (f)

   $ 1,944,801      $ 45,898,859      $ 47,843,660   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) The adjustment represents the elimination of amounts attributable to the consolidated funds.
(b) The expense adjustment consists of the inclusion of $949,376 of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units, $96,250 of consolidated fund expenses and $1,113 of expenses incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies.
(c) The interest expense adjustment represents the inclusion of interest expense attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(d) The adjustment to other income of consolidated funds primarily represents the inclusion of interest, dividend and other investment income attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(e) The adjustment to investments in limited partnerships is to remove from segment assets the consolidated funds that are treated as equity method investments for segment reporting purposes.
(f) Total assets adjustment represents the inclusion of investments and other assets of the consolidated funds, net of segment assets eliminated in consolidation, which are primarily investments in limited partnerships and incentive income receivable.

17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 7, 2011, Oaktree and certain of its subsidiaries executed a credit agreement with a bank syndicate for senior unsecured credit facilities aggregating $550 million. The facilities consist of a $300 million funded term loan maturing in January 2016, repayable 2.5% per quarter, and a $250 million undrawn revolving credit facility that expires in January 2014. The Company entered into an interest rate swap that, together with the margin for Eurodollar loans of 1.50% at the Company’s current credit rating, fixed the term loan’s annual interest rate at 3.19%. In connection with this credit agreement, the $210 million undrawn credit facility originally scheduled to expire August 8, 2011 was terminated.

 

F-50


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

December 31, 2010

($ in thousands, except where noted)

 

In the second quarter of 2011, 80,000 OCGH restricted units were granted to employees.

A distribution in the amount of 90 cents per Class A and Class C unit was paid on January 31, 2011 to holders of record on January 24, 2011.

A distribution in the amount of 64 cents per Class A and Class C unit was paid on April 29, 2011 to holders of record on April 25, 2011.

On June 8, 2011, Kaplan Industry, Inc. v. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. In Kaplan , the plaintiff alleges that Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. tortiously interfered with a business relationship and engaged in a civil conspiracy through the actions of Gulmar Offshore Middle East, LLC (“Gulmar”), a business recently acquired by subsidiaries of OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P. (“EPOF II”). Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. serves as investment manager to EPOF II. The complaint alleges that Gulmar breached a consortium agreement between Gulmar and Kaplan Industry, Inc. relating to the consortium’s performance of services to Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the state-owned oil producer of Venezuela. The plaintiff alleges that Oaktree is responsible for these breaches by Gulmar. The complaint seeks damages in excess of $800 million. The substance of the claim relates almost exclusively to actions by Gulmar prior to EPOF II’s acquisition and the basis of the claim is currently subject to an on-going arbitration in the United Kingdom between Kaplan and Gulmar. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. believes the case is without merit and that any exposure to loss is remote.

Subsequent events have been reviewed through June 16, 2011, the date these financial statements were available to be issued.

 

F-51


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

($ in thousands)

 

     December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
 
           (Unaudited)  

Assets

    

Cash and cash-equivalents

   $ 348,502      $ 597,907   

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

     170,564        200,625   

Investments in limited partnerships

     72,199        68,196   

Due from affiliates

     20,768        27,731   

Deferred tax assets

     76,619        76,619   

Other assets

     125,449        120,255   

Assets of consolidated funds:

    

Cash and cash-equivalents

     5,957,252        4,062,086   

Investments, at fair value

     39,559,170        39,475,628   

Dividends and interest receivable

     228,520        268,858   

Due from brokers

     992,103        1,020,516   

Receivable for securities sold

     156,364        316,661   

Derivative assets, at fair value

     84,036        101,632   

Other assets

     52,114        109,147   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 47,843,660      $ 46,445,861   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Unitholders’ Capital

    

Liabilities:

    

Accrued compensation expenses

   $ 191,343      $ 101,578   

Accounts payable, other accrued expenses and other liabilities

     50,189        52,831   

Due to affiliates

     61,496        62,100   

Debt obligations

     403,571        696,071   

Liabilities of consolidated funds:

    

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     32,001        33,851   

Payables for securities purchased

     480,260        434,972   

Securities sold short, at fair value

     367,155        348,085   

Derivative liabilities, at fair value

     235,758        193,975   

Distributions payable

     227,910        386,299   

Borrowings under revolving credit facilities

     91,145        143,009   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,140,828        2,452,771   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     44,466,116        42,795,448   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital:

    

Class A units, no par value unlimited units authorized, 22,664,100 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011

     —          —     

Class B units, no par value unlimited units authorized, 125,430,854 and 125,786,115 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively

     —          —     

Class C convertible units, no par value unlimited units authorized, 13,000 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011

     —          —     

Paid-in capital

     549,466        558,826   

Accumulated deficit

     (348,741     (358,868

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (372     34   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class A and Class C Unitholders’ capital

     200,353        199,992   

OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     1,036,363        997,650   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Unitholders’ capital

     1,236,716        1,197,642   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and Unitholders’ capital

   $ 47,843,660      $ 46,445,861   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Please see accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-52


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2011  

Revenues:

    

Management fees

   $ 50,609      $ 38,638   

Incentive income

     7,299        5,811   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     57,908        44,449   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Compensation and benefits

     (78,612     (78,312

Incentive income compensation expense

     (57,586     (53,766

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

     (233,439     (237,157
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total compensation and benefits expense

     (369,637     (369,235

General, administrative and other expenses

     (21,303     (22,478

Consolidated fund expenses

     (28,060     (18,934
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     (419,000     (410,647
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (loss):

    

Interest expense

     (17,267     (12,891

Interest and dividend income

     622,731        734,682   

Net realized gain on consolidated funds’ investments

     678,296        760,261   

Net change in unrealized appreciation on consolidated funds’ investments

     608,281        678,628   

Investment income (loss)

     (248     2,695   

Other income (expense), net

     —          (763
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income

     1,891,793        2,162,612   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     1,530,701        1,796,414   

Income taxes

     (10,138     (7,010
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     1,520,563        1,789,404   

Less:

    

Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     (1,554,323     (1,826,401

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     22,135        26,870   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ (11,625   $ (10,127
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions declared per Class A and Class C unit

   $ 0.75      $ 0.90   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss per unit (basic and diluted):

    

Net loss per Class A and Class C unit

   $ (0.51   $ (0.45
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average number of Class A and Class C units outstanding

     22,677        22,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Please see accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-53


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

($ in thousands)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2011  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 1,520,563      $ 1,789,404   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Investment (income) loss

     248        (2,695

Depreciation and amortization

     1,664        1,600   

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

     233,439        237,157   

Net realized and unrealized gains from consolidated funds’ investments

     (1,286,577     (1,438,889

Amortization of original issue and market discount of consolidated funds’ investments

     (17,608     (52,485

Cash flows due to changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     9,138        (72,331

Increase in net due to affiliates

     —          604   

Decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and incentive income allocations payable

     (95,756     (85,273

Cash flows due to changes in operating assets and liabilities of consolidated funds:

    

(Increase) decrease in dividends and interest receivable

     19,892        (40,338

(Increase) decrease in due from brokers

     168,497        (28,413

Increase in receivables for securities sold

     (16,447     (160,297

Decrease in payables for securities purchased

     (850,102     (45,288

Purchases of securities

     (2,420,732     (4,055,796

Proceeds from maturities and sales of securities

     3,661,119        5,603,040   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     927,338        1,650,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

     (65,106     (50,061

Proceeds from maturities and sales of U.S. Treasury and government agency securities

     20,000        20,000   

Investments in investment limited partnerships

     —          (70

Distributions from investment limited partnerships

     1,752        10,351   

Purchases of fixed assets

     (16     (1,456
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (43,370     (21,236
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(continued)

 

F-54


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

($ in thousands)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2011  

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from issuance of debt obligations

   $ —        $ 300,000   

Payment of debt issuance costs

     —          (2,611

Repayments of debt obligations

     —          (7,500

Purchase of Oaktree Operating Group units

     (7,132     (39,623

Distributions to Class A and Class C Unitholders

     (17,008     (20,409

Distributions to OCGH Unitholders

     (126,580     (181,875

Cash flows from financing activities of consolidated funds:

    

Contributions from non-controlling interests

     1,221,404        1,263,584   

Distributions to non-controlling interests

     (1,053,090     (4,646,540

Borrowings on revolving credit facilities

     —          98,164   

Repayments on revolving credit facilities

     (14,281     (46,300
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     3,313        (3,283,110
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (14,048     8,585   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash-equivalents

     873,233        (1,645,761

Cash and cash-equivalents at beginning of period

     3,922,513        6,305,754   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash-equivalents at end of period

   $ 4,795,746      $ 4,659,993   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Please see accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-55


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Unitholders’ Capital (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

    Oaktree Capital Group, LLC              
    Class A
Units
    Class B
Units
    Class C
Units
    Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    OCGH Non-
Controlling
Interest in
Consolidated
Subsidiaries
    Total
Capital
 

Unitholders’ capital as of December 31, 2009

    22,664        124,327        13      $ 455,305      $ (299,286   $ (505   $ 804,319      $ 959,833   

Activity for the three months ended March 31, 2010:

               

Issuance of Class B units

          1,312                                       

Repurchase and cancellation of Class B Units

          (238                                    

Repurchase and cancellation of OCGH Units

                                        (7,132     (7,132

Equity reallocation between controlling and non-controlling interests

                      (1,999                 1,999         

Capital increase related to equity-based compensation

                      35,749                    197,690        233,439   

Distributions declared

                      (17,008                 (126,580     (143,588

Comprehensive loss:

               

Net loss

                            (11,625           (22,135     (33,760

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

                                  (362     (2,005     (2,367
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

            (11,625     (362     (24,140     (36,127
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital as of March 31, 2010

    22,664        125,401        13      $ 472,047      $ (310,911   $ (867   $ 846,156      $ 1,006,425   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital as of December 31, 2010

    22,664        125,431        13      $ 549,466      $ (348,741   $ (372   $ 1,036,363      $ 1,236,716   

Activity for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

               

Issuance of Class B units

          1,443                                       

Forfeitures of Class B Units

      (13                                    

Repurchase and cancellation of Class B Units

          (1,075                                    

Repurchase and cancellation of OCGH Units

                                        (39,623     (39,623

Equity reallocation between controlling and non-controlling interests

                      (6,339                 6,339         

Capital increase related to equity-based compensation

                      36,108                    201,049        237,157   

Distributions declared

                      (20,409                 (181,875     (202,284

Comprehensive loss:

               

Net loss

                            (10,127           (26,870     (36,997

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

                                  163        911        1,074   

Unrealized gain on interest rate swap designated as cash flow hedge, net of tax

                                  243        1,356        1,599   
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

            (10,127     406        (24,603     (34,324
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unitholders’ capital as of March 31, 2011

    22,664        125,786        13      $ 558,826      $ (358,868   $ 34      $ 997,650      $ 1,197,642   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Please see accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-56


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC (together with its subsidiaries, “Oaktree” or the “Company”) is a leading global investment management firm focused on alternative markets. Oaktree manages funds (the “Oaktree funds”) in investment strategies that fall into the following six asset classes: distressed debt, corporate debt, control investing, convertible securities, real estate and listed equities. Funds managed by Oaktree include both separate accounts and commingled funds. The commingled funds include open-end and closed-end limited partnerships for which the Company or a subsidiary serves as the general partner or, in certain limited cases, co-general partner. Oaktree makes principal investments in these funds.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements represent the accounts of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries. These financial statements and related notes have been prepared using the accounting policies described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared under GAAP have been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The operating results presented for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, together with the notes thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are defined in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

A general partner of a limited partnership is presumed to control the limited partnership unless the limited partners have substantive kick-out or participating rights. Accordingly, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the consolidation of limited partnership investment funds for which Oaktree or one of its subsidiaries serves as sole general partner (the “consolidated funds”).

Reorganization of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC was formed on April 13, 2007 for the purpose of effecting a private over-the-counter equity offering. On May 21, 2007, the Company sold 23,000,000 Class A Units to qualified institutional buyers, as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 as amended, (the “2007 Private Offering”) for net proceeds of $944.2 million. Prior to the 2007 Private Offering, our business was operated through Oaktree Capital Management, LLC (“OCM” or the “Predecessor Company”), formed in April 1995, which was owned by its principals, senior employees and certain other investors. In connection with the 2007 Private Offering, OCM caused all of its business to be contributed to a group of operating entities collectively referred to as the Oaktree Operating Group. In addition to the contribution and assignment of OCM’s business to the Oaktree Operating Group, the owners who held interests in OCM immediately prior to the 2007 Private Offering exchanged those interests for units of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. (“OCGH”) and became limited partners of OCGH (together with any subsequently admitted limited partners, the “OCGH Unitholders”). In exchange for the assignment and contribution of OCM’s business to the Oaktree

 

F-57


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Operating Group, OCGH received limited partnership units in each Oaktree Operating Group entity. These series of transactions are collectively referred to as the May 2007 Restructuring. An Oaktree Operating Group unit is not a legal interest but represents one limited partnership interest in each of the Oaktree Operating Group entities.

As a result of the May 2007 Restructuring and other transactions associated with the 2007 Private Offering, the Company became the owner of, and our Class A Unitholders therefore had, a 15.86% indirect economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group, while OCGH retained an 84.14% direct economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group. Additionally, the Company issued all of its outstanding Class B units to OCGH. The Class B units are entitled to ten votes per unit whereas the Class A units are only entitled to one vote per unit. Therefore, the Class B units initially held 98.15% of the voting interest of the Company.

OCM is considered the predecessor of the Company for accounting purposes and its financial statements are the historical financial statements of the Company. The May 2007 Restructuring was accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. Accordingly, the value of assets and liabilities recognized in OCM’s financial statements were unchanged when those assets and liabilities were carried forward into the Company’s financial statements. When the Company indirectly purchased Oaktree Operating Group units from OCGH and directly from the Oaktree Operating Group, it recorded the proportion of Oaktree Operating Group net assets acquired at their historical carrying value and proportionately reduced the OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries. Subsequent to the completion of the May 2007 Restructuring, the OCGH Unitholders’ economic interest in the Oaktree Operating Group is reflected as OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Revision to consolidated statements of cash flows

The Company made an immaterial revision within the consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company determined that the classification of cash flows related to U.S Treasury and government agency securities that were previously included in operating activity is more appropriately included in investing activity, which better reflects the underlying nature of the Company’s investment in these securities. This revision had no impact on the net change in cash and cash-equivalents as previously reported.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Recent accounting developments

In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance on disclosures surrounding fair value measurements. The guidance requires additional disclosure of significant transfers in and out of Levels I and II fair value measurements in the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for such transfers. In the case of Level III fair value measurements, the guidance requires the reconciliation of beginning and ending balances on a gross basis, with separate disclosure of gross purchases, sales, issuances, settlements and transfers in and out. The new guidance also requires that disclosures of the fair value hierarchy include disaggregation by class of assets and liabilities. In addition, an entity is required to provide further disclosures on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for either Level II or Level III. The guidance was effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2009,

 

F-58


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

except for the disclosures about gross purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll-forward of activity in Level III fair value measurements, which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted the guidance, excluding the reconciliation of Level III activity, effective with the issuance of its March 31, 2010 financial statements. The guidance related to the reconciliation of Level III activity was adopted effective with the issuance of the Company’s March 31, 2011 financial statements. Inasmuch as the guidance is limited to enhanced disclosures, the adoptions did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued converged guidance of the FASB and the IASB on fair value measurement intended to result in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term fair value. The amendments are to be applied prospectively and are effective, for public entities, during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. Inasmuch as the guidance is limited to enhanced disclosures, the adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. INVESTMENTS

Investments held and securities sold short in the consolidated funds are summarized as follows:

 

    Fair value at      Fair value as a percentage of
investments of consolidated  funds
 
    December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
 
Investments :                         

United States:

        

Fixed income securities:

        

Consumer discretionary

  $ 10,574,333      $ 9,392,144         26.7     23.8

Consumer staples

    445,799        421,920         1.1        1.1   

Energy

    585,662        625,119         1.5        1.6   

Financials

    1,552,388        1,590,939         3.9        4.0   

Health care

    617,235        564,514         1.6        1.4   

Industrials

    2,033,635        2,567,780         5.1        6.5   

Information technology

    1,027,838        958,001         2.6        2.4   

Materials

    1,372,722        1,274,618         3.5        3.2   

Telecommunication services

    193,567        246,432         0.5        0.6   

Utilities

    1,944,643        2,203,325         4.9        5.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities (cost: $17,618,028 at December 31, 2010 and $17,144,834 at March 31, 2011)

    20,347,822        19,844,792         51.4        50.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-59


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

    Fair value at     Fair value as a percentage of
investments of consolidated  funds
 
    December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
    December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
 
Investments :                        

Equity securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

  $ 2,186,904      $ 2,391,965        5.6     6.0

Consumer staples

    279,607        302,781        0.7        0.8   

Energy

    821,534        861,039        2.1        2.2   

Financials

    1,285,383        1,466,254        3.2        3.7   

Health care

    203,170        198,630        0.5        0.5   

Industrials

    839,442        891,499        2.1        2.3   

Information technology

    95,431        86,474        0.2        0.2   

Materials

    1,597,608        1,506,724        4.0        3.8   

Telecommunication services

    399,200        413,900        1.0        1.0   

Utilities

    —          22,860        0.0        0.1   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities (cost: $7,344,602 at December 31, 2010 and $7,522,087 at March 31, 2011)

    7,708,279        8,142,126        19.4        20.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Europe:

       

Fixed income securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

    1,949,737        1,935,994        4.9        4.9   

Consumer staples

    516,993        613,193        1.3        1.5   

Energy

    37,474        57,429        0.1        0.1   

Financials

    456,180        485,855        1.2        1.2   

Health care

    77,234        64,370        0.2        0.2   

Industrials

    635,510        619,877        1.6        1.6   

Information technology

    505,228        62,045        1.3        0.2   

Materials

    703,157        583,546        1.8        1.5   

Telecommunication services

    58,561        25,070        0.1        0.1   

Utilities

    32,234        74,552        0.1        0.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities (cost: $3,952,790 at December 31, 2010 and $3,435,529 at March 31, 2011)

    4,972,308        4,521,931        12.6        11.5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity securities:

       

Consumer discretionary

    734,865        891,458        1.9        2.3   

Consumer staples

    1,345,337        1,491,237        3.4        3.8   

Energy

    —          16,584        0.0        0.0   

Financials

    805,518        707,348        2.0        1.8   

Industrials

    16,222        —          0.0        0.0   

Materials

    509,742        594,956        1.3        1.5   

Telecommunication services

    9,655        —          0.0        0.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities (cost: $2,348,936 at December 31, 2010 and $2,430,908 at March 31, 2011)

    3,421,339        3,701,583        8.6        9.4   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-60


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

     Fair value at     Fair value as a percentage of
investments of consolidated  funds
 
     December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
    December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
 
Investments :                         

Asia and Other:

        

Fixed income securities:

        

Consumer discretionary

   $ 871,817      $ 871,498        2.2     2.2

Consumer staples

     3,620        6,892        0.0        0.0   

Energy

     185,696        232,960        0.5        0.6   

Financials

     30,072        32,416        0.1        0.1   

Health care

     3,817        4,716        0.0        0.0   

Industrials

     20,258        26,436        0.1        0.1   

Information technology

     80,937        187,791        0.2        0.5   

Materials

     34,149        42,475        0.1        0.1   

Telecommunication services

     287        1,939        0.0        0.0   

Utilities

     221,224        133,858        0.6        0.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities (cost: $1,275,351 at December 31, 2010 and $1,377,212 at March 31, 2011)

     1,451,877        1,540,981        3.8        3.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity securities:

        

Consumer discretionary

     144,575        105,564        0.4        0.3   

Consumer staples

     116,864        101,454        0.3        0.3   

Energy

     70,047        46,878        0.2        0.1   

Financials

     562,794        549,611        1.4        1.4   

Health care

     10,275        13,277        0.0        0.0   

Industrials

     517,177        532,763        1.3        1.3   

Information technology

     114,968        108,802        0.3        0.3   

Materials

     75,813        73,257        0.2        0.2   

Telecommunication services

     34,267        38,600        0.1        0.1   

Utilities

     10,765        154,009        0.0        0.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity securities (cost: $1,391,796 at December 31, 2010 and $1,441,076 at March 31, 2011)

     1,657,545        1,724,215        4.2        4.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed income securities

     26,772,007        25,907,704        67.8        65.6   

Total equity securities

     12,787,163        13,567,924        32.2        34.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments, at fair value

   $ 39,559,170      $ 39,475,628        100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Securities sold short :

        

Fixed income securities

   $ (359,943   $ (107,828    

Equity securities

     (7,212     (240,257    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total securities sold short, at fair value

   $ (367,155   $ (348,085    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

F-61


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

At March 31, 2011, no individual issuer or investment, including derivative instruments, had a fair value which exceeded 5% of Oaktree’s consolidated total net assets.

4. FAIR VALUE

Fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities

The carrying value of cash and cash-equivalents, U.S. Treasury and government agency securities, receivables, consolidated funds credit facilities and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value, due to the short-term nature of these items. The fair value of the senior notes and borrowings under revolving credit facilities is a Level III valuation estimated based on the current rates offered to Oaktree for debt of similar terms and maturities. The fair value of debt obligations was $433.9 million and $733.2 million as of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively, utilizing average borrowing rates of 4.8% and 3.5%, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap, a Level II valuation included in other assets, was $1.6 million and $3.2 million as of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively.

Fair value of financial instruments held by consolidated funds

The authoritative GAAP guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures establishes a fair value hierarchy that classifies financial assets and liabilities into the following three categories for purposes of prioritizing inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value:

 

  Ÿ  

Level I —Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which the Company has access at the date of measurement.

 

  Ÿ  

Level II —Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are directly or indirectly observable. Level II inputs include prices in markets for which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, little public information exists or prices vary substantially over time or among brokered market makers. Other inputs include interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment risks, loss severities, credit risks and default rates.

 

  Ÿ  

Level III— Model-derived valuations for which one or more significant inputs are unobservable. These inputs reflect the Company’s assessment of the assumptions that market participants use to value the investment based on the best available information.

In some instances, an investment may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such instances, the investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest of the three levels (with Level III being the lowest) that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of an input requires judgment and considers factors specific to the investment. The Company accounts for the transfer of assets into or out of each fair value hierarchy level as of the beginning of the reporting period.

 

F-62


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The table below summarizes the valuation of investments and other financial instruments by fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2010:

 

     December 31, 2010  
     Level I     Level II     Level III      Total  

Corporate debt—bank debt

   $ —        $ 13,893,029      $ 1,330,000       $ 15,223,029   

Corporate debt—all other

     —          8,227,927        3,321,051         11,548,978   

Equities—common stock

     4,385,036        834,583        6,759,282         11,978,901   

Equities—preferred stock

     1,866        750        735,855         738,471   

Other

     1,087        52,528        16,176         69,791   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment securities

   $ 4,387,989      $ 23,008,817      $ 12,162,364       $ 39,559,170   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate debt

   $ (254,038   $ (105,905   $ —         $ (359,943

Equities

     (7,212     —          —           (7,212
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total securities sold short

   $ (261,250   $ (105,905   $ —         $ (367,155
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options written

   $ —        $ (2,003   $ —         $ (2,003

Swaps (net)—corporate debt

     —          56,399        —           56,399   

Forward contracts (net)

     (465     (207,656     —           (208,121

At December 31, 2010, unrealized gains on swaps of $80.5 million and unrealized gains on forward contracts of $3.6 million were included in derivative assets in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

The table below summarizes the valuation of investments and other financial instruments by fair value hierarchy levels as of March 31, 2011:

 

     March 31, 2011  
     Level I     Level II     Level III      Total  

Corporate debt—bank debt

   $ —        $ 12,912,821      $ 1,355,999       $ 14,268,820   

Corporate debt—all other

     —          8,315,185        3,323,699         11,638,884   

Equities—common stock

     4,527,851        1,163,030        7,112,824         12,803,705   

Equities—preferred stock

     2,866        3,416        715,237         721,519   

Other

     1,333        26,822        14,545         42,700   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investment securities

   $ 4,532,050      $ 22,421,274      $ 12,522,304       $ 39,475,628   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate debt

   $ —        $ (107,828   $ —         $ (107,828

Equities

     (240,257     —          —           (240,257
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total securities sold short

   $ (240,257   $ (107,828   $ —         $ (348,085
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options written

   $ (553   $ (1,881   $ —         $ (2,434

Swaps (net)—corporate debt

     —          82,845        —           82,845   

Forward contracts (net)

     261        (175,449     —           (175,188

In the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, unrealized gains on forward contracts of $4.4 million and unrealized gains on swaps of $97.2 million were included in derivative assets at March 31, 2011.

 

F-63


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The following tables set forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Level III investments for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011:

 

    Corporate
debt – bank
debt
    Corporate
debt – all
other
    Equities –
common
stock
    Equities –
preferred
stock
    Options     Other     Total  

March 31, 2010

             

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 592,410      $ 3,085,051      $ 3,779,292      $ 846,872      $ 2,500      $ 8,864      $ 8,314,989   

Transfers in or out of Level III, net

    31,470        20,266        74,010        (98,679     —          —          27,067   

Purchases (sales), net

    (176,051     (43,605     113,941        6,770        2,000        (732     (97,677

Realized gains (losses), net

    11,902        151        (77,373     1,190        —          448        (63,682

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net

    67,882        3,345        41,941        24,902        —          (819     137,251   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 527,613      $ 3,065,208      $ 3,931,811      $ 781,055      $ 4,500      $ 7,761      $ 8,317,948   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

March 31, 2011

             

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 1,330,000      $ 3,321,051      $ 6,759,282      $ 735,855      $ 7,000      $ 9,176      $ 12,162,364   

Transfers in or out of Level III, net

    38,305        65,140        (4,305     95        —          1        99,236   

Purchases

    379,291        672,300        406,427        7,621        —          498        1,466,137   

Sales

    (409,591     (814,642     (173,071     (54,267     —          —          (1,451,571

Realized gains (losses), net

    18,683        (5,789     (2,452     (11,416     —          —          (974

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net

    (689     85,639        126,943        37,349        —          (2,130     247,112   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

  $ 1,355,999      $ 3,323,699      $ 7,112,824      $ 715,237      $ 7,000      $ 7,545      $ 12,522,304   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded for Level III investments are reported in net realized gain on consolidated funds’ investments or net change in unrealized appreciation on consolidated funds’ investments in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, total unrealized gains and losses for Level III investments include changes in unrealized appreciation of $66.3 million and $222.5 million relating to investments held at March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2010, $680.5 million of common equity securities transferred from Level II to Level I due to the restructuring of a portfolio company’s equity and an increase in the volume of market activity for the investment, resulting in the availability of a market quotation. There were no significant transfers out of Level III and there were no significant transfers between Level I and Level II in the three-month period ended March 31, 2011.

 

F-64


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Specific valuation metrics, primarily public or private company comparables and discounted cash flow valuation methodologies, were used to value 100% of Level III investments at December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011. Transfers out of Level III are generally attributable to certain investments that experienced a more significant level of market activity during the period and thus were valued using observable inputs. Transfers into Level III are typically due to certain investments that experienced a less significant level of market activity during the period or portfolio companies that undertook restructurings or bankruptcy proceedings and thus were valued in the absence of observable inputs.

5. DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND CREDIT FACILITIES

As of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, Oaktree had the following debt obligations outstanding:

 

     December 31,
2010
     March 31,
2011
 

$75,000, 7.93%, senior notes issued in June 2001, payable in seven equal annual installments starting June 25, 2005

   $ 10,714       $ 10,714   

$75,000, 5.03%, senior notes issued in June 2004, payable in seven equal annual installments starting June 14, 2008

     42,857         42,857   

$50,000, 6.09%, senior notes issued in June 2006, payable on June 6, 2016

     50,000         50,000   

$50,000, 5.82%, senior notes issued in November 2006, payable on November 8, 2016

     50,000         50,000   

$250,000, 6.75%, senior notes issued in November 2009, payable on December 2, 2019

     250,000         250,000   

$300,000, 3.19% rate as described below, term loan issued in January 2011, payable 2.5% per quarter through December 31, 2015, final $150,000 payment on January 6, 2016

     —           292,500   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total remaining principal

   $ 403,571       $ 696,071   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future principal payments are as follows:

 

Remainder of 2011

   $ 43,929   

2012

     40,714   

2013

     40,714   

2014

     40,714   

2015

     30,000   

Thereafter

     500,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 696,071   
  

 

 

 

As of January 7, 2011, the Company terminated the then existing credit facility and executed a credit agreement for senior unsecured credit facilities (collectively, the “Credit Facilities”), consisting of a $300 million funded term loan (the “Term Loan”) and a $250 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). At the Company’s election, outstanding borrowings bear interest equal to LIBOR or the alternate base rate, as defined, plus a ratings-based margin. At the Company’s current A- rating, the Eurodollar margin equals 1.50%. The Company entered into an interest rate swap that,

 

F-65


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

together with the margin for Eurodollar loans of 1.50% at the Company’s current rating, fixed the term loan’s annual interest rate at 3.19%. The Term Loan matures in January 2016, with quarterly amortization of 2.5% commencing March 31, 2011 and a final principal payment of $150 million. The Revolving Credit Facility, which had no borrowings as of March 31, 2011, expires in January 2014, and has a commitment fee payable at an annual rate of 0.20% on unused funds. The Credit Facilities contain typical financial covenants, including ones regarding; maximum leverage ratios of 2.5 to 1, minimum fixed charge coverage ratios of 2.5 to 1 and minimum required levels of assets under management and net worth of $50 billion and $400 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Facilities and senior notes.

The senior notes also contain typical financial covenants. As of March 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with each of these covenants.

Credit facilities of the consolidated funds

Certain of the consolidated funds enter into credit agreements to fund investments between capital drawdowns. These facilities are typically: (i) collateralized by the unfunded capital commitments of the funds’ limited partners, (ii) bear an annual commitment fee based on unfunded commitments, and (iii) contain various affirmative and negative covenants and reporting obligations, including restrictions on additional indebtedness, liens, margin stock, affiliate transactions, dividends and distributions, release on capital commitments, and portfolio asset dispositions. The obligations of the consolidated funds are non-recourse to the Company. As of March 31, 2011, the consolidated funds were in compliance with all covenants.

The consolidated funds had the following revolving bank credit facilities and term loans outstanding:

 

Credit agreement

  Outstanding amount     Facility
capacity
    LIBOR
margin(a)
    Maturity     Commitment
fee rate
    LOC
fee(b)
 
  December 31,
2010
    March 31,
2011
           

Multi-currency term loan (c)

  $ 56,845      $ 57,359      $ 275,000        3.00     12/23/13        N.A.        N.A.   

Revolving credit facility

    —          27,500      $ 150,000        1.75     12/15/12        0.35     N.A.   

Revolving credit facility

    19,100        43,800      $ 100,000        1.75     05/20/13        0.35     N.A.   

Revolving credit facility

    10,200        14,350      $ 55,000        2.00     09/15/13        0.35     2.0

Euro denominated revolving credit facility

    —          —        55,000        1.50     12/11/12        0.30     N.A.   

Euro denominated revolving credit facility

    —          —        55,000        1.75     12/17/13        0.30     N.A.   

Revolving credit facility

    5,000        —        $ 20,000        2.25     08/01/11        0.38     N.A.   
 

 

 

   

 

 

           

Total

  $ 91,145      $ 143,009             
 

 

 

   

 

 

           

 

(a) The facilities bear interest at the borrowers’ option of (i) an annual rate of LIBOR plus the applicable margin or (ii) an alternate base rate, as defined in the respective credit agreements.
(b) Certain facilities allow for the issuance of letters of credit at an applicable annual fee. As of March 31, 2011, there were no outstanding standby letters of credit.
(c)

A four-year $275,000 aggregate principal amount term loan that consists of (i) a U.S. Dollar- denominated loan in an aggregate principal amount of $221,451 (ii) a Euro-denominated loan in

 

F-66


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

 

an aggregate principal amount of 26,491 and (iii) an Australian-Dollar denominated loan in an aggregate principal amount of AU$17,660. The loan is guaranteed by the consolidated fund and, with certain limited exceptions, all of the subsidiaries of the consolidated fund, and is collateralized by both the unfunded capital commitments of the partners and, with certain exceptions, the portfolio investments of the consolidated fund and its subsidiaries. In connection with the term loan, $4,125 was paid to the administrative agent as a structuring fee and is being amortized over the 4-year life of the term loan.

6. NON-CONTROLLING REDEEMABLE INTERESTS IN CONSOLIDATED FUNDS

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the non-controlling interests in the consolidated funds:

 

     Three months ended March 31,  
     2010     2011  

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 39,419,906      $ 44,466,116   

Contributions

     1,221,404        1,263,584   

Distributions

     (1,309,611     (4,885,988

Net income

     1,692,820        1,951,736   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 41,024,519      $ 42,795,448   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

7. EARNINGS PER UNIT

The weighted average units outstanding include both the Class A and Class C units because both classes have the same economic interest on a per unit basis. The computations of net loss per unit are set forth below:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2011  

Weighted average units outstanding

    

Class A and Class C units outstanding

     22,677        22,677   

OCGH units exchangeable into Oaktree Operating Group units (1)

     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total weighted average units outstanding

     22,677        22,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per Class A and Class C unit

    

Net loss

   $ (11,625   $ (10,127
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding

     22,677        22,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per unit

   $ (0.51   $ (0.45
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

As of March 31, 2011, there were 125,786,115 OCGH units outstanding. Other than the units issued after April 2008, vested units are subject to lock-ups that generally expire on July 10 of the year in which the units vest. Units issued after April 2008 and prior to January 2011 vest over a five-year period, but are not subject to post-vesting lock-ups. Units issued after December 31, 2010 generally vest over a five-year period, however, individual grant awards of 25,000 units or more generally vest over a ten-year period. The units in OCGH held by the institutional investors

 

F-67


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

 

are fully vested but are subject to a five-year lock-up that is being released 20% per year commencing July 10, 2008. Accordingly, the Company may cumulatively issue up to 125,793,615 additional Class A units through January 2016, including approximately 100,000,000 additional Class A units in 2011 and roughly 25,000,000 units in 2012, in connection with the possible exchange of Oaktree Operating Group units by the OCGH Unitholders. These units are anti-dilutive and therefore they have been excluded from the diluted net loss calculation for all periods presented.

8. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

As part of the May 2007 Restructuring, the OCGH Unitholders exchanged their interests in the Predecessor Company for units in OCGH. From time to time, the general partner of OCGH may designate dates on which OCGH Unitholders may have their vested OCGH units redeemed for Oaktree Operating Group units. Those Oaktree Operating Group units will then be exchanged by the OCGH Unitholder for Class C units in the Company.

Holders of Class C units are entitled to ten votes per unit and share ratably in any distributions. Upon approval by the Company’s Board of Directors, the units may be converted at the option of the holder on a one-for-one basis into Class A units. The partnership agreement of OCGH generally provides that, in the event an employee’s employment with the Oaktree Operating Group is terminated for any reason, the unvested portion of his or her OCGH units will be forfeited and, with respect to OCGH Units outstanding at the time of the 2007 Private Offering, will be reallocated among certain other OCGH Unitholders, unless the termination is due to his or her death or disability. As a result of the service requirement, the OCGH units subject to the risk of forfeiture, equal to $4.6 billion based on the fair value of Class A units sold in the May 2007 Restructuring, is being charged to compensation expense over the service period from May 25, 2007 through January 2, 2012. These units vested 20% on each of January 2, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, with the remaining 20% vesting on January 2, 2012. When Oaktree records this equity-based compensation expense, it also records a corresponding increase in capital.

Equity-based compensation expense of $237.2 million was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Based on the respective percentage shares of Oaktree Operating Group units held by the Company and OCGH Unitholders, 15.23% of the $237.2 million, or $36.1 million, was credited to the paid-in capital of Class A and Class C Unitholders, and the remaining 84.77%, or $201.1 million, was credited to OCGH’s non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries.

A maximum of 22,216,193 OCGH units have been authorized for issuance pursuant to the 2007 Oaktree Capital Group Equity Incentive Plan. These units, each of which represents an indirect interest in one Oaktree Operating Group unit, can be awarded in the form of options, unit appreciation rights or other unit-based awards. As part of the year-end 2010 personnel and compensation review process, 1,443,300 restricted units were issued with a grant date during the first quarter of 2011, subject to equal vesting over periods of five or ten years, bringing the total number of OCGH units issued under the plan to 4,874,976.

 

F-68


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

9. INCOME TAXES AND RELATED PAYMENTS

Prior to May 25, 2007, OCM was treated as a partnership for tax purposes, with the effects of its activities flowing through to the income tax returns of its members. Consequently, no provision for income taxes was made except for non-U.S., city and local income taxes incurred directly by OCM. In connection with the May 2007 Private Offering, Oaktree was established as a publicly traded partnership and Oaktree Holdings, Inc. and Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., two of its five intermediate holding companies, were established as wholly-owned corporate subsidiaries. Accordingly, income earned by these corporate subsidiaries is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxation and taxed at prevailing rates. Income earned by non-corporate subsidiaries is not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax and is allocated to the Company’s Unitholders. Oaktree incurs income tax expense despite reporting a loss before income taxes for financial reporting purposes, because the non-cash compensation expense arising from the Offering that causes the reported loss is generally not deductible for income tax purposes.

The Company’s effective income tax rate is dependent on many factors, including the estimated nature of many amounts and the mix of revenues and expenses between the two corporate subsidiaries that are subject to income taxes and the three other subsidiaries that are not; consequently, the effective income tax rate is subject to significant variation from period to period. In interim periods the effective income tax rule is an estimate of the full-year rate.

Tax Receivable Agreement

No amounts were paid under the tax receivable agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

10. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Oaktree enters into derivative contracts in the normal course of business to achieve certain risk management objectives. As a result of the use of derivative contracts, Oaktree is exposed to the risk that counterparties will fail to fulfill their contractual obligations. To mitigate such counterparty risk, Oaktree enters into contracts with certain major financial institutions, all of which have investment grade ratings. Counterparty credit risk is evaluated in determining the fair value of derivative instruments.

The Company had one derivative designated as a cash flow hedge at March 31, 2011. This interest rate swap had a notional value of $300.0 million and $292.5 million as of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively. The hedge continued to be effective at March 31, 2011.

Derivatives held by consolidated funds

Certain consolidated funds utilize derivative instruments in their investment operations. These derivatives primarily consist of foreign currency forward contracts utilized to manage currency risks, options used to hedge exposure for specific securities, and total return swaps and credit default swaps utilized mainly to obtain exposure to leveraged loans or to participate in foreign markets not readily accessible to the partnership. The fair value of these derivative instruments is disclosed in Note 4. None of the consolidated funds’ derivative instruments are accounted for as hedging instruments utilizing hedge accounting.

 

F-69


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The impact of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations was as follows:

 

     Three months ended March 31,  
     2010     2011  
     Net realized gains
(losses) on
investments
    Net change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation) on
investments
    Net realized gains
(losses) on
investments
    Net change in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation) on
investments
 

Total return and credit default swaps

   $ (1,925   $ 25,292      $ 5,345      $ 25,663   

Foreign currency forward contracts

     195,690        (25,756     (411,377     133,085   

Options

     (4,235     8,201        (1,765     (27,333
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 189,530      $ 7,737      $ (407,797   $ 131,415   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal actions

Periodically, the Company is a party to legal actions arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company is currently not subject to any actions that individually, or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material impact on results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Incentive income

In addition to the incentive income recognized by Oaktree, certain of its funds have amounts recorded as potentially allocable to Oaktree as its share of potential future incentive income, based on each fund’s NAV. Inasmuch as this incentive income is contingent upon future investment activity and other factors, it is not recognized by Oaktree until it is fixed or determinable. As of March 31, 2010 and 2011, the aggregate such amounts recorded at the fund level in excess of incentive income recognized by Oaktree were $1.7 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, for which related incentive income compensation expense was estimated to be $0.8 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively.

Commitments to funds

Oaktree, generally in the capacity as general partner, had remaining capital commitments of $322.9 million and $447.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively, including commitments to both non-consolidated and consolidated funds.

Investment commitments of consolidated funds

The consolidated funds are parties to certain credit agreements, providing for the issuance of letters of credit and revolving loans, which may require the funds to extend additional loans to investee companies. The consolidated funds use the same investment criteria in making these unrecorded commitments as they do for investments which are included in the condensed statements of financial condition. The unfunded liability associated with these credit agreements is equal to the amount by

 

F-70


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

which the contractual loan commitment exceeds the sum of the amount of funded debt and cash held in escrow, if any. As of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, these commitments were $538.2 million and $474.7 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, the consolidated funds had aggregate commitments in the ordinary course of business to fund potential investments of $665.2 million and $498.0 million, respectively. These commitments will be funded by contributions to the funds from existing investors.

The consolidated funds may agree to guarantee the repayment obligations of certain investee companies. The guaranteed amounts were not material to the condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011.

12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Oaktree considers its principals, employees and non-consolidated funds to be affiliates. Amounts due from and to affiliates were comprised of the following:

 

     December 31,
2010
     March 31,
2011
 

Due from affiliates:

     

Loans

   $ 14,062       $ 20,972   

Amounts due from non-consolidated funds

     815         681   

Payments made on behalf of non-consolidated entities

     2,416         2,814   

Non-interest bearing advances made to certain principals, non-controlling interest holders and employees

     3,475         3,264   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total due from affiliates

   $ 20,768       $ 27,731   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Due to affiliates:

     

Due to OCGH Unitholders in connection with the tax receivable agreement

   $ 59,928       $ 59,928   

Amounts due to principals, certain non-controlling interest holders and employees

     1,568         2,172   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total due to affiliates

   $ 61,496       $ 62,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loans

Loans primarily consist of interest bearing advances made to certain non-controlling interest holders, primarily Oaktree employees, to meet tax obligations related to equity vesting compensation. The notes, which are generally recourse to the borrower or secured by vested equity and other collateral, bear interest at Oaktree’s cost of capital.

Due from Oaktree funds and portfolio companies

In the normal course of business, the Company pays certain expenses on behalf of the Oaktree funds, for which it is ultimately reimbursed. Amounts advanced on behalf of consolidated funds are eliminated in consolidation. Certain expenses initially paid by Oaktree, primarily employee travel and other costs associated with particular portfolio company holdings, are reimbursed by the portfolio companies.

 

F-71


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

Non-interest bearing advances made to certain non-controlling interest holders and employees

The Company’s principals and senior professionals are permitted to invest their own capital in Oaktree funds. The Company waives any right to incentive income that would ordinarily be earned on such investments, but assesses the normal management fee. To facilitate the funding of capital calls by funds in which principals and senior professionals are invested, the Company advances on a short-term basis, the amount of capital calls on their behalf. These advances are generally reimbursed toward the end of the calendar quarter in which the capital calls occurred. Amounts temporarily advanced by the Company are included in non-interest bearing advances made to certain non-controlling interest holders and employees.

Aircraft and other services

The Company leases an airplane for business purposes. Oaktree employees and principals are permitted to charter the aircraft for personal use at rates that cover the costs of operation. Additionally, the Company occasionally makes use of an airplane owned by one of its principals for business purposes at a negotiated cost that is based on market rates.

Special allocations

Certain principals receive allocations based on a percentage of profits of the Oaktree Operating Group. These allocations, which are recorded as compensation expense, are made on a current basis only for so long as they remain principals of the Company.

Transactions with Meyer Memorial Trust

One of the Company’s directors, Mr. Pierson, is the chief financial and investment officer of Meyer Memorial Trust. Meyer Memorial Trust invests in certain Oaktree funds on substantially the same terms as the other investors in those funds.

13. SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company’s business is comprised of one segment, the investment management segment. As a leading global investment manager, Oaktree provides investment management services to a largely institutional client base through both open-end, closed-end, and evergreen funds. Management makes operating decisions and assesses business performance based on financial and operating metrics and data that are presented without the consolidation of any funds.

Oaktree conducts its investment management business primarily in the United States and substantially all of its revenues are generated domestically.

Adjusted Net Income

Our chief operating decision maker uses adjusted net income, or ANI, to evaluate the financial performance of, and make resource allocations and other operating decisions for, the investment management segment. The components of revenues and expenses used in the determination of ANI do not give effect to the consolidation of the funds that the Company manages. ANI excludes the

 

F-72


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

effects of: (a) non-cash compensation charges related to the vesting of OCGH units, (b) income taxes, (c) expenses that Oaktree Capital Group, LLC or its Intermediate Holding Companies bear directly and (d) the adjustment for the OCGH non-controlling interest subsequent to May 24, 2007. ANI is calculated at the Oaktree Operating Group level. ANI was as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2011  

Revenues:

    

Management fees

   $ 184,224      $ 185,259   

Incentive income

     149,569        130,889   

Investment income

     40,656        53,017   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment revenues

     374,449        369,165   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Compensation and benefits

     (78,606     (78,312

Incentive income compensation expense

     (57,586     (53,766

General, administrative and other expenses

     (21,112     (20,250
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     (157,304     (152,328
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income, net

     —          (763

Interest expense, net

     (7,130     (8,720
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

   $ 210,015      $ 207,354   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

A reconciliation of net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC to ANI of the investment management segment is presented below.

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2011  

Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ (11,625   $ (10,127

Compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units

     233,439        237,157   

Income taxes

     10,138        7,010   

Non-Oaktree Operating Group expenses

     198        184   

OCGH non-controlling interest

     (22,135     (26,870
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI

   $ 210,015      $ 207,354   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-73


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

The following tables reconcile the Company’s segment information to the consolidated financial statements:

 

     Three months ended March 31, 2010  
     Segment     Adjustments     Consolidated  

Management fees (a)

   $ 184,224      $ (133,615   $ 50,609   

Incentive income (a)

     149,569        (142,270     7,299   

Investment income (loss) (a)

     40,656        (40,904     (248

Total expenses (b)

     (157,304     (261,696     (419,000

Interest expense, net (c)

     (7,130     (10,137     (17,267

Other income of consolidated funds (d)

     —          1,909,308        1,909,308   

Income taxes

     —          (10,138     (10,138

Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated entities

     —          (1,554,323     (1,554,323

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     —          22,135        22,135   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI/Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ 210,015      $ (221,640   $ (11,625
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity (e)

   $ 942,302      $ (907,307   $ 34,995   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets (f)

   $ 1,629,189      $ 43,911,916      $ 45,541,105   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) The adjustment represents the elimination of amounts attributable to the consolidated funds.
(b) The expense adjustment consists of the inclusion of $233,439 of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units, $28,059 of consolidated fund expenses and $198 of expenses incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies.
(c) The interest expense adjustment represents the inclusion of interest expense attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(d) The adjustment to other income of consolidated funds primarily represents the inclusion of interest, dividend and other investment income attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(e) The adjustment to investments in limited partnerships is to remove from segment assets the consolidated funds that are treated as equity method investments for segment reporting purposes.
(f) Substantially all of the total assets adjustment represents the inclusion of investments and other assets of the consolidated funds, net of segment assets eliminated in consolidation, which are primarily investments in limited partnerships and incentive income receivable.

 

F-74


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

 

     Three months ended March 31, 2011  
     Segment     Adjustments     Consolidated  

Management fees (a)

   $ 185,259      $ (146,621   $ 38,638   

Incentive income (a)

     130,889        (125,078     5,811   

Investment income (a)

     53,017        (50,322     2,695   

Total expenses (b)

     (152,328     (258,319     (410,647

Other income, net

     (763     —          (763

Interest expense, net (c)

     (8,720     (4,171     (12,891

Other income of consolidated funds (d)

     —          2,173,571        2,173,571   

Income taxes

     —          (7,010     (7,010

Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds

     —          (1,826,401     (1,826,401

Net loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

     —          26,870        26,870   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANI/Net loss attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

   $ 207,354      $ (217,481   $ (10,127
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments in limited partnerships, at equity (e)

   $ 1,060,227      $ (992,031   $ 68,196   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets (f)

   $ 2,111,708      $ 44,334,153      $ 46,445,861   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) The adjustment represents the elimination of amounts attributable to the consolidated funds.
(b) The expense adjustment consists of the inclusion of $237,157 of compensation expense for vesting of OCGH units, $20,978 of consolidated fund expenses and $184 of expenses incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies.
(c) The interest expense adjustment represents the inclusion of interest expense attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(d) The adjustment to other income of consolidated funds primarily represents the inclusion of interest, dividend and other investment income attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.
(e) The adjustment to investments in limited partnerships is to remove from segment assets the consolidated funds that are treated as equity method investments for segment reporting purposes.
(f) Substantially all of the total assets adjustment represents the inclusion of investments and other assets of the consolidated funds, net of segment assets eliminated in consolidation, which are primarily investments in limited partnerships and incentive income receivable.

14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In the second quarter of 2011, 80,000 restricted OCGH units were granted to employees.

A distribution in the amount of 64 cents per Class A and Class C unit was paid on April 29, 2011 to holders of record on April 25, 2011.

On June 8, 2011, Kaplan Industry, Inc. v. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. In Kaplan , the plaintiff alleges that Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. tortiously interfered with a business relationship and engaged in a civil conspiracy

 

F-75


Table of Contents

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

March 31, 2011

(Unaudited, $ in thousands, except where noted)

 

through the actions of Gulmar Offshore Middle East, LLC (“Gulmar”), a business recently acquired by subsidiaries of OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P. (“EPOF II”). Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. serves as investment manager to EPOF II. The complaint alleges that Gulmar breached a consortium agreement between Gulmar and Kaplan Industry, Inc. relating to the consortium’s performance of services to Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the state-owned oil producer of Venezuela. The plaintiff alleges that Oaktree is responsible for these breaches by Gulmar. The complaint seeks damages in excess of $800 million. The substance of the claim relates almost exclusively to actions by Gulmar prior to EPOF II’s acquisition and the basis of the claim is currently subject to an on-going arbitration in the United Kingdom between Kaplan and Gulmar. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. believes the case is without merit and that any exposure to loss is remote.

Subsequent events have been reviewed through June 16, 2011, the date these financial statements were available to be issued.

 

F-76


Table of Contents

APPENDIX A

 

FORM OF

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

 

Dated as of                     , 2011

 

 

 

A-1


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

 
ARTICLE I         
DEFINITIONS         

Section 1.1

  

Definitions

     A-6   

Section 1.2

  

Construction

     A-13   
ARTICLE II         
ORGANIZATION         

Section 2.1

  

Formation

     A-13   

Section 2.2

  

Name

     A-13   

Section 2.3

  

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

     A-13   

Section 2.4

  

Purposes

     A-14   

Section 2.5

  

Powers

     A-14   

Section 2.6

  

Power of Attorney

     A-14   

Section 2.7

  

Term

     A-15   

Section 2.8

  

Title to Company Assets

     A-15   
ARTICLE III         
MEMBERS; CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFERS OF UNITS         

Section 3.1

  

Members

     A-15   

Section 3.2

  

Rights of a Member

     A-16   

Section 3.3

  

Certificates

     A-17   

Section 3.4

  

Record Holders

     A-17   

Section 3.5

  

Registration and Transfer of Units

     A-18   

Section 3.6

  

Restrictions on Transfer

     A-19   

Section 3.7

  

[Reserved]

     A-20   

Section 3.8

  

[Reserved]

     A-20   

Section 3.9

  

Citizenship Requirements

     A-20   

Section 3.10

  

[Reserved]

     A-20   

Section 3.11

  

[Reserved]

     A-20   

Section 3.12

  

Splits and Combinations

     A-20   

Section 3.13

  

Redemption of Units

     A-21   
ARTICLE IV         
DESIGNATION OF CLASS A UNITS AND CLASS B UNITS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS         

Section 4.1

  

Designation of Class A Units and Class B Units

     A-22   

Section 4.2

  

[Reserved]

     A-22   

Section 4.3

  

[Reserved]

     A-22   

Section 4.4

  

Issuance and Cancellation of Class B Units

     A-22   

Section 4.5

  

[Reserved]

     A-22   

Section 4.6

  

Issuances of Additional Units

     A-22   

Section 4.7

  

Preemptive Rights

     A-23   

Section 4.8

  

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Units

     A-23   

Section 4.9

  

Purchases of Units

     A-23   
ARTICLE V         
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS         

Section 5.1

  

Capital Accounts

     A-23   

 

A-2


Table of Contents
          Page

 

Section 5.2

  

Allocations

     A-24   

Section 5.3

  

Distributions to Record Holders

     A-25   
ARTICLE VI         
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS         

Section 6.1

  

Power and Authority of Board of Directors

     A-25   

Section 6.2

  

Number, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors

     A-27   

Section 6.3

  

Election of Directors

     A-27   

Section 6.4

  

Removal

     A-28   

Section 6.5

  

Resignations

     A-28   

Section 6.6

  

Vacancies

     A-28   

Section 6.7

  

Chairman of Meetings

     A-28   

Section 6.8

  

Place of Meetings

     A-28   

Section 6.9

  

Meetings; Notice

     A-28   

Section 6.10

  

Action Without Meeting

     A-28   

Section 6.11

  

Conference Telephone Meetings

     A-29   

Section 6.12

  

Quorum

     A-29   

Section 6.13

  

Committees

     A-29   

Section 6.14

  

Alternate Members of Committees

     A-29   

Section 6.15

  

Remuneration

     A-29   

Section 6.16

  

Exculpation, Indemnification, Advances and Insurance

     A-30   

Section 6.17

  

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties

     A-33   

Section 6.18

  

Certificate of Formation

     A-35   

Section 6.19

  

Officers

     A-35   

Section 6.20

  

Duties of Officers and Directors

     A-36   

Section 6.21

  

Reliance by Third Parties

     A-36   

Section 6.22

  

Manager

     A-36   
ARTICLE VII         
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS         

Section 7.1

  

Records and Accounting

     A-37   

Section 7.2

  

Fiscal Year

     A-37   

Section 7.3

  

Reports

     A-37   
ARTICLE VIII         
TAX MATTERS         

Section 8.1

  

Tax Returns and Information

     A-38   

Section 8.2

  

Tax Elections

     A-38   

Section 8.3

  

Tax Controversies

     A-38   

Section 8.4

  

Withholding

     A-38   

Section 8.5

  

Election to be Treated as a Corporation

     A-38   
ARTICLE IX         
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION         

Section 9.1

  

Dissolution

     A-39   

Section 9.2

  

Liquidator

     A-39   

Section 9.3

  

Liquidation

     A-39   

Section 9.4

  

Cancellation of Certificate of Formation

     A-40   

 

A-3


Table of Contents
          Page

 

Section 9.5

  

Return of Contributions

     A-40   

Section 9.6

  

Waiver of Partition

     A-40   

Section 9.7

  

Capital Account Restoration

     A-40   
ARTICLE X         
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT         

Section 10.1

  

General

     A-40   

Section 10.2

  

Specified Amendments

     A-41   

Section 10.3

  

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Board of Directors

     A-41   
ARTICLE XI         
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION         

Section 11.1

  

Authority

     A-42   

Section 11.2

  

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination

     A-43   

Section 11.3

  

Approval by Members of Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination

     A-44   

Section 11.4

  

Certificate of Merger, Conversion or Consolidation

     A-45   

Section 11.5

  

Amendment of Operating Agreement

     A-45   
ARTICLE XII         
MEMBER MEETINGS         

Section 12.1

  

Member Meetings

     A-45   

Section 12.2

  

Notice of Meetings of Members

     A-46   

Section 12.3

  

Record Date

     A-46   

Section 12.4

  

Adjournment

     A-46   

Section 12.5

  

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting

     A-46   

Section 12.6

  

Quorum; Required Vote for Member Action; Voting for Directors

     A-47   

Section 12.7

  

Conduct of a Meeting

     A-47   

Section 12.8

  

Action Without a Meeting

     A-47   

Section 12.9

  

Voting and Other Rights

     A-48   

Section 12.10

  

Proxies and Voting

     A-48   
ARTICLE XIII         
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE UNITS         

Section 13.1

  

Right to Acquire Units

     A-49   

Section 13.2

  

Notice of Election to Purchase

     A-49   
ARTICLE XIV         
GENERAL PROVISIONS         

Section 14.1

  

Addresses and Notices

     A-50   

Section 14.2

  

Further Action

     A-50   

Section 14.3

  

Binding Effect

     A-50   

Section 14.4

  

Integration

     A-51   

Section 14.5

  

Creditors

     A-51   

Section 14.6

  

Waiver

     A-51   

Section 14.7

  

Counterparts

     A-51   

Section 14.8

  

Applicable Law

     A-51   

 

A-4


Table of Contents
          Page

 

Section 14.9

  

Invalidity of Provisions

     A-51   

Section 14.10

  

Consent of Members

     A-51   

Section 14.11

  

Facsimile Signatures

     A-51   

Section 14.12

  

Effectiveness of Amendment

     A-51   

EXHIBITS

             

EXHIBIT A – FORM OF CLASS A UNIT CERTIFICATE

        

EXHIBIT B – FORM OF CLASS B UNIT CERTIFICATE

        

 

A-5


Table of Contents

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

 

This THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC, is dated as of                     , 2011. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.1.

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed under the Delaware Act pursuant to a Certificate of Formation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 13, 2007, and a Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of April 13, 2007 (the “ Original Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Original Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (the “ First Amended Agreement ”) dated as of May 25, 2007;

 

WHEREAS, the First Amended Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by a Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (the “ Second Amended Agreement ”) dated as of March 28, 2008;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Offering Date, all of the issued and outstanding Class C Units of the Company will be converted into Class A Units; and

 

WHEREAS, the members of the Company have authorized and approved an amendment and restatement of the Second Amended Agreement on the terms set forth herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the Second Amended Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1  Definitions.

 

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

 

Additional Member ” means a Person admitted as a member of the Company in accordance with Article IV as a result of an issuance of Units to such Person by the Company.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person in question; provided , that no Investment Fund or Portfolio Company shall be an “Affiliate” of the Company or of any Subsidiary thereof.

 

Agreement ” means this Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Beneficial Owner ” means a Person who is deemed to beneficially own a Unit, as determined pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act.

 

Board of Directors ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(a).

 

Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of California shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

A-6


Table of Contents

Capital Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1.

 

Capital Contribution ” means any cash or cash equivalents or the fair market value (as determined by the Company) of any property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, that a Member contributes to the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Company asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Company shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the Company, and the Carrying Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Unit by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets to a Member; (c) the date a Unit is relinquished to the Company; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided , however , that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)” rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

 

Certificate ” means a certificate (a) substantially in the form of Exhibit A or Exhibit B to this Agreement, (b) in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of any depositary or (c) in such other form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Company evidencing ownership of one or more Units.

 

Certificate of Formation ” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 6.18, as such Certificate of Formation may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Chairman ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.7.

 

Citizenship Certification ” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the Company by which a Member certifies that it (and if it is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of its knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

 

Class A Unit ” means a Unit in the Company that is a common unit designated as a “Class A Unit.”

 

Class B Holder ” means any entity or entities that are Controlled by the Principals, other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and that is or becomes the Record Holder of one or more Class B Units. As of the date of this Agreement, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings is the sole Class B Holder.

 

Class B Unit ” means a Unit in the Company that is a common unit designated as a “Class B Unit.”

 

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

 

A-7


Table of Contents

Company ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.

 

Company Group ” means the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Current Market Price ” means, with respect to any Unit of any class or series as of any date of determination, the average of the daily closing price per Unit of such series or class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.

 

Delaware Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

 

DGCL ” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 8 Del. C. Section 101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

 

Director ” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

electronic transmission ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.10(a).

 

Eligible Citizen ” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time and whose status as a Member the Company determines in its sole discretion does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.

 

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Oaktree Operating Group Units in accordance with the terms thereof, including, without limitation, the Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement dated as of March 28, 2008 by and among the Company, OCM Holdings I, LLC, Oaktree Holdings, Inc., Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. (formerly Oaktree Media Holdings, Inc.), Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., Oaktree Capital Group Holdings and the other parties joined thereto from time to time, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

 

First Amended Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

 

Fiscal Year ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2.

 

Governmental Entity ” means any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof.

 

A-8


Table of Contents

Group Member ” means a member of the Company Group.

 

Indemnified Person ” means (a) any Person who is or was a Director, Officer or Tax Matters Partner of the Company, (b) any Person who is or was an officer, director, member, manager, partner, Tax Matters Partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member or any Affiliate thereof, (c) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or an Affiliate as an officer, director, member, manager, partner, Tax Matters Partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person (including any Subsidiary); provided , that a Person shall not be an Indemnified Person by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (d) the Manager, and (e) any Person the Board of Directors in its sole discretion designates as an “Indemnified Person” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Investment Company Act ” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Investment Fund ” means any Person in which an Oaktree Operating Group Partnership owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, shares of stock, or a general partner, limited partner, limited liability company or similar ownership interest, organized or formed primarily for the purpose of investing funds contributed to such Person by one or more third parties that are not Affiliates of the Company.

 

IPO ” means the initial underwritten public offering and sale of Class A Units, as described in the Registration Statement.

 

Law ” means any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other law (including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule or regulation or other requirement enacted, promulgated, issued, entered or put into effect by a Governmental Entity.

 

Liquidator ” means one or more Persons selected by the Board of Directors to perform the functions described in Section 9.2 as liquidating trustee of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

 

Manager ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor Manager designated or elected pursuant to Section 6.22(b).

 

Member ” means each Record Holder of a Unit, including, unless the context otherwise requires, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, each Substitute Member and each Additional Member, in each case in such Person’s capacity as a member of the Company.

 

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1.

 

Net Income (Loss) ” means for any fiscal period the taxable income or loss of the Company for such period as determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) any income of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income (Loss) shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (b) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any depreciation, amortization or gain resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (c) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; and (d) any expenditures of the Company not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income (Loss) pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

 

A-9


Table of Contents

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.2.

 

Oaktree Capital Group Holdings ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

 

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., each a Delaware limited partnership, and Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and any other Subsidiary of the Company (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, none of Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Oaktree Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, OCM Holdings I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted limited liability company, shall be included in the Oaktree Operating Group.

 

Oaktree Operating Group Partnership ” means any partnership or other entity that is a part of the Oaktree Operating Group.

 

Oaktree Operating Group Partnership Agreement ” means the limited partnership agreement or similar document that governs the terms of an Oaktree Operating Group Partnership, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

 

Oaktree Operating Group Unit ” means the aggregate of one unit in each of the Oaktree Operating Group Partnerships, representing an interest in each such entity.

 

Offering Date ” means the public offering date set forth in the final prospectus used in connection with the IPO.

 

Officers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.19(a).

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Company or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the Company.

 

Original Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

 

Outside Director ” means any Director who is not an employee of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective Affiliates Controlled by the Principals.

 

Outstanding ” means, with respect to any Unit, a Unit that is issued by the Company and reflected as outstanding on the Company’s books and records as of the date of determination.

 

Percentage Interest ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) as to any Class A Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to the Units referred to in clause (c) by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the number of such Class A Units by (y) the total number of all Outstanding Class A Units, (b) as to any Class B Units, 0%, and (c) as to any other Units, the percentage established for such Units by the Board of Directors as a part of the authorization of such Units.

 

“Permitted Oaktree Holder” means any Principal or any Person Controlled by one or more of the Principals (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity.

 

Plan of Conversion ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1.

 

A-10


Table of Contents

Portfolio Company ” means any Person in which an Oaktree Operating Group Partnership owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, shares of stock, or a general partner, limited partner, limited liability company or similar ownership interest, or notes or other instruments, for investment purposes, including any intermediate holding company formed for the purpose of holding any such investment.

 

Preferred Units ” means a class of Units that entitles the Record Holders thereof to a preference or priority over the Record Holders of any other class of Units in (a) the right to share profits or losses or items thereof, (b) the right to share in Company distributions or (c) rights upon dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

 

President ” means the president of the Company appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.19.

 

Principal ” means any individual who may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors as a Principal of the Company, in each case until his or her death, disability, resignation or removal by the Board of Directors. The Principals as of the date of this Agreement are Kevin L. Clayton, John B. Frank, Stephen A. Kaplan, Bruce A. Karsh, Larry W. Keele, David M. Kirchheimer, Howard S. Marks and Sheldon M. Stone.

 

Purchase Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.2.

 

Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter.

 

Record Date ” means the date established by the Company for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Members or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Company action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Members or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

 

Record Holder ” means (a) with respect to any Class A Unit, the Person in whose name such Class A Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the close of business on a particular Business Day, and (b) with respect to any Unit of any other class or series, the Person in whose name such Unit is registered on the books that the Company has caused to be kept as of the close of business on such Business Day.

 

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S - 1 (Registration No. 333-174993), as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Company with the SEC under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Class A Units in the IPO.

 

Redeemable Units ” means any Units for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 3.13.

 

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Second Amended Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

 

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

A-11


Table of Contents

Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the SEC under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act or any successor thereto and any other securities exchange (whether or not registered with the SEC under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act) that the Board of Directors in its sole discretion designates as a Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Secretary ” means the secretary of the Company appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.19.

 

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Company to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Company and thereby subject the Company, the Directors, the Manager or the Class B Holder (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Company’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests of such Person or holds a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest in such Person; provided , that no Investment Fund or Portfolio Company shall be a “Subsidiary” of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof.

 

Substitute Member ” means a Person who is admitted as a Member of the Company pursuant to Section 3.5(e) as a result of a transfer of Units to such Person.

 

Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.2(b).

 

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Code.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2008, by and among Oaktree Holdings, Inc., Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. (formerly Oaktree Media Holdings, Inc.), Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. (formerly Oaktree Media Investments, L.P.), OCM Holdings I, LLC and each other party thereto, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

 

transfer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(a).

 

Trading Day ” means, with respect to Units of any class or series, a day on which the principal Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Units of a class or series are not listed for or admitted to trading on any Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in the City of Los Angeles are generally open.

 

Transfer Agent ” means, with respect to any class or series of Units, the bank, trust company or other Person (including the Company or one of its Affiliates) appointed from time to time by the Company to act as registrar and transfer agent for such class or series; provided , that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for a class or series of Units, the Company shall act in such capacity for such class or series.

 

Trust ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(f).

 

Underwriters ” means each Person named as an underwriter in the Underwriting Agreement who is obligated to purchase Class A Units pursuant thereto.

 

Underwriting Agreement ” means the Underwriting Agreement to be entered into by the Company providing for the sale of Class A Units in the IPO to the Underwriters, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

 

A-12


Table of Contents

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Company representing a limited liability company interest in the Company, including the right of the Record Holder of such Unit to any and all benefits to which a Record Holder may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligation of such Record Holder to comply with all the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Units may be common units or Preferred Units, and may be issued in different classes or series.

 

Unit Designation ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(b).

 

U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

Voting Units ” means the Class A Units, the Class B Units and Units of any other class or series issued after the Offering Date that entitle the Record Holder thereof to vote on any matter submitted for consent or approval of Members under this Agreement.

 

Section 1.2  Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) 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; (b) references to “Articles” and “Sections” refer to articles and sections of this Agreement; (c) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation; (d) the term “or” means, inclusively, and/or; and (e) the terms “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” (and terms of similar import) are references to this Agreement in its entirety, and not to any particular provision.

 

ARTICLE II

 

ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1  Formation . The Company has been previously formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Members and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Company shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Units shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes, and a Member has no interest in specific Company property.

 

Section 2.2  Name . The name of the Company shall be “Oaktree Capital Group, LLC”. The Company’s business may be conducted under any other name or names, as determined by the Board of Directors. The words “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Company’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board of Directors may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Formation (and upon such filing, this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change the name of the Company) and shall notify the Members of such change in the next regular communication to the Members.

 

Section 2.3  Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices . Unless and until changed by the Board of Directors by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Formation (and upon such filing, this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change the registered office and registered agent of the Company), the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be located at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The principal office of the Company shall be located at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071 or such other place as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate. The Company may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

A-13


Table of Contents

Section 2.4  Purposes . The purposes of the Company shall be to (a) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, any business, purpose or activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company organized pursuant to the Delaware Act, (b) acquire, hold and dispose of interests in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Company with respect to its interests therein, and (c) conduct any and all activities related or incidental to the foregoing purposes.

 

Section 2.5  Powers . The Company shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary and appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Company.

 

Section 2.6  Power of Attorney . Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Company and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 9.2, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their respective authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:

 

(a) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices:

 

  (i) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property;

 

  (ii) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement;

 

  (iii) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution, liquidation and termination of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

 

  (iv) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments and restatements hereof or thereof) relating to the admission, resignation, removal or substitution of any Member pursuant to, or other events described in, this Agreement;

 

  (v) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Units issued pursuant to Section 4.6; and

 

  (vi) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger, conversion or consolidation or similar certificates) relating to a merger, conversion or consolidation of the Company pursuant to Article XI; and

 

(b) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (i) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (ii) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided , that when required by Section 10.2 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes

 

A-14


Table of Contents

a percentage of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units of any class or series required to take any action, the Company or the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(b) only after the necessary vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action of the Members or of the Members of such class or series, as applicable.

 

Nothing contained in this Section 2.6 shall be construed as authorizing the Company, the Board of Directors or the Liquidator to amend, change or modify this Agreement except in accordance with Article X or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Member and the transfer of all or any portion of such Member’s Units and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Member hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the Company or the Liquidator, acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney, and each such Member, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Company or the Liquidator, taken in good faith under such power of attorney in accordance with this Section 2.6. Each Member shall execute and deliver to the Company or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designations, powers of attorney and other instruments as the Company or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Company.

 

Section 2.7  Term . The Company’s term commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue, unless and until it is dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Article IX. The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.8  Title to Company Assets . Title to Company assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, Director or Officer, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Company assets may be held in the name of the Company, one or more of its Affiliates, or one or more nominees, as the Board of Directors may determine. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Company assets is held.

 

ARTICLE III

 

MEMBERS; CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFERS OF UNITS

 

Section 3.1  Members .

 

(a) Upon the execution of this Agreement, each Person who was a member of the Company pursuant to the Second Amended Agreement shall continue to be a member of the Company. A Person shall be admitted as a Member and shall become bound by the terms of this Agreement when such Person purchases or otherwise lawfully acquires a Unit and becomes the Record Holder of such Unit, with or without execution of this Agreement. A Person may become a Record Holder without the consent or approval of any of the Members. A Person may not become a Member without acquiring a Unit.

 

(b) The name and mailing address of each Member shall be listed on the books and records of the Company maintained for such purpose by the Company or the Transfer Agent. The Company shall update the books and records from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information contained therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).

 

A-15


Table of Contents

(c) Except as otherwise provided in the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and the Members shall not be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Member of the Company.

 

(d) Subject to Articles XI and XIII, and except as provided in Sections 3.6, 3.9 and 3.13, Members may not be expelled from or removed as members of the Company. Members shall not have any right to resign from the Company; provided , that when a transferee of a Member’s Unit becomes a Record Holder of such Unit, such transferring Member shall cease to be a member of the Company solely with respect to the Unit so transferred.

 

(e) Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including any Unit Designation): (i) no Member shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon dissolution of the Company may be considered as such by Law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement; (ii) no Member shall have priority over any other Member either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions; (iii) no interest shall be paid by the Company on Capital Contributions; and (iv) no Member, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation or management of the Company’s business, transact any business in the Company’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Company.

 

(f) Any Member shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Company, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Company Group, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty (including fiduciary duties) otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or Member; provided , that this Section 3.1(f) shall not excuse a breach of any provision of this Agreement binding upon a Person, or limit or otherwise modify any duties (including fiduciary duties) owed by a Person at law, in equity or otherwise (including by contract) to the Company or its Affiliates, in each case arising other than from such Person’s capacity as a Member. Neither the Company nor any of the other Members shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business interests or activities of any Member.

 

Section 3.2  Rights of a Member .

 

(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable Law, and except as limited by Section 3.2(b), each Member shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Member’s own expense:

 

  (i) promptly after their becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Company’s U.S. federal, state and local income tax returns for any of the six years preceding such Member’s written demand, provided that such Member was a Member during any part of such year; and

 

  (ii) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Formation and all amendments thereto have been executed.

 

(b) The Company may keep confidential from the Members, for such period of time as the Company determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the Company reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Company believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Company Group, (B) could damage the Company Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by Law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Company the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.2).

 

A-16


Table of Contents

Section 3.3  Certificates .

 

(a) Upon the Company’s issuance of Units of any class or series to any Person, the Company may, in its discretion, issue or cause to be issued one or more Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the Units being so issued. Any Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any two Officers. In the event that a Unit is to be evidenced by a Certificate, no such Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by and registered on the books of the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that if the Board of Directors elects to issue any Units, including Class A Units, in global form, the Certificates evidencing such Units shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that such Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Company. If any Officer or Transfer Agent who shall have signed or whose facsimile signature shall have been placed upon any such Certificate shall have ceased to be such Officer or Transfer Agent before such Certificate is issued by the Company, such Certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such Person were such Officer or Transfer Agent at the date of issue. Certificates for any class or series of Units shall be uniquely numbered and shall be entered on the books and records of the Company as they are issued and shall exhibit the Record Holder’s name and number and type of Units.

 

(b) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate Officers on behalf of the Company shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and class or series of Units as the Certificate so surrendered. The appropriate Officers on behalf of the Company shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Units evidenced by the Certificate: (i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen; (ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the Company has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim; (iii) if requested by the Company, delivers to the Company a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Company may direct, to indemnify the Company and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and (iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Company. If a transfer of Units evidenced by a lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate is registered before the Transfer Agent receives notification in writing from the Record Holder regarding such loss, destruction or theft, the Record Holder shall be precluded from making any claim against the Company or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate. As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 3.3(b), the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.

 

(c) The Company may, in its sole discretion, issue one or more uncertificated classes or series of Units and may, with respect to any class or series of Units (unless otherwise provided in the applicable Unit Designation), issue Certificates with respect to some Units of such class or series and issue other Units of such class or series on an uncertificated basis.

 

Section 3.4  Record Holders . The Company shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the owner with respect to any Unit and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Unit on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Company shall have actual or other notice thereof, including in connection with any distribution pursuant to Section 5.3 or 9.3 or the exercise of any voting or other rights pursuant to Section 12.9, except as otherwise provided by Law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the

 

A-17


Table of Contents

foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring or holding Units, as between the Company, on the one hand, and such other Person, on the other, such representative Person shall be deemed the Record Holder of such Unit.

 

Section 3.5  Registration and Transfer of Units .

 

(a) The term “ transfer ,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Unit, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the Record Holder of a Unit assigns such Unit to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by Law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

 

(b) No Unit shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with this Article III. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, any transfer or purported transfer of a Unit not made in accordance with this Article III, including any transfer in violation of Section 3.6, shall be null and void.

 

(c) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Company a register which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Board of Directors may prescribe and subject to Section 3.5(d), will provide for the registration and transfer of Units. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registration of Class A Units and transfers of such Class A Units as herein provided. In the absence of manifest error, the register kept by or on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive as to the identity of the holders of Units. With respect to certificated Units issued by the Company, if any, upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Units evidenced by such Certificate, the Company shall deliver, and in the case of certificated Class A Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the Record Holder or the designated transferee or transferees, to the extent and as required pursuant to the Record Holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Units as were evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered. In the case of any transfer of Units permitted by this Agreement, a transferor shall provide the address and other contact information for each such transferee as contemplated by Section 14.1.

 

(d) The Company shall not recognize any purported transfer of Units until the transfer is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent; provided , that in the event that any Units are represented by Certificates, notwithstanding Section 5.3 or the registration of the transfer of such certificated Units pursuant to this Section 3.5(d), no distributions shall be paid in respect of any such transferred certificated Units until the Certificates evidencing such Units are surrendered to the Transfer Agent. No charge shall be imposed by the Company for such transfer; provided , that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate or the registration of any transfer, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.

 

(e) By acceptance of the transfer of any Unit in accordance with this Article III or the issuance of any Unit in accordance with this Agreement (including in a merger, consolidation or other business combination pursuant to Article XI), each transferee of a Unit, including any nominee holder or agent or representative acquiring such Unit for the account of another Person, (i) shall become the Record Holder of the Unit so transferred or issued, (ii) shall be admitted to the Company as a Substitute Member or Additional Member with respect to the Unit so transferred or issued to such transferee or other recipient when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Company, with or without execution of this Agreement, (iii) shall become bound by the terms of, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by, this Agreement, with or without execution of this Agreement, (iv) represents that the transferee or other recipient has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, (v) grants the powers of attorney as specified herein, and (vi) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement. Neither the transfer of any Unit nor the admission of any new Member shall constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

 

A-18


Table of Contents

(f) No transfer of a Unit shall entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Member pursuant to Section 3.5(e).

 

(g) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.5, (ii) Section 3.4, (iii) Sections 3.6 and 3.9, (iv) with respect to any series or class of Units, the provisions of any Unit Designation or amendment to this Agreement, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Member and (vi) provisions of applicable Law, including the Securities Act, Units shall be freely transferable.

 

Section 3.6  Restrictions on Transfer .

 

(a) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article III, no transfer of any Units shall be made if such purported transfer would:

 

  (i) violate applicable law, including the then-applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the SEC, any state securities commission or any other Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over such transfer;

 

  (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Company under the laws of any jurisdiction;

 

  (iii) cause the Company to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); or

 

  (iv) require the Company to be subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article III, no Member shall, without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent may be withheld in the Company’s sole discretion), directly or indirectly transfer, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale, or otherwise dispose of any Units, or any options or warrants to purchase any Units, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive Units, during the period commencing on the Offering Date and continuing for 120 days thereafter; provided , however , that the restrictions set forth in this Section 3.6(b) shall not apply to (i) any Member that has executed and delivered a lock-up agreement to the managing underwriter or underwriters designated by the Company in a form satisfactory to the Company and such managing underwriter or underwriters or (ii) Units acquired by a Member in the IPO or on the open market on or after the Offering Date.

 

(c) The Board of Directors may impose additional restrictions on the transfer of Units if it receives advice of counsel acceptable to the Board of Directors (who may be regular counsel to the Company or its Affiliates) that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to avoid a significant risk of (i) the Company becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) the Company being subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act. The Board of Directors may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement without the approval of the Members.

 

(d) To the fullest extent permitted by Law, any transfer in violation of this Section 3.6 shall be null and void. In the event that any Person would otherwise become the Record Holder of a Unit through a

 

A-19


Table of Contents

purported transfer in violation of this Section 3.6, the Company may, in its sole discretion, require that the purported transferor take any steps deemed appropriate by the Company or the Transfer Agent to unwind, cancel or reverse such purported transaction. With respect to the purported transferee, such Person shall have no rights or economic interest in such Units or otherwise, including any consent rights, any rights to receive notice of, or attend, a meeting of the Members and any rights to receive distributions with respect to the Unit. In addition, the Company may, in its sole discretion, redeem the Unit in the manner provided in Section 3.13 or cause the transfer of such Unit to a third party in a transfer permitted by this Agreement and, if such Unit is sold or redeemed, the Company shall distribute the proceeds of such sale (net of any costs or expenses incurred by the Company) to the purported transferor.

 

(e) Without prejudice to any remedies available to the Company as a result of such transactions nothing contained in this Agreement, other than the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.6(b), shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Units entered into through the facilities of any Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for trading.

 

Section 3.7  [Reserved] .

 

Section 3.8  [Reserved] .

 

Section 3.9  Citizenship Requirements . If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any Law that, in the determination of the Company in its sole discretion creates a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Member, the Company may request that any Member furnish to the Company an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning its nationality, citizenship or other related status (or if the Member is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such other Person) as the Company may in its sole discretion request. If a Member fails to furnish to the Company such Citizenship Certification or other requested information within 30 days after receipt of such a request or if, upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information, the Company determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Member is not an Eligible Citizen, the Company may, in its sole discretion (i) require that such Member immediately transfer its Class A Units to an Eligible Citizen or (ii) redeem such Class A Units in the manner set forth in Section 3.13. Any compulsory transfer of Class A Units pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence shall occur through a Securities Exchange on which Class A Units are traded and shall comply with the other provisions of this Agreement regarding transfers of Class A Units. Pending such transfer or redemption, with respect to such Record Holder of such Class A Units, the Company may, in its sole discretion, suspend the exercise of any voting or consent rights, any rights to receive notice of or attend meetings of the Members and any rights to receive distributions in respect of such Class A Units.

 

Section 3.10  [Reserved] .

 

Section 3.11  [Reserved] .

 

Section 3.12  Splits and Combinations.

 

(a) Subject to Section 3.12(d), the Company may make a pro rata distribution of Units to all Record Holders, or may effect a subdivision or combination of Units, so long as, after any such event, each Member shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Company as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

 

(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units is declared, the Board of Directors shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be

 

A-20


Table of Contents

effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder. The Board of Directors also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Units to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

 

(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Company may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Units as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Units held by such Record Holders, or the Board of Directors may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Units Outstanding, the Company shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of any such new Certificate, the surrender of the Certificate(s), if any, held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

 

(d) The Company may issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would otherwise result in the issuance of fractional Units but for this Section 3.12(d), the Board of Directors may direct that each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

Section 3.13  Redemption of Units . Any redemption of Units by the Company permitted under Article III shall be conducted in accordance with this Section 3.13.

 

(a) The Company shall, not later than 30 days before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Member at its last address designated on the records of the Company or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier of national reputation. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Units, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon the redemption of the Redeemable Units (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing such Redeemable Units) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Member would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Units will accrue or be made.

 

(b) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Units shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Units of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Units of each such class included among the Redeemable Units, net of any costs or expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such redemption. Subject to the Delaware Act, the redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, (i) in cash, (ii) by delivery of a promissory note of the Company in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 8% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, the first such installment commencing one year after the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing such Redeemable Units) or (iii) a combination of cash and a promissory note having the terms described in clause (ii).

 

(c) The Member or its duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment for Redeemable Units at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption (i) in the case of uncertificated Redeemable Units, on the redemption date or (ii) in the case of Redeemable Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender, on the redemption date or thereafter, by or on behalf of the Member, of the Certificates evidencing the Redeemable Units, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank.

 

(d) After the redemption date, Redeemable Units shall no longer constitute Outstanding Units.

 

A-21


Table of Contents

ARTICLE IV

 

DESIGNATION OF CLASS A UNITS AND CLASS B UNITS; CAPITAL

CONTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 4.1  Designation of Class   A Units a nd Class B Units . As of the Offering Date, two classes of Units have been designated: Class A Units and Class B Units. Each Class A Unit shall entitle the Record Holder thereof to one vote on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members generally. Each Class B Unit shall initially entitle the Record Holder thereof to 10 votes on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members generally; provided , however , that at such time as the Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, and at all times thereafter, each Class B Unit shall entitle the Record Holder thereof to one vote on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members generally. Except as specifically provided for in this Agreement, Class A Units and Class B Units shall vote as a single class on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members.

 

Section 4.2  [Reserved].

 

Section 4.3  [Reserved] .

 

Section 4.4  Issuance an d Cancellation of Class B Units . The number of Outstanding Class B Units shall at all times be equal to the aggregate number of issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units then held by the Permitted Oaktree Holders. Upon the acquisition by any Permitted Oaktree Holder of a newly issued Oaktree Operating Group Unit, the Company shall issue a Class B Unit to the Class B Holder without requiring any Capital Contribution to the Company in respect of such Class B Unit, and upon the disposition (by transfer, sale, exchange or otherwise) of an Oaktree Operating Group Unit by any Permitted Oaktree Holder to any Person other than a Permitted Oaktree Holder, a Class B Unit then held by the Class B Holder shall automatically and without any action by such Member, the Board of Directors or the Company be cancelled, and the Class B Holder shall have no further right to or interest in such Class B Unit. If, notwithstanding the preceding sentence, at any time the number of Class B Units held by the Class B Holder exceeds the aggregate number of Oaktree Operating Group Units then held by all Permitted Oaktree Holders, then such excess Class B Units shall automatically and without any action by the Board of Directors or the Company be cancelled, and the Class B Holder shall have no further right to or interest in such Class B Units.

 

Section 4.5  [Reserved] .

 

Section 4.6  Issuances of Additional Units .

 

(a) The Company may issue any number of Units, and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Units, for any Company purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration (which may be cash, property, services or any other lawful consideration) or for no consideration and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine, all without the approval of any Member or any other Person.

 

(b) Additional Units authorized to be issued by the Company pursuant to Section 4.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be junior to, equivalent to or senior or superior to any existing classes or series of Units), as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and reflected in a written action or actions approved by the Board of Directors in compliance with Section 6.1 (each, a “ Unit Designation ”), including (i) the right to share in Company profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Company distributions, the dates distributions will be payable and whether distributions with respect to such class or series will be cumulative or non-cumulative; (iii) rights upon

 

A-22


Table of Contents

dissolution and liquidation of the Company (including any payments); (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Company may redeem such Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Units are issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange into Units of any other class or series or any other security issued by the Company or another entity and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which such Units will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest, if any, applicable to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the Record Holder of any such Unit to vote on Company matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Units. A Unit Designation (or any action of the Board of Directors amending any Unit Designation) shall be effective when a duly executed original of the same is delivered to the Secretary for inclusion in the permanent records of the Company, and shall be annexed to, and constitute a part of, this Agreement.

 

(c) The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Units and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Units pursuant to this Section 4.6, including the admission of Additional Members in connection therewith and any related amendment of this Agreement, and (ii) all additional issuances of Units and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Units. The Board of Directors shall determine in its sole discretion the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units being so issued. The Board of Directors is authorized to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any Governmental Entity or any Securities Exchange on which Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units are listed for trading.

 

Section 4.7  Preemptive Rights . Unless determined otherwise by the Board of Directors, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Units, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created.

 

Section 4.8  Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Units . All Units issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article IV shall represent fully paid and non-assessable limited liability company interests in the Company, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-502, 18-607 or 18-804 of the Delaware Act or this Agreement.

 

Section 4.9  Purchases of Units . The Company or any other Group Member may purchase or otherwise acquire Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units. The Company, any of its Affiliates, any Portfolio Company or any Investment Fund may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units for their own account, subject to the provisions of Articles III and IV. Any Units purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company may be canceled in the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V

 

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 5.1  Capital Accounts . There shall be established for each Member on the books of the Company as of the date such Member becomes a Member a capital account (each being a “ Capital Account ”). Each Capital Contribution by any Member, if any, shall be credited to the Capital Account of such Member on the date such Capital Contribution is made to the Company. In addition, each Member’s Capital Account shall be (a) increased by (i) such Member’s allocable share of any Net

 

A-23


Table of Contents

Income of the Company, and (ii) the amount of any Company liabilities that are assumed by the Member or secured by any Company property distributed to the Member, (b) decreased by (i) the amount of distributions (and deemed distributions) to such Member of cash or the fair market value of other property so distributed, (ii) such Member’s allocable share of Net Loss of the Company and expenditures of the Company described or treated under Section 704(b) of the Code as described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of the Member assumed by the Company or which are secured by any property contributed by the Member to the Company and (c) otherwise maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. Any other item which is required to be reflected in a Member’s Capital Account under Section 704(b) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or otherwise under this Agreement shall be so reflected. The Company shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Member’s interest in the Company. Interest shall not be payable on Capital Account balances. The Company shall maintain the Capital Accounts of the Members in accordance with the principles and requirements set forth in Section 704(b) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The Capital Account of each Class B Holder shall at all times be zero, except to the extent such Class B Holder also holds Units other than Class B Units.

 

Section 5.2  Allocations.

 

(a) Net Income (Loss) of the Company for each fiscal period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members in a manner that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the manner in which distributions are or would be made to the Members pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5.3 and 9.3.

 

(b) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company shall be allocated among the Members for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes consistent with the manner that the corresponding constituent items of Net Income (Loss) shall be allocated among the Members pursuant to this Agreement, except as may otherwise be provided herein or by the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company in its sole discretion shall make such allocations for tax purposes as may be needed to ensure that allocations are in accordance with the interests of the Members in the Company, within the meaning of the Code and United States Treasury Regulations. The Company shall determine all matters concerning allocations for tax purposes not expressly provided for herein in its sole discretion. For the proper administration of the Company and for the preservation of uniformity of Units (or any portion or class or classes thereof), the Company may (i) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of United States Treasury Regulations under Sections 704(b) or 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of Units (or any portion or class or classes thereof), and (ii) adopt and employ or modify such conventions and methods as the Company determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate for (A) the determination for tax purposes of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit and the allocation of such items among Members and between transferors and transferees under this Agreement and pursuant to the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, (B) the determination of the identities and tax classification of Members, (C) the valuation of Company assets and the determination of tax basis, (D) the allocation of asset values and tax basis, (E) the adoption and maintenance of accounting methods and (F) taking into account differences between the Carrying Values of Company assets and such asset adjusted tax basis pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(c) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Member under the provisions of this Article V shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Units held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Company in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

A-24


Table of Contents

Section 5.3  Distributions to Record Holders.

 

(a) The Company may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, declare, make and pay distributions of cash or other assets to the Members. Subject to the terms of any Unit Designation and to Section 3.5(d), distributions shall be paid to Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests as of the Record Date selected by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make or pay any distributions of cash or other assets with respect to the Class B Units except for distributions consisting only of additional Class B Units made proportionally with respect to each outstanding Class B Unit.

 

(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Company, all distributions shall be made in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 9.3.

 

(c) All amounts withheld with respect to any payment or other distribution by the Company to the Members and paid over to any U.S. federal, state or local government or any non-U.S. taxing authority shall be treated as amounts paid to the Members with respect to which such amounts were withheld pursuant to this Section 5.3(c) or Section 9.3 for all purposes under this Agreement.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each distribution in respect of any Unit shall be made by the Company, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person, only to the Record Holder of such Unit as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Any distribution in accordance with the foregoing shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Company’s liability in respect of such distribution, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such distribution by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

 

(e) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to make a distribution to a Member if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or other applicable Law.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

Section 6.1  Power and Authority of Board of Directors.

 

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a board of directors (the “ Board of Directors ”). As provided in Section 6.19, the Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to appoint Officers of the Company. The Directors and Officers shall constitute “managers” within the meaning of the Delaware Act. No Member, in its capacity as such, shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Company or actual or apparent authority to enter into, execute or deliver contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. In addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the Delaware Act and to all other powers granted under any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to do, and to direct the Officers to do, all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

 

  (i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into Units, and the incurring of any other obligations;

 

A-25


Table of Contents
  (ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Company;

 

  (iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Company or the merger, conversion, consolidation or other combination of the Company with or into another Person (subject, however, to any prior approval of Members that may be required by this Agreement);

 

  (iv) the use of the assets of the Company (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries; the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment of obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and the making of capital contributions to any Member of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

  (v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Company under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Company);

 

  (vi) the declaration and payment of distributions of cash or other assets to Members;

 

  (vii) the selection and dismissal of Officers, employees, agents, outside attorneys, accountants, advisors, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring, and the creation and operation of employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices;

 

  (viii) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Company Group and the Indemnified Persons;

 

  (ix) the formation of, or acquisition or disposition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any limited or general partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company or other entity or arrangement;

 

  (x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Company, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or remediation, and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;

 

  (xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by Law;

 

  (xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Units from, or requesting that trading be suspended in, any such Securities Exchange;

 

  (xiii) the issuance, sale or other disposition, and the purchase or other acquisition, of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units;

 

  (xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Company’s interest or participation in any Group Member;

 

  (xv) the registration under the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws of any offer, issuance, sale or resale of Units or other securities issued or to be issued by the Company (including any resale of Units by Members or other security holders);

 

  (xvi) the filing of a bankruptcy petition; and

 

  (xvii) the execution and delivery of agreements with Affiliates of the Company or Portfolio Companies to render services to a Group Member.

 

A-26


Table of Contents

(b) In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the Board of Directors may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to any Member of any action taken (or not taken) by it. The Directors and the Company shall not have any liability to a Member for monetary damages or otherwise for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by such Member in connection with such decisions except to the extent set forth in Section 6.16(a)(ii).

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Delaware Act or any other applicable Law, the Members and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Units hereby (i) approve, ratify and confirm the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of the Underwriting Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement and the other agreements described in the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agree that the Company is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement without any further act, approval or vote of the Members, the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Units or any other Person; and (iii) agree that the execution, delivery or performance by the Company, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them, of this Agreement or any agreement contemplated by this Agreement (including the exercise by the Company of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XIII), shall not constitute a breach by the Board of Directors of any duty that the Board of Directors may owe the Company or the Members or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

Section 6.2  Number, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors. For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time by the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors then in office. Each Director shall hold office as provided in Sections 6.3 to 6.5.

 

Section 6.3  Election of Directors. Directors need not be Members. For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, Directors shall be designated by the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, Directors shall be elected by the holders of Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class, holding a plurality of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of Directors at the annual meeting of Members. For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, each Director (including any additional Director designated to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the total number of Directors or from the death, disability, resignation or removal from office of a Director or other cause) shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until such Director’s death or disability, or until such Director resigns in accordance with Section 6.5 or is removed in accordance with Section 6.4. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, each Director (including any additional Director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the total number of Directors or from the death, disability, resignation or removal from office of a Director or other cause) shall serve until the succeeding annual meeting after such Director’s election and until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until such Director’s death or disability, or until such Director resigns in accordance with Section 6.5 or is removed in accordance with Section 6.4. In no case will a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

 

A-27


Table of Contents

Section 6.4  Removal. For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, any Director or the whole Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, any Director or the whole Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class, holding a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units, present in person or represented by proxy given at an annual or special meeting of Members called for that purpose and entitled to vote on the election of Directors. The vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by any such removal shall be filled as provided in Section 6.6.

 

Section 6.5  Resignations. Any Director may resign at any time by giving notice of such Director’s resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Company. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, then it shall take effect immediately upon its receipt by the Company. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by any such resignation shall be filled as provided in Section 6.6.

 

Section 6.6  Vacancies. For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, any vacancy on the Board of Directors will be filled by a designee of the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, unless otherwise required by applicable Law, (i) any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in the authorized number of Directors may be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, provided that a quorum is present, and any other vacancies may be filled by a majority of Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director and (ii) if there are no Directors in office, then any vacancies shall be filled by an election of Directors by the holders of Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class, holding a plurality of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of Directors at an annual or special meeting of Members.

 

Section 6.7  Chairman of Meetings. The Board of Directors may elect one of its members as Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “ Chairman ”). At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairman or, in the Chairman’s absence, a Director chosen by a majority of the Directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting.

 

Section 6.8  Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.9  Meetings; Notice. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman, the President or upon the written request of two Directors, on 24 hours’ notice to each Director, either personally or by telephone or by mail, telegraph, telex, cable, wireless or other form of recorded or electronic communication, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any Director, however, if waived by such Director in writing or by telegraph, telex, cable, wireless or other form of recorded or electronic communication, or if such Director shall be present at such meeting.

 

Section 6.10  Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, may be taken without a meeting if a consent thereto is signed or transmitted electronically, as the case may be, by a majority of

 

A-28


Table of Contents

the members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 6.11  Conference Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 6.12  Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the then total number of Directors in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At all meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors, the presence of a majority of the total number of members of such committee (assuming no vacancies) shall constitute a quorum. The act of a majority of the Directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee, a majority of the Directors or members, as the case may be, present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting.

 

Section 6.13  Committees. The Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time designate one or more committees consisting of one or more Directors which, to the extent provided in such resolution or resolutions, shall have and may exercise, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the powers and authority of the Board of Directors granted hereunder. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time to fill vacancies, and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

 

Section 6.14  Alternate Members of Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, or if none be so appointed the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

Section 6.15  Remuneration. Unless otherwise expressly provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, none of the Directors shall, as such, receive any stated remuneration for their service as a Director, but the Board of Directors may at any time and from time to time by resolution provide that a specified sum shall be paid to any Director, payable in cash or securities, either as such Director’s annual remuneration as such Director or member of any special or standing committee of the Board of Directors or as remuneration for such Director’s attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or any such committee. The Board of Directors may also provide that the Company shall reimburse each Director for any expenses paid by such Director on account of such Director’s attendance at any meeting. Nothing in this Section 6.15 shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Company or any of its Affiliates in any other capacity and receiving remuneration therefor.

 

A-29


Table of Contents

Section 6.16  Exculpation, Indemnification, Advances and Insurance .

 

(a) Subject to other applicable provisions of this Article VI, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law:

 

  (i) Oaktree Capital Group Holdings shall not have any liability to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any Director, any Member or any holder of an equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, for any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made;

 

  (ii) a Director or Officer shall have liability to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any Director, any Member or any holder of an equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, for any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered, or made only if such act or omission constitutes a breach of the duties of such Director or Officer imposed pursuant to Section 6.20(a) and such breach is the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud; and

 

  (iii) all other Indemnified Persons shall have liability to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any Director, any Member or any holder of an equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, for any act or omission arising from the performance of such Indemnified Person’s duties and obligations in connection with the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, this Agreement or any investment made or held by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, including with respect to any act or omission made while serving at the request of the Company as an officer, director, member, partner, tax matters partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person or any employee benefit plan, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made only if such act or omission constitutes a breach of the duties of such Indemnified Person and such breach is the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.16(a) are intended and shall be interpreted as only limiting the liability of an Indemnified Person and not as in any way expanding such Person’s liability.

 

(b) The Indemnified Persons shall be indemnified by the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the Company and counsel fees and disbursements) arising from the performance of any of their respective duties or obligations in connection with their respective service to the Company, to any Subsidiary of the Company or pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with any investment made or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding, whether by or in the right of the Company, to which any such Indemnified Person may hereafter be made party by reason of being or having been an Indemnified Person, except:

 

  (i)

with respect to a Director or Officer, to the extent that it shall have been determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such expenses and liabilities arose primarily from acts or omissions, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made, that constituted a breach of the duties of such Director or Officer imposed pursuant to Section 6.20(a) and such breach was the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of

 

A-30


Table of Contents
 

applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud; and

 

  (ii) with respect to all Indemnified Persons (other than Directors, Officers and Oaktree Capital Group Holdings), to the extent that it shall have been determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such expenses and liabilities arose primarily from acts or omissions, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made, that constituted a breach of the duties of such Indemnified Person and such breach was the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud.

 

Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnified Person, pursuant to a loan, guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including any indebtedness which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company has assumed or taken subject to), and the Company is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 6.16 in favor of any Indemnified Person having or potentially having liability for any such indebtedness. It is the intention of this Section 6.16(b) that the Company indemnify each Indemnified Person to the fullest extent permitted by Law except as specifically provided in this Section 6.16(b).

 

(c) The termination of any action, suit or proceeding relating to or involving an Indemnified Person by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Person breached any duty or committed (i) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law) that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (ii) fraud.

 

(d) The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent they limit or eliminate the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, including Section 6.20, are agreed by each Member to modify such duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person to the extent permitted by Law.

 

(e) Any indemnification under this Section 6.16 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company unless the Board of Directors determines in the specific case that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is not proper in the circumstances because such Person has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.16(b). Such determination shall be made by a majority vote of the Directors who are not parties to the applicable suit, action or proceeding. To the extent, however, that an Indemnified Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such Indemnified Person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection therewith, notwithstanding an earlier determination by the Board of Directors that the Indemnified Person had not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.16(b).

 

(f) Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 6.16(e), and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any Indemnified Person may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 6.16(b). The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because such Indemnified Person has met the

 

A-31


Table of Contents

applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.16(b). Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 6.16(e) nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the Indemnified Person seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.16(f) shall be given to the Company promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the Indemnified Person seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

 

(g) To the fullest extent permitted by Law, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding 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 as authorized in this Section 6.16.

 

(h) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Section 6.16 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under this Agreement or any other agreement, vote of Members or disinterested Directors or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnified Person who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnified Person unless otherwise provided in a written agreement with such Indemnified Person or in the writing pursuant to which such Indemnified Person is indemnified. The provisions of this Section 6.16 shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any Person who is not specified in Section 6.16(b) but whom the Company has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the Delaware Act.

 

(i) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against such Indemnified Person and incurred by such Indemnified Person in any capacity in which such Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or arising out of such Indemnified Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 6.16.

 

(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 6.16 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any Person entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.16.

 

(k) The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Company and to the employees and agents of the Company Group similar to those conferred in this Section 6.16 to Indemnified Persons.

 

(l) If this Section 6.16 or any portion of this Section 6.16 shall be invalidated on any ground by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnified Person as to expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, including a grand jury proceeding or action or suit brought by or in the right of the Company, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 6.16 that shall not have been invalidated.

 

(m) Each Indemnified Person may, in the performance of such Indemnified Person’s duties, consult with legal counsel and accountants, and any act or omission by such Indemnified Person on behalf of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any investment held by the Company or any

 

A-32


Table of Contents

Subsidiary of the Company in furtherance of the interests of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any investment held by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in good faith in reliance upon, and in accordance with, the advice of such legal counsel or accountants will be full justification for any such act or omission, and such Indemnified Person will be fully protected for such acts and omissions, provided that such legal counsel or accountants were selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company or such Subsidiary.

 

(n) An Indemnified Person shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.16 because the Indemnified Person had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(o) Any liabilities which an Indemnified Person incurs as a result of acting on behalf of the Company (whether as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with the operation, administration or maintenance of an employee benefit plan or any related trust or funding mechanism (whether such liabilities are in the form of excise taxes assessed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, penalties assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor, restitutions to such a plan or trust or other funding mechanism or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan, trust or other funding mechanism, or otherwise) shall be treated as liabilities indemnifiable under this Section 6.16, to the maximum extent permitted by Law.

 

(p) A Director shall, in the performance of such Director’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and on such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any of the Officers or employees of the Company or any other Group Member, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other Person as to matters the Director reasonably believes are within such Person’s professional or expert competence.

 

(q) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.16 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of any Indemnified Person under this Section 6.16 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted and provided such Person became an Indemnified Person hereunder prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

(r) The provisions of this Section 6.16 shall survive the termination of this Agreement with respect to the acts and omissions of an Indemnified Person occurring prior to such termination.

 

Section 6.17  Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

 

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whenever an actual or potential conflict of interest exists or arises between Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, one or more Directors or their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company, any Group Member or any Member other than Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the Board of Directors or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Members, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or of any duty stated or implied by Law or equity, including any fiduciary duty, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved or ratified by the vote of holders of Outstanding Voting Units representing a majority of the total votes that may be cast by all Outstanding Voting Units that are held by disinterested parties, (ii) on terms no less favorable to the Company, Group Member or Member other than Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, as applicable, than those generally being, provided to or available from unrelated third parties, (iii) fair and reasonable to the Company taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved

 

A-33


Table of Contents

(including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Company, Group Member or Member other than Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, as applicable) or (iv) approved or ratified by a majority of the Outside Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall be authorized but not required to seek the approval or ratification of the Outside Directors pursuant to clause (iv) of the preceding sentence or the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Units pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, and the Board of Directors may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received the approval of the Outside Directors or the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Units. Failure to seek such approval shall not be deemed to indicate that a conflict of interest exists or that such approval could not have been obtained. If the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Member or by or on behalf of such Member or any other Member challenging such determination, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by the Members and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Units hereby and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise or any applicable provision of Law or equity, whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise the Manager, the Board of Directors, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company is permitted or required to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or that it deems “necessary or appropriate” or “necessary or advisable” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, then, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Board of Directors, the Company or such Affiliate, as the case may be, may make such decision in its sole discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to “sole discretion” or “discretion”), and shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or the Members, and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby, under the Delaware Act, the DGCL or under any other Law or in equity, but in all circumstances shall exercise such discretion in good faith. Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, the Board of Directors or the Company is permitted to or required to make a decision in its “good faith,” then for purposes of this Agreement or otherwise, the Board of Directors or the Company, as the case may be, shall be conclusively presumed to be acting in good faith if such Person or Persons subjectively believe(s) that the decision made or not made is in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Board of Directors and the Company shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Oaktree Operating Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the Directors, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by an Affiliate of the Company to enter into such contracts shall be in such Person’s sole discretion.

 

(d) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, neither the Board of Directors nor any other Indemnified Person shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or otherwise modify or eliminate the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Company or any other Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Company or such other Indemnified Person.

 

A-34


Table of Contents

(e) The Members expressly acknowledge that the Board of Directors is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Members (including the tax consequences to Members) in deciding whether to cause the Company to take (or decline to take) any actions, and that the Board of Directors or any Director shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Members in connection with such decisions.

 

(f) The Members hereby authorize each of (i) the Board of Directors and (ii) the Outside Directors, on behalf of the Company as a partner or member of any Group Member, to approve of actions by the board of directors, managing member or general partner of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 6.17.

 

Section 6.18  Certificate of Formation . The Certificate of Formation and amendments thereto have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act, such filings being hereby confirmed, ratified and approved in all respects. The Board of Directors shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that it determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited liability company in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Company may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that the Board of Directors determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the Company shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Formation and do all things to maintain the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Company may elect to do business or own property, and any such Officer so directed shall be an “authorized person” of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act for purposes of filing any such certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Company shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Formation, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Member.

 

Section 6.19  Officers .

 

(a) The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to appoint such officers with such titles, authority and duties as determined by the Board of Directors. Such Persons so designated by the Board of Directors shall be referred to as “ Officers .” The Officers shall have the titles, power, authority and duties as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

(b) Each Officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, disability, resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same Person. The compensation of Officers elected by the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by such Officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

(c) Any Officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Company. Any Officer, agent or employee of the Company may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause at any time. The Board of Directors may delegate the power of removal as to Officers, agents and employees who have not been appointed by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without prejudice to a Person’s contract rights, if any, but the appointment of any Person as an Officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not of itself create contract rights.

 

(d) The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any Officer to any other Officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

(e) Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the President or any other Officer of the Company shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Company, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of members of or with respect to any action of equity holders of any

 

A-35


Table of Contents

other entity in which the Company may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the Company may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other entities.

 

Section 6.20  Duties of Officers and Directors .

 

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, (i) the duties and obligations owed to the Company by the Officers and Directors shall be the duty of care and duty of loyalty owed to a corporation organized under DGCL by its officers and directors, respectively, and (ii) the duty of care and duty of loyalty owed to the Members by the Officers and Directors shall be the same as the duty of care and duty of loyalty owed to the stockholders of a corporation under the DGCL by its officers and directors, respectively.

 

(b) The Board of Directors shall have the right to 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 the duly authorized Officers of the Company, and the Board of Directors shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence on the part of any such Officer duly appointed or duly authorized by the Board of Directors in good faith.

 

Section 6.21  Reliance by Third Parties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Company shall be entitled to assume that the Board of Directors and any Officer authorized by the Board of Directors to act on behalf of and in the name of the Company has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Company and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Company, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the Board of Directors or any Officer as if it were the Company’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Member hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Board of Directors or any Officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Board of Directors or any Officer or their respective representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expediency of any act or action of the Board of Directors or any Officer or their respective representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Company by the Board of Directors or any Officer or their respective representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Company and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Company.

 

Section 6.22  Manager .

 

(a) The Manager shall have only the powers expressly set forth herein to designate and remove members of the Board of Directors, fill vacancies on the Board of Directors, determine from time to time the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors, resign and designate a substitute Manager, in each case as provided in this Article VI. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, in exercising its authority under this Agreement, the Manager may, but shall not be obligated to, take into account the consequences to any Member of any action taken (or not taken) by it. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Manager shall owe no duties (including any fiduciary duties) to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement and shall have no liability to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement for monetary damages or otherwise for losses sustained,

 

A-36


Table of Contents

liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by such Member in connection with such decisions. The Manager shall not be responsible or liable to the Company or any Member or other Person bound by this Agreement for the misconduct or negligence of any Director duly appointed by the Manager hereunder.

 

(b) The Manager may resign at any time by giving notice of such resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein. The acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors shall not be necessary to make it effective. The Manager may at any time designate a substitute Manager that is a Permitted Oaktree Holder, which substitute Manager shall, upon the later of the acceptance of such designation and the effective date of such resignation of the resigning Manager, be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and be deemed the “Manager” for all purposes hereunder. In the event the Manager resigns and does not designate a substitute Manager in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a substitute Manager shall be elected by the holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 7.1  Records and Accounting . The Board of Directors shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Members any information required to be provided pursuant to this Agreement. Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Company in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Members, books of account and records of Company proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The Company shall maintain books and records for tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

Section 7.2  Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Company (each, a “ Fiscal Year ”) shall be a year ending December 31. The Board of Directors in its sole discretion may change the Fiscal Year at any time and from time to time, in each case as may be required or permitted under the Code or applicable United States Treasury Regulations, and shall notify the Members of such change in the next regular communication by the Company to the Members.

 

Section 7.3  Reports .

 

(a) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to mail or make available to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Company for such Fiscal Year, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a registered public accounting firm selected by the Board of Directors, and such other financial information as the Company deems appropriate.

 

(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to mail or make available to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, within 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each Fiscal Year, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Company and such other information as may be required by applicable Law or rule of any Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, or as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

A-37


Table of Contents

(c) The Company shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record Holder of a Unit as required by this Section 7.3 if it has (i) made such report available on any publicly available website maintained by or on behalf of the Company or (ii) filed such report with the SEC via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system) and such report is publicly available on such system.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

TAX MATTERS

 

Section 8.1  Tax Returns and Information . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely file all returns of the Company that are required for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and its Fiscal Year. The Company may, in its sole discretion, furnish to Members estimates of all necessary tax information prior to the availability of definitive tax information; provided , however , that each Member hereby agrees that there can be no assurance that such definitive information will be the same as such estimates, and that the Company shall not be liable to any Member or to any other Person for any information contained in any such estimates or for any differences between such estimates and such definitive information. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 8.2  Tax Elections . The Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine whether to make or refrain from making the election provided for in Section 754 of the Code and any and all other elections permitted by the tax laws of the United States, the several states and other relevant jurisdictions.

 

Section 8.3  Tax Controversies . The Board of Directors shall designate one Member as the Tax Matters Partner. The initial Tax Matters Partner shall be Oaktree Capital Group Holdings. The Tax Matters Partner is authorized to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Tax Matters Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Tax Matters Partner to conduct such proceedings.

 

Section 8.4  Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company is authorized to take any action that may be necessary or appropriate to, or cause the Company and other Group Members to, comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. Law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Company is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Member (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the Board of Directors may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Sections 5.3 or 9.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Member.

 

Section 8.5  Election to be Treated as a Corporation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to continue as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Board of Directors may elect to treat the Company as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes. In the event that the Board of Directors determines that the Company should seek relief pursuant to Section 7704(e) of the Code to preserve the status of the Company as a partnership for U.S. federal (and applicable state)

 

A-38


Table of Contents

income tax purposes, the Company and each Member shall agree to adjustments required by the tax authorities, and the Company shall pay such amounts as required by the tax authorities, to preserve the status of the Company as a partnership.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 9.1  Dissolution . The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substitute Members or Additional Members. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up:

 

(a) upon an election to dissolve the Company by the Board of Directors that is approved by the holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units;

 

(b) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or

 

(c) at any time when there are no Members of the Company, unless the business of the Company is continued in accordance with the Delaware Act.

 

Section 9.2  Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Company, the Board of Directors shall select one or more Persons (which may be the Board of Directors or a Member) to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the Board of Directors) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units. The Liquidator (if other than the Board of Directors) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units. Upon dissolution, death, incapacity, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article IX, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Board of Directors under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Company as provided for herein.

 

Section 9.3  Liquidation . The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Company, discharge its liabilities and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 18-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:

 

(a) Subject to Section 9.3(c), the assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Members on such terms as the Liquidator and such Member or Members may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Member receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 9.3(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value as determined by the Board of Directors or the Liquidator in its sole discretion, and contemporaneously therewith appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Members. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Members understand and acknowledge that a Member may be compelled to accept a distribution of any asset in kind from the Company despite the fact that

 

A-39


Table of Contents

the percentage of the asset distributed to such Member exceeds the percentage of that asset which is equal to the percentage in which such Member shares in distributions from the Company. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Company’s assets for a reasonable period of time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members. The Liquidator may distribute the Company’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members.

 

(b) Liabilities of the Company include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 9.2) and amounts owed to Members otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article V. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it deems appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment.

 

(c) Subject to the terms of any Unit Designation, all property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 9.3(b) shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests as of a Record Date selected by the Liquidator.

 

Section 9.4  Cancellation of Certificate of Formation . Upon the completion of the distribution of Company cash and property as provided in Section 9.3 in connection with the liquidation of the Company, the Certificate of Formation and all qualifications of the Company as a foreign limited liability company in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be cancelled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company shall be taken.

 

Section 9.5  Return of Contributions . Neither the Manager nor any Director or Officer shall be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Members, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets.

 

Section 9.6  Waiver of Partition . To the maximum extent permitted by Law, each Member hereby waives any right to partition of the Company property.

 

Section 9.7  Capital Account Restoration . No Member shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Company.

 

ARTICLE X

 

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT

 

Section 10.1  General . Except as provided in Sections 10.2 and 10.3, the Board of Directors may amend any of the terms of this Agreement, but only in compliance with the terms, conditions and procedures set forth in this Section 10.1. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of the Board of Directors. If an amendment to any provision of this Agreement other than pursuant to Section 10.3 has been proposed by or with the consent of the Board of Directors, then the Board of Directors shall first adopt a resolution setting forth the amendment proposed, declaring its advisability, and then (a) call a meeting of the Members entitled to vote in respect thereof for the consideration of such amendment or (b) seek the written consent of the Members. Such meeting shall be called and held upon notice in accordance with Article XII of this Agreement. The notice shall set forth such amendment in full or a brief summary of the changes to be effected thereby, as the Board of

 

A-40


Table of Contents

Directors shall deem advisable. At the meeting, a vote of Members entitled to vote thereon shall be taken for and against the proposed amendment. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units, unless a greater percentage is required under this Agreement or by the Delaware Act.

 

Section 10.2  Specified Amendments .

 

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 10.1 and 10.3, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such percentage unless such amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Voting Units whose aggregate Outstanding Voting Units represent not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 10.1 and 10.3, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Member without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 10.2(c), (ii) change Section 9.1(a), (iii) change the term of the Company or (iv) except as set forth in Section 9.1(a), give any Person the right to dissolve the Company.

 

(c) Except as provided in Sections 10.3 and 11.3, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class or series of Units in relation to other classes or series of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or series affected. The issuance by the Company of securities having rights superior to those of Outstanding Units or Units having a dilutive effect on Outstanding Units shall not be deemed to have material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class or series of Units.

 

(d) Notwithstanding Section 10.1, the affirmative vote of the holders of Units representing at least two-thirds of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units shall be required to alter or amend any provision of this Section 10.2.

 

Section 10.3  Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Board of Directors . Notwithstanding Section 10.1, each Member agrees that the Board of Directors, without the approval of any Member or any other Person, may amend any provision of this Agreement, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

 

(a) a change in the name of the Company, the location of the principal place of business of the Company, the registered agent of the Company or the registered office of the Company;

 

(b) the admission, substitution, resignation or removal of Members or the Manager in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(c) a change that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

(d) a change that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation;

 

(e) a change that the Board of Directors in its sole discretion determines (i) does not adversely affect the Members considered as a whole (including any particular class or series of Units as compared to other classes or series of Units) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary, desirable or

 

A-41


Table of Contents

appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. agency or judicial authority or contained in any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. statute (including the Delaware Act), (iii) to be necessary, desirable or appropriate to facilitate the trading of Units (including the division of any class or classes or series of Outstanding Units into different classes or series to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes or series of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which Units are or will be listed for trading, (iv) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.12 or (v) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(f) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company and any other changes that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary, desirable or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company;

 

(g) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines, based on advice of counsel, to be necessary or appropriate to prevent the Company or its Directors, Officers, trustees or agents from having a material risk of being in any manner subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or Title I of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law currently applied or proposed;

 

(h) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Units pursuant to Section 4.6 and the admission of Additional Members;

 

(i) an amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Board of Directors acting alone (including pursuant to Sections 3.6(c) or 5.2(b));

 

(j) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion approved in accordance with Section 11.3;

 

(k) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Company of, or investment by the Company in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Company of activities permitted by the terms of Sections 2.4 or 6.1(a);

 

(l) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by an amendment to the Oaktree Operating Group Partnership Agreements that requires a holder of an Oaktree Operating Group Unit to provide a statement, certification or other proof of evidence to the Oaktree Operating Group Partnership regarding whether such unitholder is subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by the Oaktree Operating Group Partnerships;

 

(m) a merger, conversion, conveyance or other business combination pursuant to Section 11.3(d), including an amendment permitted pursuant to Section 11.5; or

 

(n) any other amendment substantially similar to one or more of the foregoing.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

 

Section 11.1  Authority . The Company may merge or consolidate or otherwise combine with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts, business trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership or a limited liability

 

A-42


Table of Contents

limited partnership)), or convert into any such entity, formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger, consolidation or other business combination (a “Merger Agreement” ), or a written plan of conversion (a “Plan of Conversion” ), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XI.

 

Section 11.2  Procedure for Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination . Merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination of the Company pursuant to this Article XI requires the prior consent of the Board of Directors; provided , however , that to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Board of Directors shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination of the Company and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, may decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination, shall not be required to act pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other Law or at equity. If the Board of Directors shall determine, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to consent to the merger, consolidation or other business combination, the Board of Directors shall approve the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:

 

(a) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge, consolidate, convert or combine;

 

(b) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination (the “Surviving Business Entity” );

 

(c) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination;

 

(d) the manner and basis of converting or exchanging the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any interests in or securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be converted or exchanged solely for, or into, cash, property or interests in or rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests in or rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive upon conversion of, or in exchange for, their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or interests in or rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

 

(e) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, operating agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination;

 

(f) the effective time of the merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation or similar certificate pursuant to Section 11.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger

 

A-43


Table of Contents

Agreement or Plan of Conversion; provided , that if the effective time of such transaction is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate and stated therein; and

 

(g) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 11.3  Approval by Members of Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination .

 

(a) Except as provided in Section 11.3(d), the Board of Directors, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as applicable, and the merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination contemplated thereby be submitted to a vote of the Members, whether at an annual meeting or special meeting, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of meeting.

 

(b) Except as provided in Section 11.3(d), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination contemplated thereby shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units.

 

(c) Except as provided in Section 11.3(d), after such approval by vote of the Members, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger, consolidation, conversion or similar certificate pursuant to Section 11.4, the merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement, or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XI or in this Agreement, the Board of Directors may, without Member approval, (i) convert the Company or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity or (ii) merge the Company or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Company’s assets to, another limited liability entity, which entity shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Company or other Group Member; provided , that (A) the Company has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, will not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Member, (B) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Company into another limited liability entity and (C) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Members and the Board of Directors with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

 

(e) Members are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal in the event of a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to this Article XI, a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries or any other similar transaction or event.

 

(f) Without the approval of any Member, the Board of Directors may, at any time, cause the Company to implement a reorganization whereby a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust” ) would hold all Outstanding Class A Units and the Record Holder of each Class A Unit would receive, in exchange for such Class A Unit, a common share of the Trust which would represent one beneficial interest in the Trust, and each common share of the Trust would correspond to one underlying Class A Unit; provided , however , that the Board of Directors shall not implement such a trust structure if, in its sole discretion, it determines that such reorganization would be taxable or otherwise alter the benefits or

 

A-44


Table of Contents

burdens of ownership of the Class A Units, including altering a Member’s allocation of items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or the treatment of such items for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Board of Directors will also be required to implement the reorganization in such a manner that the reorganization does not have a material effect on the voting or economic rights of Class A Units and Class B Units.

 

Section 11.4  Certificate of Merger, Conversion or Consolidation . Upon the required approval by the Board of Directors and the Members of a Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation, conversion or business combination contemplated thereby, a certificate of merger, conversion or consolidation or similar certificate shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and any other applicable Governmental Entity in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act and other applicable Law.

 

Section 11.5  Amendment of Operating Agreement . Pursuant to Section 18-209(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding Article X hereof, an agreement of merger, consolidation or other business combination approved in accordance with this Article XI may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new operating agreement for a limited liability company if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 11.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger, consolidation or other business combination.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

MEMBER MEETINGS

 

Section 12.1  Member Meetings.

 

(a) All acts of Members to be taken hereunder shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XII. Meetings of the Members holding any class or series of Units may be called only by a majority of the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class A Units and Class B Units shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion on a date not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days after the mailing of notice of the meeting.

 

(b) In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, all elections of Directors shall be by written ballots. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, such requirement of a written ballot may be satisfied by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission; provided , that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be reasonably determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the Member or proxyholder.

 

(c) For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, the Company shall not be required to have an annual meeting unless otherwise required by applicable Law. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units and the annual meeting for election of Directors is not held on the date designated therefor, the Directors shall cause the meeting to be held as soon as is convenient. If there is a failure to hold the annual meeting for a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting, or if no date has been designated, for a period of 13 months after the latest to occur of the Offering Date or its last annual meeting, it is the intent of the parties that no annual meeting be held for that year. In such situations, the Board of Directors will cause the Company to provide notice to all Members entitled to vote in the election of Directors as to the manner in which the election shall be conducted and the procedure that such Member must comply with in order to vote in the election of Directors.

 

A-45


Table of Contents

Section 12.2  Notice of Meetings of Members . Notice, stating the place, day and hour of any annual or special meeting of the Members, as determined by the Board of Directors, and (a) in the case of a special meeting of the Members, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called or (b) in the case of an annual meeting, those matters that the Board of Directors, at the time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by the Members, shall be delivered by the Company not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days before the date of the meeting, in a manner and otherwise in accordance with Section 14.1, to each Record Holder who is entitled to vote at such meeting. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by the Delaware Act. Only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of Members as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. Any previously scheduled meeting of the Members may be postponed, and any meeting of the Members may be cancelled, by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of the Members.

 

Section 12.3  Record Date . For purposes of determining the Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 12.8, the Board of Directors may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Members are requested in writing by the Board of Directors to give such approvals. If no Record Date is fixed by the Board of Directors, then (i) the Record Date for determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members shall be at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which notice is given and (ii) the Record Date for determining the Members entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Company in accordance with Section 12.8. A determination of Members of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members shall apply to any adjournment or postponement of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new Record Date for the adjourned or postponed meeting.

 

Section 12.4  Adjournment . In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of Members may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of Members holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in this Section 12.4. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XII.

 

Section 12.5  Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting . The transactions of any meeting of Members, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if they had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Member at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except (a) when the Member attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business at such meeting because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, and (b) that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.

 

A-46


Table of Contents

Section 12.6  Quorum; Required Vote for Member Action; Voting for Directors .

 

(a) The Members holding a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes or series for which a meeting has been called represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Members of such class or classes or series unless any such action by the Members requires approval by Members holding a greater percentage of the voting power of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class A Units and Class B Units shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose.

 

(b) At any meeting of the Members duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Members holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting and which are present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Members, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to a matter under the Delaware Act, under the rules of any Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, or under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Members holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage of the voting power shall be required. The Members present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Members to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of the voting power of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement.

 

(c) In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast for a particular position.

 

Section 12.7  Conduct of a Meeting . The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Members or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of this Article XII, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The Board of Directors shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Company maintained by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may make such other regulations consistent with applicable Law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Members or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote and the revocation of approvals, proxies and votes in writing.

 

Section 12.8  Action Without a Meeting . Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Members holding not less than the minimum percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Members were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which the Units or a class or series thereof are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such Securities Exchange shall govern). Reasonable notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Members who have not approved in writing. The Board of Directors may specify that a written ballot, if any, submitted to Members for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Company within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. If a ballot returned to the Company does not vote all of the Units held by a Member, the Units held by such Member and not

 

A-47


Table of Contents

voted on such ballot shall be deemed to have been voted in the same manner and in the same proportions as the voted Units. If approval of the taking of any action by the Members is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the Board of Directors, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Company in the care of the Secretary or another Officer designated by the Board of Directors, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Company and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the Company to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter is permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and the Members. Nothing contained in this Section 12.8 shall be deemed to require the Board of Directors to solicit all Members in connection with a matter approved by Members holding the requisite percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units acting by written consent without a meeting.

 

Section 12.9  Voting and Other Rights.

 

(a) Only those Record Holders of Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 12.3 shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Members or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Voting Units have the right to vote or to act (including the giving of approval in writing). All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the holders of Outstanding Voting Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Voting Units on such Record Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 12.9 (as well as the other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 3.4.

 

(b) With respect to Outstanding Voting Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Outstanding Voting Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Outstanding Voting Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Outstanding Voting Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the Beneficial Owner, and the Company shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry.

 

Section 12.10  Proxies and Voting.

 

(a) On any matter that is to be voted on by Members, the Members may vote in person or by proxy, and such proxy may be granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission or as otherwise permitted by applicable Law. Any such proxy shall be filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ electronic transmission ” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided , that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

(b) The Company may, and to the extent required by applicable Law, shall, in advance of any meeting of Members, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Company may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of Members, the Person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by applicable Law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take

 

A-48


Table of Contents

and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballot shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.

 

(c) With respect to the use of proxies at any meeting of Members, the Company shall be governed by paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Section 212 of the DGCL and other applicable provisions of the DGCL, as though the Company were a Delaware corporation and as though the Members were stockholders of a Delaware corporation.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE UNITS

 

Section 13.1  Right to Acquire Units . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time less than 10% of the total Units of any series or class then Outstanding are held by Persons other than the Principals and Persons Controlled by the Principals, the Company shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to any Affiliate, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Units of such series or class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the Principals and Persons Controlled by the Principals, at the greater of (a) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 13.2 is mailed and (b) the highest price paid by the Company or any of its Affiliates for any Unit of such series or class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 13.2 is mailed.

 

Section 13.2  Notice of Election to Purchase . If the Company or any Affiliate elects to exercise the right to purchase Units of any series or class granted pursuant to Section 13.1, the Company shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “ Notice of Election to Purchase ”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to send by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier of national reputation, a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Units of such series or class (as of a Record Date selected by the Company) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the date selected by the Company to purchase the Units (the “ Purchase Date ”). Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and circulated in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 13.1) at which Units will be purchased and state that the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Units (in the case of Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Units) in exchange for payment at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify or as may be required by any Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Units at its address as reflected on the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the Record Holder receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Units to be purchased in accordance with this Section 13.2. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Units subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Units (including any rights pursuant to Articles IV, V, VII, and XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 13.1) for Units therefor, without interest (in the case of Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the

 

A-49


Table of Contents

Certificates representing such Units) and such Units shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent, and the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Units from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Units (including all rights as owner of such Units pursuant to Articles IV, V, VII and XII).

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 14.1  Addresses and Notices .

 

(a) Unless otherwise specified herein, any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Member under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or other means of written communication to the Member at the address described below. Any notice, payment in the form of a check, demand, request, report or proxy materials to be given or made to a Member in respect of any Units hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon the sending of such notice, payment, demand, request, report or proxy materials to the Record Holder of such Units at its address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Company, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Units by reason of any assignment or otherwise.

 

(b) An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.1 executed by the Company, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials. If any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials given or made in accordance with this Section 14.1 is returned marked to indicate that such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials was unable to be delivered, then such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials, and in the case of notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials returned by the United States Postal Service or overnight courier of national reputation (or other physical mail delivery service outside of the United States of America), any subsequent notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until a reasonable period after such time as such Member or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Company in writing of a change in such Member’s address) or other delivery if it is available for the Member at the principal office of the Company for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials to the other Members. Any notice to the Company shall be deemed given if received by the Secretary at the principal office of the Company designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The Board of Directors and any Officer may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Member or other Person if believed by the Board of Directors or such Officer to be genuine.

 

Section 14.2  Further Action . The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 14.3  Binding Effect . 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. The Indemnified Persons and their heirs, executors, administrators and successors shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement.

 

 

A-50


Table of Contents

Section 14.4  Integration . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

 

Section 14.5  Creditors . None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Company.

 

Section 14.6  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 waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 14.7  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Unit pursuant to Section 3.1(a), without execution hereof.

 

Section 14.8  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely therein.

 

Section 14.9  Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

Section 14.10  Consent of Members. Each Member hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Members, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Members and each Member shall be bound by the results of such action.

 

Section 14.11  Facsimile Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of an Officer or Transfer Agent on Certificates is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

Section 14.12  Effectiveness of Amendment. The amendment and restatement of the Second Amended Agreement into this Agreement shall take effect on the Offering Date.

 

[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

A-51


Table of Contents

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written above.

 

Members:
OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC, as attorney-in-fact for the Members of the Company
By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

Manager:
OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS GP, LLC
By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

By:    
    Name:
    Title:

 

[Oaktree Capital Group, LLC Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement]


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF CLASS A UNIT CERTIFICATE


Table of Contents

 

                CLASS A UNITS                                                                           CLASS A UNITS            
                                    LOGO                                            
                                                                                           
                NUMBER                                     UNITS            
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                 
   

THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

     

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Formed under the laws of the State of Delaware

         

CUSIP

SEE REVERSE FOR DEFINITIONS

   
                                                                                                                                 
   

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                 
                                                SPECIMEN                                            
                                                                                                                                 
   

is the owner of

                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                 
                                        Class A Units of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC                                    
                                                                                                                                 
    (hereinafter called the “Company”) transferable on the books of the Company by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the registrar.   LOGO
                                                                                                                   
            Witness, the facsimile signatures of the duly authorized officers of the Company.      
                                                                                                                   
    Dated                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   

 

 

 


Table of Contents

THE CLASS A UNITS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR RESTATED, THE “OPERATING AGREEMENT”) OF OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC (“THE COMPANY”), WHICH CONTAINS SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR TRANSFER. THE CLASS A UNITS MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPERATING AGREEMENT AND APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER NOT MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPERATING AGREEMENT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID.

 

THE OPERATING AGREEMENT PROHIBITS ANY TRANSFER IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS (A) VIOLATE APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS, RULES OR REGULATIONS, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF THE COMPANY UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION, (C) CAUSE THE COMPANY TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED) OR (D) REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1940 ACT. IN ADDITION, THE CLASS A UNITS ARE SUBJECT TO MANDATORY REDEMPTION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SET FORTH IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

 

A COPY OF THE OPERATING AGREEMENT IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST FROM THE COMPANY.

 

THE HOLDER OF A CLASS A UNIT, BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE (A) REQUESTED ADMISSION AS, AND AGREED TO BECOME, A MEMBER OF THE COMPANY, (B) AGREED TO COMPLY WITH, AND BE BOUND BY, THE TERMS OF THE OPERATING AGREEMENT, (C) GRANTED THE POWERS OF ATTORNEY PROVIDED FOR IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT AND (D) MADE THE WAIVERS AND GIVEN THE CONSENTS AND APPROVALS CONTAINED IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM       as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT                         Custodian                 
TEN ENT       as tenants by the entireties                 (Cust)                         (Minor)
JT TEN    

  as joint tenants with right of

  survivorship and not as tenants in   common

         

  under Uniform Transfers/Gifts to

  Minors Act                             

                          (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                          hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

Please insert Social Security or other

identifying number of Assignee

 

  


(Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of Assignee)

 

                                 units represented by the Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

                                      Attorney to transfer the said units on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated                         

 

   
NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

   
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CLASS B UNIT CERTIFICATE


Table of Contents

Certificate Evidencing Class B Units

in

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

 

No. B-[            ]

      [            ] Units

 

In accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”) of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), the Company hereby certifies that [            ] (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of [            ] Class B Units in the Company (the “ Units ”) transferable on the books of the Company, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Operating Agreement. The Operating Agreement is on file at, and a copy will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Company at, the principal office of the Company located at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, or such other address as may be specified by notice under the Operating Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Operating Agreement.

 

The holder of this Certificate, by acceptance of this Certificate, shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Member of the Company; (ii) agreed to comply with, and be bound by, the terms of the Operating Agreement; (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Operating Agreement; and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Operating Agreement. Any attempted transfer of this Certificate or the Class B Units it represents in violation of the Operating Agreement shall be null and void.

 

This Certificate shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

Dated:

  SPECIMEN    

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

     

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

By:  

 


      By:  

 


   

Name:

         

Name:

   

Title:

         

Title:

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

   

as Transfer Agent and Registrar


Table of Contents

THE CLASS B UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OTHER THAN PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM     as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT                      Custodian                 
TEN ENT     as tenants by the entireties             (Cust)                        (Minor)
JT TEN    

as joint tenants with right of

survivorship and not as tenants in common

         

under Uniform Transfers/Gifts to Minors Act                         

                           (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                          hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

Please insert Social Security or other

identifying number of Assignee

 


(Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of Assignee)

 

                             units represented by the Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

                 Attorney to transfer the said units on the books of the Company with full power of substitution

 

in the premises.

 

Dated                          .

 

    NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change.

 

SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY

 

SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED

 

 

 


(Signature)

   

 


   

(Signature)

 

No transfer of the Class B Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Company unless the Certificate evidencing the Class B Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration of transfer.


Table of Contents

 

 

             Class A Units

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Representing Limited Liability Company Interests

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Morgan Stanley

Through and including              , 2011 (25 days after the commencement of this offering), all dealers that effect transactions in our Class A units, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following table sets forth the fees and expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Class A units being registered hereby. Except for the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the NYSE listing fee, all amounts are estimates.

 

Description

   Amount  

SEC registration fee

     $            *   

FINRA filing fee

     *   

NYSE listing fee

     *   

Accounting fees and expenses

     *   

Legal fees and expenses

     *   

Printing and engraving fees and expenses

     *   

Blue Sky fees and expenses

     *   

Transfer agent fees and expenses

     *   

Miscellaneous expenses

     *   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $             *   
  

 

 

 

 

* To be filed by amendment

ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

The section of the prospectus entitled “Certain Relationships And Related Party Transactions – Limitations on Liability; Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Manager” discloses that we will generally indemnify our manager, officers, directors and affiliates of our manager and certain other specified persons to the fullest extent permitted by the law against all losses, claims, damages or similar events and is incorporated herein by this reference. Section 107 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act empowers us to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other persons from and against all claims and demands whatsoever. The indemnification rights that we provide to our directors and officers are more expansive than those permitted to be provided to the directors and officers of a Delaware corporation under applicable Delaware laws.

We currently maintain liability insurance for our directors and officers. In connection with this offering, we intend to obtain additional liability insurance for our directors and officers.

ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.

Under our operating agreement, we are required to issue one Class B unit for each OCGH unit issued to our officers and employees. Accordingly, since January 1, 2008, we have made the following issuances of Class B units to OCGH on the dates and in the amounts set forth herein. Each of these issuances was in connection with an issuance of OCGH units to our officers and employees: (1) 779,000 Class B units on January 1, 2008; (2) 62,286 Class B units on October 1, 2008; (3) 762,346 Class B units on January 1, 2009; (4) 100,000 Class B units on June 30, 2009; (5) 1,311,500 Class B units on January 1, 2010; (6) 5,000 Class B units on June 1, 2010; (7) 30,000 Class B units on June 30, 2010; (8) 10,000 Class B units on December 1, 2010; (9) 1,443,300 Class B units on January 1, 2011; (10) 30,000 Class B units on April 1, 2011; and (11) 50,000 Class B units on May 1, 2011.

No purchase price was paid by OCGH for these issuances. The issuances of securities described in these items (1)-(11) were exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder, as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. OCGH is an accredited investor and acquired the securities for investment only and not with a view toward the public sale or distribution thereof.

 

II-1


Table of Contents

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a) See Exhibit Index on the page immediately following the signature page to this Registration Statement for a list of exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules:

Financial Statement Schedules are omitted because the information called for is not required or is shown either in the Registrant’s consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, State of California, on July 29, 2011.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC
By:  

/s/ T ODD E. M OLZ

  Name:   Todd E. Molz
  Title:   General Counsel and Managing Director

 

II-3


Table of Contents

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

*

Howard S. Marks

  

Director, Chairman and Principal

  July 29, 2011

*

Bruce A. Karsh

   Director, President and Principal (Principal Executive Officer)   July 29, 2011

*

John B. Frank

  

Director and Managing Principal

  July 29, 2011

*

David M. Kirchheimer

   Director, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Principal (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   July 29, 2011

*

Kevin L. Clayton

  

Director and Principal

  July 29, 2011

*

Stephen A. Kaplan

  

Director and Principal

  July 29, 2011

*

Larry W. Keele

  

Director and Principal

  July 29, 2011

*

Sheldon M. Stone

  

Director and Principal

  July 29, 2011

*

D. Richard Masson

  

Director and Principal Emeritus

  July 29, 2011

*

Robert E. Denham

  

Director

  July 29, 2011

*

Wayne G. Pierson

  

Director

  July 29, 2011

 

*By: 

 

/ S / T ODD E. M OLZ

  Todd E. Molz
  Attorney-in-fact

 

II-4


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibit

  1.1†††    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1††    Restated Certificate of Formation of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC.
  3.2†    Form of Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC (to be effective immediately before pricing).
  4.1†††    Specimen certificate evidencing the Registrant’s Class A units.
  4.2†    Note Purchase Agreement, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, LLC and the purchasers named therein, dated as of June 14, 2004, for $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014.
  4.3†    Amendment No. 1 to the June 14, 2004 Note Purchase Agreement, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, LLC and the other parties thereto, dated as of March 15, 2006.
  4.4†    Amendment No. 2 and Waiver to the June 14, 2004 Note Purchase Agreement, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, LLC and the other parties thereto, dated as of June 6, 2006.
  4.5†    Form of 5.03% Senior Note due June 14, 2014.
  4.6†    Assumption and Guaranty Agreement, by Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P. in favor of the holders of the 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014.
  4.7†    Note Purchase Agreement, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, LLC and the purchasers named therein, dated as of June 6, 2006, for $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016.
  4.8†    Form of 6.09% Senior Note due June 6, 2016.
  4.9†    Assumption and Guaranty Agreement, by Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P. in favor of the holders of the 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016.
  4.10†    Note Purchase Agreement, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, LLC and the purchasers named therein, dated as of November 8, 2006, for $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016.
  4.11†    Form of 5.82% Senior Note due November 8, 2016.
  4.12†    Assumption and Guaranty Agreement, by Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P. in favor of the holders of the 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016.
  4.13†    Amendment and Waiver to the June 25, 2001 Note Purchase Agreement, the June 14, 2004 Note Purchase Agreement, the June 6, 2006 Note Purchase Agreement and the November 8, 2006 Note Purchase Agreement, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, LLC and the other parties thereto, dated as of May 16, 2007.
  4.14†    Second Amendment and Waiver to the June 25, 2001 Note Purchase Agreement, the June 14, 2004 Note Purchase Agreement, the June 6, 2006 Note Purchase Agreement and the November 8, 2006 Note Purchase Agreement, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. and the other parties thereto, dated as of July 6, 2010.


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibit

  4.15†    Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2009, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., as Issuer, Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., each an Initial Guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, with respect to 6.75% Senior Notes Due 2019.
  5.1†        Form of Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP regarding validity of Class A units registered.
  8.1†        Form of Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP regarding certain tax matters.
10.1†    Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital I, L.P., dated as of May 25, 2007.
10.2†    Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital II, L.P., dated as of May 25, 2007.
10.3†    Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., dated as of May 25, 2007.
10.4†    Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., dated as of May 25, 2007.
10.5†    Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P., dated as of May 25, 2011.
10.6†    Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., dated as of October 29, 2008.
10.7†††    Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2008, by and among Oaktree Holdings, Inc., Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., OCM Holdings I, LLC and each Partnership defined therein.
10.8†††    Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2008, by and among Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, OCM Holdings I, LLC, Oaktree Holdings, Inc., Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. and other parties from time to time party thereto.
10.9†††    Form of Registration Rights Agreement.
10.10†    Credit Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2011, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. and Oaktree Capital I, L.P., the Lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and HSBC Securities (USA), Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Lead Bookrunners.
10.11†    Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and the director or officer named therein.
10.12†*    2007 Oaktree Capital Group Equity Incentive Plan and forms of award agreements thereunder.
10.13†*    Phantom Equity Plan of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and its Affiliates, effective as of January 1, 2008 and form of award agreement thereunder.
10.14†*    Summary Employment Agreement by and among Oaktree Capital Management Limited and Howard Marks, dated as of September 26, 2006.
10.15†*    Summary Employment Agreement by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and Kevin Clayton, dated as of April 26, 2011.
10.16†*    Form of Management Fee Sharing Letter Agreement.


Table of Contents

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibit

10.17†*    Form of Profit Sharing Letter Agreement.
10.18†*    Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P., dated as of July 28, 2011.
10.19†*    Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Fund GP II, L.P., dated as of July 28, 2011.
10.20†*    Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Fund GP III, L.P., dated as of July 28, 2011.
10.21†*    Limited Partnership Agreement of OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III GP, L.P., dated as of December 27, 2007.
10.22†*    Limited Partnership Agreement of OCM Power Opportunities Fund II GP, L.P., dated as of December 27, 2007.
10.23†*    Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund GP, L.P., dated as of November 18, 2008.
21.1†    Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1†    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2†    Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included as part of its opinions filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 hereto).
24.1††    Powers of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration Statement).

 

Filed herewith.
†† Previously filed.
††† To be filed by amendment.
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Exhibit 3.2

FORM OF

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

Dated as of                     , 2011


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.1

  

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.2

  

Construction

     9   
ARTICLE II   
ORGANIZATION   

Section 2.1

  

Formation

     10   

Section 2.2

  

Name

     10   

Section 2.3

  

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

     10   

Section 2.4

  

Purposes

     10   

Section 2.5

  

Powers

     10   

Section 2.6

  

Power of Attorney

     11   

Section 2.7

  

Term

     12   

Section 2.8

  

Title to Company Assets

     12   
ARTICLE III   
MEMBERS; CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFERS OF UNITS   

Section 3.1

  

Members

     12   

Section 3.2

  

Rights of a Member

     14   

Section 3.3

  

Certificates

     14   

Section 3.4

  

Record Holders

     15   

Section 3.5

  

Registration and Transfer of Units

     15   

Section 3.6

  

Restrictions on Transfer

     17   

Section 3.7

  

[Reserved]

     18   

Section 3.8

  

[Reserved]

     18   

Section 3.9

  

Citizenship Requirements

     18   

Section 3.10

  

[Reserved]

     19   

Section 3.11

  

[Reserved]

     19   

Section 3.12

  

Splits and Combinations

     19   

Section 3.13

  

Redemption of Units

     19   
ARTICLE IV   
DESIGNATION OF CLASS A UNITS AND CLASS B UNITS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS   

Section 4.1

  

Designation of Class A Units and Class B Units

     20   

Section 4.2

  

[Reserved]

     20   

 

i


Section 4.3

  

[Reserved]

     21   

Section 4.4

  

Issuance and Cancellation of Class B Units

     21   

Section 4.5

  

[Reserved]

     21   

Section 4.6

  

Issuances of Additional Units

     21   

Section 4.7

  

Preemptive Rights

     22   

Section 4.8

  

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Units

     22   

Section 4.9

  

Purchases of Units

     22   
ARTICLE V   
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS   

Section 5.1

  

Capital Accounts

     22   

Section 5.2

  

Allocations

     23   

Section 5.3

  

Distributions to Record Holders

     24   
ARTICLE VI   
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS   

Section 6.1

  

Power and Authority of Board of Directors

     25   

Section 6.2

  

Number, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors

     27   

Section 6.3

  

Election of Directors

     27   

Section 6.4

  

Removal

     28   

Section 6.5

  

Resignations

     28   

Section 6.6

  

Vacancies

     28   

Section 6.7

  

Chairman of Meetings

     28   

Section 6.8

  

Place of Meetings

     29   

Section 6.9

  

Meetings; Notice

     29   

Section 6.10

  

Action Without Meeting

     29   

Section 6.11

  

Conference Telephone Meetings

     29   

Section 6.12

  

Quorum

     29   

Section 6.13

  

Committees

     29   

Section 6.14

  

Alternate Members of Committees

     30   

Section 6.15

  

Remuneration

     30   

Section 6.16

  

Exculpation, Indemnification, Advances and Insurance

     30   

Section 6.17

  

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties

     35   

Section 6.18

  

Certificate of Formation

     36   

Section 6.19

  

Officers

     37   

Section 6.20

  

Duties of Officers and Directors

     38   

Section 6.21

  

Reliance by Third Parties

     38   

Section 6.22

  

Manager

     38   

 

ii


ARTICLE VII   
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS   

Section 7.1

  

Records and Accounting

     39   

Section 7.2

  

Fiscal Year

     39   

Section 7.3

  

Reports

     39   
ARTICLE VIII   
TAX MATTERS   

Section 8.1

  

Tax Returns and Information

     40   

Section 8.2

  

Tax Elections

     40   

Section 8.3

  

Tax Controversies

     40   

Section 8.4

  

Withholding

     41   

Section 8.5

  

Election to be Treated as a Corporation

     41   
ARTICLE IX   
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION   

Section 9.1

  

Dissolution

     41   

Section 9.2

  

Liquidator

     41   

Section 9.3

  

Liquidation

     42   

Section 9.4

  

Cancellation of Certificate of Formation

     43   

Section 9.5

  

Return of Contributions

     43   

Section 9.6

  

Waiver of Partition

     43   

Section 9.7

  

Capital Account Restoration

     43   
ARTICLE X   
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT   

Section 10.1

  

General

     43   

Section 10.2

  

Specified Amendments

     43   

Section 10.3

  

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Board of Directors

     44   
ARTICLE XI   
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION   

Section 11.1

  

Authority

     46   

Section 11.2

  

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination

     46   

Section 11.3

  

Approval by Members of Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination

     47   

Section 11.4

  

Certificate of Merger, Conversion or Consolidation

     48   

 

iii


Section 11.5

  

Amendment of Operating Agreement

     48   
ARTICLE XII   
MEMBER MEETINGS   

Section 12.1

  

Member Meetings

     49   

Section 12.2

  

Notice of Meetings of Members

     49   

Section 12.3

  

Record Date

     50   

Section 12.4

  

Adjournment

     50   

Section 12.5

  

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting

     50   

Section 12.6

  

Quorum; Required Vote for Member Action; Voting for Directors

     51   

Section 12.7

  

Conduct of a Meeting

     51   

Section 12.8

  

Action Without a Meeting

     51   

Section 12.9

  

Voting and Other Rights

     52   

Section 12.10

  

Proxies and Voting

     53   
ARTICLE XIII   
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE UNITS   

Section 13.1

  

Right to Acquire Units

     53   

Section 13.2

  

Notice of Election to Purchase

     54   
ARTICLE XIV   
GENERAL PROVISIONS   

Section 14.1

  

Addresses and Notices

     54   

Section 14.2

  

Further Action

     55   

Section 14.3

  

Binding Effect

     55   

Section 14.4

  

Integration

     55   

Section 14.5

  

Creditors

     55   

Section 14.6

  

Waiver

     56   

Section 14.7

  

Counterparts

     56   

Section 14.8

  

Applicable Law

     56   

Section 14.9

  

Invalidity of Provisions

     56   

Section 14.10

  

Consent of Members

     56   

Section 14.11

  

Facsimile Signatures

     56   

Section 14.12

  

Effectiveness of Amendment

     56   

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A – FORM OF CLASS A UNIT CERTIFICATE

EXHIBIT B – FORM OF CLASS B UNIT CERTIFICATE

 

iv


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

This THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC, is dated as of                     , 2011. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.1.

WHEREAS, the Company was formed under the Delaware Act pursuant to a Certificate of Formation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 13, 2007, and a Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of April 13, 2007 (the “ Original Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Original Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (the “ First Amended Agreement ”) dated as of May 25, 2007;

WHEREAS, the First Amended Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by a Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (the “ Second Amended Agreement ”) dated as of March 28, 2008;

WHEREAS, prior to the Offering Date, all of the issued and outstanding Class C Units of the Company will be converted into Class A Units; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Company have authorized and approved an amendment and restatement of the Second Amended Agreement on the terms set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, the Second Amended Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1  Definitions .

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

Additional Member ” means a Person admitted as a member of the Company in accordance with Article IV as a result of an issuance of Units to such Person by the Company.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person in question; provided , that no Investment Fund or Portfolio Company shall be an “Affiliate” of the Company or of any Subsidiary thereof.

 

1


Agreement ” means this Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Beneficial Owner ” means a Person who is deemed to beneficially own a Unit, as determined pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act.

Board of Directors ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(a).

Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of California shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

Capital Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1.

Capital Contribution ” means any cash or cash equivalents or the fair market value (as determined by the Company) of any property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, that a Member contributes to the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Company asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Company shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the Company, and the Carrying Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Unit by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets to a Member; (c) the date a Unit is relinquished to the Company; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided , however , that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)” rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

Certificate ” means a certificate (a) substantially in the form of Exhibit A or Exhibit B to this Agreement, (b) in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of any depositary or (c) in such other form as may be adopted by the Board of Directors, issued by the Company evidencing ownership of one or more Units.

Certificate of Formation ” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 6.18, as such Certificate of Formation may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Chairman ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.7.

 

2


Citizenship Certification ” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the Company by which a Member certifies that it (and if it is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of its knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

Class A Unit ” means a Unit in the Company that is a common unit designated as a “Class A Unit.”

Class B Holder ” means any entity or entities that are Controlled by the Principals, other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and that is or becomes the Record Holder of one or more Class B Units. As of the date of this Agreement, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings is the sole Class B Holder.

Class B Unit ” means a Unit in the Company that is a common unit designated as a “Class B Unit.”

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

Company ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.

Company Group ” means the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company.

Control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Current Market Price ” means, with respect to any Unit of any class or series as of any date of determination, the average of the daily closing price per Unit of such series or class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.

Delaware Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

DGCL ” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 8 Del. C. Section 101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

Director ” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

electronic transmission ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.10(a).

Eligible Citizen ” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to

 

3


time and whose status as a Member the Company determines in its sole discretion does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Oaktree Operating Group Units in accordance with the terms thereof, including, without limitation, the Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement dated as of March 28, 2008 by and among the Company, OCM Holdings I, LLC, Oaktree Holdings, Inc., Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. formerly Oaktree Media Holdings, Inc., Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., Oaktree Capital Group Holdings and the other parties joined thereto from time to time, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

First Amended Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

Fiscal Year ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2.

Governmental Entity ” means any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof.

Group Member ” means a member of the Company Group.

Indemnified Person ” means (a) any Person who is or was a Director, Officer or Tax Matters Partner of the Company, (b) any Person who is or was an officer, director, member, manager, partner, Tax Matters Partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member or any Affiliate thereof, (c) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or an Affiliate as an officer, director, member, manager, partner, Tax Matters Partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person (including any Subsidiary); provided , that a Person shall not be an Indemnified Person by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (d) the Manager, and (e) any Person the Board of Directors in its sole discretion designates as an “Indemnified Person” for purposes of this Agreement.

Investment Company Act ” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

Investment Fund ” means any Person in which an Oaktree Operating Group Partnership owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, shares of stock, or a general partner, limited partner, limited liability company or similar ownership interest, organized or

 

4


formed primarily for the purpose of investing funds contributed to such Person by one or more third parties that are not Affiliates of the Company.

IPO ” means the initial underwritten public offering and sale of Class A Units, as described in the Registration Statement.

Law ” means any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other law (including common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule or regulation or other requirement enacted, promulgated, issued, entered or put into effect by a Governmental Entity.

Liquidator ” means one or more Persons selected by the Board of Directors to perform the functions described in Section 9.2 as liquidating trustee of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

Manager ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor Manager designated or elected pursuant to Section 6.22(b).

Member ” means each Record Holder of a Unit, including, unless the context otherwise requires, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, each Substitute Member and each Additional Member, in each case in such Person’s capacity as a member of the Company.

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1.

Net Income (Loss) ” means for any fiscal period the taxable income or loss of the Company for such period as determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) any income of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income (Loss) shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (b) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any depreciation, amortization or gain resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (c) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; and (d) any expenditures of the Company not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income (Loss) pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.2.

Oaktree Capital Group Holdings ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., each a Delaware limited partnership, and Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and any other Subsidiary of the Company (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part

 

5


of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, none of Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Oaktree Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, OCM Holdings I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted limited liability company, shall be included in the Oaktree Operating Group.

Oaktree Operating Group Partnership ” means any partnership or other entity that is a part of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Oaktree Operating Group Partnership Agreement ” means the limited partnership agreement or similar document that governs the terms of an Oaktree Operating Group Partnership, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

Oaktree Operating Group Unit ” means the aggregate of one unit in each of the Oaktree Operating Group Partnerships, representing an interest in each such entity.

Offering Date ” means the public offering date set forth in the final prospectus used in connection with the IPO.

Officers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.19(a).

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Company or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the Company.

Original Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

Outside Director ” means any Director who is not an employee of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective Affiliates Controlled by the Principals.

Outstanding ” means, with respect to any Unit, a Unit that is issued by the Company and reflected as outstanding on the Company’s books and records as of the date of determination.

Percentage Interest ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) as to any Class A Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to the Units referred to in clause (c) by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the number of such Class A Units by (y) the total number of all Outstanding Class A Units, (b) as to any Class B Units, 0%, and (c) as to any other Units, the percentage established for such Units by the Board of Directors as a part of the authorization of such Units.

“Permitted Oaktree Holder” means any Principal or any Person Controlled by one or more of the Principals (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity.

Plan of Conversion ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1.

 

6


Portfolio Company ” means any Person in which an Oaktree Operating Group Partnership owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, shares of stock, or a general partner, limited partner, limited liability company or similar ownership interest, or notes or other instruments, for investment purposes, including any intermediate holding company formed for the purpose of holding any such investment.

Preferred Units ” means a class of Units that entitles the Record Holders thereof to a preference or priority over the Record Holders of any other class of Units in (a) the right to share profits or losses or items thereof, (b) the right to share in Company distributions or (c) rights upon dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

President ” means the president of the Company appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.19.

Principal ” means any individual who may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors as a Principal of the Company, in each case until his or her death, disability, resignation or removal by the Board of Directors. The Principals as of the date of this Agreement are Kevin L. Clayton, John B. Frank, Stephen A. Kaplan, Bruce A. Karsh, Larry W. Keele, David M. Kirchheimer, Howard S. Marks and Sheldon M. Stone.

Purchase Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.2.

Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter.

Record Date ” means the date established by the Company for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Members or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Company action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Members or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

Record Holder ” means (a) with respect to any Class A Unit, the Person in whose name such Class A Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the close of business on a particular Business Day, and (b) with respect to any Unit of any other class or series, the Person in whose name such Unit is registered on the books that the Company has caused to be kept as of the close of business on such Business Day.

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S–1 (Registration No. 333-174993), as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Company with the SEC under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Class A Units in the IPO.

Redeemable Units ” means any Units for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 3.13.

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

7


Second Amended Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the SEC under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act or any successor thereto and any other securities exchange (whether or not registered with the SEC under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act) that the Board of Directors in its sole discretion designates as a Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.

Secretary ” means the secretary of the Company appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.19.

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Company to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Company and thereby subject the Company, the Directors, the Manager or the Class B Holder (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Company’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests of such Person or holds a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest in such Person; provided , that no Investment Fund or Portfolio Company shall be a “Subsidiary” of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof.

Substitute Member ” means a Person who is admitted as a Member of the Company pursuant to Section 3.5(e) as a result of a transfer of Units to such Person.

Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.2(b).

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Code.

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2008 by and among Oaktree Holdings, Inc., Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc. (formerly Oaktree Media Holdings, Inc.), Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. (formerly Oaktree Media Investments, L.P.), OCM Holdings I, LLC and each other party thereto, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

transfer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(a).

 

8


Trading Day ” means, with respect to Units of any class or series, a day on which the principal Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Units of a class or series are not listed for or admitted to trading on any Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in the City of Los Angeles are generally open.

Transfer Agent ” means, with respect to any class or series of Units, the bank, trust company or other Person (including the Company or one of its Affiliates) appointed from time to time by the Company to act as registrar and transfer agent for such class or series; provided , that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for a class or series of Units, the Company shall act in such capacity for such class or series.

Trust ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(f).

Underwriters ” means each Person named as an underwriter in the Underwriting Agreement who is obligated to purchase Class A Units pursuant thereto.

Underwriting Agreement ” means the Underwriting Agreement to be entered into by the Company providing for the sale of Class A Units in the IPO to the Underwriters, as amended, modified or restated from time to time.

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Company representing a limited liability company interest in the Company, including the right of the Record Holder of such Unit to any and all benefits to which a Record Holder may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligation of such Record Holder to comply with all the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Units may be common units or Preferred Units, and may be issued in different classes or series.

Unit Designation ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(b).

U.S. GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

Voting Units ” means the Class A Units, the Class B Units and Units of any other class or series issued after the Offering Date that entitle the Record Holder thereof to vote on any matter submitted for consent or approval of Members under this Agreement.

Section 1.2  Construction . Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) 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; (b) references to “Articles” and “Sections” refer to articles and sections of this Agreement; (c) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation; (d) the term “or” means, inclusively, and/or; and (e) the terms “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” (and terms of similar import) are references to this Agreement in its entirety, and not to any particular provision.

 

9


ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1  Formation . The Company has been previously formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Members and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Company shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Units shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes, and a Member has no interest in specific Company property.

Section 2.2  Name . The name of the Company shall be “Oaktree Capital Group, LLC”. The Company’s business may be conducted under any other name or names, as determined by the Board of Directors. The words “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Company’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board of Directors may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Formation (and upon such filing, this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change the name of the Company) and shall notify the Members of such change in the next regular communication to the Members.

Section 2.3  Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices . Unless and until changed by the Board of Directors by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Formation (and upon such filing, this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change the registered office and registered agent of the Company), the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be located at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The principal office of the Company shall be located at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071 or such other place as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate. The Company may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 2.4  Purposes . The purposes of the Company shall be to (a) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, any business, purpose or activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company organized pursuant to the Delaware Act, (b) acquire, hold and dispose of interests in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Company with respect to its interests therein, and (c) conduct any and all activities related or incidental to the foregoing purposes.

Section 2.5  Powers . The Company shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary and appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Company.

 

10


Section 2.6  Power of Attorney . Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Company and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 9.2, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their respective authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:

(a) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices:

(i) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property;

(ii) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement;

(iii) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution, liquidation and termination of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(iv) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments and restatements hereof or thereof) relating to the admission, resignation, removal or substitution of any Member pursuant to, or other events described in, this Agreement;

(v) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Units issued pursuant to Section 4.6; and

(vi) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger, conversion or consolidation or similar certificates) relating to a merger, conversion or consolidation of the Company pursuant to Article XI; and

(b) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the Board of Directors or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (i) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (ii) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided , that when required by Section 10.2 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the voting power of all Outstanding

 

11


Voting Units of any class or series required to take any action, the Company or the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(b) only after the necessary vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action of the Members or of the Members of such class or series, as applicable.

Nothing contained in this Section 2.6 shall be construed as authorizing the Company, the Board of Directors or the Liquidator to amend, change or modify this Agreement except in accordance with Article X or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Member and the transfer of all or any portion of such Member’s Units and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Member hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the Company or the Liquidator, acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney, and each such Member, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Company or the Liquidator, taken in good faith under such power of attorney in accordance with this Section 2.6. Each Member shall execute and deliver to the Company or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designations, powers of attorney and other instruments as the Company or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Company.

Section 2.7  Term . The Company’s term commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue, unless and until it is dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Article IX. The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Delaware Act.

Section 2.8  Title to Company Assets . Title to Company assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, Director or Officer, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Company assets may be held in the name of the Company, one or more of its Affiliates, or one or more nominees, as the Board of Directors may determine. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Company assets is held.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERS; CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFERS OF UNITS

Section 3.1  Members .

(a) Upon the execution of this Agreement, each Person who was a member of the Company pursuant to the Second Amended Agreement shall continue to be a member of the Company. A Person shall be admitted as a Member and shall become bound by the terms of this

 

12


Agreement when such Person purchases or otherwise lawfully acquires a Unit and becomes the Record Holder of such Unit, with or without execution of this Agreement. A Person may become a Record Holder without the consent or approval of any of the Members. A Person may not become a Member without acquiring a Unit.

(b) The name and mailing address of each Member shall be listed on the books and records of the Company maintained for such purpose by the Company or the Transfer Agent. The Company shall update the books and records from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information contained therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).

(c) Except as otherwise provided in the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and the Members shall not be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Member of the Company.

(d) Subject to Articles XI and XIII, and except as provided in Sections 3.6, 3.9 and 3.13, Members may not be expelled from or removed as members of the Company. Members shall not have any right to resign from the Company; provided , that when a transferee of a Member’s Unit becomes a Record Holder of such Unit, such transferring Member shall cease to be a member of the Company solely with respect to the Unit so transferred.

(e) Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including any Unit Designation): (i) no Member shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon dissolution of the Company may be considered as such by Law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement; (ii) no Member shall have priority over any other Member either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions; (iii) no interest shall be paid by the Company on Capital Contributions; and (iv) no Member, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation or management of the Company’s business, transact any business in the Company’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Company.

(f) Any Member shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Company, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Company Group, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty (including fiduciary duties) otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or Member; provided , that this Section 3.1(f) shall not excuse a breach of any provision of this Agreement binding upon a Person, or limit or otherwise modify any duties (including fiduciary duties) owed by a Person at law, in equity or otherwise (including by contract) to the Company or its Affiliates, in each case arising other than from such Person’s capacity as a Member. Neither the Company nor any of the other Members shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business interests or activities of any Member.

 

13


Section 3.2  Rights of a Member.

(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable Law, and except as limited by Section 3.2(b), each Member shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Member’s own expense:

(i) promptly after their becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Company’s U.S. federal, state and local income tax returns for any of the six years preceding such Member’s written demand, provided that such Member was a Member during any part of such year; and

(ii) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Formation and all amendments thereto have been executed.

(b) The Company may keep confidential from the Members, for such period of time as the Company determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the Company reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Company believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Company Group, (B) could damage the Company Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by Law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Company the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.2).

Section 3.3  Certificates .

(a) Upon the Company’s issuance of Units of any class or series to any Person, the Company may, in its discretion, issue or cause to be issued one or more Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the Units being so issued. Any Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any two Officers. In the event that a Unit is to be evidenced by a Certificate, no such Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by and registered on the books of the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that if the Board of Directors elects to issue any Units, including Class A Units, in global form, the Certificates evidencing such Units shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that such Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Company. If any Officer or Transfer Agent who shall have signed or whose facsimile signature shall have been placed upon any such Certificate shall have ceased to be such Officer or Transfer Agent before such Certificate is issued by the Company, such Certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such Person were such Officer or Transfer Agent at the date of issue. Certificates for any class or series of Units shall be uniquely numbered and shall be entered on the books and records of the Company as they are issued and shall exhibit the Record Holder’s name and number and type of Units.

(b) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate Officers on behalf of the Company shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall

 

14


countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and class or series of Units as the Certificate so surrendered. The appropriate Officers on behalf of the Company shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Units evidenced by the Certificate: (i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen; (ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the Company has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim; (iii) if requested by the Company, delivers to the Company a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Company may direct, to indemnify the Company and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and (iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Company. If a transfer of Units evidenced by a lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate is registered before the Transfer Agent receives notification in writing from the Record Holder regarding such loss, destruction or theft, the Record Holder shall be precluded from making any claim against the Company or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate. As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 3.3(b), the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.

(c) The Company may, in its sole discretion, issue one or more uncertificated classes or series of Units and may, with respect to any class or series of Units (unless otherwise provided in the applicable Unit Designation), issue Certificates with respect to some Units of such class or series and issue other Units of such class or series on an uncertificated basis.

Section 3.4  Record Holders . The Company shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the owner with respect to any Unit and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Unit on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Company shall have actual or other notice thereof, including in connection with any distribution pursuant to Section 5.3 or 9.3 or the exercise of any voting or other rights pursuant to Section 12.9, except as otherwise provided by Law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring or holding Units, as between the Company, on the one hand, and such other Person, on the other, such representative Person shall be deemed the Record Holder of such Unit.

Section 3.5  Registration and Transfer of Units .

(a) The term “ transfer ,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Unit, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the Record Holder of a Unit assigns such Unit to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by Law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

 

15


(b) No Unit shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with this Article III. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, any transfer or purported transfer of a Unit not made in accordance with this Article III, including any transfer in violation of Section 3.6, shall be null and void.

(c) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Company a register which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Board of Directors may prescribe and subject to Section 3.5(d), will provide for the registration and transfer of Units. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registration of Class A Units and transfers of such Class A Units as herein provided. In the absence of manifest error, the register kept by or on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive as to the identity of the holders of Units. With respect to certificated Units issued by the Company, if any, upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Units evidenced by such Certificate, the Company shall deliver, and in the case of certificated Class A Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the Record Holder or the designated transferee or transferees, to the extent and as required pursuant to the Record Holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Units as were evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered. In the case of any transfer of Units permitted by this Agreement, a transferor shall provide the address and other contact information for each such transferee as contemplated by Section 14.1.

(d) The Company shall not recognize any purported transfer of Units until the transfer is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent; provided , that in the event that any Units are represented by Certificates, notwithstanding Section 5.3 or the registration of the transfer of such certificated Units pursuant to this Section 3.5(d), no distributions shall be paid in respect of any such transferred certificated Units until the Certificates evidencing such Units are surrendered to the Transfer Agent. No charge shall be imposed by the Company for such transfer; provided , that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate or the registration of any transfer, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.

(e) By acceptance of the transfer of any Unit in accordance with this Article III or the issuance of any Unit in accordance with this Agreement (including in a merger, consolidation or other business combination pursuant to Article XI), each transferee of a Unit, including any nominee holder or agent or representative acquiring such Unit for the account of another Person, (i) shall become the Record Holder of the Unit so transferred or issued, (ii) shall be admitted to the Company as a Substitute Member or Additional Member with respect to the Unit so transferred or issued to such transferee or other recipient when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Company, with or without execution of this Agreement, (iii) shall become bound by the terms of, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by, this Agreement, with or without execution of this Agreement, (iv) represents that the transferee or other recipient has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, (v) grants the powers of attorney as specified herein, and (vi) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement. Neither the transfer of any Unit nor the admission of any new Member shall constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

 

16


(f) No transfer of a Unit shall entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Member pursuant to Section 3.5(e).

(g) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.5, (ii) Section 3.4, (iii) Sections 3.6 and 3.9, (iv) with respect to any series or class of Units, the provisions of any Unit Designation or amendment to this Agreement, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Member and (vi) provisions of applicable Law, including the Securities Act, Units shall be freely transferable.

Section 3.6  Restrictions on Transfer .

(a) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article III, no transfer of any Units shall be made if such purported transfer would:

(i) violate applicable law, including the then-applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the SEC, any state securities commission or any other Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over such transfer;

(ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Company under the laws of any jurisdiction;

(iii) cause the Company to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); or

(iv) require the Company to be subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act.

(b) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article III, no Member shall, without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent may be withheld in the Company’s sole discretion), directly or indirectly transfer, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale, or otherwise dispose of any Units, or any options or warrants to purchase any Units, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive Units, during the period commencing on the Offering Date and continuing for 120 days thereafter ; provided , however , that the restrictions set forth in this Section 3.6(b) shall not apply to (i) any Member that has executed and delivered a lock-up agreement to the managing underwriter or underwriters designated by the Company in a form satisfactory to the Company and such managing underwriter or underwriters or (ii) Units acquired by a Member in the IPO or on the open market on or after the Offering Date.

 

17


(c) The Board of Directors may impose additional restrictions on the transfer of Units if it receives advice of counsel acceptable to the Board of Directors (who may be regular counsel to the Company or its Affiliates) that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to avoid a significant risk of (i) the Company becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) the Company being subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act. The Board of Directors may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement without the approval of the Members.

(d) To the fullest extent permitted by Law, any transfer in violation of this Section 3.6 shall be null and void. In the event that any Person would otherwise become the Record Holder of a Unit through a purported transfer in violation of this Section 3.6, the Company may, in its sole discretion, require that the purported transferor take any steps deemed appropriate by the Company or the Transfer Agent to unwind, cancel or reverse such purported transaction. With respect to the purported transferee, such Person shall have no rights or economic interest in such Units or otherwise, including any consent rights, any rights to receive notice of, or attend, a meeting of the Members and any rights to receive distributions with respect to the Unit. In addition, the Company may, in its sole discretion, redeem the Unit in the manner provided in Section 3.13 or cause the transfer of such Unit to a third party in a transfer permitted by this Agreement and, if such Unit is sold or redeemed, the Company shall distribute the proceeds of such sale (net of any costs or expenses incurred by the Company) to the purported transferor.

(e) Without prejudice to any remedies available to the Company as a result of such transactions nothing contained in this Agreement, other than the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.6(b), shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Units entered into through the facilities of any Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for trading.

Section 3.7  [Reserved] .

Section 3.8  [Reserved] .

Section 3.9  Citizenship Requirements . If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any Law that, in the determination of the Company in its sole discretion creates a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Member, the Company may request that any Member furnish to the Company an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning its nationality, citizenship or other related status (or if the Member is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such other Person) as the Company may in its sole discretion request. If a Member fails to furnish to the Company such Citizenship Certification or other requested information within 30 days after receipt of such a request or if, upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information, the Company determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Member is not an Eligible Citizen, the Company may, in its sole discretion (i) require that such Member immediately transfer its Class A Units to an Eligible Citizen or (ii) redeem such Class A Units in the manner set forth in Section 3.13. Any compulsory transfer of Class A Units pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence shall occur through a Securities Exchange on which Class A Units are traded and shall comply with the other provisions of this Agreement regarding transfers of Class A Units. Pending such transfer or redemption, with

 

18


respect to such Record Holder of such Class A Units, the Company may, in its sole discretion, suspend the exercise of any voting or consent rights, any rights to receive notice of or attend meetings of the Members and any rights to receive distributions in respect of such Class A Units.

Section 3.10  [Reserved] .

Section 3.11  [Reserved] .

Section 3.12  Splits and Combinations .

(a) Subject to Section 3.12(d), the Company may make a pro rata distribution of Units to all Record Holders, or may effect a subdivision or combination of Units, so long as, after any such event, each Member shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Company as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units is declared, the Board of Directors shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder. The Board of Directors also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Units to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Company may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Units as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Units held by such Record Holders, or the Board of Directors may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Units Outstanding, the Company shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of any such new Certificate, the surrender of the Certificate(s), if any, held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

(d) The Company may issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would otherwise result in the issuance of fractional Units but for this Section 3.12(d), the Board of Directors may direct that each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

Section 3.13  Redemption of Units . Any redemption of Units by the Company permitted under Article III shall be conducted in accordance with this Section 3.13.

(a) The Company shall, not later than 30 days before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Member at its last address designated on the records of the Company or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier of national reputation. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Units, the date fixed for redemption, the place

 

19


of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon the redemption of the Redeemable Units (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing such Redeemable Units) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Member would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Units will accrue or be made.

(b) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Units shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Units of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Units of each such class included among the Redeemable Units, net of any costs or expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such redemption. Subject to the Delaware Act, the redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, (i) in cash, (ii) by delivery of a promissory note of the Company in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 8% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, the first such installment commencing one year after the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing such Redeemable Units) or (iii) a combination of cash and a promissory note having the terms described in clause (ii).

(c) The Member or its duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment for Redeemable Units at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption (i) in the case of uncertificated Redeemable Units, on the redemption date or (ii) in the case of Redeemable Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender, on the redemption date or thereafter, by or on behalf of the Member, of the Certificates evidencing the Redeemable Units, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank.

(d) After the redemption date, Redeemable Units shall no longer constitute Outstanding Units.

ARTICLE IV

DESIGNATION OF CLASS A UNITS AND CLASS B UNITS; CAPITAL

CONTRIBUTIONS

Section 4.1  Designation of Class A Units and Class B Units . As of the Offering Date, two classes of Units have been designated: Class A Units and Class B Units. Each Class A Unit shall entitle the Record Holder thereof to one vote on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members generally. Each Class B Unit shall initially entitle the Record Holder thereof to 10 votes on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members generally; provided , however , that at such time as the Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, and at all times thereafter, each Class B Unit shall entitle the Record Holder thereof to one vote on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members generally. Except as specifically provided for in this Agreement, Class A Units and Class B Units shall vote as a single class on any and all matters submitted for the consent or approval of Members.

Section 4.2  [Reserved] .

 

20


Section 4.3  [Reserved] .

Section 4.4  Issuance and Cancellation of Class B Units . The number of Outstanding Class B Units shall at all times be equal to the aggregate number of issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units then held by the Permitted Oaktree Holders. Upon the acquisition by any Permitted Oaktree Holder of a newly issued Oaktree Operating Group Unit, the Company shall issue a Class B Unit to the Class B Holder without requiring any Capital Contribution to the Company in respect of such Class B Unit, and upon the disposition (by transfer, sale, exchange or otherwise) of an Oaktree Operating Group Unit by any Permitted Oaktree Holder to any Person other than a Permitted Oaktree Holder, a Class B Unit then held by the Class B Holder shall automatically and without any action by such Member, the Board of Directors or the Company be cancelled, and the Class B Holder shall have no further right to or interest in such Class B Unit. If, notwithstanding the preceding sentence, at any time the number of Class B Units held by the Class B Holder exceeds the aggregate number of Oaktree Operating Group Units then held by all Permitted Oaktree Holders, then such excess Class B Units shall automatically and without any action by the Board of Directors or the Company be cancelled, and the Class B Holder shall have no further right to or interest in such Class B Units.

Section 4.5  [Reserved] .

Section 4.6  Issuances of Additional Units .

(a) The Company may issue any number of Units, and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Units, for any Company purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration (which may be cash, property, services or any other lawful consideration) or for no consideration and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine, all without the approval of any Member or any other Person.

(b) Additional Units authorized to be issued by the Company pursuant to Section 4.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be junior to, equivalent to or senior or superior to any existing classes or series of Units), as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and reflected in a written action or actions approved by the Board of Directors in compliance with Section 6.1 (each, a “ Unit Designation ”), including (i) the right to share in Company profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Company distributions, the dates distributions will be payable and whether distributions with respect to such class or series will be cumulative or non-cumulative; (iii) rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Company (including any payments); (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Company may redeem such Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Units are issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange into Units of any other class or series or any other security issued by the Company or another entity and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which such Units will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest, if any, applicable to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the Record Holder of any such Unit to vote on Company matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Units. A Unit Designation (or

 

21


any action of the Board of Directors amending any Unit Designation) shall be effective when a duly executed original of the same is delivered to the Secretary for inclusion in the permanent records of the Company, and shall be annexed to, and constitute a part of, this Agreement.

(c) The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Units and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Units pursuant to this Section 4.6, including the admission of Additional Members in connection therewith and any related amendment of this Agreement, and (ii) all additional issuances of Units and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Units. The Board of Directors shall determine in its sole discretion the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units being so issued. The Board of Directors is authorized to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any Governmental Entity or any Securities Exchange on which Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units are listed for trading.

Section 4.7  Preemptive Rights . Unless determined otherwise by the Board of Directors, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Units, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created.

Section 4.8  Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Units . All Units issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article IV shall represent fully paid and non-assessable limited liability company interests in the Company, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-502, 18-607 or 18-804 of the Delaware Act or this Agreement.

Section 4.9  Purchases of Units . The Company or any other Group Member may purchase or otherwise acquire Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units. The Company, any of its Affiliates, any Portfolio Company or any Investment Fund may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units for their own account, subject to the provisions of Articles III and IV. Any Units purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company may be canceled in the discretion of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 5.1  Capital Accounts . There shall be established for each Member on the books of the Company as of the date such Member becomes a Member a capital account (each being a “ Capital Account ”). Each Capital Contribution by any Member, if any, shall be credited to the Capital Account of such Member on the date such Capital Contribution is made to the Company. In addition, each Member’s Capital Account shall be (a) increased by (i) such Member’s allocable share of any Net Income of the Company, and (ii) the amount of any Company liabilities that are assumed by the Member or secured by any Company property

 

22


distributed to the Member, (b) decreased by (i) the amount of distributions (and deemed distributions) to such Member of cash or the fair market value of other property so distributed, (ii) such Member’s allocable share of Net Loss of the Company and expenditures of the Company described or treated under Section 704(b) of the Code as described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of the Member assumed by the Company or which are secured by any property contributed by the Member to the Company and (c) otherwise maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. Any other item which is required to be reflected in a Member’s Capital Account under Section 704(b) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or otherwise under this Agreement shall be so reflected. The Company shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Member’s interest in the Company. Interest shall not be payable on Capital Account balances. The Company shall maintain the Capital Accounts of the Members in accordance with the principles and requirements set forth in Section 704(b) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The Capital Account of each Class B Holder shall at all times be zero, except to the extent such Class B Holder also holds Units other than Class B Units.

Section 5.2  Allocations .

(a) Net Income (Loss) of the Company for each fiscal period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members in a manner that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the manner in which distributions are or would be made to the Members pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5.3 and 9.3.

(b) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company shall be allocated among the Members for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes consistent with the manner that the corresponding constituent items of Net Income (Loss) shall be allocated among the Members pursuant to this Agreement, except as may otherwise be provided herein or by the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company in its sole discretion shall make such allocations for tax purposes as may be needed to ensure that allocations are in accordance with the interests of the Members in the Company, within the meaning of the Code and United States Treasury Regulations. The Company shall determine all matters concerning allocations for tax purposes not expressly provided for herein in its sole discretion. For the proper administration of the Company and for the preservation of uniformity of Units (or any portion or class or classes thereof), the Company may (i) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of United States Treasury Regulations under Sections 704(b) or 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of Units (or any portion or class or classes thereof), and (ii) adopt and employ or modify such conventions and methods as the Company determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate for (A) the determination for tax purposes of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit and the allocation of such items among Members and between transferors and transferees under this Agreement and pursuant to the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, (B) the determination of the identities and tax classification of Members, (C) the valuation of Company assets and the determination of tax basis, (D) the allocation of asset values and tax basis, (E) the adoption and maintenance of accounting methods and (F) taking into

 

23


account differences between the Carrying Values of Company assets and such asset adjusted tax basis pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(c) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Member under the provisions of this Article V shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Units held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Company in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

Section 5.3  Distributions to Record Holders .

(a) The Company may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, declare, make and pay distributions of cash or other assets to the Members. Subject to the terms of any Unit Designation and to Section 3.5(d), distributions shall be paid to Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests as of the Record Date selected by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make or pay any distributions of cash or other assets with respect to the Class B Units except for distributions consisting only of additional Class B Units made proportionally with respect to each outstanding Class B Unit.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Company, all distributions shall be made in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 9.3.

(c) All amounts withheld with respect to any payment or other distribution by the Company to the Members and paid over to any U.S. federal, state or local government or any non-U.S. taxing authority shall be treated as amounts paid to the Members with respect to which such amounts were withheld pursuant to this Section 5.3(c) or Section 9.3 for all purposes under this Agreement.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each distribution in respect of any Unit shall be made by the Company, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person, only to the Record Holder of such Unit as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Any distribution in accordance with the foregoing shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Company’s liability in respect of such distribution, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such distribution by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to make a distribution to a Member if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or other applicable Law.

 

24


ARTICLE VI

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 6.1  Power and Authority of Board of Directors .

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a board of directors (the “ Board of Directors ”). As provided in Section 6.19, the Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to appoint Officers of the Company. The Directors and Officers shall constitute “managers” within the meaning of the Delaware Act. No Member, in its capacity as such, shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Company or actual or apparent authority to enter into, execute or deliver contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. In addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the Delaware Act and to all other powers granted under any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to do, and to direct the Officers to do, all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into Units, and the incurring of any other obligations;

(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Company;

(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Company or the merger, conversion, consolidation or other combination of the Company with or into another Person (subject, however, to any prior approval of Members that may be required by this Agreement);

(iv) the use of the assets of the Company (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries; the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment of obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and the making of capital contributions to any Member of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Company under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Company);

(vi) the declaration and payment of distributions of cash or other assets to Members;

 

25


(vii) the selection and dismissal of Officers, employees, agents, outside attorneys, accountants, advisors, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring, and the creation and operation of employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices;

(viii) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Company Group and the Indemnified Persons;

(ix) the formation of, or acquisition or disposition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any limited or general partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company or other entity or arrangement;

(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Company, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or remediation, and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;

(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by Law;

(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Units from, or requesting that trading be suspended in, any such Securities Exchange;

(xiii) the issuance, sale or other disposition, and the purchase or other acquisition, of Units or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Units;

(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Company’s interest or participation in any Group Member;

(xv) the registration under the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws of any offer, issuance, sale or resale of Units or other securities issued or to be issued by the Company (including any resale of Units by Members or other security holders);

(xvi) the filing of a bankruptcy petition; and

(xvii) the execution and delivery of agreements with Affiliates of the Company or Portfolio Companies to render services to a Group Member.

(b) In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the Board of Directors may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to any Member of any action taken (or not taken) by it. The Directors and the Company shall not have any liability to a Member for monetary damages or otherwise for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by such Member in connection with such decisions except to the extent set forth in Section 6.16(a)(ii).

 

26


(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Delaware Act or any other applicable Law, the Members and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Units hereby (i) approve, ratify and confirm the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of the Underwriting Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement and the other agreements described in the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agree that the Company is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement without any further act, approval or vote of the Members, the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Units or any other Person; and (iii) agree that the execution, delivery or performance by the Company, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them, of this Agreement or any agreement contemplated by this Agreement (including the exercise by the Company of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XIII), shall not constitute a breach by the Board of Directors of any duty that the Board of Directors may owe the Company or the Members or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

Section 6.2  Number, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors . For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time by the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors then in office. Each Director shall hold office as provided in Sections 6.3 to 6.5.

Section 6.3  Election of Directors . Directors need not be Members. For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, Directors shall be designated by the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, Directors shall be elected by the holders of Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class, holding a plurality of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of Directors at the annual meeting of Members. For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, each Director (including any additional Director designated to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the total number of Directors or from the death, disability, resignation or removal from office of a Director or other cause) shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until such Director’s death or disability, or until such Director resigns in accordance with Section 6.5 or is removed in accordance with Section 6.4. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, each Director (including any additional Director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an

 

27


increase in the total number of Directors or from the death, disability, resignation or removal from office of a Director or other cause) shall serve until the succeeding annual meeting after such Director’s election and until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until such Director’s death or disability, or until such Director resigns in accordance with Section 6.5 or is removed in accordance with Section 6.4. In no case will a decrease in the number of Directors shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

Section 6.4  Removal . For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, any Director or the whole Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, any Director or the whole Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class, holding a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units, present in person or represented by proxy given at an annual or special meeting of Members called for that purpose and entitled to vote on the election of Directors. The vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by any such removal shall be filled as provided in Section 6.6.

Section 6.5  Resignations . Any Director may resign at any time by giving notice of such Director’s resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Company. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, then it shall take effect immediately upon its receipt by the Company. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by any such resignation shall be filled as provided in Section 6.6.

Section 6.6  Vacancies . For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, any vacancy on the Board of Directors will be filled by a designee of the Manager. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, unless otherwise required by applicable Law, (i) any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in the authorized number of Directors may be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, provided that a quorum is present, and any other vacancies may be filled by a majority of Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director and (ii) if there are no Directors in office, then any vacancies shall be filled by an election of Directors by the holders of Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class, holding a plurality of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of Directors at an annual or special meeting of Members.

Section 6.7  Chairman of Meetings . The Board of Directors may elect one of its members as Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “ Chairman ”). At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairman or, in the Chairman’s absence, a Director chosen by a majority of the Directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting.

 

28


Section 6.8  Place of Meetings . The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

Section 6.9  Meetings; Notice . Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman, the President or upon the written request of two Directors, on 24 hours’ notice to each Director, either personally or by telephone or by mail, telegraph, telex, cable, wireless or other form of recorded or electronic communication, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any Director, however, if waived by such Director in writing or by telegraph, telex, cable, wireless or other form of recorded or electronic communication, or if such Director shall be present at such meeting.

Section 6.10  Action Without Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, may be taken without a meeting if a consent thereto is signed or transmitted electronically, as the case may be, by a majority of the members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 6.11  Conference Telephone Meetings . Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 6.12  Quorum . At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the then total number of Directors in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At all meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors, the presence of a majority of the total number of members of such committee (assuming no vacancies) shall constitute a quorum. The act of a majority of the Directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee, a majority of the Directors or members, as the case may be, present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting.

Section 6.13  Committees . The Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time designate one or more committees consisting of one or more Directors which, to the extent provided in such resolution or resolutions, shall have and may exercise, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the powers and authority of the Board of Directors granted hereunder. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time to fill vacancies, and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

 

29


Section 6.14  Alternate Members of Committees . The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, or if none be so appointed the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Section 6.15  Remuneration . Unless otherwise expressly provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, none of the Directors shall, as such, receive any stated remuneration for their service as a Director, but the Board of Directors may at any time and from time to time by resolution provide that a specified sum shall be paid to any Director, payable in cash or securities, either as such Director’s annual remuneration as such Director or member of any special or standing committee of the Board of Directors or as remuneration for such Director’s attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or any such committee. The Board of Directors may also provide that the Company shall reimburse each Director for any expenses paid by such Director on account of such Director’s attendance at any meeting. Nothing in this Section 6.15 shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Company or any of its Affiliates in any other capacity and receiving remuneration therefor.

Section 6.16  Exculpation, Indemnification, Advances and Insurance .

(a) Subject to other applicable provisions of this Article VI, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law:

(i) Oaktree Capital Group Holdings shall not have any liability to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any Director, any Member or any holder of an equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, for any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made;

(ii) a Director or Officer shall have liability to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any Director, any Member or any holder of an equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, for any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered, or made only if such act or omission constitutes a breach of the duties of such Director or Officer imposed pursuant to Section 6.20(a) and such breach is the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud; and

(iii) all other Indemnified Persons shall have liability to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any Director, any Member or any holder of an equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, for any act or omission arising from the performance of such Indemnified Person’s duties and obligations in connection with the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, this Agreement or any investment made or held by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, including with respect to any

 

30


act or omission made while serving at the request of the Company as an officer, director, member, partner, tax matters partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person or any employee benefit plan, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made only if such act or omission constitutes a breach of the duties of such Indemnified Person and such breach is the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud.

The provisions of this Section 6.16(a) are intended and shall be interpreted as only limiting the liability of an Indemnified Person and not as in any way expanding such Person’s liability.

(b) The Indemnified Persons shall be indemnified by the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the Company and counsel fees and disbursements) arising from the performance of any of their respective duties or obligations in connection with their respective service to the Company, to any Subsidiary of the Company or pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with any investment made or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding, whether by or in the right of the Company, to which any such Indemnified Person may hereafter be made party by reason of being or having been an Indemnified Person, except:

(i) with respect to a Director or Officer, to the extent that it shall have been determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such expenses and liabilities arose primarily from acts or omissions, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made, that constituted a breach of the duties of such Director or Officer imposed pursuant to Section 6.20(a) and such breach was the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud; and

(ii) with respect to all Indemnified Persons (other than Directors, Officers and Oaktree Capital Group Holdings), to the extent that it shall have been determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such expenses and liabilities arose primarily from acts or omissions, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made, that constituted a breach of the duties of such Indemnified Person and such breach was the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law), in each case, that resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (B) fraud.

Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnified Person, pursuant to a loan, guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Company or any

 

31


Subsidiary of the Company (including any indebtedness which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company has assumed or taken subject to), and the Company is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 6.16 in favor of any Indemnified Person having or potentially having liability for any such indebtedness. It is the intention of this Section 6.16(b) that the Company indemnify each Indemnified Person to the fullest extent permitted by Law except as specifically provided in this Section 6.16(b).

(c) The termination of any action, suit or proceeding relating to or involving an Indemnified Person by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Person breached any duty or committed (i) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, a felony or a material violation of applicable Law (including any federal or state securities Law) that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Company or (ii) fraud.

(d) The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent they limit or eliminate the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, including Section 6.20, are agreed by each Member to modify such duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person to the extent permitted by Law.

(e) Any indemnification under this Section 6.16 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company unless the Board of Directors determines in the specific case that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is not proper in the circumstances because such Person has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.16(b). Such determination shall be made by a majority vote of the Directors who are not parties to the applicable suit, action or proceeding. To the extent, however, that an Indemnified Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such Indemnified Person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection therewith, notwithstanding an earlier determination by the Board of Directors that the Indemnified Person had not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.16(b).

(f) Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 6.16(e), and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any Indemnified Person may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 6.16(b). The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because such Indemnified Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.16(b). Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 6.16(e) nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the Indemnified Person seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.16(f) shall be given to the Company promptly upon the filing of such application. If

 

32


successful, in whole or in part, the Indemnified Person seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

(g) To the fullest extent permitted by Law, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding 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 as authorized in this Section 6.16.

(h) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Section 6.16 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under this Agreement or any other agreement, vote of Members or disinterested Directors or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnified Person who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnified Person unless otherwise provided in a written agreement with such Indemnified Person or in the writing pursuant to which such Indemnified Person is indemnified. The provisions of this Section 6.16 shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any Person who is not specified in Section 6.16(b) but whom the Company has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the Delaware Act.

(i) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against such Indemnified Person and incurred by such Indemnified Person in any capacity in which such Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or arising out of such Indemnified Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 6.16.

(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 6.16 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any Person entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.16.

(k) The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Company and to the employees and agents of the Company Group similar to those conferred in this Section 6.16 to Indemnified Persons.

(l) If this Section 6.16 or any portion of this Section 6.16 shall be invalidated on any ground by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnified Person as to expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, including a grand jury proceeding or action or suit brought by or

 

33


in the right of the Company, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 6.16 that shall not have been invalidated.

(m) Each Indemnified Person may, in the performance of such Indemnified Person’s duties, consult with legal counsel and accountants, and any act or omission by such Indemnified Person on behalf of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any investment held by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in furtherance of the interests of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any investment held by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in good faith in reliance upon, and in accordance with, the advice of such legal counsel or accountants will be full justification for any such act or omission, and such Indemnified Person will be fully protected for such acts and omissions, provided that such legal counsel or accountants were selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company or such Subsidiary.

(n) An Indemnified Person shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.16 because the Indemnified Person had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(o) Any liabilities which an Indemnified Person incurs as a result of acting on behalf of the Company (whether as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with the operation, administration or maintenance of an employee benefit plan or any related trust or funding mechanism (whether such liabilities are in the form of excise taxes assessed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, penalties assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor, restitutions to such a plan or trust or other funding mechanism or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan, trust or other funding mechanism, or otherwise) shall be treated as liabilities indemnifiable under this Section 6.16, to the maximum extent permitted by Law.

(p) A Director shall, in the performance of such Director’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and on such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any of the Officers or employees of the Company or any other Group Member, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other Person as to matters the Director reasonably believes are within such Person’s professional or expert competence.

(q) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.16 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of any Indemnified Person under this Section 6.16 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted and provided such Person became an Indemnified Person hereunder prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

(r) The provisions of this Section 6.16 shall survive the termination of this Agreement with respect to the acts and omissions of an Indemnified Person occurring prior to such termination.

 

34


Section 6.17  Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whenever an actual or potential conflict of interest exists or arises between Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, one or more Directors or their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company, any Group Member or any Member other than Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the Board of Directors or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Members, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or of any duty stated or implied by Law or equity, including any fiduciary duty, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved or ratified by the vote of holders of Outstanding Voting Units representing a majority of the total votes that may be cast by all Outstanding Voting Units that are held by disinterested parties, (ii) on terms no less favorable to the Company, Group Member or Member other than Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, as applicable, than those generally being, provided to or available from unrelated third parties, (iii) fair and reasonable to the Company taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Company, Group Member or Member other than Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, as applicable) or (iv) approved or ratified by a majority of the Outside Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall be authorized but not required to seek the approval or ratification of the Outside Directors pursuant to clause (iv) of the preceding sentence or the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Units pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, and the Board of Directors may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received the approval of the Outside Directors or the disinterested holders of Outstanding Voting Units. Failure to seek such approval shall not be deemed to indicate that a conflict of interest exists or that such approval could not have been obtained. If the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Member or by or on behalf of such Member or any other Member challenging such determination, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by the Members and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Units hereby and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise or any applicable provision of Law or equity, whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise the Manager, the Board of Directors, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company is permitted or required to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or that it deems “necessary or appropriate” or “necessary or advisable” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, then, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Board of

 

35


Directors, the Company or such Affiliate, as the case may be, may make such decision in its sole discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to “sole discretion” or “discretion”), and shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or the Members, and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby, under the Delaware Act, the DGCL or under any other Law or in equity, but in all circumstances shall exercise such discretion in good faith. Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, the Board of Directors or the Company is permitted to or required to make a decision in its “good faith,” then for purposes of this Agreement or otherwise, the Board of Directors or the Company, as the case may be, shall be conclusively presumed to be acting in good faith if such Person or Persons subjectively believe(s) that the decision made or not made is in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Board of Directors and the Company shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Oaktree Operating Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the Directors, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by an Affiliate of the Company to enter into such contracts shall be in such Person’s sole discretion.

(d) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, neither the Board of Directors nor any other Indemnified Person shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or otherwise modify or eliminate the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Company or any other Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Company or such other Indemnified Person.

(e) The Members expressly acknowledge that the Board of Directors is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Members (including the tax consequences to Members) in deciding whether to cause the Company to take (or decline to take) any actions, and that the Board of Directors or any Director shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Members in connection with such decisions.

(f) The Members hereby authorize each of (i) the Board of Directors and (ii) the Outside Directors, on behalf of the Company as a partner or member of any Group Member, to approve of actions by the board of directors, managing member or general partner of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 6.17.

Section 6.18  Certificate of Formation . The Certificate of Formation and amendments thereto have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as

 

36


required by the Delaware Act, such filings being hereby confirmed, ratified and approved in all respects. The Board of Directors shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that it determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited liability company in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Company may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that the Board of Directors determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the Company shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Formation and do all things to maintain the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Company may elect to do business or own property, and any such Officer so directed shall be an “authorized person” of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act for purposes of filing any such certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Company shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Formation, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Member.

Section 6.19  Officers .

(a) The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to appoint such officers with such titles, authority and duties as determined by the Board of Directors. Such Persons so designated by the Board of Directors shall be referred to as “ Officers .” The Officers shall have the titles, power, authority and duties as determined by the Board of Directors.

(b) Each Officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, disability, resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same Person. The compensation of Officers elected by the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by such Officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors.

(c) Any Officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Company. Any Officer, agent or employee of the Company may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause at any time. The Board of Directors may delegate the power of removal as to Officers, agents and employees who have not been appointed by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without prejudice to a Person’s contract rights, if any, but the appointment of any Person as an Officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not of itself create contract rights.

(d) The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any Officer to any other Officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

(e) Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the President or any other Officer of the Company shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Company, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of members of or with respect to any action of equity holders of any other entity in which the Company may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the Company may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other entities.

 

37


Section 6.20  Duties of Officers and Directors.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, (i) the duties and obligations owed to the Company by the Officers and Directors shall be the duty of care and duty of loyalty owed to a corporation organized under DGCL by its officers and directors, respectively, and (ii) the duty of care and duty of loyalty owed to the Members by the Officers and Directors shall be the same as the duty of care and duty of loyalty owed to the stockholders of a corporation under the DGCL by its officers and directors, respectively.

(b) The Board of Directors shall have the right to 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 the duly authorized Officers of the Company, and the Board of Directors shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence on the part of any such Officer duly appointed or duly authorized by the Board of Directors in good faith.

Section 6.21  Reliance by Third Parties . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Company shall be entitled to assume that the Board of Directors and any Officer authorized by the Board of Directors to act on behalf of and in the name of the Company has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Company and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Company, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the Board of Directors or any Officer as if it were the Company’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Member hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Board of Directors or any Officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Board of Directors or any Officer or their respective representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expediency of any act or action of the Board of Directors or any Officer or their respective representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Company by the Board of Directors or any Officer or their respective representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Company and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Company.

Section 6.22  Manager .

(a) The Manager shall have only the powers expressly set forth herein to designate and remove members of the Board of Directors, fill vacancies on the Board of Directors, determine from time to time the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors, resign and designate a substitute Manager, in each case as provided in this Article VI. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, in exercising its authority under this Agreement, the Manager may, but shall not be obligated to, take into account the consequences to any Member of any action taken (or not taken) by it. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Manager shall owe no duties (including any fiduciary duties) to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement

 

38


and shall have no liability to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement for monetary damages or otherwise for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by such Member in connection with such decisions. The Manager shall not be responsible or liable to the Company or any Member or other Person bound by this Agreement for the misconduct or negligence of any Director duly appointed by the Manager hereunder.

(b) The Manager may resign at any time by giving notice of such resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein. The acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors shall not be necessary to make it effective. The Manager may at any time designate a substitute Manager that is a Permitted Oaktree Holder, which substitute Manager shall, upon the later of the acceptance of such designation and the effective date of such resignation of the resigning Manager, be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and be deemed the “Manager” for all purposes hereunder. In the event the Manager resigns and does not designate a substitute Manager in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a substitute Manager shall be elected by the holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units, voting as a single class.

ARTICLE VII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 7.1  Records and Accounting . The Board of Directors shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Members any information required to be provided pursuant to this Agreement. Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Company in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Members, books of account and records of Company proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The Company shall maintain books and records for tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Section 7.2  Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Company (each, a “ Fiscal Year ”) shall be a year ending December 31. The Board of Directors in its sole discretion may change the Fiscal Year at any time and from time to time, in each case as may be required or permitted under the Code or applicable United States Treasury Regulations, and shall notify the Members of such change in the next regular communication by the Company to the Members.

Section 7.3  Reports .

(a) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to mail or make available to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Company for such Fiscal Year, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP,

 

39


including a balance sheet and statements of operations, equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a registered public accounting firm selected by the Board of Directors, and such other financial information as the Company deems appropriate.

(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to mail or make available to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, within 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each Fiscal Year, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Company and such other information as may be required by applicable Law or rule of any Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, or as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.

(c) The Company shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record Holder of a Unit as required by this Section 7.3 if it has (i) made such report available on any publicly available website maintained by or on behalf of the Company or (ii) filed such report with the SEC via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system) and such report is publicly available on such system.

ARTICLE VIII

TAX MATTERS

Section 8.1  Tax Returns and Information . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely file all returns of the Company that are required for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and its Fiscal Year. The Company may, in its sole discretion, furnish to Members estimates of all necessary tax information prior to the availability of definitive tax information; provided , however , that each Member hereby agrees that there can be no assurance that such definitive information will be the same as such estimates, and that the Company shall not be liable to any Member or to any other Person for any information contained in any such estimates or for any differences between such estimates and such definitive information. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 8.2  Tax Elections . The Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine whether to make or refrain from making the election provided for in Section 754 of the Code and any and all other elections permitted by the tax laws of the United States, the several states and other relevant jurisdictions.

Section 8.3  Tax Controversies . The Board of Directors shall designate one Member as the Tax Matters Partner. The initial Tax Matters Partner shall be Oaktree Capital Group Holdings. The Tax Matters Partner is authorized to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Tax Matters Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Tax Matters Partner to conduct such proceedings.

 

40


Section 8.4  Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company is authorized to take any action that may be necessary or appropriate to, or cause the Company and other Group Members to, comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. Law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Company is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Member (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the Board of Directors may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Sections 5.3 or 9.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Member.

Section 8.5  Election to be Treated as a Corporation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to continue as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Board of Directors may elect to treat the Company as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes. In the event that the Board of Directors determines that the Company should seek relief pursuant to Section 7704(e) of the Code to preserve the status of the Company as a partnership for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes, the Company and each Member shall agree to adjustments required by the tax authorities, and the Company shall pay such amounts as required by the tax authorities, to preserve the status of the Company as a partnership.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 9.1  Dissolution . The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substitute Members or Additional Members. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up:

(a) upon an election to dissolve the Company by the Board of Directors that is approved by the holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units;

(b) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or

(c) at any time when there are no Members of the Company, unless the business of the Company is continued in accordance with the Delaware Act.

Section 9.2  Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Company, the Board of Directors shall select one or more Persons (which may be the Board of Directors or a Member) to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the Board of Directors) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units. The Liquidator (if other than the Board of Directors) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may

 

41


be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units. Upon dissolution, death, incapacity, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article IX, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Board of Directors under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Company as provided for herein.

Section 9.3  Liquidation . The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Company, discharge its liabilities and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 18-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:

(a) Subject to Section 9.3(c), the assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Members on such terms as the Liquidator and such Member or Members may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Member receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 9.3(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value as determined by the Board of Directors or the Liquidator in its sole discretion, and contemporaneously therewith appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Members. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Members understand and acknowledge that a Member may be compelled to accept a distribution of any asset in kind from the Company despite the fact that the percentage of the asset distributed to such Member exceeds the percentage of that asset which is equal to the percentage in which such Member shares in distributions from the Company. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Company’s assets for a reasonable period of time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members. The Liquidator may distribute the Company’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members.

(b) Liabilities of the Company include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 9.2) and amounts owed to Members otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article V. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it deems appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment.

(c) Subject to the terms of any Unit Designation, all property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 9.3(b) shall be distributed to

 

42


the Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests as of a Record Date selected by the Liquidator.

Section 9.4  Cancellation of Certificate of Formation . Upon the completion of the distribution of Company cash and property as provided in Section 9.3 in connection with the liquidation of the Company, the Certificate of Formation and all qualifications of the Company as a foreign limited liability company in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be cancelled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company shall be taken.

Section 9.5  Return of Contributions . Neither the Manager nor any Director or Officer shall be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Members, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets.

Section 9.6  Waiver of Partition . To the maximum extent permitted by Law, each Member hereby waives any right to partition of the Company property.

Section 9.7  Capital Account Restoration . No Member shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Company.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT

Section 10.1  General . Except as provided in Sections 10.2 and 10.3, the Board of Directors may amend any of the terms of this Agreement, but only in compliance with the terms, conditions and procedures set forth in this Section 10.1. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of the Board of Directors. If an amendment to any provision of this Agreement other than pursuant to Section 10.3 has been proposed by or with the consent of the Board of Directors, then the Board of Directors shall first adopt a resolution setting forth the amendment proposed, declaring its advisability, and then (a) call a meeting of the Members entitled to vote in respect thereof for the consideration of such amendment or (b) seek the written consent of the Members. Such meeting shall be called and held upon notice in accordance with Article XII of this Agreement. The notice shall set forth such amendment in full or a brief summary of the changes to be effected thereby, as the Board of Directors shall deem advisable. At the meeting, a vote of Members entitled to vote thereon shall be taken for and against the proposed amendment. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by holders of Units representing a majority of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units, unless a greater percentage is required under this Agreement or by the Delaware Act.

Section 10.2  Specified Amendments .

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 10.1 and 10.3, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such percentage unless such amendment is

 

43


approved by the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Voting Units whose aggregate Outstanding Voting Units represent not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 10.1 and 10.3, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Member without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 10.2(c), (ii) change Section 9.1(a), (iii) change the term of the Company or (iv) except as set forth in Section 9.1(a), give any Person the right to dissolve the Company.

(c) Except as provided in Sections 10.3 and 11.3, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class or series of Units in relation to other classes or series of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or series affected. The issuance by the Company of securities having rights superior to those of Outstanding Units or Units having a dilutive effect on Outstanding Units shall not be deemed to have material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class or series of Units.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 10.1, the affirmative vote of the holders of Units representing at least two-thirds of the voting power of all Outstanding Voting Units shall be required to alter or amend any provision of this Section 10.2.

Section 10.3  Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Board of Directors . Notwithstanding Section 10.1, each Member agrees that the Board of Directors, without the approval of any Member or any other Person, may amend any provision of this Agreement, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

(a) a change in the name of the Company, the location of the principal place of business of the Company, the registered agent of the Company or the registered office of the Company;

(b) the admission, substitution, resignation or removal of Members or the Manager in accordance with this Agreement;

(c) a change that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

(d) a change that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation;

(e) a change that the Board of Directors in its sole discretion determines (i) does not adversely affect the Members considered as a whole (including any particular class or series of Units as compared to other classes or series of Units) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary, desirable or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines

 

44


contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. agency or judicial authority or contained in any U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. statute (including the Delaware Act), (iii) to be necessary, desirable or appropriate to facilitate the trading of Units (including the division of any class or classes or series of Outstanding Units into different classes or series to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes or series of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which Units are or will be listed for trading, (iv) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3.12 or (v) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

(f) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company and any other changes that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary, desirable or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company;

(g) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines, based on advice of counsel, to be necessary or appropriate to prevent the Company or its Directors, Officers, trustees or agents from having a material risk of being in any manner subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or Title I of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law currently applied or proposed;

(h) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Units pursuant to Section 4.6 and the admission of Additional Members;

(i) an amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Board of Directors acting alone (including pursuant to Sections 3.6(c) or 5.2(b));

(j) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion approved in accordance with Section 11.3;

(k) an amendment that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Company of, or investment by the Company in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Company of activities permitted by the terms of Sections 2.4 or 6.1(a);

(l) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by an amendment to the Oaktree Operating Group Partnership Agreements that requires a holder of an Oaktree Operating Group Unit to provide a statement, certification or other proof of evidence to the Oaktree Operating Group Partnership regarding whether such unitholder is subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by the Oaktree Operating Group Partnerships;

(m) a merger, conversion, conveyance or other business combination pursuant to Section 11.3(d), including an amendment permitted pursuant to Section 11.5; or

 

45


(n) any other amendment substantially similar to one or more of the foregoing.

ARTICLE XI

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

Section 11.1  Authority . The Company may merge or consolidate or otherwise combine with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts, business trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership or a limited liability limited partnership)), or convert into any such entity, formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger, consolidation or other business combination (a “ Merger Agreement ”), or a written plan of conversion (a “ Plan of Conversion ”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XI.

Section 11.2  Procedure for Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination . Merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination of the Company pursuant to this Article XI requires the prior consent of the Board of Directors; provided , however , that to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Board of Directors shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination of the Company and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, may decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Company, any Member or any other Person bound by this Agreement and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination, shall not be required to act pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other Law or at equity. If the Board of Directors shall determine, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to consent to the merger, consolidation or other business combination, the Board of Directors shall approve the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:

(a) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge, consolidate, convert or combine;

(b) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination (the “ Surviving Business Entity ”);

(c) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination;

(d) the manner and basis of converting or exchanging the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any interests in or securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be converted or exchanged solely for, or into, cash, property or interests in or rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the

 

46


cash, property or interests in or rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive upon conversion of, or in exchange for, their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or interests in or rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

(e) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, operating agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination;

(f) the effective time of the merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation or similar certificate pursuant to Section 11.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion; provided , that if the effective time of such transaction is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate and stated therein; and

(g) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination that the Board of Directors determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 11.3  Approval by Members of Merger, Consolidation, Conversion or Other Business Combination .

(a) Except as provided in Section 11.3(d), the Board of Directors, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as applicable, and the merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination contemplated thereby be submitted to a vote of the Members, whether at an annual meeting or special meeting, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of meeting.

(b) Except as provided in Section 11.3(d), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation, conversion or other business combination contemplated thereby shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units.

(c) Except as provided in Section 11.3(d), after such approval by vote of the Members, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger, consolidation, conversion or similar certificate pursuant to Section 11.4, the merger, consolidation, conversion

 

47


or other business combination may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement, or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XI or in this Agreement, the Board of Directors may, without Member approval, (i) convert the Company or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity or (ii) merge the Company or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Company’s assets to, another limited liability entity, which entity shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Company or other Group Member; provided , that (A) the Company has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, will not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Member, (B) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Company into another limited liability entity and (C) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Members and the Board of Directors with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

(e) Members are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal in the event of a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to this Article XI, a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries or any other similar transaction or event.

(f) Without the approval of any Member, the Board of Directors may, at any time, cause the Company to implement a reorganization whereby a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Trust ”) would hold all Outstanding Class A Units and the Record Holder of each Class A Unit would receive, in exchange for such Class A Unit, a common share of the Trust which would represent one beneficial interest in the Trust, and each common share of the Trust would correspond to one underlying Class A Unit; provided , however , that the Board of Directors shall not implement such a trust structure if, in its sole discretion, it determines that such reorganization would be taxable or otherwise alter the benefits or burdens of ownership of the Class A Units, including altering a Member’s allocation of items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or the treatment of such items for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Board of Directors will also be required to implement the reorganization in such a manner that the reorganization does not have a material effect on the voting or economic rights of Class A Units and Class B Units.

Section 11.4  Certificate of Merger, Conversion or Consolidation . Upon the required approval by the Board of Directors and the Members of a Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation, conversion or business combination contemplated thereby, a certificate of merger, conversion or consolidation or similar certificate shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and any other applicable Governmental Entity in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act and other applicable Law.

Section 11.5  Amendment of Operating Agreement . Pursuant to Section 18-209(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding Article X hereof, an agreement of merger, consolidation or other business combination approved in accordance with this Article XI may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new operating agreement

 

48


for a limited liability company if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 11.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger, consolidation or other business combination.

ARTICLE XII

MEMBER MEETINGS

Section 12.1  Member Meetings .

(a) All acts of Members to be taken hereunder shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XII. Meetings of the Members holding any class or series of Units may be called only by a majority of the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class A Units and Class B Units shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion on a date not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days after the mailing of notice of the meeting.

(b) In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, all elections of Directors shall be by written ballots. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, such requirement of a written ballot may be satisfied by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission; provided , that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be reasonably determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the Member or proxyholder.

(c) For so long as Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold 10% or more of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, the Company shall not be required to have an annual meeting unless otherwise required by applicable Law. In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units and the annual meeting for election of Directors is not held on the date designated therefor, the Directors shall cause the meeting to be held as soon as is convenient. If there is a failure to hold the annual meeting for a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting, or if no date has been designated, for a period of 13 months after the latest to occur of the Offering Date or its last annual meeting, it is the intent of the parties that no annual meeting be held for that year. In such situations, the Board of Directors will cause the Company to provide notice to all Members entitled to vote in the election of Directors as to the manner in which the election shall be conducted and the procedure that such Member must comply with in order to vote in the election of Directors.

Section 12.2  Notice of Meetings of Members . Notice, stating the place, day and hour of any annual or special meeting of the Members, as determined by the Board of Directors, and (a) in the case of a special meeting of the Members, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called or (b) in the case of an annual meeting, those matters that the Board of Directors, at the time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by the Members, shall be delivered by the Company not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days before the date of the meeting, in a manner and otherwise in accordance with Section 14.1, to each

 

49


Record Holder who is entitled to vote at such meeting. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by the Delaware Act. Only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of Members as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. Any previously scheduled meeting of the Members may be postponed, and any meeting of the Members may be cancelled, by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of the Members.

Section 12.3  Record Date . For purposes of determining the Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 12.8, the Board of Directors may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Members are requested in writing by the Board of Directors to give such approvals. If no Record Date is fixed by the Board of Directors, then (i) the Record Date for determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members shall be at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which notice is given and (ii) the Record Date for determining the Members entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Company in accordance with Section 12.8. A determination of Members of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members shall apply to any adjournment or postponement of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new Record Date for the adjourned or postponed meeting.

Section 12.4  Adjournment . In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of Members may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of Members holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in this Section 12.4. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XII.

Section 12.5  Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting . The transactions of any meeting of Members, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if they had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Member at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except (a) when the Member attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business at such meeting because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, and (b) that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.

 

50


Section 12.6  Quorum; Required Vote for Member Action; Voting for Directors .

(a) The Members holding a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes or series for which a meeting has been called represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Members of such class or classes or series unless any such action by the Members requires approval by Members holding a greater percentage of the voting power of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class A Units and Class B Units shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose.

(b) At any meeting of the Members duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Members holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting and which are present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Members, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to a matter under the Delaware Act, under the rules of any Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, or under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Members holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage of the voting power shall be required. The Members present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Members to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of the voting power of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement.

(c) In the event that Permitted Oaktree Holders collectively hold less than 10% of the issued and outstanding Oaktree Operating Group Units, Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast for a particular position.

Section 12.7  Conduct of a Meeting . The Board of Directors shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Members or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of this Article XII, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The Board of Directors shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Company maintained by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may make such other regulations consistent with applicable Law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Members or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote and the revocation of approvals, proxies and votes in writing.

Section 12.8  Action Without a Meeting . Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Members holding not less than the minimum percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units that

 

51


would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Members were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any Securities Exchange on which the Units or a class or series thereof are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such Securities Exchange shall govern). Reasonable notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Members who have not approved in writing. The Board of Directors may specify that a written ballot, if any, submitted to Members for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Company within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. If a ballot returned to the Company does not vote all of the Units held by a Member, the Units held by such Member and not voted on such ballot shall be deemed to have been voted in the same manner and in the same proportions as the voted Units. If approval of the taking of any action by the Members is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the Board of Directors, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Company in the care of the Secretary or another Officer designated by the Board of Directors, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Company and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the Company to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter is permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and the Members. Nothing contained in this Section 12.8 shall be deemed to require the Board of Directors to solicit all Members in connection with a matter approved by Members holding the requisite percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units acting by written consent without a meeting.

Section 12.9  Voting and Other Rights .

(a) Only those Record Holders of Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 12.3 shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Members or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Voting Units have the right to vote or to act (including the giving of approval in writing). All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the holders of Outstanding Voting Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Voting Units on such Record Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 12.9 (as well as the other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 3.4.

(b) With respect to Outstanding Voting Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Outstanding Voting Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Outstanding Voting Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Outstanding Voting Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the Beneficial Owner, and the Company shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry.

 

52


Section 12.10  Proxies and Voting .

(a) On any matter that is to be voted on by Members, the Members may vote in person or by proxy, and such proxy may be granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission or as otherwise permitted by applicable Law. Any such proxy shall be filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ electronic transmission ” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided , that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

(b) The Company may, and to the extent required by applicable Law, shall, in advance of any meeting of Members, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Company may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of Members, the Person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by applicable Law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballot shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.

(c) With respect to the use of proxies at any meeting of Members, the Company shall be governed by paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Section 212 of the DGCL and other applicable provisions of the DGCL, as though the Company were a Delaware corporation and as though the Members were stockholders of a Delaware corporation.

ARTICLE XIII

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE UNITS

Section 13.1  Right to Acquire Units . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time less than 10% of the total Units of any series or class then Outstanding are held by Persons other than the Principals and Persons Controlled by the Principals, the Company shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to any Affiliate, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Units of such series or class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the Principals and Persons Controlled by the Principals, at the greater of (a) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 13.2 is mailed and (b) the highest price paid by the Company or any of its Affiliates for any Unit of such series or class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 13.2 is mailed.

 

53


Section 13.2  Notice of Election to Purchase . If the Company or any Affiliate elects to exercise the right to purchase Units of any series or class granted pursuant to Section 13.1, the Company shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “ Notice of Election to Purchase ”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to send by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier of national reputation, a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Units of such series or class (as of a Record Date selected by the Company) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the date selected by the Company to purchase the Units (the “ Purchase Date ”). Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and circulated in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 13.1) at which Units will be purchased and state that the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Units (in the case of Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Units) in exchange for payment at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify or as may be required by any Securities Exchange on which such Units are listed for trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Units at its address as reflected on the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the Record Holder receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Units to be purchased in accordance with this Section 13.2. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Units subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Units (including any rights pursuant to Articles IV, V, VII, and XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 13.1) for Units therefor, without interest (in the case of Units evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Units) and such Units shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent, and the Company or its Affiliate, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Units from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Units (including all rights as owner of such Units pursuant to Articles IV, V, VII and XII).

ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 14.1  Addresses and Notices .

(a) Unless otherwise specified herein, any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Member under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or other means of written communication to the Member at the

 

54


address described below. Any notice, payment in the form of a check, demand, request, report or proxy materials to be given or made to a Member in respect of any Units hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon the sending of such notice, payment, demand, request, report or proxy materials to the Record Holder of such Units at its address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Company, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Units by reason of any assignment or otherwise.

(b) An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.1 executed by the Company, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials. If any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials given or made in accordance with this Section 14.1 is returned marked to indicate that such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials was unable to be delivered, then such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials, and in the case of notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials returned by the United States Postal Service or overnight courier of national reputation (or other physical mail delivery service outside of the United States of America), any subsequent notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until a reasonable period after such time as such Member or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Company in writing of a change in such Member’s address) or other delivery if it is available for the Member at the principal office of the Company for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials to the other Members. Any notice to the Company shall be deemed given if received by the Secretary at the principal office of the Company designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The Board of Directors and any Officer may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Member or other Person if believed by the Board of Directors or such Officer to be genuine.

Section 14.2  Further Action . The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 14.3  Binding Effect . 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. The Indemnified Persons and their heirs, executors, administrators and successors shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement.

Section 14.4  Integration . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

Section 14.5  Creditors . None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Company.

 

55


Section 14.6  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 waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section 14.7  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Unit pursuant to Section 3.1(a), without execution hereof.

Section 14.8  Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely therein.

Section 14.9  Invalidity of Provisions . If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

Section 14.10  Consent of Members . Each Member hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Members, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Members and each Member shall be bound by the results of such action.

Section 14.11  Facsimile Signatures . The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of an Officer or Transfer Agent on Certificates is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

Section 14.12  Effectiveness of Amendment . The amendment and restatement of the Second Amended Agreement into this Agreement shall take effect on the Offering Date.

[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

56


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written above.

 

Members :
OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC, as attorney-in-fact for the Members of the Company
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

Manager :
OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS GP, LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Oaktree Capital Group, LLC Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF CLASS A UNIT CERTIFICATE


 

        CLASS A UNITS                                       CLASS A UNITS      
                  LOGO                      
                                             
        NUMBER                     UNITS      
                                     
                                     
                                             
                                             
                                                               
 

THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

   

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

Formed under the laws of the State of Delaware

     

CUSIP

SEE REVERSE FOR DEFINITIONS

 
                                                               
 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

                                           
                                                               
                        SPECIMEN                      
                                                               
 

is the owner of

                                           
                                                               
                    Class A Units of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC                  
                                                               
  (hereinafter called the “Company”) transferable on the books of the Company by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the registrar.   LOGO
                                                         
      Witness, the facsimile signatures of the duly authorized officers of the Company.    
                                                         
  Dated                                                      
                                                         
                                                         
                                                                                                     
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         

 

 


THE CLASS A UNITS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR RESTATED, THE “OPERATING AGREEMENT”) OF OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC (“THE COMPANY”), WHICH CONTAINS SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR TRANSFER. THE CLASS A UNITS MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPERATING AGREEMENT AND APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER NOT MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPERATING AGREEMENT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID.

THE OPERATING AGREEMENT PROHIBITS ANY TRANSFER IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS (A) VIOLATE APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS, RULES OR REGULATIONS, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF THE COMPANY UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION, (C) CAUSE THE COMPANY TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED) OR (D) REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1940 ACT. IN ADDITION, THE CLASS A UNITS ARE SUBJECT TO MANDATORY REDEMPTION UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SET FORTH IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

A COPY OF THE OPERATING AGREEMENT IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST FROM THE COMPANY.

THE HOLDER OF A CLASS A UNIT, BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE (A) REQUESTED ADMISSION AS, AND AGREED TO BECOME, A MEMBER OF THE COMPANY, (B) AGREED TO COMPLY WITH, AND BE BOUND BY, THE TERMS OF THE OPERATING AGREEMENT, (C) GRANTED THE POWERS OF ATTORNEY PROVIDED FOR IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT AND (D) MADE THE WAIVERS AND GIVEN THE CONSENTS AND APPROVALS CONTAINED IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM       as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT                         Custodian                 
TEN ENT       as tenants by the entireties             (Cust)                         (Minor)
JT TEN    

  as joint tenants with right of

  survivorship and not as tenants in   common

     

  under Uniform Transfers/Gifts to

  Minors Act                             

                          (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                          hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

Please insert Social Security or other

identifying number of Assignee

  

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of Assignee)

                                 units represented by the Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

                                      Attorney to transfer the said units on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated                         

 

   
NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

   
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CLASS B UNIT CERTIFICATE


Certificate Evidencing Class B Units

in

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

 

No. B-[            ]     [            ] Units

In accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”) of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), the Company hereby certifies that [            ] (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of [            ] Class B Units in the Company (the “ Units ”) transferable on the books of the Company, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Operating Agreement. The Operating Agreement is on file at, and a copy will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Company at, the principal office of the Company located at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, or such other address as may be specified by notice under the Operating Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Operating Agreement.

The holder of this Certificate, by acceptance of this Certificate, shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Member of the Company; (ii) agreed to comply with, and be bound by, the terms of the Operating Agreement; (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Operating Agreement; and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Operating Agreement. Any attempted transfer of this Certificate or the Class B Units it represents in violation of the Operating Agreement shall be null and void.

This Certificate shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

Dated:   SPECIMEN  

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

    OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC
By:  

 

    By:  

 

   Name:        Name:
   Title:        Title:

Countersigned and Registered by:

   
as Transfer Agent and Registrar


THE CLASS B UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OTHER THAN PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM     as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT                      Custodian                 
TEN ENT     as tenants by the entireties         (Cust)                         (Minor)
JT TEN    

as joint tenants with right of

survivorship and not as tenants in common

     

under Uniform Transfers/Gifts to Minors Act                         

      (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                          hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

Please insert Social Security or other

identifying number of Assignee

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of Assignee)

                              units represented by the Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

                 Attorney to transfer the said units on the books of the Company with full power of substitution

in the premises.

Dated                          .

 

  NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change.

 

SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY

 

SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

  (Signature)

No transfer of the Class B Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Company unless the Certificate evidencing the Class B Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration of transfer.

Exhibit 4.2

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

$75,000,000 IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

OF

5.03% SENIOR NOTES DUE JUNE 14 , 2014

 

 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of June 14, 2004

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

SECTION I. AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES

     1   

SECTION II. SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES

     2   

SECTION III. CLOSING

     2   

SECTION IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     3   

§4.01. Representations and Warranties

     3   

§4.02. Performance; No Default

     3   

§4.03. Officer’s Certificate

     3   

§4.04. Opinions of Counsel

     3   

§4.05. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc.

     3   

§4.06. Sale of Other Notes

     3   

§4.07. Payment of Special Counsel Fees

     4   

§4.08. Private Placement Number

     4   

§4.09. Changes in Company Structure

     4   

§4.10. Consents of Holders of Other Securities

     4   

§4.11. Funding Instructions

     4   

§4.12. Proceedings, Instruments, etc.

     4   

§4.13. Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement

     4   

SECTION V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     5   

§5.01. Members of the Company

     5   

§5.02. Organization; Power and Authority

     5   

§5.03. Authorization, etc.

     5   

§5.04. Operating Agreements and Other Information

     5   

§5.05. Disclosure

     5   

§5.06. Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates

     6   

§5.07. Financial Statements

     6   

§5.08. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.

     7   

§5.09. Governmental Authorizations, etc.

     7   

§5.10. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders

     7   

§5.11. Taxes

     7   

§5.12. Title to Property; Leases

     8   

§5.13. Licenses, Permits, etc.

     8   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

§5.14. Compliance with ERISA

     8   

§5.15. Private Offering by the Company

     9   

§5.16. Solvency

     9   

§5.17. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations

     9   

§5.18. Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens

     10   

§5.19. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc.

     10   

§5.20. Status under Certain Statutes

     10   

§5.21. Environmental Matters

     10   

§5.22. Ranking of Obligations

     11   

SECTION VI. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER

     11   

§6.01. Purchase for Investment

     11   

§6.02. ERISA Representations

     11   

SECTION VII. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY

     13   

§7.01. Financial and Business Information

     13   

§7.02. Officer’s Certificate

     15   

§7.03. Inspection

     15   

SECTION VIII. PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES

     16   

§8.01. Required Prepayments

     16   

§8.02. Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount

     16   

§8.03. Mandatory Offer to Prepay in Event of Change of Control

     17   

§8.04. Allocation of Partial Prepayments

     18   

§8.05. Maturity; Surrender, etc.

     18   

§8.06. Purchase of Notes

     18   

§8.07. Make-Whole Amount

     19   

SECTION IX. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     20   

§9.01. Compliance with Law

     20   

§9.02. Insurance

     20   

§9.03. Maintenance of Properties

     20   

§9.04. Payment of Taxes and Claims

     20   

§9.05. Legal Existence, etc.

     21   

§9.06. Priority Obligations

     21   

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION X. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     21   

§10.01 Transactions with Affiliates

     21   

§10.02 Merger, Consolidation, etc.

     21   

§10.03 Indebtedness

     22   

§10.04 Liens

     22   

§10.05 Restricted Payments

     24   

§10.06 Financial Condition Covenants

     24   

§10.07 Restrictions on Dividends.

     24   

SECTION XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     25   

SECTION XII. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

     26   

§12.01 Acceleration

     26   

§12.02 Other Remedies

     27   

§12.03 Rescission

     27   

§12.04 No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.

     27   

SECTION XIII. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES

     27   

§13.01 Registration of Notes

     27   

§13.02 Transfer and Exchange of Notes

     28   

§13.03 Replacement of Notes

     28   

SECTION XIV. PAYMENTS ON NOTES

     29   

§14.01 Place of Payment

     29   

§14.02 Home Office Payment

     29   

SECTION XV. EXPENSES, ETC.

     29   

§15.01 Transaction Expenses

     29   

§15.02 Survival

     30   

SECTION XVI. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     30   

SECTION XVII. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     30   

§17.01 Requirements

     30   

§17.02 Solicitation of Holders of Notes

     31   

§17.03 Binding Effect, etc.

     31   

§17.04 Notes held by Company, etc.

     31   

SECTION XVIII. NOTICES

     32   

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION XIX. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

     32   

SECTION XX. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

     32   

SECTION XXI. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER

     34   

SECTION XXII. MISCELLANEOUS

     34   

§22.01 Successors and Assigns

     34   

§22.02 Payments Due on Non-Business Days

     34   

§22.03 Severability

     34   

§22.04 Construction

     34   

§22.05 Counterparts

     35   

§22.06 Governing Law

     35   

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

SCHEDULE A

   —      Information Relating To Purchasers

SCHEDULE B

   —      Defined Terms

SCHEDULE 4.09

   —      Changes in Company Structure

SCHEDULE 5.01

   —      Members of the Company

SCHEDULE 5.05

   —      Disclosure Materials

SCHEDULE 5.06

   —      Subsidiaries of the Company and Ownership of Subsidiary Equity

SCHEDULE 5.07

   —      Financial Statements

SCHEDULE 5.10

   —      Certain Litigation

SCHEDULE 5.13

   —      Licenses, Permits, Patents, etc.

SCHEDULE 5.17

   —      Use of Proceeds

SCHEDULE 5.18

   —      Existing Indebtedness

SCHEDULE 8.03

   —      Current Owners of the Company

EXHIBIT 1

   —      Form of 5.03% Senior Note due June 14, 2014.

EXHIBIT 4.04(a)

   —      Form of Opinion of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Special Counsel to the Company

EXHIBIT 4.04(b)

   —      Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers

EXHIBIT 13.02

   —      Form of Certificate Regarding Exemption From The Registration Requirements Of The Securities Act Of 1933, As Amended


OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue

28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Telephone: (213) 830-6300

Telecopier: (213) 830-6290

 

 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of June 14, 2004

To Each of the Purchasers Listed

In Schedule A Hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “ Company ”), hereby agrees with you as follows:

SECTION I. AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES.

The Company will authorize the issuance and sale of $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014 (the “ Notes ”, such term to include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section XIII of this Agreement or the Other Agreements (as hereinafter defined)). The Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 1, with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by you and the Company. Each Note shall bear interest from the date thereof until such Note shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof (whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) at the rate of 5.03% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on the 14th day of June and December in each year, commencing December 14, 2004, and shall have a stated maturity of June 14, 2014. Interest on each Note shall be computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year of twelve (12) thirty (30) day months. Each Note shall bear interest on any overdue principal, including any overdue payment or prepayment of principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest, at the rate specified in such Note. If the Company shall have paid or agreed to pay any interest or premium on any Note in excess of that permitted by law, then it is the express intent of the Company and the holder thereof that all excess amounts previously paid or to be paid by the Company be applied to reduce the principal balance of such Note, and the provisions thereof immediately be deemed reformed and the amounts thereafter collectable thereunder reduced,


without the necessity of the execution of any new document, so as to comply with the then applicable law, but so as to permit the recovery of the fullest amount otherwise called for thereunder. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B; references to a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.

SECTION II. SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will issue and sell to you and you will purchase from the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section III, Notes in the principal amount specified opposite your name in Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof. Contemporaneously with entering into this Agreement, the Company is entering into separate Note Purchase Agreements (the “ Other Agreements ”) identical with this Agreement with each of the other purchasers named in Schedule A (the “ Other Purchasers ”), providing for the sale at such Closing to each of the Other Purchasers of Notes in the principal amount specified opposite its name in Schedule A. Your obligations hereunder and the obligations of the Other Purchasers pursuant to the Other Agreements are several and not joint and several obligations and you shall have no obligation under any Other Agreement and no liability to any Person for the performance or non-performance by any Other Purchaser thereunder.

SECTION III. CLOSING.

The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by you and the Other Purchasers shall occur at the offices of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10103, at 10:00 a.m., eastern standard time, at a closing (the “ Closing ”) on June 14, 2004 or on such other Business Day thereafter on or prior to June 30, 2004 as may be agreed upon by the Company and you and the Other Purchasers. At the Closing the Company will deliver to you the Notes to be purchased by you in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $100,000 as you may request) dated the date of the Closing and registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee), against delivery by you to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the Company to account number 4100-071372 at Wells Fargo Bank, Los Angeles, CA 90071, ABA No. 121 000 248, Account Name: Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, Attention: Wire Department, Reference: Senior Notes. If at the Closing (a) the Company shall fail to tender such Notes to you as provided above in this Section III, you shall, at your election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights you may have by reason of such failure or (b) any of the conditions specified in Section IV shall not have been fulfilled to your satisfaction, the transactions described herein shall not have been deemed to have closed and you shall be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement.

 

2


SECTION IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

Your obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to you at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to your satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

§4.01. Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement and in any certificate of the Company given in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

§4.02. Performance; No Default . The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated by Schedule 5.17) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited by §§10.01 through 10.05 hereof had such Sections applied since such date.

§4.03. Officer’s Certificate . The Company shall have delivered to you an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in §§4.01, 4.02 and 4.09 have been fulfilled.

§4.04. Opinions of Counsel . You shall have received opinions, dated the date of the Closing, from:

(a) Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, special counsel for the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 4.04(a) (and the Company hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinion to you), and

(b) Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, your special counsel in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.04(b) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as you may reasonably request.

§4.05. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc. On the date of the Closing, your purchase of Notes shall (i) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which you are subject, (ii) not violate any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and (iii) not subject you to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date hereof. If requested by you, you shall have received an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as you may reasonably specify to enable you to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

§4.06. Sale of Other Notes . Contemporaneously with the Closing the Company shall sell to the Other Purchasers and the Other Purchasers shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by them at the Closing as specified in Schedule A.

 

3


§4.07. Payment of Special Counsel Fees . Without limiting the provisions of §15.01, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of your special counsel referred to in §4.04(b) to the extent reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing; provided that the Company shall not be liable for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively).

§4.08. Private Placement Number . A Private Placement number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) shall have been obtained for the Notes.

§4.09. Changes in Company Structure . Except as specified in Schedule 4.09, the Company shall not have changed its jurisdiction of organization or been a party to any merger or consolidation and shall not have succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.07.

§4.10. Consents of Holders of Other Securities . On or prior to the date of the Closing, all consents or approvals required to be obtained from all holders of outstanding Indebtedness, Securities and other obligations of the Company that are necessary to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and all such consents and approvals shall be satisfactory in form and substance to you and your special counsel.

§4.11. Funding Instructions . At least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Closing, you shall have received written instructions executed by a Responsible Officer on letterhead of the Company directing the manner of the payment of the purchase price for the Notes and setting forth (i) the name and address of the transferee bank, (ii) such transferee bank’s ABA number, (iii) the account name and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to be deposited, and (iv) the name and telephone number of the account representative responsible for verifying receipt of such funds.

§4.12. Proceedings, Instruments, etc. All proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to you and your special counsel, and you and your special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as you or it may reasonably request.

§4.13. Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement . Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent, shall have been duly executed by the parties thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory to you and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of such parties, enforceable against each of such parties in accordance with its terms.

 

4


SECTION V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

The Company represents and warrants to you that:

§5.01. Members of the Company . Schedule 5.01 lists all of the members of the Company together with their respective percentage equity interests in the Company.

§5.02. Organization; Power and Authority . The Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California, and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has the limited liability company power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Other Agreements and the Notes and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

§5.03. Authorization, etc. This Agreement and the Other Agreements and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

§5.04. Operating Agreements and Other Information . The Company has furnished to you and your special counsel true, correct and complete copies of its operating agreement and any required resolutions of its members authorizing the execution, delivery and acceptance of this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes.

§5.05. Disclosure . The Company, through its agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., has delivered to you and each Other Purchaser a copy of a Private Placement Memorandum, dated April 2004 (the “ Memorandum ”), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.05, this Agreement, the Memorandum, the documents, certificates or other writings identified in Schedule 5.05 delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.07, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Except as disclosed in the Memorandum or as expressly described in Schedule 5.05, or in one of the documents, certificates or other writings identified therein, or in the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.07, since December 31, 2003, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company

 

5


or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Company that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Memorandum or in the other documents, certificates and other writings delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company specifically for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

§5.06. Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates .

(a) Schedule 5.06 contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists (i) of the Company’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization, and the percentage of shares of each class of its capital stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary, (ii) of the Company’s Affiliates, other than Subsidiaries, and (iii) of the Company’s principals and senior officers.

(b) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of each Subsidiary shown in Schedule 5.06 as being owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of any Lien (except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.06).

(c) Each Subsidiary identified in Schedule 5.06 is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such Subsidiary has the power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease and to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact.

(d) No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any legal, regulatory, contractual or other restriction (other than this Agreement, the Other Agreements, the agreements listed on Schedule 5.06 and customary limitations imposed by corporate, limited liability company, partnership and other entity statutes and regulations) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

§5.07. Financial Statements . The Company has delivered to each Purchaser copies of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.07. All of said financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and notes) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates specified in such Schedule and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments). The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any non-contingent

 

6


Material liabilities that are not disclosed on such financial statements or otherwise disclosed by the Company in writing to you and the Other Purchasers.

§5.08. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, operating agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

§5.09. Governmental Authorizations, etc. No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Notes, other than filings made pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act or similar filings or notices under state securities laws.

§5.10. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders .

(a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.10, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any property of the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Authority, which default or violation, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§5.11. Taxes . The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount, applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The Company knows of no basis for any other tax or assessment that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of Federal,

 

7


state or other taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate in accordance with GAAP. The Federal income tax returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service or the statute of limitations relating to such returns (or their underlying liabilities) has expired, and all liabilities for taxes shown thereon to be due have been paid, for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

§5.12. Title to Property; Leases . The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in §5.07 or purported to have been acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement. All leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects.

§5.13. Licenses, Permits, etc. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.13:

(a) the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others;

(b) to the best knowledge of the Company, no product of the Company infringes in any material respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned by any other Person; and

(c) to the best knowledge of the Company, there is no Material violation by any Person of any right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any patent, copyright, proprietary software, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

§5.14. Compliance with ERISA .

(a) The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions or to Section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the Code, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.

(b) The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Plans (other than Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan’s most recently ended plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such

 

8


Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “ benefit liabilities ” has the meaning specified in Section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “ current value ” and “ present value ” have the meaning specified in Section 3 of ERISA.

(c) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

(d) The expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by Section 4980B of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not Material.

(e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes hereunder will not constitute or result in any non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or any transaction in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The representation by the Company in the first sentence of this §5.14(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of your representation in §6.02 as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you.

§5.15. Private Offering by the Company . Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Notes (or within 24 months of the Closing any similar securities) for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other than you, the Other Purchasers and not more than twelve other Institutional Investors, each of which has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or blue sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

§5.16. Solvency . The Company is not and, immediately after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not be, insolvent as defined under any applicable federal or state law.

§5.17. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations . The Company will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Notes as set forth in Schedule 5.17. No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR Part 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR Part 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR Part 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than 10% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 10% of the value of such

 

9


assets. As used in this Section, the terms “ margin stock ” and “ purpose of buying or carrying ” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

§5.18. Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens .

(a) Except as described therein, Schedule 5.18 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by §10.04.

§5.19. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc. Neither the sale of the Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) is or will become a Person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) or (b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such Person. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all Material respects, with the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA Patriot Act of 2001).

No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United Stated Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Company.

§5.20. Status under Certain Statutes . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, the ICC Termination Act of 1995, as amended, or the Federal Power Act, as amended.

§5.21. Environmental Matters . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any claim or has received any notice of any claim, and no proceeding has been instituted raising any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their

 

10


respective real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or other assets, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any Environmental Laws, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed to you in writing:

(a) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any facts which would give rise to any claim, public or private, of violation of Environmental Laws or damage to the environment emanating from, occurring on or in any way related to real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or to other assets or their use, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has stored any Hazardous Materials on real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them and has not disposed of any Hazardous Materials in a manner contrary to any Environmental Laws in each case in any manner that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) all buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect

§5.22. Ranking of Obligations . The Company’s obligations pursuant to the Notes and this Agreement will, upon issuance of the Notes, rank at least pari passu , without preference or priority, with all of its other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness.

SECTION VI. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER.

§6.01. Purchase for Investment . You represent that you are purchasing the Notes for your own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by you or for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of your or their property shall at all times be within your or their control. You understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Notes.

§6.02. ERISA Representations . You represent that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “ Source ”) to be used by you to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you hereunder:

(a) the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption ( “PTE” ) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC Annual Statement” )) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the

 

11


same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile; or

(b) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

(c) the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1, or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or

(d) the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (as defined in Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption” ) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (as defined in Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (as defined in Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Section I(a) through (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (d); or

(e) the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption” )) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (e); or

(f) the Source is a governmental plan; or

(g) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (g); or

 

12


(h) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

As used in this §6.02, the terms “ employee benefit plan ”, “ governmental plan ”, “ party in interest ” and “ separate account ” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

SECTION VII. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY.

§7.01. Financial and Business Information . The Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

(a) Quarterly Statements — within forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments;

(b) Annual Statements — within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such year,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied (A) by an opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their results of operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances, and (B) a certificate of such accountants stating that they have

 

13


reviewed this Agreement and stating further whether, in making their audit, they have become aware, without making any independent investigation, of any condition or event that then constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, and, if they are aware that any such condition or event then exists, specifying the nature and period of the existence thereof (it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for any failure to obtain knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless such accountants should have obtained knowledge thereof in making an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or did not make such an audit);

(c) Notice of Default or Event of Default — promptly, and in any event within five (5) days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in §11(f), a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(d) ERISA Matters — promptly, and in any event within five (5) days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of any of the following, a written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any, that the Company or an ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto:

(i) with respect to any Plan, any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043(b) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, for which notice thereof has not been waived pursuant to such regulations as in effect on the date hereof; or

(ii) the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan that such action has been taken by the PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan; or

(iii) any event, transaction or condition that could result in the incurrence of any liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or such penalty or excise tax provisions, if such liability or Lien, taken together with any other such liabilities or Liens then existing, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e) Notices from Governmental Authority — promptly, and in any event within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof, copies of any notice to the Company or any Subsidiary from any Federal or state Governmental Authority relating to any order, ruling, statute or other law or regulation that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) Information Required by Rule 144A — promptly upon the request of the holder of any Note, such financial and other information as such holder may reasonably

 

14


determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with a resale of the Notes, except at such times as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

(g) Requested Information — with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Notes as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.

§7.02. Officer’s Certificate . Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant to §7.01(a) or §7.01(b) hereof shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth:

(a) Covenant Compliance — the information (including detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of §§ 10.03, 10.04 and 10.06 hereof during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and

(b) Event of Default — a statement that such officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made, under his or her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished to the date of the certificate and that such review did not disclose the existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists (including, without limitation, any such event or condition resulting from the failure of the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company shall have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.

§7.03. Inspection . The Company shall permit the representatives of each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

(a) No Default — if no Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of such holder and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to visit the principal executive office of the Company, to meet to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with the Company’s officers, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) its independent public accountants, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) to visit the other offices and properties of the Company and each Subsidiary, all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested in writing; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to hold such visit or meeting with any holder more than once every twelve (12)

 

15


months and that the Company shall notify other holders of Notes of such request for a meeting or visit by any holder; and

(b) Default — if a Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of the Company to visit and inspect any of the offices or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, to examine all their respective books of account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries), all at such times and as often as may be requested.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Institutional Investor (other than an original purchaser of a Note) that is a Competitor of the Company will not have the inspection rights contained in this §7.03 unless and until the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default.

SECTION VIII. PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

§8.01. Required Prepayments . On June 14, 2008 and on each June 14th thereafter up to and including June 14, 2014 the Company will prepay $10,714,286 principal amount (or such lesser principal amount as shall then be outstanding) of the Notes at par and without payment of the Make-Whole Amount or any premium, provided , that upon any partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to §8.02 or purchase of the Notes permitted by §8.06, the principal amount of each required prepayment of the Notes becoming due under this §8.01 on and after the date of such prepayment or purchase shall be reduced in the same proportion as the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes was reduced as a result of such prepayment or purchase.

§8.02. Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount . The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes at a price equal to the outstanding principal balance thereof plus the Make-Whole Amount, together with interest accrued through the date of prepayment. The Company will give each holder of Notes written notice of each optional prepayment under this §8.02 not less than thirty (30) days (and not more than sixty (60) days) prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with §8.04), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two (2) Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified prepayment date. Except as explicitly provided in §§8.01, 8.02 and 8.03, the Company may not prepay all, or any part of, the Notes.

 

16


§8.03. Mandatory Offer to Prepay in Event of Change of Control .

(a) In the event of the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall deliver to each holder of a Note a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay pursuant to §8.03(b). Any prepayment of Notes pursuant to this §8.03 shall be made at a prepayment price equal to the principal amount of Notes to be prepaid, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment, plus a premium equal to the Make-Whole Amount, provided, however, that no Make-Whole Amount shall be applicable in respect of such prepayment in the event that such Change of Control results from the occurrence of an event specified in clause (ii) of §8.03(e) unless the event specified in clause (i) of 8.03(e) also has occurred.

(b) Not later than thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to a Change of Control, the Company shall give written notice to each holder of a Note that the Company anticipates a Change of Control and of such holder’s right to elect to be prepaid hereunder arising as a result thereof (a “ §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay ”). Such §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay shall state: (i) that such notice is delivered pursuant to this §8.03(b); (ii) the proposed date of and a description of the circumstances surrounding such Change of Control; (iii) the date by which a holder must deliver a §8.03(c) Response pursuant to §8.03(c) hereof in order to accept prepayment; and (iv) the date on which the Company will prepay the Notes pursuant to §8.03(c), which prepayment date shall be the date of the occurrence of a Change of Control (the “ §8.03 Special Prepayment Date ”). No failure by the Company to deliver a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay to any holder shall limit such holder’s right to exercise such election and require the Company to effect such prepayment within a reasonable time period after such holder becomes aware of such Change of Control.

(c) To accept prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 of the Notes held by it, a holder shall deliver to the Company such holder’s notice that it accepts prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 with respect to the Notes held by it and designated therein (a “ §8.03(c) Response ”). Such §8.03(c) Response shall be delivered to the Company on or before the tenth (10th) day prior to the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date. The §8.03(c) Response shall set forth the name of such holder and the statement that it accepts prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 with respect to the Notes designated therein. Promptly and in any event within three (3) Business Days after receipt of a holder’s §8.03(c) Response, the Company shall, by written notice to such holder of a Note, acknowledge receipt thereof. If the Company has delivered a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay to each holder and on or prior to the fifteenth (15th) day prior to the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date, the Company shall not have received a §8.03(c) Response from a holder (or shall have received a §8.03(c) Response with respect to some but not all the Notes held by such holder), the Company shall promptly, but in any case within one (1) Business Day after the commencement of such fifteen (15) day period, deliver written notice to such holder that all of the Notes held by such holder (or all of the Notes held by such holder with respect to which such holder shall not have declined prepayment in such holder’s §8.03(c) Response) may be prepaid pursuant to this §8.03 on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date. A failure by a holder to respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this §8.03 shall be deemed to constitute an acceptance of such offer by such holder.

(d) The obligation of the Company to prepay Notes pursuant to the offers required by §8.03(b) and their acceptance in accordance with §8.03(c) is subject to the

 

17


occurrence of the Change of Control in respect of which such offers and acceptances shall have been made. In the event that such Change of Control does not occur on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date in respect thereof, the prepayment shall be deferred until, and shall be made on, the date on which such Change of Control occurs. The Company shall keep each holder reasonably and timely informed of (i) any such deferral of the date of prepayment, (ii) the date on which such Change of Control and the prepayment are expected to occur, and (iii) any determination by the Company that efforts to effect such Change of Control have ceased or been abandoned (in which case the offers and acceptances made pursuant to this §8.03 in respect of such Change of Control shall be deemed rescinded). In the event that such Change of Control does not occur on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter, the Company shall not permit any Change of Control to occur unless it delivers a new §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay and otherwise complies with the provisions of this §8.03.

(e) For the purposes of this §8.03, a “Change of Control” shall mean (i) any event whereby any Person or Persons that would be considered a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, the regulations promulgated thereunder or Schedule 13D promulgated by the Commission (or any successor section, regulation or form), other than any Persons listed on Schedule 8.03 and any other officer of the Company admitted as a member of the Company hereafter in the ordinary course of business, shall in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, control or own (beneficially or otherwise) more than 35% of the aggregate Capital Stock of the Company, or (ii) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Company by any Person or Persons (other than any of the Key Principals).

§8.04. Allocation of Partial Prepayments . In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes, the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

§8.05. Maturity; Surrender, etc. In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section VIII, the principal amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall, upon written request therefor by the Company, be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note without the consent of the holder of the Note to whom such amount is payable.

§8.06. Purchase of Notes . The Company will not, and will not permit any Affiliate to, purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes. The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment, prepayment or purchase of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

 

18


§8.07. Make-Whole Amount . The term “ Make-Whole Amount ” means, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

Called Principal ” means, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to §8.02 or §8.03 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to §12.01, as the context requires.

Discounted Value ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

Reinvestment Yield ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield generated by (a) linearly interpolating the yields by Bloomberg Financial Market Services, as of 10:00 a.m., eastern standard time, on the second (2nd) Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” (or such other display as may replace Page PX1) for the most actively traded (also known as “on the run”) U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity between (1) the most actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than the Remaining Average Life and (2) the most actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life, or (b) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second (2nd) Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in U.S. Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of the Settlement Date. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the coupon of the applicable Note.

Remaining Average Life ” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

Remaining Scheduled Payments ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which

 

19


interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Notes, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to §8.02, §8.03 or §12.01.

Settlement Date ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to §8.02 or §8.03 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to §12.01, as the context requires.

SECTION IX. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

§9.01. Compliance with Law . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, and will obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.02. Insurance . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles, co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.

§9.03. Maintenance of Properties . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this §9.03 shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Company has concluded that such discontinuance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.04. Payment of Taxes and Claims . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, file all tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax or assessment or claims if (i)

 

20


the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Company or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Company or a Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the Company or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes and assessments in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.05. Legal Existence, etc. The Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its limited liability company existence. Subject to §10.02, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the legal existence of each of its Subsidiaries (unless merged into the Company or a Subsidiary) and all rights and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, right or franchise could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.06. Priority Obligations . The Company will ensure that its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Notes will at all times rank at least pari passu , without preference or priority, with all of the outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Company.

SECTION X. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

§10.01. Transactions with Affiliates . The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into, directly or indirectly, any transaction or group of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (other than the Company or another Subsidiary), except in the ordinary course and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

§10.02. Merger, Consolidation, etc.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consolidate with or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person (except that a Subsidiary may consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company), unless:

(i) the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as an entirety, as the case may be (the “ Successor ”), shall be a solvent Person (other than a Governmental Authority) organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and, if the Company is not the Successor, (A) such Person shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes (pursuant to such agreements and instruments as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders) and (B) the Company

 

21


shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel, or other independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; and

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

No such conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall have the effect of releasing the Company or any successor thereto that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this §10.02 from its liability under this Agreement or the Notes.

(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

§10.03. Indebtedness . The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness other than:

(a) Indebtedness existing as of the Closing and set forth in Schedule 5.18;

(b) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary owed to the Company or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

(c) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary in addition to Indebtedness otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this §10.03, provided that on the date that such Subsidiary incurs or otherwise becomes liable with respect to such Indebtedness and immediately after giving effect thereto, (i) no Default or Event of Default exists, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness in respect of all Subsidiaries plus (without duplication) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens permitted under clause (j) of §10.04 does not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Company (calculated as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter); and

(d) Indebtedness renewing, extending or refunding any Indebtedness permitted by §10.03(a), provided that (i) the terms and conditions of such renewal, extension or refund, taken as a whole, are not materially more burdensome than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended or refunded, (ii) such renewal, extension or refund does not increase the principal amount of the Indebtedness so renewed, extended or refunded and (iii) immediately after such renewal, extension or refund, no Default or Event of Default shall exist.

§10.04. Liens . The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect thereof, except:

 

22


(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges which are not yet due and payable or the payment of which is not at the time required by §5.11;

(b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (i) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or retirement benefits, or (ii) to secure (or to obtain letters of credit that secure) the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety bonds, appeal bonds, bids, leases (other than Capital Leases), performance bonds, purchase, construction or sales contracts and other similar obligations, in each case not incurred or made in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property;

(d) leases or subleases granted to others, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances, in each case incidental to, and not interfering with, the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that such Liens do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of such property;

(e) any attachment or judgment Lien, unless the judgment it secures shall not, within sixty (60) days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged within sixty (60) days after the expiration of any such stay;

(f) Liens existing on the date of the Closing and securing the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries referred to in Schedule 5.18;

(g) any Lien existing on property of a Person immediately prior to its being consolidated with or merged into the Company or a Subsidiary or its becoming a Subsidiary, or any Lien existing on any property acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary at the time such property is so acquired (whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed), provided that (i) no such Lien shall have been created or assumed in contemplation of such consolidation or merger or such Person’s becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition of property, and (ii) each such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of property so acquired and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating such Lien, other property which is an improvement to or is acquired for specific use in connection with such acquired property;

(h) any Lien created to secure all or any part of the purchase price, or to secure Indebtedness incurred or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction of property (or any improvement thereon) acquired or constructed by the Company or a Subsidiary after the date of the Closing, provided that (i) any such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of such property (or improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed, (ii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the cost to the Company or such Subsidiary of the property (or

 

23


improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed and (B) the Fair Market Value of such property (or improvement thereon) at the time of such acquisition or construction, and (iii) any such Lien shall be created contemporaneously with, or within one hundred eighty (180) days after, the acquisition or construction of such property;

(i) any Lien renewing, extending or refunding any Lien permitted by this §10.04(f), (g) or (h), provided that (i) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien immediately prior to such extension, renewal or refunding is not increased or the maturity thereof reduced, (ii) such Lien is not extended to any other property, and (iii) immediately after such extension, renewal or refunding no Default or Event of Default would exist;

(j) other Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (i), provided that the aggregate Indebtedness secured by such Liens plus (without duplication) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of each Subsidiary of the Company outstanding pursuant to §10.03(c), shall not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Company (calculated as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter).

§10.05. Restricted Payments . The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or incur any liability to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a) that so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Company and its Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends with respect to their respective Capital Stock payable solely in additional shares of their respective Capital Stock, or declare and pay dividends or make distributions in cash solely to their respective members, stockholders, and other equityholders, or declare and pay dividends to be used solely for making payments with respect to the Notes and (b) the Company may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

§10.06. Financial Condition Covenants .

(a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio . The Company will not permit at any time the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0.

(b) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . The Company will not permit at any time the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense to be equal to or less than 4.0 to 1.0.

(c) Consolidated Members’ Capital . The Company will not permit the Consolidated Members’ Capital at the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than $40,000,000.

(d) Assets Under Management . The Company will not permit the Assets Under Management at any time to be less than $15,000,000,000.

§10.07. Restrictions on Dividends . The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to enter into any agreement, instrument or other document (other than this Agreement, the Other Agreements, and the agreements listed on Schedule 5.06) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the

 

24


Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

SECTION XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

An “ Event of Default ” shall exist if any of the following conditions or events shall occur:

(a) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise;

(b) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable;

(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in §7.01(c) or §10.02;

(d) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein (other than those referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section XI) and such default is not remedied within thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer obtaining actual knowledge of such default and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such default from any holder of a Note;

(e) any representation or warranty made in writing by or on behalf of the Company or by any officer of the Company or in any writing furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement proves to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on the date as of which made;

(f) the Company or any Subsidiary shall, in respect of any of its Indebtedness which is outstanding in a principal amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least $5,000,000 (excluding the Notes) (i) fail to make any payment (principal, interest, premium or make-whole amount) when due, whether at maturity, at a date fixed for prepayment, upon acceleration or otherwise after any applicable grace period, or (ii) default in the performance or observance of any other provision contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness or pursuant to which such Indebtedness was issued or incurred (which default shall not have been waived), if the effect of such default (or the existence of any condition) is to cause or permit the holder of such Indebtedness or a trustee or agent thereof to cause such Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable prior to its scheduled maturity;

(g) the Company or any Subsidiary (i) is generally not paying, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iv) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, (v) is adjudicated as insolvent or to be liquidated, or (vi) takes corporate action for the

 

25


purpose of any of the foregoing, other than a liquidation of a Subsidiary which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(h) a court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Company or any Subsidiary on behalf of itself, a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any such petition shall be filed against the Company or any Subsidiary and such petition shall not be dismissed within sixty (60) days;

(i) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $5,000,000 which is not covered by an insurance provider or a third party that has agreed to pay indemnification are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which insurance provider or third party is solvent both before and after such payment, and which judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; or

(j) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION XII. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

§12.01. Acceleration .

(a) If an Event of Default with respect to the Company described in Section XI(g) or (h) (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) of Section XI(g) or described in clause (vi) of Section XI(g) by virtue of the fact that such clause encompasses clause (i) of Section XI(g)) has occurred, all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable.

(b) If any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of more than 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may at any time at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.

(c) If any Event of Default described in Section XI(a) or (b) has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of Notes at the time outstanding affected by such Event of Default may at any time, at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes held by it or them to be immediately due and payable.

Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under this §12.01, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, but not limited to, interest accrued thereon from the date of the Default giving rise to such Event of Default at the Default

 

26


Rate) and (y) the Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived. The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Company in the event that the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default, is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.

§12.02. Other Remedies . If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared immediately due and payable under §12.01, the holder of any Note at the time outstanding may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

§12.03. Rescission . At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of §12.01, the holders of not less than 51% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid all overdue interest on the Notes, all principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Notes that are due and payable and are unpaid other than by reason of such declaration, and all interest on such overdue principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any overdue interest in respect of the Notes, at the Default Rate, (b) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section XVII, and (c) no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes. No rescission and annulment under this §12.03 will extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

§12.04. No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc. No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. Without limiting the obligations of the Company under Section XV, the Company will pay to the holder of each Note on demand such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all costs and expenses of such holder incurred in any enforcement or collection under this Section XII, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses and disbursements.

SECTION XIII. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

§13.01. Registration of Notes . The Company shall keep at its principal executive office a register for the registration and registration of transfers of Notes. The name and address

 

27


of each holder of one or more Notes, each transfer thereof and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such register. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Company shall give to any holder of a Note that is an Institutional Investor promptly upon request therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.

§13.02. Transfer and Exchange of Notes . Upon surrender of any Note at the principal executive office of the Company for registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered holder of such Note or his attorney duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the address for notices of each transferee of such Note or part thereof) and upon receipt of any other documents or information required by this Agreement or the Note, the Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder thereof) in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may request and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1. Each such new Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such transfer of Notes. Notes shall not be transferred in denominations of less than $100,000, provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes, one Note may be in a denomination of less than $100,000. Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have made the representation set forth in §6.02. Prior to the consummation of any transfer of any Note, the holder of such Note will deliver to the Company a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 13.02 confirming that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

§13.03. Replacement of Notes . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which evidence shall be, in the case of an Institutional Investor, notice from such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation), and

(a) in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it ( provided that if the holder of such Note is, or is a nominee for, an original Purchaser or another holder of a Note with a minimum net worth of at least $250,000,000, such Person’s own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be satisfactory), or

(b) in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation thereof,

the Company at its own expense, as soon as practicable thereafter, shall execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Note, dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest shall have

 

28


been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

SECTION XIV. PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

§14.01. Place of Payment . Subject to §14.02, payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in Los Angeles, California, at the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction. The Company may at any time, by notice to each holder of a Note, change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment shall be either the principal office of the Company in the United States or the principal office of a bank or trust company in the United States.

§14.02. Home Office Payment . So long as you or your nominee shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in §14.01 or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due, including payment at maturity, on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below your name in Schedule A, or by such other method or at such other address as you shall have from time to time specified to the Company in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of any Note, you shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal executive office or at the place of payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to §14.01. Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by you or your nominee, you will, at your election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to §13.02. The Company will afford the benefits of this §14.02 to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by you under this Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as you have made in this §14.02.

SECTION XV. EXPENSES, ETC.

§15.01. Transaction Expenses . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company will pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of a special counsel and, if reasonably required, local or other counsel) incurred by you and each Other Purchaser or holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement or the Notes (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including, without limitation: (a) the reasonable costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement or the Notes or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or the Notes, or by reason of being a holder of any Note, and (b) the reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Notes; provided that, (x) with respect to attorneys’

 

29


fees, costs and disbursements payable by the Company pursuant to this §15.01, the Company shall not be obligated to pay for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively) and, to the extent that local or other counsel is reasonably required, the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of no more than one firm of such local or other counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively), and (y) with respect to financial advisors’ fees payable by the Company pursuant to this §15.01, the Company shall not be obligated to pay for financial advisors’ fees and related costs and expenses of more than one firm of financial advisors (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively). The Company will pay, and will save you and each other holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses if any, of brokers and finders (other than those retained by you).

§15.02. Survival . The obligations of the Company under this Section XV will survive the payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, and the termination of this Agreement.

SECTION XVI. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the purchase or transfer by you of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of you or any other holder of a Note. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION XVII. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

§17.01. Requirements . This Agreement and the Notes may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof or of the Notes may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section I, II, III, IV, V, VI or XXI hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be effective as to you unless consented to by you in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section XII relating to acceleration or rescission, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of interest or of the Make-Whole Amount on, the Notes, (ii) change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (iii) amend any of Sections VIII, XI(a), XI(b), XII, XVII or XX.

 

30


§17.02. Solicitation of Holders of Notes .

(a) Solicitation . The Company will provide each registered holder of the Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section XVII to each registered holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

(b) Payment . The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security, to any holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes or any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.

§17.03. Binding Effect, etc. Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section XVII applies equally to all holders of Notes and is binding upon them and upon each future holder of any Note and upon the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein, the term “ this Agreement ” and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

§17.04. Notes held by Company, etc. Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

31


SECTION XVIII. NOTICES.

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

(i) if to you or your nominee, to you or it at the address specified for such communications in Schedule A, or at such other address as you or it shall have specified to the Company in writing,

(ii) if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or

(iii) if to the Company, to the Company at its address set forth at the beginning hereof to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to the General Counsel , or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.

Notices under this Section XVIII will be deemed given only when actually received.

SECTION XIX. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by you at the Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to you, may be reproduced by you by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other similar process and you may destroy any original document so reproduced. The Company agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by you in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section XIX shall not prohibit the Company or any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction.

SECTION XX. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

For the purposes of this Section XX, “ Confidential Information ” means information delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to §7.01 and §7.03) that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by you as being confidential information of the Company, such Subsidiary or any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as a general partner or an investment advisor, provided that such term does not include information

 

32


that (a) was (i) publicly known or (ii) otherwise known to you prior to the time of such disclosure (other than from a source that you knew or should reasonably have known was bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect to such information), (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by you or any Person acting on your behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to you from a source that you knew or reasonably should have known was bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect to such information or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to you under §7.01 that are otherwise publicly available. You will not use the Confidential Information for any purpose (including, without limitation, (x) to compete with the business of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as a general partner or an investment advisor or (y) in connection with the creation or management of any investment fund for which you act or any of your affiliates acts as a general partner or an investment advisor) other than purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by you in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to you, provided that you may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) your trustees, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates who need to know such information for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and are directed to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section XX and are prohibited from using the Confidential Information other than for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes, (ii) your financial advisors and other professional advisors who need to know such information for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section XX and are prohibited from using the Confidential Information other than for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes, (iii) any other holder of any Note, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which you sell or offer to sell such Note or any part thereof or any participation therein (but only if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX), (v) any Person from which you offer to purchase any security of the Company (but only if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over you, (vii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about your investment portfolio or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be reasonably necessary or appropriate ( provided that you shall use your reasonable best efforts to cause such Person to agree in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX) (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to you, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which you are a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent you may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under your Notes and this Agreement. Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section XX as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a

 

33


holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section XX.

SECTION XXI. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

You shall have the right to substitute any one of your Affiliates as the purchaser of the Notes that you have agreed to purchase hereunder, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall be signed by both you and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s agreement to be bound by this Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by such Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations set forth in Section VI. Upon receipt of such notice, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section XXI), such word shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of you. In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to you all of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice of such transfer, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section XXI), such word shall no longer be deemed to refer to such Affiliate, but shall refer to you, and you shall have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.

SECTION XXII. MISCELLANEOUS.

§22.01. Successors and Assigns . All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

§22.02. Payments Due on Non-Business Days . Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

§22.03. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

§22.04. Construction . Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent an express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant.

Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made by the Company for purposes of this Agreement, the same shall be done by the Company in accordance with GAAP, to the extent applicable, except where such principles are inconsistent with the requirements of this Agreement.

 

34


For the avoidance of doubt, all Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part hereof.

§22.05. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

§22.06. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

35


If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of agreement on the accompanying counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company.

 

Very truly yours,
OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:     / S / B RUCE K ARSH            
 

Name: Bruce Karsh

Title: President

 

By:     / S / D AVID K IRCHHEIMER             
 

Name: David Kirchheimer

Title: Principal Chief Financial and

          Administrative Officer


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

By:     / S / E STELLE S IMSOLO            
  Name: Estelle Simsolo
Title: Director-Private Placements


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
AIG ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY   
By:     AIG Global Investment Corp., investment adviser   
  By:     / S / G ERALD F. H ERMAN               
    Name: Gerald F. Herman   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
GUIDEONE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY   
By:     Advantus Capital Management, Inc.   
  By:     / S / K ATHLEEN H. P ARKER               
    Name: Kathleen H. Parker   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
GUIDEONE PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
By:     Advantus Capital Management, Inc.   
  By:     / S / S TEVEN R. L ANE               
    Name: Steven R. Lane   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
GUIDEONE SPECIALTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
By:     Advantus Capital Management, Inc.   
  By:     / S / S TEVEN R. L ANE               
    Name: Steven R. Lane   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
FORT DEARBORN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY   
By:     Advantus Capital Management, Inc.   
  By:     / S / R OBERT W. T HOMPSON               
    Name: Robert W. Thompson   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
TRUSTMARK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY   
By:     Advantus Capital Management, Inc.   
  By:     / S / R OBERT W. T HOMPSON               
    Name: Robert W. Thompson   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
AMERICAN REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY   
By:     Advantus Capital Management, Inc.   
  By:     / S / E.A. B ERGSLAND                
    Name: E.A. Bergsland   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
MTL INSURANCE COMPANY   
By:     Advantus Capital Management, Inc.   
  By:     / S / E.A. B ERGSLAND                
    Name: E.A. Bergsland   
    Title: Vice President   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

  
MONY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY   
By:     MONY Capital Management, Inc.,
as Investment Adviser
  
  By:     / S / E MILIA F. W IENER                
    Emilia F. Wiener   
    Senior Managing Director   


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY
By:   / S / D AVID R OWLAND            
 

Name: David Rowland

Title: Sr. Vice President-Fixed Income Investments


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

PHL VARIABLE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   / S / C HRISTOPHER M. W ILKOS              
 

Name: Christopher M. Wilkos

Title: Senior Vice President


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

PHOENIX LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   / S / C HRISTOPHER M. W ILKOS            
 

Name: Christopher M. Wilkos

Title: Senior Vice President


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
  By:   CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)
    By:   / S / D EBRA J. H EIGHT            
     

Name: Debra J. Height

Title: Managing Director


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

CIGNA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
  By:   CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)
    By:   / S / D EBRA J. H EIGHT            
     

Name: Debra J. Height

Title: Managing Director


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:   / S / D AVID A. B ARRAS            
 

Name: David A. Barras

Title: Its Authorized Representative


SCHEDULE B

DEFINED TERMS

As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Section hereof following such term:

Affiliates ” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company.

Agreement ” means this Note Purchase Agreement.

Assets Under Management ” means the aggregate amount of the assets in investment funds managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which it acts as a general partner or an investment advisor, the amount of which is used by the Company or any such Subsidiary in calculating the management fees charged by the Company or such Subsidiary with respect thereto, plus or minus, as applicable, any change in the market value of the private partnership funds of the Company or any such Subsidiary.

Business Day ” means (a) for the purposes of §8.07 only, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed, and (b) for the purposes of any other provision of this Agreement, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Los Angeles, California are required or authorized to be closed.

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, membership or other interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all membership interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in a limited liability company, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

Change of Control ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(e).

Closing ” has the meaning set forth in Section III.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

 

Sch. B-1


Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any successor thereto.

Company ” means Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company.

Competitor ” means any Person whose business is in substantial part in competition with the business of the Company or its Affiliates, other than any bank, trust company, savings and loan association, insurance company, broker dealer or any similar financial institution or entity.

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

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any date of determination, the sum of (1) Consolidated Net Income for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company, plus , (2) to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, and without duplication, the sum of (a) income tax expense, (b) interest expense (net of interest income), amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness, (c) depreciation and amortization expenses, (d) amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs, (e) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash losses on sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business); provided that the amounts referred to in this clause (e) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $4,000,000 for any fiscal year of the Company, and (f) any other non-cash charges, and minus , (3) to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period any non-cash income, all as determined on a consolidated basis, for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company.

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of the four consecutive fiscal quarters pursuant to any determination under §10.06(a), (i) if any Material Disposition is made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any such period, an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such property for such period shall reduce (if such attributed Consolidated EBITDA is positive) or shall increase (if such attributed Consolidated EBITDA is negative) the Consolidated EBITDA for such period and (ii) if any Material Acquisition is made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any such period, the Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes assets comprising in excess of 51% of an operating unit of a business of the seller or constitutes in excess of 51% of the Capital Stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any disposition of property or series of related dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any date of determination, interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Leases) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness

 

Sch. B-2


of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges paid or owed with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and other Indebtedness, and net costs under Hedging Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).

Consolidated Members’ Capital ” means, at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries under members’ capital at such date.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the consolidated income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company) in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Company or such Subsidiary in the form of cash dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation or Requirements of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

Consolidated Total Assets ” means, at any date, the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries which would, in conformity with GAAP, be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, after eliminating all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between the Company and its Subsidiaries and all other terms required to be eliminated in accordance with GAAP.

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 ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003, as amended from time to time, between the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

Default ” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

 

Sch. B-3


Default Rate ” means that rate of interest that is the greater of (i) 2% per annum above the rate of interest stated in clause (a) of the first paragraph of the Notes or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Company under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section XI.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

Fair Market Value ” means at any time and with respect to any property, the sale value of such property that would be realized in an arm’s-length sale at such time between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller (neither being under a compulsion to buy or sell).

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America.

 

Sch. B-4


Governmental Authority ” means

(a) the government of

(i) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or

(ii) any jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or

(b) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

Guarantee ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation (except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such Person:

(a) to purchase such indebtedness or obligation or any property constituting security therefor;

(b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or other balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any other Person or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation;

(c) to lease properties or to purchase properties or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the ability of any other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation; or

(d) otherwise to assure the owner of such indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof.

In any computation of the indebtedness or other liabilities of the obligor under any Guarantee, the indebtedness or other obligations that are the subject of such Guarantee shall be assumed to be direct obligations of such obligor.

Hazardous Material ” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes, petroleum products or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage, or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.

 

Sch. B-5


Hedging Agreement ” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement.

holder ” means, with respect to any Note, the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to §13.01.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, at any time, without duplication,

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

(b) all obligations of such Person with respect to deposits or advances of any kind;

(c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

(d) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid;

(e) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person;

(f) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business);

(g) all Indebtedness of Affiliates of the Company or any other Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed;

(h) all obligations of such Person under a Capital Lease;

(i) all Guarantees by such Person with respect to liabilities of a type described in clauses (a) through (h) above;

(j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty;

(k) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances; and

(l) all net liabilities of such Person under Hedging Agreements.

The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other Person (including any general or limited partnership in which such Person is a partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

Sch. B-6


Institutional Investor ” means (a) any original purchaser of a Note, (b) any holder of a Note holding (together with one or more of its Affiliates) more than 20% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and (c) any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form.

Key Principals ” means Howard Marks, Bruce Karsh, Sheldon Stone, Stephen Kaplan, Kevin Clayton, Richard Masson, Russel Bernard, Larry Keele, John Moon, John Frank and David Kirchheimer.

Lien ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements) and (b) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Make-Whole Amount ” has the meaning set forth in §8.07.

Material ” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes.

Material Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the Company having (a) assets with a value of not less than 5% of the total value of the assets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) Consolidated EBITDA of not less than 5% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company.

Memorandum ” has the meaning set forth in §5.05.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

Notes ” has the meaning set forth in Section I.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other officer of the Company whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.

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

Other Purchasers ” has the meaning set forth in Section II.

 

Sch. B-7


PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any successor thereto.

Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, business entity or Governmental Authority.

Plan ” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is or, within the preceding five (5) years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five (5) years, have been made or required to be made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.

property ” or “ properties ” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal property of any kind, tangible or intangible, choate or inchoate.

PTE ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

PTE 95-60 ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

QPAM Exemption ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(d) hereof.

Required Holders ” means, at any time, the holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates).

Requirement of Law ” means, with respect to any Person, the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or order or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or bringing upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer ” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Company with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this agreement.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such shares of Capital Stock of the Company.

§8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(b) hereof.

§8.03(c) Response ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(c) hereof.

§8.03 Special Prepayment Date ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(b) hereof.

Securities ” or “ Security ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act.

 

Sch. B-8


Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

Senior Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer of the Company.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more Subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more Subsidiaries of the parent, including, in either (a) or (b) above, any such entity which is a general partner or an investment advisor of an investment fund. Unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, “Subsidiary” does not include any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which it acts as a general partner or an investment advisor.

Successor ” has the meaning set forth in §10.02.

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any Subsidiary one hundred percent (100%) of all of the equity interests (except directors’ qualifying shares) and voting interests of which are owned by any one or more of the Company and the Company’s other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries at such time.

 

Sch. B-9


EXHIBIT 4.04(b)

FORM OF OPINION OF SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE PURCHASERS

June 14, 2004

To Each of the Purchasers

Listed on Schedule A to the

Note Purchase Agreements

Referred to Below

 

  Re: Oaktree Capital Management, LLC:
       $75,000,000 in Aggregate Principal Amount of
       5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as your special counsel in connection with your purchase today of $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014 (the “Notes”) issued by Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Company”), pursuant to each of the Note Purchase Agreements dated as of June 14, 2004 (collectively, the “Agreements”) among the Company and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto (the “Purchasers”). All capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings assigned thereto, directly or by cross-reference, in the Agreements.

In this regard, we have examined executed counterparts of the Agreements executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchasers. We also have examined the executed Notes being issued and delivered pursuant to the Agreements on the date hereof. In addition, we have examined originals (or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of such other instruments, certificates, records and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and exclusions set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Agreements constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

2. The Notes have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

3. Neither the execution, delivery or performance of the Agreements by the Company, nor the execution, delivery or performance of the Notes by the Company, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor the fulfillment by the Company of

 

Exh. 4.04(b)-1


the terms, conditions or provisions thereof, will violate the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of January 1, 2004, as amended and as presently in effect.

4. On the basis of the representations contained in §§ 5.15 and 6.01 of the Agreements, it is not necessary, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Notes to you under the circumstances contemplated by the Agreements, to register the Notes under the Securities Act or to qualify an indenture with respect thereto under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

We have reviewed the opinion letter of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (“MT&O”), special counsel to the Company, dated the date hereof and delivered to you pursuant to Section 4.04(a) of the Agreements. Such opinion letter is satisfactory in form and scope to us and we believe that you are justified in relying thereon.

With your permission we have assumed the following: (a) the authenticity of original documents and genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed; (d) the due authorization, execution and delivery on behalf of the respective parties thereto of the Agreements and the Notes and, except as specifically covered in the opinions set forth above, the legal, valid and binding effect thereof on each of such parties; and (e) the absence of any evidence extrinsic to the provisions of the written agreements between the parties that the parties intended a meaning contrary to that expressed by those provisions.

Our opinion that any document is valid, binding or enforceable in accordance with its terms is qualified as to:

(a) limitations imposed by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium, or other laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally;

(b) the unenforceability under certain circumstances of provisions imposing penalties; and

(c) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

We are not opining on any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America.

This opinion letter is solely for your benefit in connection with the transaction referred to in the first paragraph hereof and may not be relied upon, or used by, circulated, quoted or referred to, nor copies hereof delivered to, any other person without our prior written approval,

 

Exh. 4.04(a)-2


except that, without our prior written approval, (a) copies of this opinion letter may be provided (i) to your legal counsel, (ii) to prospective transferees of the Notes, (iii) to such prospective transferees’ legal counsel, (iv) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto, (v) to any state insurance commissioner or other governmental or regulatory authority with authority over you and (vi) as required by law or applicable regulation and (b) copies of this opinion letter may be provided to and this opinion may be relied upon by transferees of the Notes. We disclaim any obligation to update this opinion letter for events occurring or coming to our attention after the date hereof.

Very truly yours,

 

Exh. 4.04(a)-3


EXHIBIT 13.02

FORM OF CERTIFICATE REGARDING EXEMPTION FROM

THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED

Oaktree Capital Management, LLC

333 South Grand Ave., 28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

In connection with the undersigned’s proposed transfer of $            original principal amount of 5.03% Senior Notes Due June 14, 2014 of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, the undersigned hereby represents that such transfer shall be made pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Name of Note Holder
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Date:      

 

Exh. 13.02

Exhibit 4.3

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “ Amendment ”) dated as of March 15, 2006 to that certain Note Purchase Agreement (the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”) dated as of June 14, 2004 between Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014 (the “ Notes ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Emerging Issues Task Force of the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a pronouncement entitled “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights” or “FIN 46 R,” which requires an investment advisor to consolidate investment limited partnership funds of which it is the sole or controlling general partner; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company and the holders of the Notes desire to apply generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America without giving effect to FIN 46 R or similar subsequent authoritative accounting pronouncements, except with respect to certain financial reporting obligations of the Company as specified herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used in this Amendment have the meanings assigned thereto in the Note Purchase Agreement as presently in effect.

SECTION 2. AMENDMENTS TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

The Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended in the following respects:

§1.1. Amendment to Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement . Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “GAAP” in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following new definition:

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America, except for the consolidation of


investment funds advised by the Company and other entities that may be required by (a) Emerging Issues Task Force Issues No. 04-05, FIN 46 R or (b) similar subsequent authoritative accounting pronouncements.”

§1.2. Amendments to Section 7.01 of the Note Purchase Agreement . Section 7.01 of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting subsections (a) and (b) in their entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following new subsections:

“(a) Quarterly Statements — within forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied and GAAP, in each case, applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments;

(b) Annual Statements — within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such year,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied and GAAP, and accompanied (A) by an opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied and GAAP, and

 

2


that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances, and (B) a certificate of such accountants stating that they have reviewed this Agreement and stating further whether, in making their audit, they have become aware, without making any independent investigation, of any condition or event that then constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, and, if they are aware that any such condition or event then exists, specifying the nature and period of the existence thereof (it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for any failure to obtain knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless such accountants should have obtained knowledge thereof in making an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or did not make such an audit);

SECTION 3. MISCELLANEOUS .

§3.1. Instrument Pursuant to Note Purchase Agreement . This Amendment is executed pursuant to Section XVII of the Note Purchase Agreement and shall (unless otherwise expressly indicated herein) be construed, administered, and applied in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement. Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the representations, warranties, terms, covenants and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement shall remain unamended and unwaived. The amendments set forth herein shall be limited precisely as provided for herein to the provisions expressly amended herein and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of, amendment of, consent to or modification of any other term or provision of the Note Purchase Agreement or of any term or provision of any other document or of any transaction or further action on the part of the Company which would require the consent of any holder under the Note Purchase Agreement.

§3.2. Successors and Assigns . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

§3.3. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which shall constitute together but one and the same instrument.

§3.5. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers duly authorized thereunto as of the day and year first above written.

 

Very truly yours,
OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:   / S / D AVID K IRCHHEIMER            
  Name: David Kirchheimer, CPA
  Title: Principal, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
By:   / S / B RUCE K ARSH            
  Name:
  Title:


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY
By:   / S / A NNETTE M. M ASTERSON            
  Name: Annette M. Masterson
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

FORT DEARBORN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / R OBERT W. T HOMPSON            
  Name: Robert W. Thompson
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

TRUSTMARK INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / R OBERT W. T HOMPSON            
  Name: Robert W. Thompson
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

GUIDEONE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / J OHN L EIVISKA            
  Name: John Leiviska
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

GUIDEONE PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / J OHN L EIVISKA            
  Name: John Leiviska
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

AMERICAN REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / T HOMAS B. H OUGHTON            
  Name: Thomas B. Houghton
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

GUIDEONE SPECIALTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / T HOMAS B. H OUGHTON            
  Name: Thomas B. Houghton
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

MTL INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / T HOMAS B. H OUGHTON            
  Name: Thomas B. Houghton
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

AIG ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

By: AIG Global Investment Corp., investment advisor

By:   / S / G ERALD F. H ERMAN            
  Name: Gerald F. Herman
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

PHL VARIABLE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   / S / J OHN H. B EERS            
  Name: John H. Beers
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

PHOENIX LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   / S / J OHN H. B EERS            
  Name: John H. Beers
  Title: Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)

By:   / S / D EBRA J. H EIGHT            
  Name: Debra J. Height
  Title: Managing Director


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

CIGNA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK

 

By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)

By:   / S / D EBRA J. H EIGHT            
  Name: Debra J. Height
  Title: Managing Director


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   / S / M ARK E. K ISHLER            
  Name: Mark E. Kishler
  Title: Authorized Representative


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

J. ROMEO & CO.,

As nominee for MONY Life Insurance Company

By:   / S / J OSEPH A. D’E LIA            
  Name: Joseph A. D’Elia
  Title: As partner


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
By:   / S / M ARINA M AVRAKIS            
  Name: Marina Mavrakis
  Title: Managing Director

Exhibit 4.4

AMENDMENT NO. 2 AND WAIVER TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This AMENDMENT NO. 2 AND WAIVER TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “ Amendment ”) dated as of June 6, 2006 to that certain Note Purchase Agreement (as amended, the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”) dated as of June 14, 2004 between Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014 (the “ Notes ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company has requested, and the holders of the Notes have agreed, to amend certain provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement to (i) extend the time for delivery by the Company of certain quarterly financial statements, (ii) permit Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company constituting a contingent obligation of such Subsidiary as the general partner or, to the extent of its capital contribution, a limited partner, of any limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates and (iii) permit a Subsidiary to grant a Lien in certain of its rights as the general partner of a limited partnership fund to the lenders to such limited partnership fund, in each case subject to and in accordance with the terms thereof; and

WHEREAS, the Company has requested, and the holders of the Notes have agreed, to waive certain violations of certain provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement as a result of the incurrence of Indebtedness and the granting of Liens of the type described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, in each case prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used in this Amendment have the meanings assigned thereto in the Note Purchase Agreement as presently in effect.

SECTION 2. AMENDMENTS TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

The Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended in the following respects:

§ 2.1 Amendments to Section 7.01 of the Note Purchase Agreement .

(a) Section 7.01(a) of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following in lieu thereof:


“(a) Quarterly Statements — within:

(x) forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; and

(y) sixty (60) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied,

in the cases of clauses (x) and (y), applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments;”

(b) Section 7.01(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the words “consistently applied” immediately following the word “GAAP” therein in each instance where it appears.

§2.2 Amendment to Section 10.03 of the Note Purchase Agreement . Section 10.03 of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new clause (e) to the end thereof:

“(e) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary constituting a contingent obligation of

 

2


such Subsidiary as the general partner or, to the extent of its capital contribution, a limited partner, of any limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether now existing or newly created, in respect of any Indebtedness of such fund, for so long as such Indebtedness remains a contingent obligation and not a primary obligation of such Subsidiary.”

§2.3 Amendments to Section 10.04 of the Note Purchase Agreement .

(a) Section 10.04 of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following new clause (j) immediately following clause (i) thereof:

“(j) in the case of a Subsidiary which serves as the general partner of a limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, any Lien on (x) such Subsidiary’s right as a general partner of such limited partnership fund relating to the capital commitments of the limited partners in such limited partnership fund and all rights of such Subsidiary in respect thereof, including, without limitation, the right to call and receive such capital contributions and compel and enforce payment thereof, and (y) such Subsidiary’s interests and rights as a general partner of any special purpose vehicle owned by such limited partnership fund, provided that such Subsidiary’s right to receive distributions, including, without limitation, any incentive allocation, from such special purpose vehicle is not Material and arises from de minimis capital contributions in special purpose vehicles which are required pursuant to the laws of any jurisdiction in which such special purpose vehicles are organized; and”

(b) Section 10.04(j) of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by (i) renumbering such clause as clause “(k)” and (ii) deleting therefrom the words “clauses (a) through (i)” and substituting the words “clauses (a) through (j)” in lieu thereof.

§ 2.4 Amendments to Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement .

(a) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following to the end of the definition of “Consolidated Interest Expense” therein:

“excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, interest that accrues on Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the type described in §10.03(e), for so long as such Indebtedness remains a contingent obligation and not a primary obligation of such Subsidiary.”

(b) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “Consolidated Total Debt” in its entirety, and replacing it with the following in lieu thereof:

“ ‘ Consolidated Total Debt ’ means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between the Company and its Subsidiaries, Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the type described in §10.03(e) and all other terms required to be eliminated in accordance with GAAP.”

 

3


SECTION 3. WAIVERS

§3.1 Waiver of Section 10.03 of the Note Purchase Agreement . The holders of the Notes hereby waive any violations of Section 10.03 of the Note Purchase Agreement prior to the date hereof which may have resulted from short-term borrowings by a limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, for which a Subsidiary of the Company was contingently liable as the general partner of such limited partnership fund.

§3.2 Waiver of Section 10.04 of the Note Purchase Agreement . The holders of the Notes hereby waive any violations of Section 10.04 of the Note Purchase Agreement prior to the date hereof which resulted from the Lien granted by OCM Mezzanine Fund II GP LLC (“ Mezz II GP ”), a Subsidiary of the Company, to the lenders to a certain limited partnership fund of which Mezz II GP is the general partner, provided that such Lien encumbers only (x) Mezz II GP’s right as a general partner of such limited partnership fund relating to the capital commitments of the limited partners in such limited partnership fund and all rights of Mezz II GP in respect thereof, including, without limitation, the right to call and receive such capital contributions and compel and enforce payment thereof, and (y) Mezz II GP’s interests and rights as a general partner of any special purpose vehicle owned by such limited partnership fund, provided that Mezz II GP’s right to receive distributions, including, without limitation, any incentive allocation, from such special purpose vehicle is not Material and arises from de minimis capital contributions in such special purpose vehicle which are required pursuant to the laws of any jurisdiction in which such special purpose vehicle is organized.

SECTION 4. MISCELLANEOUS.

§ 4.1 Instrument Pursuant to Note Purchase Agreement . This Amendment is executed pursuant to Section XVII of the Note Purchase Agreement and shall (unless otherwise expressly indicated herein) be construed, administered, and applied in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement. Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the representations, warranties, terms, covenants and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement shall remain unamended and unwaived. The amendments set forth herein shall be limited precisely as provided for herein to the provisions expressly amended herein and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of, amendment of, consent to or modification of any other term or provision of the Note Purchase Agreement or of any term or provision of any other document or of any transaction or further action on the part of the Company which would require the consent of any holder under the Note Purchase Agreement.

§4.2 Successors and Assigns . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

§4.3 Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which shall constitute together but one and the same instrument.

§4.4 Governing Law . This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers duly authorized thereunto as of the day and year first above written.

 

Very truly yours,

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

By:   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
  Name: David M. Kirchheimer, CPA
 

Title:   Principal, Chief Financial

            and Administrative Officer

By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH             
  Name: Bruce A. Karsh
  Title:   President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

FORT DEARBORN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / E. A. B ERGSLAND
 

Name: E. A. Bergsland

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

TRUSTMARK INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / D AVID L AND
 

Name: David Land

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

GUIDEONE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.

By:   / S / D AVID L AND
 

Name: David Land

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

GUIDEONE PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.
By:   / S / T HOMAS B. H OUGHTON
 

Name: Thomas B. Houghton

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

AMERICAN REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.
By:   / S / T HEODORE R. H OXMEIER
 

Name: Theodore R. Hoxmeier

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

GUIDEONE SPECIALTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.
By:   / S / T HOMAS B. H OUGHTON
 

Name: Thomas B. Houghton

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

MTL INSURANCE COMPANY

By: Advantus Capital Management Inc.
By:   / S / E. A. B ERGSLAND
 

Name: E. A. Bergsland

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

AIG ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

By: AIG Global Investment Corp., investment advisor

By:   / S / G ERALD F. H ERMAN
 

Name: Gerald F. Herman

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

PHL VARIABLE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:   / S / J OHN H. B EERS
 

Name: John H. Beers

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

PHOENIX LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:   / S / J OHN H. B EERS
 

Name: John H. Beers

Title:   Vice President


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)

By:   / S / D EBORAH B. W IACEK
 

Name: Deborah B. Wiacek

Title:   Managing Director


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

CIGNA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK

By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)

By:   / S / D EBORAH B. W IACEK
 

Name: Deborah B. Wiacek

Title:   Managing Director


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:   / S / M ARK E. K ISHLER
 

Name: Mark E. Kishler

Title:   Its Authorized Representative


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

J. ROMEO & CO.,

as nominee for MONY Life Insurance Company

By:   / S / B RIAN D OHERTY
 

Name: Brian Doherty

Title:   VP


The foregoing Amendment is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

By:   / S / E STELLE D. S IMSOLO
 

Name: Estelle D. Simsolo

Title:   Director – Private Placements

Exhibit 4.5

EXHIBIT 1

[FORM OF NOTE]

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT FOR ANY SUCH DISPOSITION (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

5.03% SENIOR NOTE DUE JUNE 14, 2014

 

No. [            ]    June 14, 2004                
PPN 67390# AB 9    [ $             ]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to [            ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [            ] DOLLARS on [            ], with interest (computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year of twelve (12) thirty (30) day months) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 5.03% per annum from the date hereof, payable semiannually in arrears, on the 14th day of June and December in each year, commencing with the December next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements referred to below), payable semiannually as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 7.03% or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank from time to time in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate.

Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at the principal office of the Company in Los Angeles, California or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements referred to below.

This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to separate Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of June 14, 2004 (as from time to time amended, the “Note Purchase Agreements”), between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its

 

Exh. 1-1


acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section XX of the Note Purchase Agreements and (ii) to have made the representation set forth in §6.02 of the Note Purchase Agreements.

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements, upon (a) surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and (b) delivery to the Company by the holder of this Note of the certificate in the form of Exhibit 13.02 to the Note Purchase Agreements confirming that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to any sale or other disposition of this Note, the holder of this Note is required to endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

The Company will make required prepayments of principal on the dates and in the amounts specified in the Note Purchase Agreements. This Note is also subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreements, but not otherwise.

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements, occurs, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreements.

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

 

Exh. 1-2

Exhibit 4.6

ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

This ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Assumption and Guaranty ”), dated as of May 25, 2007, is made by Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Guarantor ”), and Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, (together, the “ Co-Obligors ”) in favor of each of the holders of a Note (each “ Note Holder ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2004 (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated and in effect from time to time, the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”), between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Note Issuer ”) and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of the Note Issuer’s 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Note Issuer and Holders constituting the Required Holders have, through that certain Amendment and Waiver to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “ Amendment ”), agreed to amend certain provisions of, and waive certain provisions of or defaults under, the Note Purchase Agreement in order to permit and facilitate the Restructuring (as defined therein);

WHEREAS, the Amendment provides that the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall execute this Assumption and Guaranty;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Restructuring, the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall receive valuable consideration from the Note Issuer, including, without limitation, in the form of the transfer to them by the Note Issuer of certain business assets and the conferral upon them by the Note Issuer of continued use of the proceeds from the initial sale and issuance of the Notes as capital following the Restructuring;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein contained and set forth in the Amendment, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS.

§1.1 Co-Obligors’ Assumption .

The Co-Obligors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally assume the duty of due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes and agree to become jointly and severally liable with the Note Issuer for the due and punctual performance and payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) and at all times thereafter by the Note Issuer of all obligations contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes (collectively, the “ Obligations ”).

 

1


§1.2 Joint and Several Liability .

The Co-Obligors and the Note Issuer (collectively, the “ Obligors ”) agree that they are jointly and severally liable to the Note Holders for the performance and payment in full when due of all of the Obligations, and that such liability is independent of the obligations of each other Obligor. Each obligation, promise, covenant, representation and warranty in the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes shall be deemed to have been made by, and be binding upon, each Obligor. The Note Holders may bring an action against any Obligor without regard to whether an action is brought against any other Obligor.

§1.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Obligations .

The obligations of the Co-Obligors shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance or payment in full of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations with respect to the Note Issuer, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations as against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, or this Assumption and Guaranty, by any waiver or modification of any provision thereof or hereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations by the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Co-Obligors or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Co-Obligors as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations).

§1.4 Defenses of Note Issuer Waived .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Co-Obligors waive any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Note Issuer or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof as against the Note Issuer from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Note Issuer, other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations. The Co-Obligors hereby acknowledge that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Note Issuer or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Note Issuer, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Co-Obligors hereunder except to the extent that the Obligations have been performed and paid in full.

§1.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Co-Obligors by virtue hereof, upon the

 

2


failure of the Note Issuer to perform or pay any Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Co-Obligors hereby promise to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unperformed or unpaid Obligations. Upon performance or payment by any Co-Obligor of any of the Obligations as provided above, all rights of such Co-Obligor against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all of the Obligations.

SECTION 2. GUARANTY OF OBLIGATIONS.

§2.1 Guaranty .

The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise and at all times thereafter) and performance by the Obligors of all obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, and this Assumption and Guaranty (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon this Assumption and Guaranty notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

§2.2 Guaranty of Payment .

The Guarantor agrees that this Assumption and Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment and performance when due of all Guaranteed Obligations and not of collection and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, waives any right to require that any resort be had by the holder of any Note to any remedies it may have against the Obligors.

§2.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Guaranty .

The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, this Assumption and Guaranty or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or by any other act or

 

3


omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations).

§2.4 Defenses of Obligors Waived .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Obligors or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof as against the Obligors from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Obligors, other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Obligors or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Obligors, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Guarantor hereunder except to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations have been performed or paid in full.

§2.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Obligors to perform or pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unpaid Guaranteed Obligations. Upon performance or payment by the Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations as provided above, all rights of the Guarantor against the Obligors arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 3. OTHER PROVISIONS.

§3.1 Effectiveness .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall become effective upon the transfer of assets by OCM as part of the Restructuring and is expressly conditioned upon the effectiveness thereof.

§3.2 Termination .

This Assumption and Guaranty (a) shall terminate when (i) the Note Purchase Agreements, the Other Agreements and the Notes have been terminated or (ii) all of the Obligations and Guaranteed Obligations have been performed and paid in full or otherwise satisfied, and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time performance or payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation or Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Note Issuer, the

 

4


Co-Obligors, or the Guarantor upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any of them or otherwise.

§3.3 Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and other agreements made by the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor for the benefit of the Note Holders in this Assumption and Guaranty shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement) whether so expressed or not.

§3.4 Waivers; Amendment .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Guarantor, the Co-Obligors and the Required Holders.

§3.5 Severability .

Any provision of this Assumption and Guaranty that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

§3.6 Counterparts .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

§3.7 Governing Law .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

[The remainder of this page is left intentionally blank]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor have duly executed and delivered this Assumption and Guarantee Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.

By: OCM Holdings I, LLC, its General Partner

By: Oaktree Holdings, LLC, its Managing Member

By: Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, its Managing Member

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ            
 

Name: Todd Molz

Title:   Senior Vice President and Secretary

By:   / S / L ISA A RAKAKI            
 

Name: Lisa Arakaki

Title:   Vice President and Assistant Secretary

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.

By: Oaktree Holdings, Inc., its General Partner

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ            
 

Name: Todd Molz

Title:   Vice President and Secretary

By:   / S / L ISA A RAKAKI            
 

Name: Lisa Arakaki

Title:   Vice President and Assistant Secretary

OAKTREE MEDIA INVESTMENTS, L.P.

By: Oaktree Media Holdings, Inc., its General Partner

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ            
 

Name: Todd Molz

Title:   Vice President and Secretary

By:   / S / L ISA A RAKAKI            
 

Name: Lisa Arakaki

Title:   Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

Exhibit 4.7

E XECUTION C OPY

 

 

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

$50,000,000 IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

OF

6.09% SENIOR NOTES DUE JUNE 6, 2016

 

 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of June 6, 2006

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

SECTION I. AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES

     1   

SECTION II. SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES

     2   

SECTION III. CLOSING

     2   

SECTION IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     3   

§4.01. Representations and Warranties

     3   

§4.02. Performance; No Default

     3   

§4.03. Officer’s Certificate

     3   

§4.04. Opinions of Counsel

     3   

§4.05. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc.

     3   

§4.06. Sale of Other Notes

     3   

§4.07. Payment of Special Counsel Fees

     3   

§4.08. Private Placement Number

     4   

§4.09. Changes in Company Structure

     4   

§4.10. Consents of Holders of Other Securities

     4   

§4.11. Funding Instructions

     4   

§4.12. Proceedings, Instruments, etc.

     4   

§4.13. Amendment and Waiver to the Credit Agreement

     4   

SECTION V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     4   

§5.01. Members of the Company

     5   

§5.02. Organization; Power and Authority

     5   

§5.03. Authorization, etc.

     5   

§5.04. Operating Agreements and Other Information

     5   

§5.05. Disclosure

     5   

§5.06. Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates

     6   

§5.07. Financial Statements

     6   

§5.08. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.

     7   

§5.09. Governmental Authorizations, etc.

     7   

§5.10. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders

     7   

§5.11. Taxes

     7   

§5.12. Title to Property; Leases

     8   

§5.13. Licenses, Permits, etc.

     8   

§5.14. Compliance with ERISA

     8   

§5.15. Private Offering by the Company

     9   

§5.16. Solvency

     9   

§5.17. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations

     9   

§5.18. Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens

     10   

§5.19. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc.

     10   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

§5.20. Status under Certain Statutes

     10   

§5.21. Environmental Matters

     10   

§5.22. Ranking of Obligations

     11   

SECTION VI. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER

     11   

§6.01. Purchase for Investment

     11   

§6.02. ERISA Representations

     11   

SECTION VII. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY

     13   

§7.01. Financial and Business Information

     13   

§7.02. Officer’s Certificate

     15   

§7.03. Inspection

     16   

SECTION VIII. PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES

     16   

§8.01. Maturity

     16   

§8.02. Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount

     16   

§8.03. Mandatory Offer to Prepay in Event of Change of Control

     17   

§8.04. Allocation of Partial Prepayments

     18   

§8.05. Maturity; Surrender, etc.

     18   

§8.06. Purchase of Notes

     19   

§8.07. Make-Whole Amount

     19   

SECTION IX. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     20   

§9.01. Compliance with Law

     20   

§9.02. Insurance

     20   

§9.03. Maintenance of Properties

     20   

§9.04. Payment of Taxes and Claims

     21   

§9.05. Legal Existence, etc.

     21   

§9.06. Priority Obligations

     21   

SECTION X. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     21   

§10.01 Transactions with Affiliates

     21   

§10.02 Merger, Consolidation, etc.; Business

     21   

§10.03 Indebtedness

     22   

§10.04 Liens

     23   

§10.05 Restricted Payments

     25   

§10.06 Financial Condition Covenants

     25   

§10.07 Restrictions on Dividends

     25   

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     25   

SECTION XII. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

     27   

§12.01 Acceleration

     27   

§12.02 Other Remedies

     27   

§12.03 Rescission

     28   

§12.04 No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.

     28   

SECTION XIII. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES

     28   

§13.01 Registration of Notes

     28   

§13.02 Transfer and Exchange of Notes

     28   

§13.03 Replacement of Notes

     29   

SECTION XIV. PAYMENTS ON NOTES

     29   

§14.01 Place of Payment

     29   

§14.02 Home Office Payment

     30   

SECTION XV. EXPENSES, ETC.

     30   

§15.01 Transaction Expenses

     30   

§15.02 Survival

     31   

SECTION XVI. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     31   

SECTION XVII. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     31   

§17.01 Requirements

     31   

§17.02 Solicitation of Holders of Notes

     31   

§17.03 Binding Effect, etc.

     32   

§17.04 Notes held by Company, etc.

     32   

SECTION XVIII. NOTICES

     32   

SECTION XIX. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

     33   

SECTION XX. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

     33   

SECTION XXI. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER

     34   

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION XXII. MISCELLANEOUS

     34   

§22.01 Successors and Assigns

     35   

§22.02 Payments Due on Non-Business Days

     35   

§22.03 Severability

     35   

§22.04 Construction

     35   

§22.05 Counterparts

     35   

§22.06 Governing Law

     35   

 

-iv-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Page

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

SCHEDULE A    —      Information Relating To Purchasers
SCHEDULE B    —      Defined Terms
SCHEDULE 4.09    —      Changes in Company Structure
SCHEDULE 5.01    —      Members of the Company
SCHEDULE 5.05    —      Disclosure Materials
SCHEDULE 5.06    —      Subsidiaries of the Company and Ownership of Subsidiary Equity
SCHEDULE 5.07    —      Financial Statements
SCHEDULE 5.10    —      Certain Litigation
SCHEDULE 5.13    —      Licenses, Permits, Patents, etc.
SCHEDULE 5.17    —      Use of Proceeds
SCHEDULE 5.18    —      Existing Indebtedness
SCHEDULE 8.03    —      Current Owners of the Company
EXHIBIT 1    —      Form of 6.09% Senior Note due June 6, 2016
EXHIBIT 4.04(a)    —      Form of Opinion of Special Counsel to the Company
EXHIBIT 4.04(b)    —      Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers
EXHIBIT 13.02    —      Form of Certificate Regarding Exemption From The Registration Requirements Of The Securities Act Of 1933, As Amended

 

-i-


OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue

28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Telephone: (213) 830-6300

Telecopier: (213) 830-6290

 

 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of June 6, 2006

To Each of the Purchasers Listed

In Schedule A Hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “ Company ”), hereby agrees with you as follows:

SECTION I. AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES .

The Company will authorize the issuance and sale of $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016 (the “ Notes ”, such term to include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section XIII of this Agreement or the Other Agreements (as hereinafter defined)). The Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 1, with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by you and the Company. Each Note shall bear interest from the date thereof until such Note shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof (whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) at the rate of 6.09% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on the 6th day of June and December in each year, commencing December 6, 2006, and shall have a stated maturity of June 6, 2016. Interest on each Note shall be computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year of twelve (12) thirty (30) day months. Each Note shall bear interest on any overdue principal, including any overdue payment or prepayment of principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest, at the rate specified in such Note. If the Company shall have paid or agreed to pay any interest or premium on any Note in excess of that permitted by law, then it is the express intent of the Company and the holder thereof that all excess amounts previously paid or to be paid by the Company be applied to reduce the principal balance of such Note, and the provisions thereof immediately be deemed reformed and the amounts thereafter collectable thereunder reduced,


without the necessity of the execution of any new document, so as to comply with the then applicable law, but so as to permit the recovery of the fullest amount otherwise called for thereunder. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B ; references to a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.

SECTION II. SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES .

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will issue and sell to you and you will purchase from the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section III, Notes in the principal amount specified opposite your name in Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof. Contemporaneously with entering into this Agreement, the Company is entering into separate Note Purchase Agreements (the “ Other Agreements ”) identical with this Agreement with each of the other purchasers named in Schedule A (the “ Other Purchasers ”), providing for the sale at such Closing to each of the Other Purchasers of Notes in the principal amount specified opposite its name in Schedule A . Your obligations hereunder and the obligations of the Other Purchasers pursuant to the Other Agreements are several and not joint and several obligations and you shall have no obligation under any Other Agreement and no liability to any Person for the performance or non-performance by any Other Purchaser thereunder.

SECTION III. CLOSING .

The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by you and the Other Purchasers shall occur at the offices of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10178, at 10:00 a.m., eastern standard time, at a closing (the “ Closing ”) on June 6, 2006 or on such other Business Day thereafter on or prior to June 30, 2006 as may be agreed upon by the Company and you and the Other Purchasers. At the Closing the Company will deliver to you the Notes to be purchased by you in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $100,000 as you may request) dated the date of the Closing and registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee), against delivery by you to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the Company to account number 4100-071372 at Wells Fargo Bank, Los Angeles, CA 90071, ABA No. 121 000 248, Account Name: Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, Attention: Wire Department, Reference: Senior Notes. If at the Closing (a) the Company shall fail to tender such Notes to you as provided above in this Section III, you shall, at your election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights you may have by reason of such failure or (b) any of the conditions specified in Section IV shall not have been fulfilled to your satisfaction, the transactions described herein shall not have been deemed to have closed and you shall be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement.

 

2


SECTION IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING .

Your obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to you at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to your satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

§4.01. Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement and in any certificate of the Company given in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

§4.02. Performance; No Default . The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated by Schedule 5.17 ) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited by §§10.01 through 10.05 hereof had such Sections applied since such date.

§4.03. Officer’s Certificate . The Company shall have delivered to you an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in §§4.01, 4.02 and 4.09 have been fulfilled.

§4.04. Opinions of Counsel . You shall have received opinions, dated the date of the Closing, from:

(a) Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, special counsel for the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 4.04(a) (and the Company hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinion to you), and

(b) Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, your special counsel in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.04(b) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as you may reasonably request.

§4.05. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc . On the date of the Closing, your purchase of Notes shall (i) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which you are subject, (ii) not violate any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and (iii) not subject you to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date hereof. If requested by you, you shall have received an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as you may reasonably specify to enable you to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

§4.06. Sale of Other Notes . Contemporaneously with the Closing the Company shall sell to the Other Purchasers and the Other Purchasers shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by them at the Closing as specified in Schedule A .

§4.07. Payment of Special Counsel Fees . Without limiting the provisions of §15.01, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the reasonable fees, charges and

 

3


disbursements of your special counsel referred to in §4.04(b) to the extent reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing; provided that the Company shall not be liable for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively).

§4.08. Private Placement Number . A Private Placement number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) shall have been obtained for the Notes.

§4.09. Changes in Company Structure . Except as specified in Schedule 4.09 , the Company shall not have changed its jurisdiction of organization or been a party to any merger or consolidation and shall not have succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.07 .

§4.10. Consents of Holders of Other Securities . On or prior to the date of the Closing, all consents or approvals required to be obtained from all holders of outstanding Indebtedness, Securities and other obligations of the Company that are necessary to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and all such consents and approvals shall be satisfactory in form and substance to you and your special counsel.

§4.11. Funding Instructions . At least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Closing, you shall have received written instructions executed by a Responsible Officer on letterhead of the Company directing the manner of the payment of the purchase price for the Notes and setting forth (i) the name and address of the transferee bank, (ii) such transferee bank’s ABA number, (iii) the account name and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to be deposited, and (iv) the name and telephone number of the account representative responsible for verifying receipt of such funds.

§4.12. Proceedings, Instruments, etc . All proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to you and your special counsel, and you and your special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as you or it may reasonably request.

§4.13. Amendment and Waiver to the Credit Agreement . The Fifth Amendment and Waiver to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, shall have been duly executed by the parties thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory to you and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of such parties, enforceable against each of such parties in accordance with its terms.

SECTION V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY .

The Company represents and warrants to you that:

 

4


§5.01. Members of the Company . Schedule 5.01 lists all of the members of the Company together with their respective percentage equity interests in the Company.

§5.02. Organization; Power and Authority . The Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California, and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has the limited liability company power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Other Agreements and the Notes and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

§5.03. Authorization, etc . This Agreement and the Other Agreements and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

§5.04. Operating Agreements and Other Information . The Company has furnished to you and your special counsel true, correct and complete copies of its operating agreement and any required resolutions of its members authorizing the execution, delivery and acceptance of this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes.

§5.05. Disclosure . The Company, through its agents, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and HSBC Securities Inc., has delivered to you and each Other Purchaser a copy of a Private Placement Memorandum, dated April 4, 2006 (the “ Memorandum ”), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.05 , this Agreement, the Memorandum, the documents, certificates or other writings identified in Schedule 5.05 delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.07 , taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Except as disclosed in the Memorandum or as expressly described in Schedule 5.05 , or in one of the documents, certificates or other writings identified therein, or in the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.07 , since December 31, 2005, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Company that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Memorandum or in the other documents, certificates and other

 

5


writings delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company specifically for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

§5.06. Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates .

(a) Schedule 5.06 contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists (i) of the Company’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization, and the percentage of shares of each class of its Capital Stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary, (ii) of the Company’s Affiliates, other than Subsidiaries, and (iii) of the Company’s principals and senior officers.

(b) All of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of each Subsidiary shown in Schedule 5.06 as being owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of any Lien (except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.06 ).

(c) Each Subsidiary identified in Schedule 5.06 is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such Subsidiary has the power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease and to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact.

(d) No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any legal, regulatory, contractual or other restriction (other than this Agreement, the Other Agreements, the agreements listed on Schedule 5.06 and customary limitations imposed by corporate, limited liability company, partnership and other entity statutes and regulations) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

§5.07. Financial Statements . The Company has delivered to each Purchaser copies of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.07 . All of said financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and notes) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates specified therein and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments). The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any non-contingent Material liabilities required by GAAP to be disclosed in such financial statements that are not disclosed on such financial statements or Schedule 5.07 or otherwise disclosed by the Company in writing to you and the Other Purchasers.

 

6


§5.08. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, operating agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

§5.09. Governmental Authorizations, etc . Based upon the representations and warranties of the Purchaser and the Other Purchasers, no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Notes, other than filings made pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act or similar filings or notices under state securities laws.

§5.10. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders .

(a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.10 , there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any property of the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Authority, which default or violation, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§5.11. Taxes . The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount, applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and with respect to which the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves to the extent required by GAAP. The Company knows of no basis for any other tax or assessment not reflected on the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in §5.07 that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of Federal, state or other taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate in accordance with GAAP. The Federal income tax returns of the

 

7


Company and its Subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service or the statute of limitations relating to such returns (or their underlying liabilities) has expired, and all liabilities for taxes shown thereon to be due have been paid, for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.

§5.12. Title to Property; Leases . The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in §5.07 or purported to have been acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement. All leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects.

§5.13. Licenses, Permits, etc. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.13:

(a) the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others;

(b) to the best knowledge of the Company, no product of the Company infringes in any material respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned by any other Person; and

(c) to the best knowledge of the Company, there is no Material violation by any Person of any right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any patent, copyright, proprietary software, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

§5.14. Compliance with ERISA .

(a) The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions or to Section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the Code, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.

(b) The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Plans (other than Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan’s most recently ended plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the

 

8


assets of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “ benefit liabilities ” has the meaning specified in Section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “ current value ” and “ present value ” have the meaning specified in Section 3 of ERISA.

(c) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

(d) The expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by Section 4980B of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not Material.

(e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes hereunder will not constitute or result in any non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or any transaction in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The representation by the Company in the first sentence of this §5.14(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of your representation in §6.02 as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you.

§5.15. Private Offering by the Company . Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Notes (or within 24 months of the Closing, any similar securities) for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other than you, the Other Purchasers and not more than ten (10) other Institutional Investors , each of which has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or blue sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

§5.16. Solvency . The Company is not and, immediately after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not be, insolvent as defined under any applicable federal or state law.

§5.17. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations . The Company will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Notes as set forth in Schedule 5.17 . No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR Part 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR Part 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR Part 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than 10% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 10% of the value of such assets. As

 

9


used in this Section, the terms “ margin stock ” and “ purpose of buying or carrying ” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

§5.18. Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens .

(a) Except as described therein, Schedule 5.18 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by §10.04.

§5.19. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc . Neither the sale of the Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) is or will become a Person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) or (b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such Person. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all Material respects, with the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA Patriot Act of 2001).

No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United Stated Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Company.

§5.20. Status under Certain Statutes . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, the ICC Termination Act of 1995, as amended, or the Federal Power Act, as amended.

§5.21. Environmental Matters . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any claim or has received any notice of any claim, and no proceeding has been instituted raising any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective real

 

10


properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or other assets, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any Environmental Laws, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed to you in writing:

(a) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any facts which would give rise to any claim, public or private, of violation of Environmental Laws or damage to the environment emanating from, occurring on or in any way related to real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or to other assets or their use, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has stored any Hazardous Materials on real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them and has not disposed of any Hazardous Materials in a manner contrary to any Environmental Laws in each case in any manner that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) all buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

§5.22. Ranking of Obligations . The Company’s obligations pursuant to the Notes and this Agreement will, upon issuance of the Notes, rank at least pari passu , without preference or priority, with all of its other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness.

SECTION VI. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER .

§6.01. Purchase for Investment . You represent that you are purchasing the Notes for your own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by you or for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of your or their property shall at all times be within your or their control. You understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Notes.

§6.02. ERISA Representations . You represent that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “ Source ”) to be used by you to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you hereunder:

(a) the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption ( “PTE” ) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC Annual Statement” )) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the

 

11


same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile; or

(b) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

(c) the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1, or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or

(d) the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (as defined in Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption” ) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (as defined in Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (as defined in Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Section I(a) through (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (d); or

(e) the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption” )) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (e); or

(f) the Source is a governmental plan; or

(g) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (g); or

 

12


(h) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

As used in this §6.02, the terms “ employee benefit plan ”, “ governmental plan ”, “ party in interest ” and “ separate account ” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

SECTION VII. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY .

§7.01. Financial and Business Information . The Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

(a) Quarterly Statements — within:

(x) forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; and

(y) sixty (60) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied,

in the cases of clauses (x) and (y), applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial

 

13


position of the companies being reported on and their operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments;

(b) Annual Statements — within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such year,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied and GAAP consistently applied, and accompanied (A) by an opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied and GAAP consistently applied, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances, and (B) a certificate of such accountants stating that they have reviewed this Agreement and stating further whether, in making their audit, they have become aware, without making any independent investigation, of any condition or event that then constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, and, if they are aware that any such condition or event then exists, specifying the nature and period of the existence thereof (it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for any failure to obtain knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless such accountants should have obtained knowledge thereof in making an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or did not make such an audit);

(c) Notice of Default or Event of Default — promptly, and in any event within five (5) days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in §11(f), a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(d) ERISA Matters — promptly, and in any event within five (5) days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of any of the following, a written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any, that the Company or an ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto:

 

14


(i) with respect to any Plan, any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043(b) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, for which notice thereof has not been waived pursuant to such regulations as in effect on the date hereof; or

(ii) the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan that such action has been taken by the PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan; or

(iii) any event, transaction or condition that could result in the incurrence of any liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or such penalty or excise tax provisions, if such liability or Lien, taken together with any other such liabilities or Liens then existing, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e) Notices from Governmental Authority — promptly, and in any event within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof, copies of any notice to the Company or any Subsidiary from any Federal or state Governmental Authority relating to any order, ruling, statute or other law or regulation that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) Information Required by Rule 144A — promptly upon the request of the holder of any Note, such financial and other information as such holder may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with a resale of the Notes, except at such times as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

(g) Requested Information — with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Notes as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.

§7.02. Officer’s Certificate . Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant to §7.01(a) or §7.01(b) hereof shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth:

(a) Covenant Compliance — the information (including detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of §§ 10.03, 10.04 and 10.06 hereof during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and

 

15


(b) Event of Default — a statement that such officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made, under his or her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished to the date of the certificate and that such review did not disclose the existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists (including, without limitation, any such event or condition resulting from the failure of the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company shall have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.

§7.03. Inspection . The Company shall permit the representatives of each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

(a) No Default — if no Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of such holder and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to visit the principal executive office of the Company, to meet to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with the Company’s officers, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) its independent public accountants, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) to visit the other offices and properties of the Company and each Subsidiary, all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested in writing; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to hold such visit or meeting with any holder more than once every twelve (12) months and that the Company shall notify other holders of Notes of such request for a meeting or visit by any holder; and

(b) Default — if a Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of the Company to visit and inspect any of the offices or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, to examine all their respective books of account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries), all at such times and as often as may be requested.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Institutional Investor (other than an original purchaser of a Note) that is a Competitor of the Company will not have the inspection rights contained in this §7.03 unless and until the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default.

SECTION VIII. PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES .

§8.01. Maturity . As provided therein, the entire unpaid principal balance of the Notes shall be due and payable on the stated maturity date thereof.

§8.02. Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount . The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes at a price equal to the outstanding principal balance thereof plus the Make-Whole Amount, together with interest accrued through the date of prepayment. The Company will give

 

16


each holder of Notes written notice of each optional prepayment under this §8.02 not less than thirty (30) days (and not more than sixty (60) days) prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with §8.04), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two (2) Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified prepayment date. Except as explicitly provided in §§8.02 and 8.03, the Company may not prepay all, or any part of, the Notes.

§8.03. Mandatory Offer to Prepay in Event of Change of Control .

(a) In the event of the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall deliver to each holder of a Note a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay pursuant to §8.03(b). Any prepayment of Notes pursuant to this §8.03 shall be made at a prepayment price equal to the principal amount of Notes to be prepaid, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment, plus a premium equal to the Make-Whole Amount, provided, however, that no Make-Whole Amount shall be applicable in respect of such prepayment in the event that such Change of Control results from the occurrence of an event specified in clause (ii) of §8.03(e) unless the event specified in clause (i) of §8.03(e) also has occurred.

(b) Not later than thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to a Change of Control, the Company shall give written notice to each holder of a Note that the Company anticipates a Change of Control and of such holder’s right to elect to be prepaid hereunder arising as a result thereof (a “ §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay ”). Such §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay shall state: (i) that such notice is delivered pursuant to this §8.03(b); (ii) the proposed date of and a description of the circumstances surrounding such Change of Control; (iii) the date by which a holder must deliver a §8.03(c) Response pursuant to §8.03(c) hereof in order to accept prepayment; and (iv) the date on which the Company expects to prepay the Notes pursuant to §8.03(c), which prepayment date shall be the date of the occurrence of a Change of Control (the “ §8.03 Special Prepayment Date ”). No failure by the Company to deliver a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay to any holder shall limit such holder’s right to exercise such election and require the Company to effect such prepayment within a reasonable time period after such holder becomes aware of such Change of Control.

(c) To accept prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 of the Notes held by it, a holder shall deliver to the Company such holder’s notice that it accepts prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 with respect to the Notes held by it and designated therein (a “ §8.03(c) Response ”). Such §8.03(c) Response shall be delivered to the Company on or before the tenth (10th) day prior to the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date. The §8.03(c) Response shall set forth the name of such holder and the statement that it accepts prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 with respect to the Notes designated therein. Promptly and in any event within three (3) Business Days after receipt of a holder’s §8.03(c) Response, the Company shall, by written notice to such holder of a

 

17


Note, acknowledge receipt thereof. If the Company has delivered a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay to each holder and on or prior to the fifteenth (15th) day prior to the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date, the Company shall not have received a §8.03(c) Response from a holder (or shall have received a §8.03(c) Response with respect to some but not all the Notes held by such holder), the Company shall promptly, but in any case within one (1) Business Day after the commencement of such fifteen (15) day period, deliver written notice to such holder that all of the Notes held by such holder (or all of the Notes held by such holder with respect to which such holder shall not have declined prepayment in such holder’s §8.03(c) Response) may be prepaid pursuant to this §8.03 on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date. A failure by a holder to respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this §8.03 shall be deemed to constitute an acceptance of such offer by such holder.

(d) The obligation of the Company to prepay Notes pursuant to the offers required by §8.03(b) and their acceptance in accordance with §8.03(c) is subject to the occurrence of the Change of Control in respect of which such offers and acceptances shall have been made. In the event that such Change of Control does not occur on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date in respect thereof, the prepayment shall be deferred until, and shall be made on, the date on which such Change of Control occurs. The Company shall keep each holder reasonably and timely informed of (i) any such deferral of the date of prepayment, (ii) the date on which such Change of Control and the prepayment are expected to occur, and (iii) any determination by the Company that efforts to effect such Change of Control have ceased or been abandoned (in which case the offers and acceptances made pursuant to this §8.03 in respect of such Change of Control shall be deemed rescinded). In the event that such Change of Control does not occur on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter, the Company shall not permit any Change of Control to occur unless it delivers a new §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay and otherwise complies anew with the provisions of this §8.03.

(e) For the purposes of this §8.03, a “Change of Control” shall mean (i) any event whereby any Person or Persons that would be considered a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, the regulations promulgated thereunder or Schedule 13D promulgated by the Commission (or any successor section, regulation or form), other than any Persons listed on Schedule 8.03 and any other officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries admitted as a member of the Company hereafter in the ordinary course of business, shall in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, control or own (beneficially or otherwise) more than 35% of the aggregate Capital Stock of the Company, or (ii) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Company by any Person or Persons (other than any of the Key Principals).

§8.04. Allocation of Partial Prepayments . In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes, the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

§8.05. Maturity; Surrender, etc . In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section VIII, the principal amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the

 

18


interest and the applicable Make-Whole Amount as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall, upon written request therefor by the Company, be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note without the consent of the holder of the Note to whom such amount is payable.

§8.06. Purchase of Notes . The Company will not, and will not permit any Affiliate to, purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes. The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment, prepayment or purchase of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

§8.07. Make-Whole Amount . The term “ Make-Whole Amount ” means, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

Called Principal ” means, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to §8.02 or §8.03 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to §12.01, as the context requires.

Discounted Value ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

Reinvestment Yield ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield generated by (a) linearly interpolating the yields by Bloomberg Financial Market Services, as of 10:00 a.m., eastern standard time, on the second (2nd) Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” (or such other display as may replace Page PX1) for the most actively traded (also known as “on the run”) U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity between (1) the most actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than the Remaining Average Life and (2) the most actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life, or (b) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second (2nd) Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in U.S. Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of the Settlement Date. The

 

19


Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the coupon of the applicable Note.

Remaining Average Life ” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

Remaining Scheduled Payments ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Notes, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to §8.02, §8.03 or §12.01.

Settlement Date ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to §8.02 or §8.03 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to §12.01, as the context requires.

SECTION IX. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS .

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

§9.01. Compliance with Law . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, and will obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.02. Insurance . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles, co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.

§9.03. Maintenance of Properties . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times,

 

20


provided that this §9.03 shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Company has concluded that such discontinuance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.04. Payment of Taxes and Claims . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, file all tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax or assessment or claims if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Company or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and by appropriate actions, and the Company or a Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor to the extent required by GAAP on the books of the Company or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes and assessments in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.05. Legal Existence, etc . Subject to §10.02, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its limited liability company existence. Subject to §10.02, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the legal existence of each of its Subsidiaries (unless merged into the Company or a Subsidiary) and all rights and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, right or franchise could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.06. Priority Obligations . The Company will ensure that its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Notes will at all times rank at least pari passu , without preference or priority, with all of the outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Company.

SECTION X. NEGATIVE COVENANTS .

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

§10.01. Transactions with Affiliates . The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into, directly or indirectly, any transaction or group of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (other than the Company or another Subsidiary), except in the ordinary course and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

§10.02. Merger, Consolidation, etc.; Business

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consolidate with or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially

 

21


all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person (except that a Subsidiary may consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company), unless:

(i) the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as an entirety, as the case may be (the “ Successor ”), shall be a solvent Person (other than a Governmental Authority) organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and, if the Company is consolidating or merging with another Person (or is conveying, transferring or leasing its assets to another Person) and the Company is not the Successor, (A) such Person shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes (pursuant to such agreements and instruments as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders) and (B) the Company shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel, or other independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; and

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

No such conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall have the effect of releasing the Company or any successor thereto that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this §10.02 from its liability under this Agreement or the Notes.

(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

§10.03. Indebtedness . The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness other than:

(a) Indebtedness existing as of the Closing and set forth in Schedule 5.18 ;

(b) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary owed to the Company or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

(c) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary in addition to Indebtedness otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this §10.03, provided that on the date that such Subsidiary incurs or otherwise becomes liable with respect to such Indebtedness and immediately after giving effect thereto, (i) no Default or Event of Default exists, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness in respect of all Subsidiaries plus (without duplication) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens permitted under clause (j) of §10.04 does not exceed 10% of the

 

22


Consolidated Total Assets of the Company (calculated as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter);

(d) Indebtedness renewing, extending or refunding any Indebtedness permitted by §10.03(a), provided that (i) the terms and conditions of such renewal, extension or refund, taken as a whole, are not materially more burdensome than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended or refunded, (ii) such renewal, extension or refund does not increase the principal amount of the Indebtedness so renewed, extended or refunded and (iii) immediately after such renewal, extension or refund, no Default or Event of Default shall exist; and

(e) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary constituting a contingent obligation of such Subsidiary as the general partner or, to the extent of its capital contribution, a limited partner, of any limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether now existing or newly created, in respect of any Indebtedness of such fund, for so long as such Indebtedness remains a contingent obligation and not a primary obligation of such Subsidiary.

§10.04. Liens . The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect thereof, except:

(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges which are not yet due and payable or the payment of which is not at the time required by §5.11;

(b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (i) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or retirement benefits, or (ii) to secure (or to obtain letters of credit that secure) the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety bonds, appeal bonds, bids, leases (other than Capital Leases), performance bonds, purchase, construction or sales contracts and other similar obligations, in each case not incurred or made in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property;

(d) leases or subleases granted to others, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances, in each case incidental to, and not interfering with, the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that such Liens do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of such property;

(e) any attachment or judgment Lien, unless the judgment it secures shall not, within sixty (60) days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged within sixty (60) days after the expiration of any such stay;

 

23


(f) Liens existing on the date of the Closing and securing the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries referred to in Schedule 5.18 ;

(g) any Lien existing on property of a Person immediately prior to its being consolidated with or merged into the Company or a Subsidiary or its becoming a Subsidiary, or any Lien existing on any property acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary at the time such property is so acquired (whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed), provided that (i) no such Lien shall have been created or assumed in contemplation of such consolidation or merger or such Person’s becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition of property, and (ii) each such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of property so acquired and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating such Lien, other property which is an improvement to or is acquired for specific use in connection with such acquired property;

(h) any Lien created to secure all or any part of the purchase price, or to secure Indebtedness incurred or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction of property (or any improvement thereon) acquired or constructed by the Company or a Subsidiary after the date of the Closing, provided that (i) any such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of such property (or improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed, (ii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the cost to the Company or such Subsidiary of the property (or improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed and (B) the Fair Market Value of such property (or improvement thereon) at the time of such acquisition or construction, and (iii) any such Lien shall be created contemporaneously with, or within one hundred eighty (180) days after, the acquisition or construction of such property;

(i) any Lien renewing, extending or refunding any Lien permitted by this §10.04(f), (g) or (h), provided that (i) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien immediately prior to such extension, renewal or refunding is not increased or the maturity thereof reduced, (ii) such Lien is not extended to any other property, and (iii) immediately after such extension, renewal or refunding no Default or Event of Default would exist;

(j) in the case of a Subsidiary which serves as the general partner of a limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, any Lien on (x) such Subsidiary’s right as a general partner of such limited partnership fund relating to the capital commitments of the limited partners in such limited partnership fund and all rights of such Subsidiary in respect thereof, including, without limitation, the right to call and receive such capital contributions and compel and enforce payment thereof, and (y) such Subsidiary’s interests and rights as a general partner of any special purpose vehicle owned by such limited partnership fund, provided that such Subsidiary’s right to receive distributions, including, without limitation, any incentive allocation, from such special purpose vehicle is not Material and arises from de minimis capital contributions in special purpose vehicles which are required pursuant to the laws of any jurisdiction in which such special purpose vehicles are organized; and

(k) other Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (j), provided that the aggregate Indebtedness secured by such Liens plus (without duplication) the aggregate

 

24


principal amount of Indebtedness of each Subsidiary of the Company outstanding pursuant to §10.03(c), shall not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Company (calculated as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter).

§10.05. Restricted Payments . The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or incur any liability to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a) that so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Company and its Subsidiaries may (i) declare and pay dividends with respect to their respective Capital Stock payable solely in additional shares of their respective Capital Stock, (ii) declare and pay dividends or make distributions in cash solely to their respective members, stockholders, and other equityholders, or declare and pay dividends to be used solely for making payments with respect to the Notes and (iii) repurchase Capital Stock from its equityholders, and (b) the Company may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans or arrangements for management or employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

§10.06. Financial Condition Covenants .

(a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio . The Company will not permit at any time the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0.

(b) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . The Company will not permit at any time the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense to be equal to or less than 4.0 to 1.0.

(c) Consolidated Members’ Capital . The Company will not permit the Consolidated Members’ Capital at the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than $40,000,000.

(d) Assets Under Management . The Company will not permit the Assets Under Management at any time to be less than $20,000,000,000.

§10.07. Restrictions on Dividends . The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to enter into any agreement, instrument or other document (other than this Agreement, the Other Agreements, and the agreements listed on Schedule 5.06 ) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

SECTION XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT .

An “ Event of Default ” shall exist if any of the following conditions or events shall occur:

(a) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise;

 

25


(b) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable;

(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in §7.01(c) or §10.02(a);

(d) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein (other than those referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section XI) and such default is not remedied within thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer obtaining actual knowledge of such default and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such default from any holder of a Note;

(e) any representation or warranty made in writing by or on behalf of the Company or by any officer of the Company or in any writing furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement proves to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on the date as of which made;

(f) the Company or any Subsidiary shall, in respect of any of its Indebtedness which is outstanding in a principal amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least $5,000,000 (excluding the Notes) (i) fail to make any payment (principal, interest, premium or make-whole amount) when due, whether at maturity, at a date fixed for prepayment, upon acceleration or otherwise after any applicable grace period, or (ii) default in the performance or observance of any other provision contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness or pursuant to which such Indebtedness was issued or incurred (which default shall not have been waived), if the effect of such default (or the existence of any condition) is to cause or permit the holder of such Indebtedness or a trustee or agent thereof to cause such Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable prior to its scheduled maturity;

(g) the Company or any Subsidiary (i) is generally not paying, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iv) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, (v) is adjudicated as insolvent or to be liquidated, or (vi) takes corporate action for the purpose of any of the foregoing, other than a liquidation of a Subsidiary which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(h) a court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Company or any Subsidiary on behalf of itself, a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any such petition shall be filed against the Company or any Subsidiary and such petition shall not be dismissed within sixty (60) days;

 

26


(i) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $5,000,000 which is not covered by an insurance provider or a third party that has agreed to pay indemnification are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which insurance provider or third party is solvent both before and after such payment, and which judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; or

(j) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION XII. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

§12.01. Acceleration .

(a) If an Event of Default with respect to the Company described in Section XI(g) or (h) (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) of Section XI(g) or described in clause (vi) of Section XI(g) by virtue of the fact that such clause encompasses clause (i) of Section XI(g)) has occurred, all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable.

(b) If any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of more than 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may at any time at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.

(c) If any Event of Default described in Section XI(a) or (b) has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of Notes at the time outstanding affected by such Event of Default may at any time, at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes held by it or them to be immediately due and payable.

Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under this §12.01, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, but not limited to, interest accrued thereon from the date of the Default giving rise to such Event of Default at the Default Rate) and (y) the Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived. The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Company in the event that the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default, is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.

§12.02. Other Remedies . If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared

 

27


immediately due and payable under §12.01, the holder of any Note at the time outstanding may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

§12.03. Rescission . At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of §12.01, the holders of not less than 51% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid all overdue interest on the Notes, all principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Notes that are due and payable and are unpaid other than by reason of such declaration, and all interest on such overdue principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any overdue interest in respect of the Notes, at the Default Rate, (b) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section XVII, and (c) no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes. No rescission and annulment under this §12.03 will extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

§12.04. No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc . No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. Without limiting the obligations of the Company under Section XV, the Company will pay to the holder of each Note on demand such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all costs and expenses of such holder incurred in any enforcement or collection under this Section XII, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses and disbursements.

SECTION XIII. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES .

§13.01. Registration of Notes . The Company shall keep at its principal executive office a register for the registration and registration of transfers of Notes. The name and address of each holder of one or more Notes, each transfer thereof and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such register. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Company shall give to any holder of a Note that is an Institutional Investor promptly upon request therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.

§13.02. Transfer and Exchange of Notes . Upon surrender of any Note at the principal executive office of the Company for registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered holder of such Note or his attorney duly authorized in

 

28


writing and accompanied by the address for notices of each transferee of such Note or part thereof) and upon receipt of any other documents or information required by this Agreement or the Note, the Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder thereof) in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may request and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 . Each such new Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such transfer of Notes. Notes shall not be transferred in denominations of less than $100,000, provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes, one Note may be in a denomination of less than $100,000. Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have made the representation set forth in §6.02. Prior to the consummation of any transfer of any Note, the holder of such Note will deliver to the Company a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 13.02 confirming that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

§13.03. Replacement of Notes . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which evidence shall be, in the case of an Institutional Investor, notice from such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation), and

(a) in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it ( provided that if the holder of such Note is, or is a nominee for, an original Purchaser or another holder of a Note with a minimum net worth of at least $250,000,000, such Person’s own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be satisfactory), or

(b) in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation thereof,

the Company at its own expense, as soon as practicable thereafter, shall execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Note, dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

SECTION XIV. PAYMENTS ON NOTES .

§14.01. Place of Payment . Subject to §14.02, payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in Los Angeles, California, at the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction. The Company may at any time, by notice to each holder of a Note, change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment shall be either the principal office of the Company in the United States or the principal office of a bank or trust company in the United States.

 

29


§14.02. Home Office Payment . So long as you or your nominee shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in §14.01 or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due, including payment at maturity, on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below your name in Schedule A, or by such other method or at such other address as you shall have from time to time specified to the Company in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of any Note, you shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal executive office or at the place of payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to §14.01. Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by you or your nominee, you will, at your election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to §13.02. The Company will afford the benefits of this §14.02 to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by you under this Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as you have made in this §14.02.

SECTION XV. EXPENSES, ETC.

§15.01. Transaction Expenses . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company will pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of a special counsel and, if reasonably required, local or other counsel) incurred by you and each Other Purchaser or holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement or the Notes (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including, without limitation: (a) the reasonable costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement or the Notes or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or the Notes, or by reason of being a holder of any Note, and (b) the reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Notes; provided that, (x) with respect to attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements payable by the Company pursuant to this §15.01, the Company shall not be obligated to pay for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively) and, to the extent that local or other counsel is reasonably required, the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of no more than one firm of such local or other counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively), and (y) with respect to financial advisors’ fees payable by the Company pursuant to this §15.01, the Company shall not be obligated to pay for financial advisors’ fees and related costs and expenses of more than one firm of financial advisors (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively). The Company will pay, and will hold

 

30


you and each other holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses if any, of brokers and finders (other than those retained by you).

§15.02. Survival . The obligations of the Company under this Section XV will survive the payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, and the termination of this Agreement.

SECTION XVI. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT .

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the purchase or transfer by you of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of you or any other holder of a Note. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION XVII. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER .

§17.01. Requirements . This Agreement and the Notes may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof or of the Notes may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section I, II, III, IV, V, VI or XXI hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be effective as to you unless consented to by you in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section XII relating to acceleration or rescission, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of interest or of the Make-Whole Amount on, the Notes, (ii) change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (iii) amend any of Sections VIII, XI(a), XI(b), XII, XVII or XX.

§17.02. Solicitation of Holders of Notes .

(a) Solicitation . The Company will provide each registered holder of the Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section XVII to each registered holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the date

 

31


on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

(b) Payment . The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security, to any holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes or any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.

§17.03. Binding Effect, etc . Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section XVII applies equally to all holders of Notes and is binding upon them and upon each future holder of any Note and upon the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein, the term “ this Agreement ” and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

§17.04. Notes held by Company, etc . Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

SECTION XVIII. NOTICES .

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

(i) if to you or your nominee, to you or it at the address specified for such communications in Schedule A , or at such other address as you or it shall have specified to the Company in writing,

(ii) if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or

(iii) if to the Company, to the Company at its address set forth at the beginning hereof to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to the General Counsel, or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.

 

32


Notices under this Section XVIII will be deemed given only when actually received.

SECTION XIX. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS .

This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by you at the Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to you, may be reproduced by you by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other similar process and you may destroy any original document so reproduced. The Company agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by you in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section XIX shall not prohibit the Company or any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction.

SECTION XX. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION .

For the purposes of this Section XX, “ Confidential Information ” means information delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to §7.01 and §7.03) that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by you as being confidential information of the Company, such Subsidiary or any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as a general partner or an investment advisor, provided that such term does not include information that (a) was (i) publicly known or (ii) otherwise known to you prior to the time of such disclosure (other than from a source that you knew or should reasonably have known was bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect to such information), (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by you or any Person acting on your behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to you from a source that you knew or reasonably should have known was bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect to such information or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to you under §7.01 that are otherwise publicly available. You will not use the Confidential Information for any purpose (including, without limitation, (x) to compete with the business of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as a general partner or an investment advisor or (y) in connection with the creation or management of any investment fund for which you act or any of your affiliates acts as a general partner or an investment advisor) other than purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by you in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to you, provided that you may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) your trustees, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates who need to know such information for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and are directed to hold

 

33


confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section XX and are prohibited from using the Confidential Information other than for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes, (ii) your financial advisors and other professional advisors who need to know such information for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section XX and are prohibited from using the Confidential Information other than for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes, (iii) any other holder of any Note, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which you sell or offer to sell such Note or any part thereof or any participation therein (but only if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX), (v) any Person from which you offer to purchase any security of the Company (but only if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over you, (vii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about your investment portfolio or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be reasonably necessary or appropriate ( provided that you shall use your reasonable best efforts to cause such Person to agree in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX) (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to you, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which you are a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent you may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under your Notes and this Agreement. Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section XX as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section XX.

SECTION XXI. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER .

You shall have the right to substitute any one of your Affiliates as the purchaser of the Notes that you have agreed to purchase hereunder, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall be signed by both you and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s agreement to be bound by this Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by such Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations set forth in Section VI. Upon receipt of such notice, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section XXI), such word shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of you. In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to you all of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice of such transfer, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section XXI), such word shall no longer be deemed to refer to such Affiliate, but shall refer to you, and you shall have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.

SECTION XXII. MISCELLANEOUS .

 

34


§22.01. Successors and Assigns . All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

§22.02. Payments Due on Non-Business Days . Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

§22.03. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

§22.04. Construction . Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent an express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant.

Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made by the Company for purposes of this Agreement, the same shall be done by the Company in accordance with GAAP, to the extent applicable, except where such principles are inconsistent with the requirements of this Agreement.

For the avoidance of doubt, all Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part hereof.

§22.05. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

§22.06. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

35


If you are in agreement with the forgoing, please sign the form of agreement on the accompanying counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company.

 

Very truly yours,

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

By:   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER , CPA
 

Name:    David M. Kirchheimer, CPA

Title:      Principal, Chief Financial
               and Administrative Officer

By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH
 

Name:    Bruce A. Karsh

Title:      President


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   / S / E MILIA F. W IENER
 

Name:    Emilia F. Wiener

Title:      Investment Officer


SCHEDULE B

DEFINED TERMS

As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Section hereof following such term:

Affiliates ” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company.

Agreement ” means this Note Purchase Agreement.

Assets Under Management ” means the aggregate amount of the assets in investment funds managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which it acts as a general partner or an investment advisor, the amount of which is used by the Company or any such Subsidiary in calculating the management fees charged by the Company or such Subsidiary with respect thereto, plus or minus, as applicable, any change in the market value of the private partnership funds of the Company or any such Subsidiary.

Business Day ” means (a) for the purposes of §8.07 only, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed, and (b) for the purposes of any other provision of this Agreement, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Los Angeles, California are required or authorized to be closed.

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, membership or other interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all membership interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in a limited liability company, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

Change of Control ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(e).

Closing ” has the meaning set forth in Section III.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

 

Sch. B-1


Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any successor thereto.

Company ” means Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company.

Competitor ” means any Person whose business is in substantial part in competition with the business of the Company or its Affiliates, other than any bank, trust company, savings and loan association, insurance company, broker dealer or any similar financial institution or entity.

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

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any date of determination, the sum of (1) Consolidated Net Income for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company, plus , (2) to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, and without duplication, the sum of (a) income tax expense, (b) interest expense (net of interest income), amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness, (c) depreciation and amortization expenses, (d) amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs, (e) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash losses on sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business); provided that the amounts referred to in this clause (e) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $4,000,000 for any fiscal year of the Company, and (f) any other non-cash charges, and minus , (3) to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period any non-cash income, all as determined on a consolidated basis, for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company.

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of the four consecutive fiscal quarters pursuant to any determination under §10.06(a), (i) if any Material Disposition is made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any such period, an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such property for such period shall reduce (if such attributed Consolidated EBITDA is positive) or shall increase (if such attributed Consolidated EBITDA is negative) the Consolidated EBITDA for such period and (ii) if any Material Acquisition is made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any such period, the Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or Capital Stock or series of related acquisitions of property or Capital Stock that (a) constitutes assets comprising in excess of 51% of an operating unit of a business of the seller or constitutes in excess of 51% of the Capital Stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any disposition of property or Capital Stock or series of related dispositions of property or Capital Stock that yields gross proceeds to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any date of determination, interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Leases) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness

 

Sch. B-2


of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges paid or owed with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and other Indebtedness, and net costs under Hedging Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, interest that accrues on Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the type described in §10.03(e), for so long as such Indebtedness remains a contingent obligation and not a primary obligation of such Subsidiary.

Consolidated Members’ Capital ” means, at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries under members’ capital at such date.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the consolidated income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) except as required otherwise in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”, the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company) in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Company or such Subsidiary in the form of cash dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation or Requirements of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

Consolidated Total Assets ” means, at any date, the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries which would, in conformity with GAAP, be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, after eliminating all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between the Company and its Subsidiaries, Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the type described in §10.03(e) and all other terms required to be eliminated in accordance with GAAP.

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

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 ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Sch. B-3


Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003, as amended from time to time, between the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Default ” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means that rate of interest that is the greater of (i) 2% per annum above the rate of interest stated in clause (a) of the first paragraph of the Notes or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Company under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section XI.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

 

Sch. B-4


Fair Market Value ” means at any time and with respect to any property, the sale value of such property that would be realized in an arm’s-length sale at such time between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller (neither being under a compulsion to buy or sell).

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America, except for the consolidation of investment funds advised by the Company and other entities that may be required by (a) Emerging Issues Task Force Issues No. 04-05, FIN 46 R or (b) similar subsequent authoritative accounting pronouncements.

Governmental Authority ” means

(a) the government of

(i) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or

(ii) any jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or

(b) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

Guarantee ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation (except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such Person:

(a) to purchase such Indebtedness or obligation or any property constituting security therefor;

(b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such Indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or other balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any other Person or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such Indebtedness or obligation;

(c) to lease properties or to purchase properties or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or obligation of the ability of any other Person to make payment of the Indebtedness or obligation; or

 

(d) otherwise to assure the owner of such Indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof.

In any computation of the Indebtedness or other liabilities of the obligor under any Guarantee, the Indebtedness or other obligations that are the subject of such Guarantee shall be assumed to be direct obligations of such obligor.

 

Sch. B-5


Hazardous Material ” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes, petroleum products or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage, or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.

Hedging Agreement ” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement.

holder ” means, with respect to any Note, the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to §13.01.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, at any time, without duplication,

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

(b) all obligations of such Person with respect to deposits or advances of any kind;

 

(c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

 

(d) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid;

(e) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person;

(f) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business);

(g) all Indebtedness of Affiliates of the Company or any other Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed;

(h) all obligations of such Person under a Capital Lease;

(j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty;

(k) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances; and

(l) all net liabilities of such Person under Hedging Agreements; and

 

Sch. B-6


(m) all Guarantees by such Person with respect to liabilities of a type described in clauses (a) through (l) above.

The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other Person (including any general or limited partnership in which such Person is a partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

INHAM Exemption ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(e) hereof.

Institutional Investor ” means (a) any original purchaser of a Note, (b) any holder of a Note holding (together with one or more of its Affiliates) more than 20% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and (c) any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form.

Key Principals ” means Howard Marks, Bruce Karsh, Sheldon Stone, Stephen Kaplan, Kevin Clayton, Richard Masson, Larry Keele, John Frank and David Kirchheimer.

Lien ” means, (a) with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements) and (b) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Make-Whole Amount ” has the meaning set forth in §8.07.

Material ” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes.

Memorandum ” has the meaning set forth in §5.05.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

NAIC Annual Statement ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

Notes ” has the meaning set forth in Section I.

 

Sch. B-7


Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other officer of the Company whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.

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

Other Purchasers ” has the meaning set forth in Section II.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any successor thereto.

Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, business entity or Governmental Authority.

Plan ” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is or, within the preceding five (5) years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five (5) years, have been made or were required to be made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.

property ” or “ properties ” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal property of any kind, tangible or intangible, choate or inchoate.

PTE ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

PTE 95-60 ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

QPAM Exemption ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(d) hereof.

Required Holders ” means, at any time, the holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates).

Requirement of Law ” means, with respect to any Person, the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or order or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or bringing upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer ” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Company with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this agreement.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such shares of Capital Stock of the Company.

 

Sch. B-8


§8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(b) hereof.

§8.03(c) Response ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(c) hereof.

§8.03 Special Prepayment Date ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(b) hereof.

Securities ” or “ Security ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

Senior Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer of the Company.

Source ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02 hereof.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more Subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more Subsidiaries of the parent, including, in either (a) or (b) above, any such entity which is a general partner or an investment advisor of an investment fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, “Subsidiary” does not include any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which it acts as a general partner or an investment advisor.

Successor ” has the meaning set forth in §10.02.

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any Subsidiary one hundred percent (100%) of all of the equity interests (except directors’ qualifying shares) and voting interests of which are owned by any one or more of the Company and the Company’s other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries at such time.

 

Sch. B-9


EXHIBIT A

PLEDGED ASSETS

 

(1) (a) The general partner interests of OCM Mezzanine Fund II GP, LLC (the “General Partner”) in, and all other present and future right, title and interest of the General Partner as a general partner of:

(i) OCM MEZZANINE FUND II HOLDINGS (CAYMAN), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership and any successor(s) thereto or assignee(s) thereof (“ Cayman Holdco ”), and the rights, interest, and benefits in respect thereof of the General Partner arising under the respective agreements, documents and/or certificates (including, without limitation, the partnership agreement of Cayman Holdco, the certificate of exempted limited partnership of Cayman Holdco and any other publicly filed documents), constituting or governing Cayman Holdco (collectively, the “ Cayman Holdco Documents ”), including, without limitation, any security or other investment property (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York (the “New York UCC”)) comprised by any of the foregoing, and all other benefits pertaining thereto and any and all general intangibles and accounts (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York) now owned or hereafter arising or acquired relating to the General Partner’s interest in Cayman Holdco and/or any of the foregoing; including, without limitation, all distributions by, and any other payments from, Cayman Holdco, and all present and future rights to receive any distributions or other payments from Cayman Holdco; and

(ii) OCM MEZZANINE FUND II HOLDINGS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and any successor(s) thereto or assignee(s) thereof (the “ SPV Borrower ”), and the rights, interest, and benefits in respect thereof of the General Partner arising under the respective agreements, documents and/or certificates (including, without limitation, the partnership agreement of the SPV Borrower, the certificate of limited partnership of the SPV Borrower and any other publicly filed documents), constituting or governing the SPV Borrower (collectively, the “ SPV Borrower Documents ”), including, without limitation, any security or other investment property (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of organization of the SPV Borrower) comprised by any of the foregoing, and all other benefits pertaining thereto and any and all general intangibles and accounts (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York) now owned or hereafter arising or acquired relating to the General Partner’s interest in the SPV Borrower and/or any of the foregoing; including, without limitation, all distributions by, and any other payments from, the SPV Borrower, and all present and future rights to receive any distributions or other payments from the SPV Borrower

(all of which property and rights referred to in this paragraph (a) are referred to collectively as the “ Pledged Property ”);

(b) Any custodial or other safekeeping or similar accounts in which any of the Pledged Property or any of the property described in the following paragraph (c) is deposited, any securities accounts containing or comprising any Pledged Property or any of the property described in the following paragraph (c), and any securities entitlements or other rights in respect thereof; and


(c) All of the proceeds, products, rents, issues and profits of any of the property described in paragraph (a), paragraph (b) or this paragraph (c).

(2) The General Partner’s right, title and interest in and to the following property, in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter arising and regardless of where located: (a) all the capital commitments of limited partners of OCM Mezzanine Fund II, L.P. (the “Fund”) and all rights under the partnership agreement of the Fund, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), under each subscription agreement completed by each limited partner of the Fund (a “Limited Partner”), and otherwise arising, in respect of the capital commitments of the Limited Partners (the “Capital Commitments”), including, without limitation, all of the General Partner’s rights to make calls for and receive capital contributions from the Limited Partners pursuant to and otherwise compel performance by the Limited Partners of, the Capital Commitments and to enforce the payment thereof pursuant to the terms of each subscription agreement completed by a Limited Partner and the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, all remedies for failure of performance thereof, all rights to compromise or settle the same, and all collateral securing and guaranties, rights in respect of letters of credit, and other accommodations and supporting obligations in respect of any Capital Commitments and, in each case, all rights to receive and apply any and all payments thereof; (b) all general intangibles and instruments (as such terms are defined in the New York UCC) relating to or evidencing any of the foregoing; and (c) all replacements, substitutions, products, profits, and proceeds of any of the foregoing.


EXHIBIT 4.04(a)

FORM OF OPINION OF

SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

June         , 2006

The Purchasers Identified on

Attachment I hereto

 

  Re: Issuance of $50,000,000 in Aggregate Principal Amount of the 6.09% Senior Notes Due June 6, 2016 of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC

Ladies & Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “ Company ”), in connection with the issuance, on the date hereof, of $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016 of the Company (the “ Notes ”) pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of June 6, 2006 (the “ Note Purchase Agreements ”), between the Company and the purchasers identified on Attachment I hereto (the “ Purchasers ”). We are furnishing this opinion letter to you, at the request of the Company, pursuant to Section 4.04(a) of each Note Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Note Purchase Agreements.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined originals or copies of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other persons, and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable, including:

 

  (a) the Note Purchase Agreements;

 

  (b) the Notes; and


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 2

 

(c) the Private Placement Memorandum, dated as of April 4, 2006 (the “ PPM ”), prepared by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (“ JPMorgan ”) and HSBC Securities Inc. (“ HSBC ”), as placement agents, in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

In connection with the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without investigation and with your consent, that: (i) all signatures are genuine; (ii) all documents provided to or reviewed by us that purport to be originals are authentic; (iii) all documents provided to or reviewed by us that purport to be copies conform to the originals thereof; (iv) all certificates of public officials and all public records provided to or reviewed by us are accurate, complete, and authentic; (v) each natural person who is a signatory to any document provided to or reviewed by us has the legal capacity to execute such document and, if applicable, to perform his or her obligations thereunder; (vi) each party to each Note Purchase Agreement or other document provided to or reviewed by us has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver such Note Purchase Agreement or other document and to perform its obligations thereunder (other than, with respect to the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, the Company); (vii) each Note Purchase Agreement and other document provided to or reviewed by us has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each party thereto (other than, with respect to the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, the Company) in accordance with applicable law; (viii) each Note Purchase Agreement or other document provided to or reviewed by us constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of each party thereto, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms (other than, with respect to the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, the Company); (ix) each party to each Note Purchase Agreement or other document provided to or reviewed by us (other than the Company to the extent of our opinions expressed in Paragraph 5 below) has complied and will comply with all of its obligations thereunder and all legal requirements applicable to such party, its status, the Note Purchase Agreements, the Notes, and the transactions contemplated thereby, and such party (other than the Company to the extent of our opinions expressed in Paragraph 5 below) has obtained all necessary consents, licenses, and permits in connection therewith; (x) the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes have not been modified, amended, terminated or revoked in any respect, and remain in full force and effect as of the date hereof; (xi) there are no agreements or understandings among the parties, and there is no usage of trade or course of prior dealing among the parties, that in either case would define, supplement or qualify the terms of the Note Purchase Agreements or the Notes; and (xii) the parties to the Note Purchase Agreements are not subject to any special laws, regulations or restrictions relevant to the transactions contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes that are not generally applicable to parties participating in transactions of the type contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes.

As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinions expressed below, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy in all respects of, the representations and warranties contained in the Note Purchase Agreements (including those made by the Purchasers) and in certificates and oral and written statements and other information of or from representatives of the Company and other sources, including the Officers’ Certificate, the form of which is attached


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 3

 

as Attachment II hereto (the “ Officers’ Certificate ”). In addition, we have relied upon, and assumed the accuracy in all respects of, the statements set forth in those certain letters, dated as of June 6, 2006, from JPMorgan and HSBC to the Company, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and us, regarding the actions taken by JPMorgan and HSBC as placement agents for the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes. We have further assumed that the PPM does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. We have made the foregoing assumptions without investigation and with your consent, and we have not engaged in any independent verification of any of the factual matters contained in any such document, certificate or statement or of any such information.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Company is a limited liability company, duly formed, validly existing, and, based solely on our review of a certificate of status issued on June 2, 2006 by the Secretary of State of the State of California and a written confirmation of a verbal status information from the Secretary of State of the State of California to National Corporate Research, Ltd. on June     , 2006, in good standing under the laws of the State of California.

2. The Company has the limited liability company power to conduct its business as described in the PPM and to execute and deliver, and perform its obligations under, each Note Purchase Agreement and Note.

3. The execution and delivery of, the borrowing under, and the performance of its obligations under, each Note Purchase Agreement and Note, in each case by the Company, have been duly authorized by all requisite limited liability company action by the Company. The Company has duly executed and delivered each Note Purchase Agreement and Note.

4. Each Note Purchase Agreement and Note constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

5. Neither the execution and delivery of each Note Purchase Agreement and Note, nor the performance of its obligations thereunder, in each case by the Company:

(a) violates the articles of organization of the Company or the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement for Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, effective as of January 1, 2004;

(b) violates any federal or California state law or regulation (including, assuming that the proceeds of the loans contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes are used solely for the purposes set forth in Schedule 5.17 of the Note Purchase Agreements, Regulations T, U, and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 4

 

Board) that, in our experience, is normally required to be complied with in connection with transactions of the type contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes;

(c) to our knowledge, violates any existing order, judgment or decree of any federal or California court to which the Company is subject;

(d) constitutes a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or a default under, any contract or indenture set forth on Attachment III hereto;

(e) results in the creation or imposition of any lien upon an asset or property of the Company under any contract or indenture or instrument set forth on Attachment III hereto; or

(f) requires the consent or approval of, or any filing or registration with, any federal or California state governmental authority that, in our experience, is normally required in connection with transactions of the type contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, except for the filing of a Notice of Transaction pursuant to Section 25102(f) of the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, as amended.

6. No registration of the Notes is required under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no qualification of an indenture is required under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, if the offer or sale of the Notes to the Purchasers is conducted in accordance with each of the terms and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreements.

7. The Company is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

8. Based solely upon our research and review of information on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (http://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Search/iapd_OrgSearch.aspx) (last visited on June     , 2006) with respect to the registration status of the Company, the Company has registered as an “investment adviser” (as such term is defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended), and such registration was approved as of April 7, 1995.

9. To our knowledge, there are no actions or proceedings against the Company pending or overtly threatened in writing before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that seek to challenge the validity or enforceability of the Note Purchase Agreements or the Notes.

In addition to any assumptions, qualifications and other matters set forth elsewhere herein, our opinions expressed herein are subject to the following:


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 5

 

A. Our opinions expressed herein are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and equitable subordination, reorganization, moratorium, or similar law affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, estoppel, and good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. In applying such equitable principles, a court might, among other things, not allow a creditor to accelerate the maturity of a debt upon the occurrence of a default deemed immaterial or for non-credit reasons or might decline to order a debtor to perform covenants. Such principles applied by a court might also include a requirement that a creditor act with reasonableness and in good faith.

B. We are admitted to practice law only in the State of California. The law covered by the opinions expressed herein is limited to (i) the federal laws of the United States of America and (ii) laws of the State of California. We express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction, and no opinion regarding the statutes, administrative decisions, rules, regulations or requirements of any county, municipality, subdivision or local authority of any jurisdiction. We note that the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes include a provision electing the laws of the State of New York as the governing law thereof. With respect to our opinion set forth in Paragraph 4 above, we note that the validity of a choice-of-law provision in a contract is a question of fact under California law, and the validity of such a provision will be determined, in part, by the facts found by the court before which the validity of such provision is litigated. The California Supreme Court has held that California follows Section 187 of the Restatement (Second) Conflict of Laws, which “reflect[s] strong policy considerations favoring the enforcement” of contractual choice-of-law provisions. Nedlloyd Lines B.V. v. Superior Court , 3 Cal. 4th 459, 462 (1992). A number of California court decisions have held that where sophisticated parties to a contract have designated the laws of a specified state to govern a transaction, a California court will uphold such choice of law except where a fundamental policy of the State of California, the laws of which would govern absent the choice-of-law clause, is violated or where the state whose law is chosen has no substantial relationship with the transaction. In our view, the factors which should be considered by a California court that correctly applies the applicable California principles in determining the validity of the choice-of-law provisions in the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes include the respective locations of the parties thereto, the degree of sophistication of the parties thereto, the venues or means of the negotiations relating to the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, the place of performance and the place where the funding of the Notes occurs. We have assumed, for purposes of this opinion, that (i) the Company has a significant presence, and conducts a substantial amount of business, in the State of New York, (ii) several of the Purchasers are located, or are managed by an investment adviser located, in the State of New York, (iii) several of the Purchasers conduct a substantial portion of their respective business from and/or in the State of New York, (iv) Purchasers’ counsel is located in the State of New York, and the terms of the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes were negotiated by such counsel from the State of New York, (v) the placement agents are located in the State of New York, and the terms of the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes were negotiated by such placement agents from the


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 6

 

State of New York, (vi) the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes were delivered by all parties in the State of New York, (vii) several of the Purchasers received notices relating to the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes in the State of New York, (viii) some of the Notes were funded from the State of New York, and none were funded from the State of California, and (ix) the Purchasers, the Company and the placement agents each intends to create valid and enforceable rights under, and is knowingly choosing the law of the State of New York to govern, the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes for bona fide business reasons. Based on the assumptions set forth above, among other things, and the holding and policy expressed in Nedlloyd , although the matter is not free from doubt, in our opinion, a California court or a United States court sitting in California to which the issue is properly presented and which correctly applies the applicable California principles should conclude that the express choice of New York law as the governing law for the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes is enforceable as a matter of California choice-of-law provision rules. We note, however, that even if a California court or a United States court sitting in California were generally to uphold the New York choice of law in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, the court might not apply New York law in construing or enforcing a particular provision of the Note Purchase Agreements or the Notes if such court could not determine the applicable law of New York or if application of New York law would violate a fundamental policy of the State of California. Further, if a California court or a United States court sitting in California concludes that California law is applicable to the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, our opinion is as set forth in Paragraph 4 above.

C. Our opinions with respect to the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Note Purchase Agreements and Notes are subject to the unenforceability under certain circumstances of provisions that may be construed as imposing penalties or forfeitures, late payment charges, or an increase in interest rate, upon delinquency in payment or the occurrence of default. Accordingly, we express no opinion relating to any provision in any of the Note Purchase Agreements and Notes relating to any of the foregoing.

D. In addition, we express no opinion as to:

(i) the availability of equitable remedies, including the availability of specific performance or injunctive relief;

(ii) provisions to the effect that rights or remedies are not exclusive, that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to any other right or remedy, that the election of some particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more others or that failure to exercise or a delay in exercising rights or remedies will not operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy;

(iii) the waiver of any right or remedy, whether or not any Note Purchase Agreement or Note deems any such waiver or remedy commercially reasonable, if such waivers or remedies are determined (a) not to be commercially reasonable under applicable law, (b) to conflict with mandatory provisions of applicable law, (c) to be taken in a manner


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 7

 

determined to be unreasonable or not performed in good faith or with fair dealing or with honesty in fact, or (d) to be broadly or vaguely stated or not to describe the right or duty purportedly waived with reasonable specificity;

(iv) provisions which expressly or implicitly waive or limit the benefits of statutory, regulatory or constitutional rights unless and to the extent such statute, regulation or constitution expressly allows such waiver or limitation;

(v) the unenforceability under certain circumstances of provisions relating to choice of law;

(vi) the effect of provisions of California law which provide that a written contract may be modified by an oral agreement to the extent such agreement is performed by the parties;

(vii) the effect of provisions of California law which provide that a court may not enforce or may limit the application of a contract or portions thereof that were unconscionable at the time the contract was made;

(viii) provisions relating to set-off or rights to set-off;

(ix) the effect of any party’s (other than the Company’s) compliance or noncompliance with any federal or state laws or regulations applicable to it or applicable to the transactions contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes due to the nature of such party’s business; and

(x) the effect of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of California that limit the rates of interest legally chargeable or collectible.

E. We call your attention to Section 1717 of the California Civil Code, which provides that where a contract permits one party to recover attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with the enforcement of such contract, the prevailing party in any action to enforce such contract shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, regardless of whether such prevailing party is the party specified in the contract.

F. We advise you that the obligations of the Company, and the rights and remedies of the Purchasers under the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes, may be subject to possible limitations, including those set forth in this opinion letter. Such limitations may render unenforceable certain remedies, waivers, and other provisions of the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes; provided that such limitations do not, in our opinion (but subject to the other comments and qualifications set forth in this opinion letter), make the remedies and procedures that will be afforded to the Purchasers inadequate for the practical realization of the principal benefits purported to be provided to the Purchasers by the Note Purchase Agreements and the Notes (except for the economic consequences of procedural or other delay).


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 8

 

G. We advise you that one or more of the contracts and indentures set forth on Attachment III hereto provides that such contract or indenture is governed by the laws of the State of New York. Notwithstanding such provisions, in rendering the opinions expressed in Paragraph 5 above, we have assumed, without investigation and with your consent, that each contract or indenture set forth on Attachment III hereto is governed by the laws of the State of California (without giving effect to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof). In addition, we express no opinion with respect to any breach or default under any contract or indenture set forth on Attachment III hereto that is not ascertainable from the face of such contract or indenture, including any calculation of financial ratios or the Company’s compliance with any financial covenant or similar restriction contained in any such agreement, contract, indenture or instrument.

H. Our use of the phrase “to our knowledge,” or any other similar language with respect to our knowledge, to qualify a statement in this opinion letter is intended to indicate that those attorneys in our firm who have given substantive attention to the representation of the Company in connection with the Note Purchase Agreements do not have current actual knowledge that the statement is inaccurate. Such phrase does not include any knowledge of other attorneys within our firm (regardless of whether they have represented or are representing the Company in connection with any other matter) or any constructive or imputed notice or knowledge of any matters or items of information. Except as expressly set forth herein, we have not undertaken any independent investigation, examination or inquiry to determine the existence or absence of any facts (and have not caused the review of any court files or indices), and no inference as to our knowledge concerning any facts should be drawn as a result of the representation undertaken by us. In particular, we have not undertaken any docket search, judgment search or other investigation, examination or inquiry to determine the existence of any order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject.

This opinion letter is expressly limited to the matters set forth above, and we express no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters. The opinions expressed above are given as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update or supplement this opinion letter, regardless of any change after the date hereof in any applicable law or our awareness after the date hereof of any facts that may change the opinions expressed above. This opinion letter is an expression of our professional judgment on the legal issues expressly addressed herein.

This opinion letter is being furnished to you and is solely for your benefit in connection with the issuance by the Company of $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes on the date hereof. This opinion letter may not be used, circulated, quoted, referred to or otherwise relied upon by you for any other purpose or by any other person (other than a subsequent holder of the Notes for the purposes hereof), nor may copies be delivered to any other person (other than your counsel or auditors or the counsel or auditors of such a subsequent holder), without, in each instance, our prior written consent, provided, however, that, without our prior written consent: (a) copies of this opinion letter may be provided (i) to your legal counsel,


Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

The Purchasers Identified on Attachment I hereto

June        , 2006

Page 9

 

(ii) to prospective transferees of the Notes, (iii) to such prospective transferees’ legal counsel, (iv) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto, (v) to any state insurance commissioner or other governmental or regulatory authority with authority over you and (vi) as required by law or applicable regulation and (b) copies of this opinion letter may be provided to, and this opinion may be relied upon by, transferees of the Notes.

Very truly yours,


EXHIBIT 4.04(b)

FORM OF OPINION OF

SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE PURCHASERS

June         , 2006

To Each of the Purchasers

Listed on Schedule A to the

Note Purchase Agreements

Referred to Below

 

  Re: Oaktree Capital Management, LLC:

    $50,000,000 in Aggregate Principal Amount of

    6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as your special counsel in connection with your purchase today of $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016 (the “Notes”) issued by Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Company”), pursuant to each of the Note Purchase Agreements dated as of June 6, 2006 (collectively, the “Agreements”) among the Company and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto (the “Purchasers”). All capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings assigned thereto, directly or by cross-reference, in the Agreements.

In this regard, we have examined executed counterparts of the Agreements executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchasers. We also have examined the executed Notes being issued and delivered pursuant to the Agreements on the date hereof. In addition, we have examined originals (or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of such other instruments, certificates, records and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and exclusions set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Agreements constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

2. The Notes have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

 

Exh. 4.04(b)-1


3. Neither the execution, delivery or performance of the Agreements by the Company, nor the execution, delivery or performance of the Notes by the Company, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor the fulfillment by the Company of the terms, conditions or provisions thereof, will violate the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of January 1, 2004, as amended and as presently in effect.

4. On the basis of the representations contained in §§ 5.15 and 6.01 of the Agreements, it is not necessary, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Notes to you under the circumstances contemplated by the Agreements, to register the Notes under the Securities Act or to qualify an indenture with respect thereto under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

We have reviewed the opinion letter of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (“MT&O”), special counsel to the Company, dated the date hereof and delivered to you pursuant to Section 4.04(a) of the Agreements. Such opinion letter is satisfactory in form and scope to us and we believe that you are justified in relying thereon.

With your permission we have assumed the following: (a) the authenticity of original documents and genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed; (d) the due authorization, execution and delivery on behalf of the respective parties thereto of the Agreements and the Notes and, except as specifically covered in the opinions set forth above, the legal, valid and binding effect thereof on each of such parties; and (e) the absence of any evidence extrinsic to the provisions of the written agreements between the parties that the parties intended a meaning contrary to that expressed by those provisions.

Our opinion that any document is valid, binding or enforceable in accordance with its terms is qualified as to:

(a) limitations imposed by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium, or other laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally;

(b) the unenforceability under certain circumstances of provisions imposing penalties; and

(c) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

We are not opining on any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America.

 

Exh. 4.04(b)-2


This opinion letter is solely for your benefit in connection with the transaction referred to in the first paragraph hereof and may not be relied upon, or used by, circulated, quoted or referred to, nor copies hereof delivered to, any other person without our prior written approval, except that, without our prior written approval, (a) copies of this opinion letter may be provided (i) to your legal counsel, (ii) to prospective transferees of the Notes, (iii) to such prospective transferees’ legal counsel, (iv) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto, (v) to any state insurance commissioner or other governmental or regulatory authority with authority over you and (vi) as required by law or applicable regulation and (b) copies of this opinion letter may be provided to and this opinion may be relied upon by transferees of the Notes. We disclaim any obligation to update this opinion letter for events occurring or coming to our attention after the date hereof.

Very truly yours,

 

Exh. 4.04(b)-3


EXHIBIT 13.02

FORM OF CERTIFICATE REGARDING EXEMPTION FROM

THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED

Oaktree Capital Management, LLC

333 South Grand Ave., 28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

In connection with the undersigned’s proposed transfer of $                    original principal amount of 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016 of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, the undersigned hereby represents that such transfer shall be made pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Name of Note Holder
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

Date:      

 

-i-

Exhibit 4.8

EXHIBIT 1

FORM OF NOTE

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT FOR ANY SUCH DISPOSITION (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

6.09% SENIOR NOTE DUE JUNE 6, 2016

 

No. [    ]     June         , 2006
   
PPN 67390# AC 7     [$             ]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to [             ] , or registered assigns, the principal sum of [             ] DOLLARS on June 6, 2016, with interest (computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year of twelve (12) thirty (30) day months) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 6.09% per annum from the date hereof, payable semiannually in arrears, on the 6th day of June and December in each year, commencing with the December next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements referred to below), payable semiannually as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 8.09% or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from time to time in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate.

Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at the principal office of the Company in Los Angeles, California or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements referred to below.

This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to separate Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of June 6, 2006 (as from time to time amended, the

 

 

Exh. 1-1


“Note Purchase Agreements”), between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section XX of the Note Purchase Agreements and (ii) to have made the representations set forth in Section VI of the Note Purchase Agreements.

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements, upon (a) surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and (b) delivery to the Company by the holder of this Note of the certificate in the form of Exhibit 13.02 to the Note Purchase Agreements confirming that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to any sale or other disposition of this Note, the holder of this Note is required to endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

This Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreements, but not otherwise.

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements, occurs, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreements.

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Exh. 1-2

Exhibit 4.9

ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

This ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Assumption and Guaranty ”), dated as of May 25, 2007, is made by Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Guarantor ”), and Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (together, the “ Co-Obligors ”) in favor of each of the holders of a Note (each “ Note Holder ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2006 (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated and in effect from time to time, the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”), between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Note Issuer ”) and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of the Note Issuer’s 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Note Issuer and Holders constituting the Required Holders have, through that certain Amendment and Waiver to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “ Amendment ”), agreed to amend certain provisions of, and waive certain provisions of or defaults under, the Note Purchase Agreement in order to permit and facilitate the Restructuring (as defined therein);

WHEREAS, the Amendment provides that the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall execute this Assumption and Guaranty;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Restructuring, the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall receive valuable consideration from the Note Issuer, including, without limitation, in the form of the transfer to them by the Note Issuer of certain business assets and the conferral upon them by the Note Issuer of continued use of the proceeds from the initial sale and issuance of the Notes as capital following the Restructuring;

NOW, T HEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein contained and set forth in the Amendment, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS.

§1.1 Co-Obligors’ Assumption .

The Co-Obligors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally assume the duty of due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes and agree to become jointly and severally liable with the Note Issuer for the due and punctual performance and payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) and at all times thereafter by the Note Issuer of all obligations contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes (collectively, the “ Obligations ”).

 

1


§1.2 Joint and Several Liability .

The Co-Obligors and the Note Issuer (collectively, the “ Obligors ”) agree that they are jointly and severally liable to the Note Holders for the performance and payment in full when due of all of the Obligations, and that such liability is independent of the obligations of each other Obligor. Each obligation, promise, covenant, representation and warranty in the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes shall be deemed to have been made by, and be binding upon, each Obligor. The Note Holders may bring an action against any Obligor without regard to whether an action is brought against any other Obligor.

§1.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Obligations .

The obligations of the Co-Obligors shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance or payment in full of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations with respect to the Note Issuer, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations as against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, or this Assumption and Guaranty, by any waiver or modification of any provision thereof or hereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations by the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Co-Obligors or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Co-Obligors as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations).

§1.4 Defenses of Note Issuer Waived .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Co-Obligors waive any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Note Issuer or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof as against the Note Issuer from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Note Issuer, other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations. The Co-Obligors hereby acknowledge that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Note Issuer or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Note Issuer, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Co-Obligors hereunder except to the extent that the Obligations have been performed and paid in full.

§1.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Co-Obligors by virtue hereof, upon the

 

2


failure of the Note Issuer to perform or pay any Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Co-Obligors hereby promise to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unperformed or unpaid Obligations. Upon performance or payment by any Co-Obligor of any of the Obligations as provided above, all rights of such Co-Obligor against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all of the Obligations.

SECTION 2. GUARANTY OF OBLIGATIONS.

§2.1 Guaranty .

The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise and at all times thereafter) and performance by the Obligors of all obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, and this Assumption and Guaranty (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon this Assumption and Guaranty notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

§2.2 Guaranty of Payment .

The Guarantor agrees that this Assumption and Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment and performance when due of all Guaranteed Obligations and not of collection and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, waives any right to require that any resort be had by the holder of any Note to any remedies it may have against the Obligors.

§2.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Guaranty .

The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, this Assumption and Guaranty or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or by any other act or

 

3


omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations).

§2.4 Defenses of Obligors Waived.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Obligors or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof as against the Obligors from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Obligors, other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Obligors or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Obligors, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Guarantor hereunder except to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations have been performed or paid in full.

§2.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Obligors to perform or pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unpaid Guaranteed Obligations. Upon performance or payment by the Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations as provided above, all rights of the Guarantor against the Obligors arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 3. OTHER PROVISIONS.

§3.1 Effectiveness .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall become effective upon the transfer of assets by OCM as part of the Restructuring and is expressly conditioned upon the effectiveness thereof.

§3.2 Termination .

This Assumption and Guaranty (a) shall terminate when (i) the Note Purchase Agreements, the Other Agreements and the Notes have been terminated or (ii) all of the Obligations and Guaranteed Obligations have been performed and paid in full or otherwise satisfied, and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time performance or payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation or Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Note Issuer, the

 

4


Co-Obligors, or the Guarantor upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any of them or otherwise.

§3.3 Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and other agreements made by the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor for the benefit of the Note Holders in this Assumption and Guaranty shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement) whether so expressed or not.

§3.4 Waivers; Amendment .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Guarantor, the Co-Obligors and the Required Holders.

§3.5 Severability .

Any provision of this Assumption and Guaranty that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

§3.6 Counterparts .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

§3.7 Governing Law .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

[The remainder of this page is left intentionally blank]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor have duly executed and delivered this Assumption and Guarantee Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.

By: OCM Holdings I, LLC, its General Partner

By: Oaktree Holdings, LLC, its Managing Member

By: Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, its Managing Member

 

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Senior Vice President and Secretary
By:   / S / L ISA A RAKAKI      
  Name: Lisa Arakaki
  Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.

By: Oaktree Holdings, Inc., its General Partner

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ      
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President and Secretary

 

By:   / S / L ISA A RAKAKI      
  Name: Lisa Arakaki
  Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary

OAKTREE MEDIA INVESTMENTS, L.P.

By: Oaktree Media Holdings, Inc., its General Partner

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ      
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President and Secretary
By:   / S / L ISA A RAKAKI        
  Name: Lisa Arakaki
  Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary

Exhibit 4.10

E XECUTION V ERSION

 

 

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

$50,000,000 IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

OF

5.82% SENIOR NOTES DUE NOVEMBER 8, 2016

 

 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of November 8, 2006

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

SECTION I. AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES

     1   

SECTION II. SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES

     2   

SECTION III. CLOSING

     2   

SECTION IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     3   

§4.01. Representations and Warranties

     3   

§4.02. Performance; No Default

     3   

§4.03. Officer’s Certificate

     3   

§4.04. Opinions of Counsel

     3   

§4.05. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc.

     3   

§4.06. Sale of Other Notes

     3   

§4.07. Payment of Special Counsel Fees

     4   

§4.08. Private Placement Number

     4   

§4.09. Changes in Company Structure

     4   

§4.10. Consents of Holders of Other Securities

     4   

§4.11. Funding Instructions

     4   

§4.12. Proceedings, Instruments, etc.

     4   

§4.13. Amendment to the Credit Agreement

     4   

SECTION V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     5   

§5.01. Members of the Company

     5   

§5.02. Organization; Power and Authority

     5   

§5.03. Authorization, etc.

     5   

§5.04. Operating Agreements and Other Information

     5   

§5.05. Disclosure

     5   

§5.06. Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates

     6   

§5.07. Financial Statements

     6   

§5.08. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.

     7   

§5.09. Governmental Authorizations, etc.

     7   

§5.10. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders

     7   

§5.11. Taxes

     7   

§5.12. Title to Property; Leases

     8   

§5.13. Licenses, Permits, etc.

     8   

§5.14. Compliance with ERISA

     8   

§5.15. Private Offering by the Company

     9   

§5.16. Solvency

     9   

§5.17. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations

     9   

§5.18. Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens

     10   

§5.19. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc.

     10   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

§5.20. Status under Certain Statutes

     10   

§5.21. Environmental Matters

     11   

§5.22. Ranking of Obligations

     11   

SECTION VI. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER

     11   

§6.01. Purchase for Investment

     11   

§6.02. ERISA Representations

     11   

SECTION VII. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY

     13   

§7.01. Financial and Business Information

     13   

§7.02. Officer’s Certificate

     15   

§7.03. Inspection

     16   

SECTION VIII. PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES

     16   

§8.01. Maturity

     16   

§8.02. Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount

     17   

§8.03. Mandatory Offer to Prepay in Event of Change of Control

     17   

§8.04. Allocation of Partial Prepayments

     18   

§8.05. Maturity; Surrender, etc.

     19   

§8.06. Purchase of Notes

     19   

§8.07. Make-Whole Amount

     19   

SECTION IX. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     20   

§9.01. Compliance with Law

     20   

§9.02. Insurance

     20   

§9.03. Maintenance of Properties

     21   

§9.04. Payment of Taxes and Claims

     21   

§9.05. Legal Existence, etc.

     21   

§9.06. Priority Obligations

     21   

SECTION X. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     21   

§10.01. Transactions with Affiliates

     21   

§10.02. Merger, Consolidation, etc.; Business

     22   

§10.03. Indebtedness

     22   

§10.04. Liens

     23   

§10.05. Restricted Payments

     25   

§10.06. Financial Condition Covenants

     25   

§10.07. Restrictions on Dividends

     25   

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     26   

SECTION XII. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

     27   

§12.01. Acceleration

     27   

§12.02. Other Remedies

     28   

§12.03. Rescission

     28   

§12.04. No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.

     28   

SECTION XIII. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES

     28   

§13.01 Registration of Notes

     28   

§13.02 Transfer and Exchange of Notes

     29   

§13.03 Replacement of Notes

     29   

SECTION XIV. PAYMENTS ON NOTES

     30   

§14.01 Place of Payment

     30   

§14.02 Home Office Payment

     30   

SECTION XV. EXPENSES, ETC.

     30   

§15.01 Transaction Expenses

     30   

§15.02 Survival

     31   

SECTION XVI. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

     31   

SECTION XVII. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     31   

§17.01 Requirements

     31   

§17.02 Solicitation of Holders of Notes

     32   

§17.03 Binding Effect, etc.

     32   

§17.04 Notes held by Company, etc.

     32   

SECTION XVIII. NOTICES

     33   

SECTION XIX. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

     33   

SECTION XX. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

     33   

SECTION XXI. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER

     35   

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION XXII. MISCELLANEOUS

     35   

§22.01 Successors and Assigns

     35   

§22.02 Payments Due on Non-Business Days

     35   

§22.03 Severability

     35   

§22.04 Construction

     35   

§22.05 Counterparts

     36   

§22.06 Governing Law

     36   

 

-iv-


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

SCHEDULE A

   —      Information Relating To Purchasers

SCHEDULE B

   —      Defined Terms

SCHEDULE 4.09

   —      Changes in Company Structure

SCHEDULE 5.01

   —      Members of the Company

SCHEDULE 5.05

   —      Disclosure Materials

SCHEDULE 5.06

   —      Subsidiaries of the Company and Ownership of Subsidiary Equity

SCHEDULE 5.07

   —      Financial Statements

SCHEDULE 5.10

   —      Certain Litigation

SCHEDULE 5.13

   —      Licenses, Permits, Patents, etc.

SCHEDULE 5.17

   —      Use of Proceeds

SCHEDULE 5.18

   —      Existing Indebtedness

SCHEDULE 8.03

   —      Current Owners of the Company

EXHIBIT 1

   —      Form of 5.82% Senior Note due November 8, 2016

EXHIBIT 4.04(a)

   —      Form of Opinion of Special Counsel to the Company

EXHIBIT 4.04(b)

   —      Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers

EXHIBIT 13.02

   —      Form of Certificate Regarding Exemption From The Registration Requirements Of The Securities Act Of 1933, As Amended


OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue

28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Telephone: (213) 830-6300

Telecopier: (213) 830-6290

 

 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of November 8, 2006

To Each of the Purchasers Listed

In Schedule A Hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “ Company ”), hereby agrees with you as follows:

SECTION I. AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES.

The Company will authorize the issuance and sale of $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016 (the “ Notes ”, such term to include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section XIII of this Agreement or the Other Agreements (as hereinafter defined)). The Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 1 , with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by you and the Company. Each Note shall bear interest from the date thereof until such Note shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof (whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) at the rate of 5.82% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on the 8th day of May and November in each year, commencing May 8, 2007, and shall have a stated maturity of November 8, 2016. Interest on each Note shall be computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year of twelve (12) thirty (30) day months. Each Note shall bear interest on any overdue principal, including any overdue payment or prepayment of principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest, at the rate specified in such Note. If the Company shall have paid or agreed to pay any interest or premium on any Note in excess of that permitted by law, then it is the express intent of the Company and the holder thereof that all excess amounts previously paid or to be paid by the Company be applied to reduce the principal balance of such Note, and the provisions thereof immediately be deemed reformed and the amounts thereafter collectable thereunder reduced,


without the necessity of the execution of any new document, so as to comply with the then applicable law, but so as to permit the recovery of the fullest amount otherwise called for thereunder. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B ; references to a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.

SECTION II. SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will issue and sell to you and you will purchase from the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section III, Notes in the principal amount specified opposite your name in Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof. Contemporaneously with entering into this Agreement, the Company is entering into separate Note Purchase Agreements (the “ Other Agreements ”) identical with this Agreement with each of the other purchasers named in Schedule A (the “ Other Purchasers ”), providing for the sale at such Closing to each of the Other Purchasers of Notes in the principal amount specified opposite its name in Schedule A . Your obligations hereunder and the obligations of the Other Purchasers pursuant to the Other Agreements are several and not joint and several obligations and you shall have no obligation under any Other Agreement and no liability to any Person for the performance or non-performance by any Other Purchaser thereunder.

SECTION III. CLOSING.

The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by you and the Other Purchasers shall occur at the offices of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10178, at 10:00 a.m., eastern standard time, at a closing (the “ Closing ”) on November 8, 2006 or on such other Business Day thereafter on or prior to November 30, 2006 as may be agreed upon by the Company and you and the Other Purchasers. At the Closing the Company will deliver to you the Notes to be purchased by you in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $100,000 as you may request) dated the date of the Closing and registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee), against delivery by you to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the Company to account number 4100-071372 at Wells Fargo Bank, Los Angeles, CA 90071, ABA No. 121 000 248, Account Name: Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, Attention: Wire Department, Reference: Senior Notes or, if the Company designates another account pursuant to §4.11, then instead to such other account. If at the Closing (a) the Company shall fail to tender such Notes to you as provided above in this Section III, you shall, at your election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights you may have by reason of such failure or (b) any of the conditions specified in Section IV shall not have been fulfilled to your satisfaction, the transactions described herein shall not have been deemed to have closed and you shall be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement.

 

2


SECTION IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

Your obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to you at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to your satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

§4.01. Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement and in any certificate of the Company given in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

§4.02. Performance; No Default . The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated by Schedule 5.17 ) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited by §§10.01 through 10.05 hereof had such Sections applied since such date.

§4.03. Officer’s Certificate . The Company shall have delivered to you an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in §§4.01, 4.02 and 4.09 have been fulfilled.

§4.04. Opinions of Counsel . You shall have received opinions, dated the date of the Closing, from:

(a) Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, special counsel for the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 4.04(a) (and the Company hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinion to you), and

(b) Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, your special counsel in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.04(b) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as you may reasonably request.

§4.05. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc. On the date of the Closing, your purchase of Notes shall (i) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which you are subject, (ii) not violate any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and (iii) not subject you to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date hereof. If requested by you, you shall have received an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as you may reasonably specify to enable you to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

§4.06. Sale of Other Notes . Contemporaneously with the Closing the Company shall sell to the Other Purchasers and the Other Purchasers shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by them at the Closing as specified in Schedule A .

 

3


§4.07. Payment of Special Counsel Fees . Without limiting the provisions of §15.01, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of your special counsel referred to in §4.04(b) to the extent reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing; provided that the Company shall not be liable for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively).

§4.08. Private Placement Number . A Private Placement number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) shall have been obtained for the Notes.

§4.09. Changes in Company Structure . Except as specified in Schedule 4.09 , the Company shall not have changed its jurisdiction of organization or been a party to any merger or consolidation and shall not have succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.07 .

§4.10. Consents of Holders of Other Securities . On or prior to the date of the Closing, all consents or approvals required to be obtained from all holders of outstanding Indebtedness, Securities and other obligations of the Company that are necessary to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and all such consents and approvals shall be satisfactory in form and substance to you and your special counsel.

§4.11. Funding Instructions . At least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the Closing, you shall have received written instructions executed by a Responsible Officer on letterhead of the Company directing the manner of the payment of the purchase price for the Notes and setting forth (i) the name and address of the transferee bank, (ii) such transferee bank’s ABA number, (iii) the account name and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to be deposited, and (iv) the name and telephone number of the account representative responsible for verifying receipt of such funds.

§4.12. Proceedings, Instruments, etc. All proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to you and your special counsel, and you and your special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as you or it may reasonably request.

§4.13. Amendment to the Credit Agreement . The Sixth Amendment and Waiver to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, shall have been duly executed by the parties thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory to you and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of such parties, enforceable against each of such parties in accordance with its terms.

 

4


SECTION V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

The Company represents and warrants to you that:

§5.01. Members of the Company . Schedule 5.01 lists all of the members of the Company together with their respective percentage equity interests in the Company.

§5.02. Organization; Power and Authority . The Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California, and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has the limited liability company power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Other Agreements and the Notes and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

§5.03. Authorization, etc. This Agreement and the Other Agreements and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

§5.04. Operating Agreements and Other Information . The Company has furnished to you and your special counsel true, correct and complete copies of its operating agreement and any required resolutions of its members authorizing the execution, delivery and acceptance of this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes.

§5.05. Disclosure . The Company, through its agents, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and HSBC Securities Inc., has delivered to you and each Other Purchaser a copy of a Private Placement Memorandum, dated September 29, 2006 (the “ Memorandum ”), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.05 , this Agreement, the Memorandum, the documents, certificates or other writings identified in Schedule 5.05 delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.07 , taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Except as disclosed in the Memorandum or as expressly described in Schedule 5.05 , or in one of the documents, certificates or other writings identified therein, or in the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.07 , since December 31, 2005, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business, properties or

 

5


prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Company that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Memorandum or in the other documents, certificates and other writings delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company specifically for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

§5.06. Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates .

(a) Schedule 5.06 contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists (i) of the Company’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization, and the percentage of shares of each class of its Capital Stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary, (ii) of the Company’s Affiliates, other than Subsidiaries, and (iii) of the Company’s principals and senior officers.

(b) All of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of each Subsidiary shown in Schedule 5.06 as being owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of any Lien (except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.06 ).

(c) Each Subsidiary identified in Schedule 5.06 is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such Subsidiary has the power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease and to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact.

(d) No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any legal, regulatory, contractual or other restriction (other than this Agreement, the Other Agreements, the agreements listed on Schedule 5.06 and customary limitations imposed by corporate, limited liability company, partnership and other entity statutes and regulations) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

§5.07. Financial Statements . The Company has delivered to each Purchaser copies of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.07 . All of said financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and notes) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates specified therein and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments). The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any non-contingent Material

 

6


liabilities required by GAAP to be disclosed in such financial statements that are not disclosed on such financial statements or Schedule 5.07 or otherwise disclosed by the Company in writing to you and the Other Purchasers.

§5.08. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, operating agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

§5.09. Governmental Authorizations, etc. Based upon the representations and warranties of the Purchaser and the Other Purchasers, no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Notes, other than filings made pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act or similar filings or notices under state securities laws.

§5.10. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders .

(a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.10 , there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any property of the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Authority, which default or violation, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§5.11. Taxes . The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount, applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and with respect to which the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves to the extent required by GAAP. The Company knows of no basis for any other tax or

 

7


assessment not reflected on the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in §5.07 that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of Federal, state or other taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate in accordance with GAAP. The Federal income tax returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service or the statute of limitations relating to such returns (or their underlying liabilities) has expired, and all liabilities for taxes shown thereon to be due have been paid, for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.

§5.12. Title to Property; Leases . The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in §5.07 or purported to have been acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement. All leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects.

§5.13. Licenses, Permits, etc. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.13 :

(a) the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others;

(b) to the best knowledge of the Company, no product of the Company infringes in any material respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned by any other Person; and

(c) to the best knowledge of the Company, there is no Material violation by any Person of any right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any patent, copyright, proprietary software, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

§5.14. Compliance with ERISA .

(a) The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions or to Section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the Code, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.

 

8


(b) The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Plans (other than Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan’s most recently ended plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “ benefit liabilities ” has the meaning specified in Section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “ current value ” and “ present value ” have the meaning specified in Section 3 of ERISA.

(c) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

(d) The expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by Section 4980B of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not Material.

(e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes hereunder will not constitute or result in any non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or any transaction in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The representation by the Company in the first sentence of this §5.14(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of your representation in §6.02 as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you.

§5.15. Private Offering by the Company . Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Notes (or within 24 months of the Closing, any similar securities other than the 6.09% Senior Notes of the Company due June 6, 2006) for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other than you, the Other Purchasers and not more than ten (10) other Institutional Investors , each of which has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or blue sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

§5.16. Solvency . The Company is not and, immediately after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not be, insolvent as defined under any applicable federal or state law.

§5.17. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations . The Company will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Notes as set forth in Schedule 5.17 . No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR Part 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR Part 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation

 

9


T of said Board (12 CFR Part 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than 10% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 10% of the value of such assets. As used in this Section, the terms “ margin stock ” and “ purpose of buying or carrying ” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

§5.18. Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens .

(a) Except as described therein, Schedule 5.18 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by §10.04.

§5.19. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc. Neither the sale of the Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) is or will become a Person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)) or (b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any such Person. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all Material respects, with the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA Patriot Act of 2001).

No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United Stated Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Company.

§5.20. Status under Certain Statutes . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, the ICC Termination Act of 1995, as amended, or the Federal Power Act, as amended.

 

10


§5.21. Environmental Matters . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any claim or has received any notice of any claim, and no proceeding has been instituted raising any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or other assets, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any Environmental Laws, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed to you in writing:

(a) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any facts which would give rise to any claim, public or private, of violation of Environmental Laws or damage to the environment emanating from, occurring on or in any way related to real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or to other assets or their use, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has stored any Hazardous Materials on real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them and has not disposed of any Hazardous Materials in a manner contrary to any Environmental Laws in each case in any manner that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) all buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

§5.22. Ranking of Obligations . The Company’s obligations pursuant to the Notes and this Agreement will, upon issuance of the Notes, rank at least pari passu , without preference or priority, with all of its other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness.

SECTION VI. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER.

§6.01. Purchase for Investment . You represent that you are purchasing the Notes for your own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by you or for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of your or their property shall at all times be within your or their control. You understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Notes.

§6.02. ERISA Representations . You represent that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “ Source ”) to be used by you to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you hereunder:

(a) the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption ( “PTE” ) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the

 

11


“NAIC Annual Statement” )) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile; or

(b) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

(c) the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1, or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or

(d) the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (as defined in Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption” ) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (as defined in Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (as defined in Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Section I(a) through (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (d); or

(e) the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption” )) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (e); or

(f) the Source is a governmental plan; or

 

12


(g) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (g); or

(h) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

As used in this §6.02, the terms “ employee benefit plan ”, “ governmental plan ”, “ party in interest ” and “ separate account ” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

SECTION VII. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY.

§7.01. Financial and Business Information . The Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

(a) Quarterly Statements – within:

(x) forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; and

(y) sixty (60) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

 

13


setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied,

in the cases of clauses (x) and (y), applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments;

(b) Annual Statements — within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, duplicate copies of,

(i) a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

(ii) consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ capital and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such year,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied and GAAP consistently applied, and accompanied (A) by an opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied and GAAP consistently applied, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances, and (B) a certificate of such accountants stating that they have reviewed this Agreement and stating further whether, in making their audit, they have become aware, without making any independent investigation, of any condition or event that then constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, and, if they are aware that any such condition or event then exists, specifying the nature and period of the existence thereof (it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for any failure to obtain knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless such accountants should have obtained knowledge thereof in making an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or did not make such an audit);

(c) Notice of Default or Event of Default — promptly, and in any event within five (5) days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in §11(f), a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

14


(d) ERISA Matters — promptly, and in any event within five (5) days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of any of the following, a written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any, that the Company or an ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto:

(i) with respect to any Plan, any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043(b) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, for which notice thereof has not been waived pursuant to such regulations as in effect on the date hereof; or

(ii) the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan that such action has been taken by the PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan; or

(iii) any event, transaction or condition that could result in the incurrence of any liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or such penalty or excise tax provisions, if such liability or Lien, taken together with any other such liabilities or Liens then existing, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(e) Notices from Governmental Authority — promptly, and in any event within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof, copies of any notice to the Company or any Subsidiary from any Federal or state Governmental Authority relating to any order, ruling, statute or other law or regulation that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) Information Required by Rule 144A — promptly upon the request of the holder of any Note, such financial and other information as such holder may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with a resale of the Notes, except at such times as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

(g) Requested Information — with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Notes as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.

§7.02. Officer’s Certificate . Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant to §7.01(a) or §7.01(b) hereof shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth:

(a) Covenant Compliance — the information (including detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of §§ 10.03, 10.04 and 10.06 hereof during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements

 

15


then being furnished (including with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and

(b) Event of Default — a statement that such officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made, under his or her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished to the date of the certificate and that such review did not disclose the existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists (including, without limitation, any such event or condition resulting from the failure of the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company shall have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.

§7.03. Inspection . The Company shall permit the representatives of each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

(a) No Default — if no Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of such holder and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to visit the principal executive office of the Company, to meet to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with the Company’s officers, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) its independent public accountants, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) to visit the other offices and properties of the Company and each Subsidiary, all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested in writing; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to hold such visit or meeting with any holder more than once every twelve (12) months and that the Company shall notify other holders of Notes of such request for a meeting or visit by any holder; and

(b) Default — if a Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of the Company to visit and inspect any of the offices or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, to examine all their respective books of account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries), all at such times and as often as may be requested.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Institutional Investor (other than an original purchaser of a Note) that is a Competitor of the Company will not have the inspection rights contained in this §7.03 unless and until the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default.

SECTION VIII. PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

§8.01. Maturity . As provided therein, the entire unpaid principal balance of the Notes shall be due and payable on the stated maturity date thereof.

 

16


§8.02. Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount . The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes at a price equal to the outstanding principal balance thereof plus the Make-Whole Amount, together with interest accrued through the date of prepayment. The Company will give each holder of Notes written notice of each optional prepayment under this §8.02 not less than thirty (30) days (and not more than sixty (60) days) prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with §8.04), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two (2) Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified prepayment date. Except as explicitly provided in §§8.02 and 8.03, the Company may not prepay all, or any part of, the Notes.

§8.03. Mandatory Offer to Prepay in Event of Change of Control .

(a) In the event of the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall deliver to each holder of a Note a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay pursuant to §8.03(b). Any prepayment of Notes pursuant to this §8.03 shall be made at a prepayment price equal to the principal amount of Notes to be prepaid, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of prepayment, plus a premium equal to the Make-Whole Amount, provided, however, that no Make-Whole Amount shall be applicable in respect of such prepayment in the event that such Change of Control results from the occurrence of an event specified in clause (ii) of §8.03(e) unless the event specified in clause (i) of §8.03(e) also has occurred.

(b) Not later than thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to a Change of Control, the Company shall give written notice to each holder of a Note that the Company anticipates a Change of Control and of such holder’s right to elect to be prepaid hereunder arising as a result thereof (a “ §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay ”). Such §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay shall state: (i) that such notice is delivered pursuant to this §8.03(b); (ii) the proposed date of and a description of the circumstances surrounding such Change of Control; (iii) the date by which a holder must deliver a §8.03(c) Response pursuant to §8.03(c) hereof in order to accept prepayment; and (iv) the date on which the Company expects to prepay the Notes pursuant to §8.03(c), which prepayment date shall be the date of the occurrence of a Change of Control (the “ §8.03 Special Prepayment Date ”). No failure by the Company to deliver a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay to any holder shall limit such holder’s right to exercise such election and require the Company to effect such prepayment within a reasonable time period after such holder becomes aware of such Change of Control.

(c) To accept prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 of the Notes held by it, a holder shall deliver to the Company such holder’s notice that it accepts prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 with respect to the Notes held by it and designated therein (a “ §8.03(c) Response ”). Such §8.03(c) Response shall be delivered to the Company on or before the tenth (10th) day

 

17


prior to the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date. The §8.03(c) Response shall set forth the name of such holder and the statement that it accepts prepayment pursuant to this §8.03 with respect to the Notes designated therein. Promptly and in any event within three (3) Business Days after receipt of a holder’s §8.03(c) Response, the Company shall, by written notice to such holder of a Note, acknowledge receipt thereof. If the Company has delivered a §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay to each holder and on or prior to the fifteenth (15th) day prior to the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date, the Company shall not have received a §8.03(c) Response from a holder (or shall have received a §8.03(c) Response with respect to some but not all the Notes held by such holder), the Company shall promptly, but in any case within one (1) Business Day after the commencement of such fifteen (15) day period, deliver written notice to such holder that all of the Notes held by such holder (or all of the Notes held by such holder with respect to which such holder shall not have declined prepayment in such holder’s §8.03(c) Response) may be prepaid pursuant to this §8.03 on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date. A failure by a holder to respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this §8.03 shall be deemed to constitute an acceptance of such offer by such holder.

(d) The obligation of the Company to prepay Notes pursuant to the offers required by §8.03(b) and their acceptance in accordance with §8.03(c) is subject to the occurrence of the Change of Control in respect of which such offers and acceptances shall have been made. In the event that such Change of Control does not occur on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date in respect thereof, the prepayment shall be deferred until, and shall be made on, the date on which such Change of Control occurs. The Company shall keep each holder reasonably and timely informed of (i) any such deferral of the date of prepayment, (ii) the date on which such Change of Control and the prepayment are expected to occur, and (iii) any determination by the Company that efforts to effect such Change of Control have ceased or been abandoned (in which case the offers and acceptances made pursuant to this §8.03 in respect of such Change of Control shall be deemed rescinded). In the event that such Change of Control does not occur on the §8.03 Special Prepayment Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter, the Company shall not permit any Change of Control to occur unless it delivers a new §8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay and otherwise complies anew with the provisions of this §8.03.

(e) For the purposes of this §8.03, a “Change of Control” shall mean (i) any event whereby any Person or Persons that would be considered a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, the regulations promulgated thereunder or Schedule 13D promulgated by the Commission (or any successor section, regulation or form), other than any Persons listed on Schedule 8.03 and any other officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries admitted as a member of the Company hereafter in the ordinary course of business, shall in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, control or own (beneficially or otherwise) more than 35% of the aggregate Capital Stock of the Company, or (ii) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Company by any Person or Persons (other than any of the Key Principals).

§8.04. Allocation of Partial Prepayments . In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes, the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

 

18


§8.05. Maturity; Surrender, etc. In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section VIII, the principal amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and the applicable Make-Whole Amount as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall, upon written request therefor by the Company, be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note without the consent of the holder of the Note to whom such amount is payable.

§8.06. Purchase of Notes . The Company will not, and will not permit any Affiliate to, purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes. The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment, prepayment or purchase of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

§8.07. Make-Whole Amount . The term “ Make-Whole Amount ” means, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

Called Principal ” means, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to §8.02 or §8.03 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to §12.01, as the context requires.

Discounted Value ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

Reinvestment Yield ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield generated by (a) linearly interpolating the yields by Bloomberg Financial Market Services, as of 10:00 a.m., eastern standard time, on the second (2nd) Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” (or such other display as may replace Page PX1) for the most actively traded (also known as “on the run”) U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity between (1) the most actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than the Remaining Average Life and (2) the most actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life, or (b) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury

 

19


Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second (2nd) Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in U.S. Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of the Settlement Date. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the coupon of the applicable Note.

Remaining Average Life ” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

Remaining Scheduled Payments ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Notes, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to §8.02, §8.03 or §12.01.

Settlement Date ” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to §8.02 or §8.03 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to §12.01, as the context requires.

SECTION IX. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

§9.01. Compliance with Law . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, and will obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.02. Insurance . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles, co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves

 

20


are maintained with respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.

§9.03. Maintenance of Properties . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this §9.03 shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Company has concluded that such discontinuance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.04. Payment of Taxes and Claims . The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, file all tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax or assessment or claims if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Company or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and by appropriate actions, and the Company or a Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor to the extent required by GAAP on the books of the Company or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes and assessments in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.05. Legal Existence, etc. Subject to §10.02, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its limited liability company existence. Subject to §10.02, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the legal existence of each of its Subsidiaries (unless merged into the Company or a Subsidiary) and all rights and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, right or franchise could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

§9.06. Priority Obligations . The Company will ensure that its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Notes will at all times rank at least pari passu , without preference or priority, with all of the outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Company.

SECTION X. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

§10.01. Transactions with Affiliates . The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into, directly or indirectly, any transaction or group of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (other than the Company or another

 

21


Subsidiary), except in the ordinary course and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

§10.02. Merger, Consolidation, etc.; Business

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consolidate with or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person (except that a Subsidiary may consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Company), unless:

(i) the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as an entirety, as the case may be (the “ Successor ”), shall be a solvent Person (other than a Governmental Authority) organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and, if the Company is consolidating or merging with another Person (or is conveying, transferring or leasing its assets to another Person) and the Company is not the Successor, (A) such Person shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes (pursuant to such agreements and instruments as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders) and (B) the Company shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel, or other independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; and

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

No such conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall have the effect of releasing the Company or any successor thereto that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this §10.02 from its liability under this Agreement or the Notes.

(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

§10.03. Indebtedness . The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness other than:

(a) Indebtedness existing as of the Closing and set forth in Schedule 5.18 ;

 

22


(b) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary owed to the Company or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

(c) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary in addition to Indebtedness otherwise permitted pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this §10.03, provided that on the date that such Subsidiary incurs or otherwise becomes liable with respect to such Indebtedness and immediately after giving effect thereto, (i) no Default or Event of Default exists, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness in respect of all Subsidiaries plus (without duplication) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens permitted under clause (k) of §10.04 does not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Company (calculated as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter);

(d) Indebtedness renewing, extending or refunding any Indebtedness permitted by §10.03(a), provided that (i) the terms and conditions of such renewal, extension or refund, taken as a whole, are not materially more burdensome than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being renewed, extended or refunded, (ii) such renewal, extension or refund does not increase the principal amount of the Indebtedness so renewed, extended or refunded and (iii) immediately after such renewal, extension or refund, no Default or Event of Default shall exist; and

(e) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary constituting a contingent obligation of such Subsidiary as the general partner or, to the extent of its capital contribution, a limited partner, of any limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether now existing or newly created, in respect of any Indebtedness of such fund, for so long as such Indebtedness remains a contingent obligation and not a primary obligation of such Subsidiary.

§10.04. Liens . The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect thereof, except:

(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges which are not yet due and payable or the payment of which is not at the time required by §5.11;

(b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (i) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or retirement benefits, or (ii) to secure (or to obtain letters of credit that secure) the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety bonds, appeal bonds, bids, leases (other than Capital Leases), performance bonds, purchase, construction or sales contracts and other similar obligations, in each case not incurred or made in

 

23


connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property;

(d) leases or subleases granted to others, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances, in each case incidental to, and not interfering with, the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that such Liens do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of such property;

(e) any attachment or judgment Lien, unless the judgment it secures shall not, within sixty (60) days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged within sixty (60) days after the expiration of any such stay;

(f) Liens existing on the date of the Closing and securing the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries referred to in Schedule 5.18 ;

(g) any Lien existing on property of a Person immediately prior to its being consolidated with or merged into the Company or a Subsidiary or its becoming a Subsidiary, or any Lien existing on any property acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary at the time such property is so acquired (whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed), provided that (i) no such Lien shall have been created or assumed in contemplation of such consolidation or merger or such Person’s becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition of property, and (ii) each such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of property so acquired and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating such Lien, other property which is an improvement to or is acquired for specific use in connection with such acquired property;

(h) any Lien created to secure all or any part of the purchase price, or to secure Indebtedness incurred or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction of property (or any improvement thereon) acquired or constructed by the Company or a Subsidiary after the date of the Closing, provided that (i) any such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of such property (or improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed, (ii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the cost to the Company or such Subsidiary of the property (or improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed and (B) the Fair Market Value of such property (or improvement thereon) at the time of such acquisition or construction, and (iii) any such Lien shall be created contemporaneously with, or within one hundred eighty (180) days after, the acquisition or construction of such property;

(i) any Lien renewing, extending or refunding any Lien permitted by this §10.04(f), (g) or (h), provided that (i) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien immediately prior to such extension, renewal or refunding is not increased or the maturity thereof reduced, (ii) such Lien is not extended to any other property, and (iii) immediately after such extension, renewal or refunding no Default or Event of Default would exist;

(j) in the case of a Subsidiary which serves as the general partner of a limited partnership fund managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, any Lien on (x) such

 

24


Subsidiary’s right as a general partner of such limited partnership fund relating to the capital commitments of the limited partners in such limited partnership fund and all rights of such Subsidiary in respect thereof, including, without limitation, the right to call and receive such capital contributions and compel and enforce payment thereof, and (y) such Subsidiary’s interests and rights as a general partner of any special purpose vehicle owned by such limited partnership fund, provided that such Subsidiary’s right to receive distributions, including, without limitation, any incentive allocation, from such special purpose vehicle is not Material and arises from de minimis capital contributions in special purpose vehicles which are required pursuant to the laws of any jurisdiction in which such special purpose vehicles are organized; and

(k) other Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (j), provided that the aggregate Indebtedness secured by such Liens plus (without duplication) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of each Subsidiary of the Company outstanding pursuant to §10.03(c), shall not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Company (calculated as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter).

§10.05. Restricted Payments . The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or incur any liability to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a) that so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Company and its Subsidiaries may (i) declare and pay dividends with respect to their respective Capital Stock payable solely in additional shares of their respective Capital Stock, (ii) declare and pay dividends or make distributions in cash solely to their respective members, stockholders, and other equityholders, or declare and pay dividends to be used solely for making payments with respect to the Notes and (iii) repurchase Capital Stock from its equityholders, and (b) the Company may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans or arrangements for management or employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

§10.06. Financial Condition Covenants .

(a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio . The Company will not permit at any time the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0.

(b) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . The Company will not permit at any time the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense to be equal to or less than 4.0 to 1.0.

(c) Consolidated Members’ Capital . The Company will not permit the Consolidated Members’ Capital at the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than $40,000,000.

(d) Assets Under Management . The Company will not permit the Assets Under Management at any time to be less than $20,000,000,000.

§10.07. Restrictions on Dividends . The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to enter into any agreement, instrument or other document (other than this Agreement, the Other Agreements, and the agreements listed on Schedule 5.06 ) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the

 

25


Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of Capital Stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

SECTION XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

An “ Event of Default ” shall exist if any of the following conditions or events shall occur:

(a) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise;

(b) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable;

(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in §7.01(c) or §10.02(a);

(d) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein (other than those referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section XI) and such default is not remedied within thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer obtaining actual knowledge of such default and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such default from any holder of a Note;

(e) any representation or warranty made in writing by or on behalf of the Company or by any officer of the Company or in any writing furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement proves to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on the date as of which made;

(f) the Company or any Subsidiary shall, in respect of any of its Indebtedness which is outstanding in a principal amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least $5,000,000 (excluding the Notes) (i) fail to make any payment (principal, interest, premium or make-whole amount) when due, whether at maturity, at a date fixed for prepayment, upon acceleration or otherwise after any applicable grace period, or (ii) default in the performance or observance of any other provision contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness or pursuant to which such Indebtedness was issued or incurred (which default shall not have been waived), if the effect of such default (or the existence of any condition) is to cause or permit the holder of such Indebtedness or a trustee or agent thereof to cause such Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable prior to its scheduled maturity;

(g) the Company or any Subsidiary (i) is generally not paying, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iv) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, (v) is adjudicated as insolvent or to be liquidated, or (vi) takes corporate action for the

 

26


purpose of any of the foregoing, other than a liquidation of a Subsidiary which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(h) a court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Company or any Subsidiary on behalf of itself, a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any such petition shall be filed against the Company or any Subsidiary and such petition shall not be dismissed within sixty (60) days;

(i) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $5,000,000 which is not covered by an insurance provider or a third party that has agreed to pay indemnification are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which insurance provider or third party is solvent both before and after such payment, and which judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; or

(j) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION XII. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

§12.01. Acceleration .

(a) If an Event of Default with respect to the Company described in Section XI(g) or (h) (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) of Section XI(g) or described in clause (vi) of Section XI(g) by virtue of the fact that such clause encompasses clause (i) of Section XI(g)) has occurred, all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable.

(b) If any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of more than 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may at any time at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.

(c) If any Event of Default described in Section XI(a) or (b) has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of Notes at the time outstanding affected by such Event of Default may at any time, at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes held by it or them to be immediately due and payable.

Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under this §12.01, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, but not limited to, interest accrued thereon from the date of the Default giving rise to such Event of Default at the Default

 

27


Rate) and (y) the Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived. The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Company in the event that the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default, is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.

§12.02. Other Remedies . If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared immediately due and payable under §12.01, the holder of any Note at the time outstanding may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

§12.03. Rescission . At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of §12.01, the holders of not less than 51% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid all overdue interest on the Notes, all principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Notes that are due and payable and are unpaid other than by reason of such declaration, and all interest on such overdue principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any overdue interest in respect of the Notes, at the Default Rate, (b) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section XVII, and (c) no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes. No rescission and annulment under this §12.03 will extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

§12.04. No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc. No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. Without limiting the obligations of the Company under Section XV, the Company will pay to the holder of each Note on demand such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all costs and expenses of such holder incurred in any enforcement or collection under this Section XII, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses and disbursements.

SECTION XIII. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

§13.01. Registration of Notes . The Company shall keep at its principal executive office a register for the registration and registration of transfers of Notes. The name and address

 

28


of each holder of one or more Notes, each transfer thereof and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such register. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Company shall give to any holder of a Note that is an Institutional Investor promptly upon request therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.

§13.02. Transfer and Exchange of Notes . Upon surrender of any Note at the principal executive office of the Company for registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered holder of such Note or his attorney duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the address for notices of each transferee of such Note or part thereof) and upon receipt of any other documents or information required by this Agreement or the Note, the Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder thereof) in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may request and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 . Each such new Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such transfer of Notes. Notes shall not be transferred in denominations of less than $100,000, provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes, one Note may be in a denomination of less than $100,000. Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have made the representation set forth in §6.02. Prior to the consummation of any transfer of any Note, the holder of such Note will deliver to the Company a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 13.02 confirming that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

§13.03. Replacement of Notes . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which evidence shall be, in the case of an Institutional Investor, notice from such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation), and

(a) in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it ( provided that if the holder of such Note is, or is a nominee for, an original Purchaser or another holder of a Note with a minimum net worth of at least $250,000,000, such Person’s own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be satisfactory), or

(b) in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation thereof,

the Company at its own expense, as soon as practicable thereafter, shall execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Note, dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest shall have

 

29


been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

SECTION XIV. PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

§14.01. Place of Payment . Subject to §14.02, payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in Los Angeles, California, at the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction. The Company may at any time, by notice to each holder of a Note, change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment shall be either the principal office of the Company in the United States or the principal office of a bank or trust company in the United States.

§14.02. Home Office Payment . So long as you or your nominee shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in §14.01 or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due, including payment at maturity, on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below your name in Schedule A, or by such other method or at such other address as you shall have from time to time specified to the Company in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of any Note, you shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal executive office or at the place of payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to §14.01. Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by you or your nominee, you will, at your election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to §13.02. The Company will afford the benefits of this §14.02 to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by you under this Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as you have made in this §14.02.

SECTION XV. EXPENSES, ETC.

§15.01. Transaction Expenses . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company will pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of a special counsel and, if reasonably required, local or other counsel) incurred by you and each Other Purchaser or holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement or the Notes (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including, without limitation: (a) the reasonable costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement or the Notes or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or the Notes, or by reason of being a holder of any Note, and (b) the reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Notes; provided that, (x) with respect to attorneys’

 

30


fees, costs and disbursements payable by the Company pursuant to this §15.01, the Company shall not be obligated to pay for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively) and, to the extent that local or other counsel is reasonably required, the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of no more than one firm of such local or other counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively), and (y) with respect to financial advisors’ fees payable by the Company pursuant to this §15.01, the Company shall not be obligated to pay for financial advisors’ fees and related costs and expenses of more than one firm of financial advisors (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent you, the Other Purchasers, and all other holders of Notes collectively). The Company will pay, and will hold you and each other holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses if any, of brokers and finders (other than those retained by you).

§15.02. Survival . The obligations of the Company under this Section XV will survive the payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, and the termination of this Agreement.

SECTION XVI. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the purchase or transfer by you of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of you or any other holder of a Note. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION XVII. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

§17.01. Requirements . This Agreement and the Notes may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof or of the Notes may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section I, II, III, IV, V, VI or XXI hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be effective as to you unless consented to by you in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section XII relating to acceleration or rescission, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of interest or of the Make-Whole Amount on, the Notes, (ii) change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (iii) amend any of Sections VIII, XI(a), XI(b), XII, XVII or XX.

 

31


§17.02. Solicitation of Holders of Notes .

(a) Solicitation . The Company will provide each registered holder of the Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section XVII to each registered holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

(b) Payment . The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security, to any holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes or any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.

§17.03. Binding Effect, etc. Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section XVII applies equally to all holders of Notes and is binding upon them and upon each future holder of any Note and upon the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein, the term “ this Agreement ” and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

§17.04. Notes held by Company, etc. Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

32


SECTION XVIII. NOTICES.

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

(i) if to you or your nominee, to you or it at the address specified for such communications in Schedule A , or at such other address as you or it shall have specified to the Company in writing,

(ii) if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or

(iii) if to the Company, to the Company at its address set forth at the beginning hereof to the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to the General Counsel, or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.

Notices under this Section XVIII will be deemed given only when actually received.

SECTION XIX. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by you at the Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to you, may be reproduced by you by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other similar process and you may destroy any original document so reproduced. The Company agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by you in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section XIX shall not prohibit the Company or any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction.

SECTION XX. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

For the purposes of this Section XX, “ Confidential Information ” means information delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to §7.01 and §7.03) that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by you as being confidential information of the Company, such Subsidiary or any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as a general partner or an investment advisor, provided that such term does not include information

 

33


that (a) was (i) publicly known or (ii) otherwise known to you prior to the time of such disclosure (other than from a source that you knew or should reasonably have known was bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect to such information), (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by you or any Person acting on your behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to you from a source that you knew or reasonably should have known was bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect to such information or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to you under §7.01 that are otherwise publicly available. You will not use the Confidential Information for any purpose (including, without limitation, (x) to compete with the business of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as a general partner or an investment advisor or (y) in connection with the creation or management of any investment fund for which you act or any of your affiliates acts as a general partner or an investment advisor) other than purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by you in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to you, provided that you may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) your trustees, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates who need to know such information for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and are directed to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section XX and are prohibited from using the Confidential Information other than for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes, (ii) your financial advisors and other professional advisors who need to know such information for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes and agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section XX and are prohibited from using the Confidential Information other than for purposes directly related to your holding of the Notes, (iii) any other holder of any Note, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which you sell or offer to sell such Note or any part thereof or any participation therein (but only if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX), (v) any Person from which you offer to purchase any security of the Company (but only if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over you, (vii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about your investment portfolio or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be reasonably necessary or appropriate ( provided that you shall use your reasonable best efforts to cause such Person to agree in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section XX) (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to you, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which you are a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent you may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under your Notes and this Agreement. Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section XX as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a

 

34


holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section XX.

SECTION XXI. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

You shall have the right to substitute any one of your Affiliates as the purchaser of the Notes that you have agreed to purchase hereunder, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall be signed by both you and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s agreement to be bound by this Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by such Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations set forth in Section VI. Upon receipt of such notice, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section XXI), such word shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of you. In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to you all of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice of such transfer, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section XXI), such word shall no longer be deemed to refer to such Affiliate, but shall refer to you, and you shall have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.

SECTION XXII. MISCELLANEOUS.

§22.01. Successors and Assigns . All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

§22.02. Payments Due on Non-Business Days . Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

§22.03. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

§22.04. Construction . Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent an express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant.

Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made by the Company for purposes of this Agreement, the same shall be done by the Company in accordance with GAAP, to the extent applicable, except where such principles are inconsistent with the requirements of this Agreement.

 

35


For the avoidance of doubt, all Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part hereof.

§22.05. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

§22.06. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

36


If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of agreement on the accompanying counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company.

 

Very truly yours,
OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER         
  Name: David M. Kirchheimer, CPA
 

Title:   Principal, Chief Financial

  and Administrative Officer

By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH         
  Name: Bruce A. Karsh
  Title: President

 

Signature Page to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC Note Purchase Agreement


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

By:   / S / E STELLE D. S IMSOLO      
  Name: Estelle D. Simsolo
  Title: Director – Private Placements

 

Signature Page to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC Note Purchase Agreement


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:   / S / M ARK E. K ISHLER       
  Name:Mark E. Kishler
  Title: Its Authorized Representative

 

Signature Page to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC Note Purchase Agreement


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

 

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)
          By:   / S / R OBERT W. E CCLES         
  Name: Robert W. Eccles
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC Note Purchase Agreement


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA
By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)
            By:   / S / R OBERT W. E CCLES         
  Name: Robert W. Eccles
  Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC Note Purchase Agreement


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

AXA EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   / S / A MY J UDD         
  Name: Amy Judd
  Title:   Investment Officer

 

Signature Page to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC Note Purchase Agreement


The foregoing is hereby agreed to

as of the date thereof.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY
By: AllianceBernstein LP, its Investment Advisor
By:   / S / A MY J UDD         
  Name: Amy Judd
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC Note Purchase Agreement


SCHEDULE B

DEFINED TERMS

As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Section hereof following such term:

Affiliates ” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company.

Agreement ” means this Note Purchase Agreement.

Assets Under Management ” means the aggregate amount of the assets in investment funds managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which it acts as a general partner or an investment advisor, the amount of which is used by the Company or any such Subsidiary in calculating the management fees charged by the Company or such Subsidiary with respect thereto, plus or minus, as applicable, any change in the market value of the private partnership funds of the Company or any such Subsidiary.

Business Day ” means (a) for the purposes of §8.07 only, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed, and (b) for the purposes of any other provision of this Agreement, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Los Angeles, California are required or authorized to be closed.

Capital Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, membership or other interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all membership interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in a limited liability company, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

Change of Control ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(e).

Closing ” has the meaning set forth in Section III.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

 

Sch. B-1


Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any successor thereto.

Company ” means Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company.

Competitor ” means any Person whose business is in substantial part in competition with the business of the Company or its Affiliates, other than any bank, trust company, savings and loan association, insurance company, broker dealer or any similar financial institution or entity.

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

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any date of determination, the sum of (1) Consolidated Net Income for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company, plus , (2) to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, and without duplication, the sum of (a) income tax expense, (b) interest expense (net of interest income), amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness, (c) depreciation and amortization expenses, (d) amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs, (e) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash losses on sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business); provided that the amounts referred to in this clause (e) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $4,000,000 for any fiscal year of the Company, and (f) any other non-cash charges, and minus , (3) to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period any non-cash income, all as determined on a consolidated basis, for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company.

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of the four consecutive fiscal quarters pursuant to any determination under §10.06(a), (i) if any Material Disposition is made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any such period, an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such property for such period shall reduce (if such attributed Consolidated EBITDA is positive) or shall increase (if such attributed Consolidated EBITDA is negative) the Consolidated EBITDA for such period and (ii) if any Material Acquisition is made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any such period, the Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or Capital Stock or series of related acquisitions of property or Capital Stock that (a) constitutes assets comprising in excess of 51% of an operating unit of a business of the seller or constitutes in excess of 51% of the Capital Stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any disposition of property or Capital Stock or series of related dispositions of property or Capital Stock that yields gross proceeds to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any date of determination, interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Leases) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the Company with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness

 

Sch. B-2


of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges paid or owed with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and other Indebtedness, and net costs under Hedging Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, interest that accrues on Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the type described in §10.03(e), for so long as such Indebtedness remains a contingent obligation and not a primary obligation of such Subsidiary.

Consolidated Members’ Capital ” means, at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries under members’ capital at such date.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the consolidated income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) except as required otherwise in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”, the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company) in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Company or such Subsidiary in the form of cash dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation or Requirements of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

Consolidated Total Assets ” means, at any date, the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries which would, in conformity with GAAP, be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, after eliminating all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between the Company and its Subsidiaries, Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the type described in §10.03(e) and all other terms required to be eliminated in accordance with GAAP.

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

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 ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Sch. B-3


Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003, as amended from time to time, between the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

Default ” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means that rate of interest that is the greater of (i) 2% per annum above the rate of interest stated in clause (a) of the first paragraph of the Notes or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Company under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section XI.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

 

Sch. B-4


Fair Market Value ” means at any time and with respect to any property, the sale value of such property that would be realized in an arm’s-length sale at such time between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller (neither being under a compulsion to buy or sell).

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America, except for the consolidation of investment funds advised by the Company and other entities that may be required by (a) Emerging Issues Task Force Issues No. 04-05, FIN 46 R or (b) similar subsequent authoritative accounting pronouncements.

Governmental Authority ” means

(a) the government of

(i) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or

(ii) any jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or

(b) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

Guarantee ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation (except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such Person:

(a) to purchase such Indebtedness or obligation or any property constituting security therefor;

(b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such Indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or other balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any other Person or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such Indebtedness or obligation;

(c) to lease properties or to purchase properties or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or obligation of the ability of any other Person to make payment of the Indebtedness or obligation; or

(d) otherwise to assure the owner of such Indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof.

In any computation of the Indebtedness or other liabilities of the obligor under any Guarantee, the Indebtedness or other obligations that are the subject of such Guarantee shall be assumed to be direct obligations of such obligor.

 

Sch. B-5


Hazardous Material ” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes, petroleum products or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage, or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.

Hedging Agreement ” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement.

holder ” means, with respect to any Note, the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to §13.01.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, at any time, without duplication,

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

(b) all obligations of such Person with respect to deposits or advances of any kind;

(c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

(d) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid;

(e) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person;

(f) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business);

(g) all Indebtedness of Affiliates of the Company or any other Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed;

(h) all obligations of such Person under a Capital Lease;

(j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty;

(k) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances; and

(l) all net liabilities of such Person under Hedging Agreements; and

 

Sch. B-6


(m) all Guarantees by such Person with respect to liabilities of a type described in clauses (a) through (l) above.

The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other Person (including any general or limited partnership in which such Person is a partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

INHAM Exemption ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(e) hereof.

Institutional Investor ” means (a) any original purchaser of a Note, (b) any holder of a Note holding (together with one or more of its Affiliates) more than 20% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and (c) any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form.

Key Principals ” means Howard Marks, Bruce Karsh, Sheldon Stone, Stephen Kaplan, Kevin Clayton, Richard Masson, Larry Keele, John Frank and David Kirchheimer.

Lien ” means, (a) with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements) and (b) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Make-Whole Amount ” has the meaning set forth in §8.07.

Material ” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes.

Memorandum ” has the meaning set forth in §5.05.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

NAIC Annual Statement ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

Notes ” has the meaning set forth in Section I.

 

Sch. B-7


Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other officer of the Company whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.

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

Other Purchasers ” has the meaning set forth in Section II.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any successor thereto.

Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, business entity or Governmental Authority.

Plan ” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is or, within the preceding five (5) years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five (5) years, have been made or were required to be made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.

property ” or “ properties ” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal property of any kind, tangible or intangible, choate or inchoate.

PTE ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

PTE 95-60 ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(a) hereof.

QPAM Exemption ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02(d) hereof.

Required Holders ” means, at any time, the holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates).

Requirement of Law ” means, with respect to any Person, the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or order or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or bringing upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer ” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Company with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this agreement.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such shares of Capital Stock of the Company.

 

Sch. B-8


§8.03 Notice and Offer to Prepay ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(b) hereof.

§8.03(c) Response ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(c) hereof.

§8.03 Special Prepayment Date ” has the meaning set forth in §8.03(b) hereof.

Securities ” or “ Security ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

Senior Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer of the Company.

Source ” has the meaning set forth in §6.02 hereof.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more Subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more Subsidiaries of the parent, including, in either (a) or (b) above, any such entity which is a general partner or an investment advisor of an investment fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, “Subsidiary” does not include any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which it acts as a general partner or an investment advisor.

Successor ” has the meaning set forth in §10.02.

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any Subsidiary one hundred percent (100%) of all of the equity interests (except directors’ qualifying shares) and voting interests of which are owned by any one or more of the Company and the Company’s other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries at such time.

 

Sch. B-9


EXHIBIT 4.04(a)

FORM OF OPINION OF

SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

 

Exh. 4.04(a)-10


EXHIBIT 4.04(b)

FORM OF OPINION OF

SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE PURCHASERS

November 8, 2006

To Each of the Purchasers

Listed on Schedule A to the

Note Purchase Agreements

Referred to Below

 

  Re: Oaktree Capital Management, LLC:
       $50,000,000 in Aggregate Principal Amount of
       5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as your special counsel in connection with your purchase today of $50,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016 (the “Notes”) issued by Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Company”), pursuant to each of the Note Purchase Agreements dated as of November 8, 2006 (collectively, the “Agreements”) among the Company and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto (the “Purchasers”). All capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings assigned thereto, directly or by cross-reference, in the Agreements.

In this regard, we have examined executed counterparts of the Agreements executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchasers. We also have examined the executed Notes being issued and delivered pursuant to the Agreements on the date hereof. In addition, we have examined originals (or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of such other instruments, certificates, records and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and exclusions set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Agreements constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

2. The Notes have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

 

Exh. 4.04(b)-1


3. Neither the execution, delivery or performance of the Agreements by the Company, nor the execution, delivery or performance of the Notes by the Company, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor the fulfillment by the Company of the terms, conditions or provisions thereof, will violate the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of January 1, 2004, as amended and as presently in effect.

4. On the basis of the representations contained in §§ 5.15 and 6.01 of the Agreements, it is not necessary, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Notes to you under the circumstances contemplated by the Agreements, to register the Notes under the Securities Act or to qualify an indenture with respect thereto under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

We have reviewed the opinion letter of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (“MT&O”), special counsel to the Company, dated the date hereof and delivered to you pursuant to Section 4.04(a) of the Agreements. Such opinion letter is satisfactory in form and scope to us and we believe that you are justified in relying thereon.

With your permission we have assumed the following: (a) the authenticity of original documents and genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed; (d) the due authorization, execution and delivery on behalf of the respective parties thereto of the Agreements and the Notes and, except as specifically covered in the opinions set forth above, the legal, valid and binding effect thereof on each of such parties; and (e) the absence of any evidence extrinsic to the provisions of the written agreements between the parties that the parties intended a meaning contrary to that expressed by those provisions.

Our opinion that any document is valid, binding or enforceable in accordance with its terms is qualified as to:

(a) limitations imposed by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium, or other laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally;

(b) the unenforceability under certain circumstances of provisions imposing penalties; and

(c) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

We are not opining on any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America.

 

Exh. 4.04(b)-2


This opinion letter is solely for your benefit in connection with the transaction referred to in the first paragraph hereof and may not be relied upon, or used by, circulated, quoted or referred to, nor copies hereof delivered to, any other person without our prior written approval, except that, without our prior written approval, (a) copies of this opinion letter may be provided (i) to your legal counsel, (ii) to prospective transferees of the Notes, (iii) to such prospective transferees’ legal counsel, (iv) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto, (v) to any state insurance commissioner or other governmental or regulatory authority with authority over you and (vi) as required by law or applicable regulation and (b) copies of this opinion letter may be provided to and this opinion may be relied upon by transferees of the Notes. We disclaim any obligation to update this opinion letter for events occurring or coming to our attention after the date hereof.

Very truly yours,

 

Exh. 4.04(b)-3


EXHIBIT 13.02

FORM OF CERTIFICATE REGARDING EXEMPTION FROM

THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED

Oaktree Capital Management, LLC

333 South Grand Ave., 28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

In connection with the undersigned’s proposed transfer of $            original principal amount of 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016 of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, the undersigned hereby represents that such transfer shall be made pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Name of Note Holder
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Date:    
 

 

-i-

Exhibit 4.11

EXHIBIT 1

FORM OF NOTE

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT FOR ANY SUCH DISPOSITION (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

5.82% SENIOR NOTE DUE NOVEMBER 8, 2016

 

No. [            ]

   November 8, 2006

PPN 67390# AD 5

   [ $             ]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to [                    ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [                    ] DOLLARS on November 8, 2016, with interest (computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year of twelve (12) thirty (30) day months) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 5.82% per annum from the date hereof, payable semiannually in arrears, on the 8th day of May and November in each year, commencing with the May next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements referred to below), payable semiannually as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 7.82% or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from time to time in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate.

Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at the principal office of the Company in Los Angeles, California or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements referred to below.

This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to separate Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of November 8, 2006 (as from time to time

 

Exh. 1-1


amended, the “Note Purchase Agreements”), between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section XX of the Note Purchase Agreements and (ii) to have made the representations set forth in Section VI of the Note Purchase Agreements.

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements, upon (a) surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and (b) delivery to the Company by the holder of this Note of the certificate in the form of Exhibit 13.02 to the Note Purchase Agreements confirming that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to any sale or other disposition of this Note, the holder of this Note is required to endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

This Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreements, but not otherwise.

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements, occurs, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreements.

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

Exh. 1-2

Exhibit 4.12

ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

This ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Assumption and Guaranty ”), dated as of May 25, 2007, is made by Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Guarantor ”), and Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, (together, the “ Co-Obligors ”) in favor of each of the holders of a Note (each “ Note Holder ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2006 (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated and in effect from time to time, the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”), between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Note Issuer ”) and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of the Note Issuer’s 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Note Issuer and Holders constituting the Required Holders have, through that certain Amendment and Waiver to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “ Amendment ”), agreed to amend certain provisions of, and waive certain provisions of or defaults under, the Note Purchase Agreement in order to permit and facilitate the Restructuring (as defined therein);

WHEREAS, the Amendment provides that the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall execute this Assumption and Guaranty;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Restructuring, the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall receive valuable consideration from the Note Issuer, including, without limitation, in the form of the transfer to them by the Note Issuer of certain business assets and the conferral upon them by the Note Issuer of continued use of the proceeds from the initial sale and issuance of the Notes as capital following the Restructuring;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein contained and set forth in the Amendment, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS.

 

  §1.1 Co-Obligors’ Assumption .

The Co-Obligors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally assume the duty of due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes and agree to become jointly and severally liable with the Note Issuer for the due and punctual performance and payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) and at all times thereafter by the Note Issuer of all obligations contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes (collectively, the “ Obligations ”).

 

1


  §1.2 Joint and Several Liability .

The Co-Obligors and the Note Issuer (collectively, the “ Obligors ”) agree that they are jointly and severally liable to the Note Holders for the performance and payment in full when due of all of the Obligations, and that such liability is independent of the obligations of each other Obligor. Each obligation, promise, covenant, representation and warranty in the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes shall be deemed to have been made by, and be binding upon, each Obligor. The Note Holders may bring an action against any Obligor without regard to whether an action is brought against any other Obligor.

 

  §1.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Obligations .

The obligations of the Co-Obligors shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance or payment in full of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations with respect to the Note Issuer, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations as against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, or this Assumption and Guaranty, by any waiver or modification of any provision thereof or hereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations by the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Co-Obligors or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Co-Obligors as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations).

 

  §1.4 Defenses of Note Issuer Waived .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Co-Obligors waive any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Note Issuer or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof as against the Note Issuer from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Note Issuer, other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations. The Co-Obligors hereby acknowledge that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Note Issuer or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Note Issuer, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Co-Obligors hereunder except to the extent that the Obligations have been performed and paid in full.

 

  §1.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Co-Obligors by virtue hereof, upon the

 

2


failure of the Note Issuer to perform or pay any Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Co-Obligors hereby promise to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unperformed or unpaid Obligations. Upon performance or payment by any Co-Obligor of any of the Obligations as provided above, all rights of such Co-Obligor against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all of the Obligations.

SECTION 2. GUARANTY OF OBLIGATIONS.

 

  §2.1 Guaranty .

The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise and at all times thereafter) and performance by the Obligors of all obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, and this Assumption and Guaranty (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon this Assumption and Guaranty notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

 

  §2.2 Guaranty of Payment .

The Guarantor agrees that this Assumption and Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment and performance when due of all Guaranteed Obligations and not of collection and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, waives any right to require that any resort be had by the holder of any Note to any remedies it may have against the Obligors.

 

  §2.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Guaranty .

The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, this Assumption and Guaranty or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or by any other act or

 

3


omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations).

 

  §2.4 Defenses of Obligors Waived .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Obligors or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof as against the Obligors from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Obligors, other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Obligors or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Obligors, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Guarantor hereunder except to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations have been performed or paid in full.

 

  §2.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Obligors to perform or pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unpaid Guaranteed Obligations. Upon performance or payment by the Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations as provided above, all rights of the Guarantor against the Obligors arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 3. OTHER PROVISIONS.

 

  §3.1 Effectiveness .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall become effective upon the transfer of assets by OCM as part of the Restructuring and is expressly conditioned upon the effectiveness thereof.

 

  §3.2 Termination .

This Assumption and Guaranty (a) shall terminate when (i) the Note Purchase Agreements, the Other Agreements and the Notes have been terminated or (ii) all of the Obligations and Guaranteed Obligations have been performed and paid in full or otherwise satisfied, and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time performance or payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation or Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Note Issuer, the

 

4


Co-Obligors, or the Guarantor upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any of them or otherwise.

 

  §3.3 Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and other agreements made by the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor for the benefit of the Note Holders in this Assumption and Guaranty shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement) whether so expressed or not.

 

  §3.4 Waivers; Amendment .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Guarantor, the Co-Obligors and the Required Holders.

 

  §3.5 Severability .

Any provision of this Assumption and Guaranty that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

  §3.6 Counterparts .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

  §3.7 Governing Law .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

[The remainder of this page is left intentionally blank]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor have duly executed and delivered this Assumption and Guarantee Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.

By: OCM Holdings I, LLC, its General Partner

By: Oaktree Holdings, LLC, its Managing Member

By: Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, its Managing Member

 

By:  

/s/ TODD MOLZ

  Name:

  Todd Molz

  Title:

  Senior Vice President and Secretary

 

By:  

/s/ LISA ARAKAKI

  Name:   Lisa Arakaki
  Title:   Vice President and Assistant Secretary

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.

By: Oaktree Holdings, Inc., its General Partner

 

By:  

/s/ TODD MOLZ

  Name:   Todd Molz
  Title:   Vice President and Secretary

 

By:  

/s/ LISA ARAKAKI

  Name:   Lisa Arakaki
  Title:   Vice President and Assistant Secretary

OAKTREE MEDIA INVESTMENTS, L.P.

By: Oaktree Media Holdings, Inc., its General Partner

 

By:  

/s/ TODD MOLZ

  Name:   Todd Molz
  Title:   Vice President and Secretary

 

By:  

/s/ LISA ARAKAKI

  Name:   Lisa Arakaki
  Title:   Vice President and Assistant Secretary

Exhibit 4.13

AMENDMENT AND WAIVER TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This AMENDMENT AND WAIVER TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Amendment”) is entered into as of May 16, 2007 by and among Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (“ OCM ”) and holders (“ Holders ”) of the Notes (as hereinafter defined) party hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, OCM is contemplating a Restructuring (as hereinafter defined) in connection with an equity offering;

WHEREAS, the Holders hold Notes issued by OCM pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement and relating to the respective issuances of Senior Notes thereunder (together, the “ Notes ”); and

WHEREAS , OCM and the Holders have agreed to amend the Note Purchase Agreement in order to permit the Restructuring, to make certain other changes thereto and, to the extent provided herein, to waive any Default or Change of Control caused by the Restructuring, in each case on the terms and conditions expressly set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Amendment shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Note Purchase Agreement.

(b) As used herein, the term “Note Purchase Agreement” means, in the aggregate and each of them, (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 25, 2001 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 7.93% Senior Notes due June 25, 2011; (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 14, 2004 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014; (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 6, 2006 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016; and (iv) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 8, 2006 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016, in each case, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

- 1 -


SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

OCM represents and warrants to each Holder that:

§2.1 Organization, Power and Authority .

(a) OCM is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California, and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. OCM has the limited liability company power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Amendment and to perform the provisions hereof.

(b) Following the Restructuring, each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media, and, should it exist, OpCo 4 (each as hereinafter defined) will be a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and will be duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification will be required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Following the Restructuring, each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4 will have the power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it will purport to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it will transact and propose to transact, and to execute the Assumption and Guaranty (as hereinafter defined).

§2.2 Authorization, etc .

(a) This Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of OCM, and this Amendment constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of OCM enforceable against OCM in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(b) Immediately prior to the Restructuring, the Assumption and Guaranty will be duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4, and, upon execution thereof, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting

 

- 2 -


the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

§2.3 Operating Agreements and Other Information .

OCM has furnished to each Holder and its special counsel true, correct and complete copies of its operating agreement and any required resolutions of its members and the operating agreement and any required resolutions of the partners of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4, in each case authorizing the execution, delivery and acceptance of this Amendment, the Assumption and Guaranty and the Restructuring, as applicable.

§2.4 Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc .

(a) The execution, delivery and performance by OCM of this Amendment and the consummation by OCM of the Restructuring will not (i) except pursuant to amendments, waivers or consents received prior to the consummation of the Restructuring, contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of OCM or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, operating agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which OCM or any Subsidiary is bound or by which OCM or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to OCM or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision or other statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to OCM or any Subsidiary.

(b) The execution, delivery and performance by Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4 of the Assumption and Guaranty and the consummation of the Restructuring will not (i) except pursuant to amendments, waivers or consents received prior to the consummation of the Restructuring, contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media or, should it exist, OpCo 4, or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, operating agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media or, should it exist, OpCo 4, or any Subsidiary is bound or by which Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media or, should it exist, OpCo 4, or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media or, should it exist, OpCo 4, or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision or other statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media or, should it exist, OpCo 4, or any Subsidiary.

 

- 3 -


§2.5 Beneficial Ownership and Control .

At the completion of the Restructuring, (a) no Person or Persons that would be considered a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, the regulations promulgated thereunder or Schedule 13D promulgated by the Commission (or any successor section, regulation or form), other than any Persons listed on Schedule 8.03 of the Note Purchase Agreement and any other officer of OCM or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Restructuring admitted as a Member of OCM prior to the Restructuring in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Note Purchase Agreement, shall in the aggregate beneficially control or own more than 35% of the aggregate Capital Stock of the Company; and (b) no Person or Persons other than the Key Principals shall hold direct or indirect Control of the Company.

§2.6 Solvency .

Each of the OCM, Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4, is not and, immediately after giving effect to the Restructuring and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Amendment and the Assumption and Guaranty, will not be, insolvent as defined under any applicable federal or state law.

§2.7 Absence of Defaults .

At the Effective Date, after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall exist.

SECTION 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

The Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended as of the Effective Date in the following respects:

§3.1 Amendments to Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement .

(a) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following sentence to the end of the definition of “Affiliates”:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of §10.01, no member of the Oaktree Domestic Operating Group shall be considered an “Affiliate” of any other member of the Oaktree Domestic Operating Group.

(b) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “Assets Under Management” in its entirety, and replacing it with the following in lieu thereof:

“Assets Under Management” means the aggregate amount of the assets in investment funds managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which it or its Subsidiary acts as a general partner or an investment

 

- 4 -


advisor, the amount of which is used by the Company or any such Subsidiary in calculating the management fees charged by the Company or such Subsidiary with respect thereto, plus or minus, as applicable, any change in the market value of the private partnership funds of the Company or any such Subsidiary.”

(c) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “Company” in its entirety, and replacing it with the following in lieu thereof:

Company” means the Oaktree Domestic Operating Group. All financial statements and financial reports required hereunder by the Company shall be prepared, all financial covenants applicable to the Company shall be calculated, and all financial terms used with respect to the Company’s financial condition, operations and equity shall be interpreted, on a combined basis for the Oaktree Domestic Operating Group, including, without limitation, the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01, the Financial Condition Covenants set forth in Section 10.06, and defined terms such as “Consolidated EBITDA,” “Consolidated Interest Expense,” “Consolidated Members’ Capital,” “Consolidated Net Income,” “Consolidated Total Assets,” “Consolidated Total Debt” and the like. All references herein to “member” in respect of the Company, shall mean “equityholder or partner”, all references herein to “member of the Company” shall mean “equityholder of ControlCo” and all references herein to “officer” in respect of the Company, shall mean “officer, employee or principal.”

(d) The definition of “Consolidated Members’ Capital” contained in Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following after the words “at such date” at the conclusion thereof:

“without giving effect to any non-cash charges resulting from the vesting or issuance of equity to employees, principals or others.”

(e) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following to the end of the lettered clause beginning with the words “all Guarantees by such Person” in the definition of “Indebtedness” therein:

“including without limitation, for the avoidance of doubt, all Guarantees of such type in respect of liabilities of Affiliates.”

(f) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the last sentence of the definition of “Subsidiary” therein and replacing it with the following in lieu thereof:

 

- 5 -


“Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, “Subsidiary” does not include any investment fund which is managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for which it or its Subsidiary acts as a general partner or an investment manager.”

(g) Schedule B of the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following defined terms thereto in appropriate alphabetical order:

Assumption and Guaranty ” means an Assumption and Guaranty Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, by and among Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4, dated as of the date of the transfers of assets by OCM made as part of the Restructuring.

“ControlCo” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

“Oaktree Domestic Operating Group” means each entity included within the Oaktree Operating Group other than Oaktree (Cayman).

“Oaktree Operating Group” means Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media, OCM, Oaktree (Cayman) and, should it exist and be the transferee of assets from OCM made as part of the Restructuring, OpCo 4, which together shall own all of the rights and obligations owned by OCM prior to the Restructuring.

Oaktree Capital I ” means Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership created in connection with the Restructuring, which shall be a guarantor of the Notes pursuant to the Assumption and Guaranty.

Oaktree Capital II ” means Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership created in connection with the Restructuring, which shall be a Co-Obligor of the Notes pursuant to the Assumption and Guaranty.

Oaktree (Cayman) ” means Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership created in connection with the Restructuring.

“Oaktree Media” means Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership created in connection with the Restructuring, which shall be a Co-Obligor of the Notes pursuant to the Assumption and Guaranty.

“OCM” means Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and successor to Oaktree Capital Management,

 

- 6 -


LLC by conversion, which shall remain an obligor under the Notes.

OpCo 4 ” means one or more Delaware limited partnerships or other entities created in connection with the Restructuring and necessary or convenient to hold certain assets or investments separately from the other members of the Oaktree Operating Group, and which shall be a Co-Obligor of the Notes pursuant to the Assumption and Guaranty.

“Restructuring” means the (i) the formation of ControlCo which will, by exchange, contribution or merger of a wholly owned subsidiary into OCM, hold all of the outstanding equity interests in OCM, provided that immediately thereafter all of the equity interests of ControlCo will be held directly or indirectly by the Persons that held the equity interests in OCM immediately prior thereto; (ii) the contribution or other transfer by ControlCo of all of the equity interests in OCM to a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of ControlCo; (iii) the conversion of OCM from a California limited liability company to a Delaware limited partnership; (iv) the transfer of assets, equity interests, properties and contracts from OCM to the other members of the Oaktree Operating Group in exchange for equity interests in such other members of the Oaktree Operating Group; and (v) the transfer or distribution by OCM of the equity interests in the other members of the Oaktree Operating Group to ControlCo or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of ControlCo.

§3.2 Amendment to Section 9.05 .

Section 9.05 is hereby amended by deleting the words “limited liability company” in the first sentence thereof.

§3.3 Amendment to Section 10.01 .

Section 10.01 is hereby amended by deleting the words “The Company will not” at the beginning of such section, and inserting the words “Except pursuant to the transactions constituting the Restructuring, the Company will not” in their place.

§3.4 Amendment to Section 10.02(a) .

Section 10.02(a) is hereby amended by deleting the words “The Company will not” at the beginning of such section, and inserting the words “Except pursuant to the transactions constituting the Restructuring, the Company will not” in their place.

 

- 7 -


§3.5 Amendment to Section 10.05 .

Section 10.05 is hereby amended by inserting at the end of such section the following:

“and (c) pursuant to the transactions constituting the Restructuring.”

§3.6 Amendment to Section 10.06(c) .

Section 10.06(c) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in lieu thereof:

(c) Consolidated Members’ Capital. The Company will not permit the Consolidated Members’ Capital at the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than $115,000,000.

SECTION 4. WAIVERS

§4.1 Waiver of Section 8.03 .

Subject to the representation in Section 2.5 above, the Holders hereby acknowledge and agree that the transactions constituting the Restructuring shall not constitute a Change of Control under the Note Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, the Holders waive any right they may have under the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes resulting from a Change of Control by virtue of the Restructuring, including any right to require the Company to prepay the Notes pursuant to Section 8.03. The waiver contained in this Section 4.1 is expressly limited to the Restructuring, and no waiver is given hereby for any other transaction or issuance or transfer of equity interests, direct or indirect, in OCM or the Oaktree Operating Group.

§4.2 Waiver of Defaults .

The Holders hereby waive any Default arising from any violation of Sections 9.05, 10.1, 10.2(a) or 10.5 that has occurred or may occur solely as a result of the transactions constituting the Restructuring.

SECTION 5. ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY

§5.1 Delivery of Assumption and Guaranty Agreement .

Prior to or contemporaneously with the consummation of the Restructuring, Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist and be the transferee of assets from OCM made as part of the Restructuring, OpCo 4 shall execute and be bound by the Assumption and Guaranty, whereby: (i) Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and OpCo 4 shall assume, as co-obligors under the Notes, the due and punctual

 

- 8 -


performance and observance of each covenant and agreement contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes; and (ii) Oaktree Capital I shall unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and agreement contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes by Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media, OCM and OpCo 4.

SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS

§6.1 Conditions to Effectiveness . The effectiveness of this Amendment is expressly conditioned upon: (i) the receipt by the Holders of this Amendment and the Assumption and Guaranty duly executed by each of the parties thereto; (ii) the consummation of the Restructuring; (iii) the receipt by the Holders of an Officer’s Certificate, dated the Effective Date, certifying that the representations and warranties made by OCM under Section 2 of this Amendment are true and correct in all material respects immediately prior to the consummation of the Restructuring; (iv) the receipt by the Holders of true, correct and complete copies of the limited partnership agreements of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree Media and, should it exist, OpCo 4 and any required resolutions of their partners authorizing the execution, delivery and acceptance of the Assumption and Guaranty; and (v) the receipt by the Holders of a favorable opinion of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, counsel to OCM, addressed to each of the Holders or their counsel, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto; (vi) the payment by the Company of the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of special counsel to the Holders to the extent reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company together with wire transfer instructions for each Holder at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date; provided that the Company shall not be liable for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent all holders of Notes collectively); (vii) the Seventh Amendment and Waiver to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2003, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, shall have been duly executed by the parties thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of such parties, enforceable against each of such parties in accordance with its terms; and (viii) the receipt by each of the Holders of the fee referred to in §6.2 hereof. The date upon which the last of such conditions precedent shall occur is referred to herein as the “Effective Date.”

§6.2 Amendment Fee .

In addition to all other fees, charges and disbursements payable to the Holders hereunder and under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company shall pay to each Holder that provides wire transfer instructions in connection with its execution of this Amendment on or prior to the Effective Date an amendment fee in an amount equal to 0.1% of the outstanding principal amount of such Holder’s Note, which fee shall be fully earned and payable on the Effective Date.

§6.3 Instrument Pursuant to Note Purchase Agreement . This Amendment is executed pursuant to Section XVII of the Note Purchase Agreement and shall be

 

- 9 -


construed, administered, and applied in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement. Except as expressly set forth herein, all of the representations, warranties, terms, covenants and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement shall remain unamended and in full force and effect. The amendments and waivers set forth herein shall be limited as expressly provided herein and shall not be or be deemed to be a waiver of, amendment of, consent to, or modification of any other term or provision of the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes or of any transaction or further action on the part of OCM that requires the consent of the Note Holders.

§6.4 Successors and Assigns . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

§6.5 Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

§6.6 Governing Law . This Amendment shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

- 10 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed and delivered this Amendment and Waiver as of the date first set forth above.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ T ODD M OLZ

  Name:   Todd Molz
  Title:   Managing Director and General Counsel
By:  

/s/ L ISA A RAKAKI

  Name:   Lisa Arakaki
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Legal

[Signature Page to Amendment and Waiver to Note Purchase Agreement for

Oaktree Capital Management, LLC]


EXHIBIT A: FORM OF ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

This ASSUMPTION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “ Assumption and Guaranty ”), dated as of                     , is made by Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Guarantor ”), and Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, [and OpCo 4, a Delaware limited partnership] (together, the “ Co-Obligors ”) in favor of each of the holders of a Note (each “ Note Holder ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of [                        ] (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated and in effect from time to time, the “ Note Purchase Agreement ”), between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Note Issuer ”) and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of the Note Issuer’s [    ]% Senior Notes due [    ] (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Note Issuer and Holders constituting the Required Holders have, through that certain Amendment and Waiver to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “ Amendment ”), agreed to amend certain provisions of, and waive certain provisions of or defaults under, the Note Purchase Agreement in order to permit and facilitate the Restructuring (as defined therein);

WHEREAS, the Amendment provides that the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall execute this Assumption and Guaranty;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Restructuring, the Guarantor and the Co-Obligors shall receive valuable consideration from the Note Issuer, including, without limitation, in the form of the transfer to them by the Note Issuer of certain business assets and the conferral upon them by the Note Issuer of continued use of the proceeds from the initial sale and issuance of the Notes as capital following the Restructuring;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein contained and set forth in the Amendment, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS.

§1.1 Co-Obligors’ Assumption .

The Co-Obligors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally assume the duty of due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes and agree to become jointly and severally liable with the Note Issuer for the due and punctual performance and payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) and at all times thereafter by the Note Issuer of all obligations

 

A-1


contained in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Notes (collectively, the “ Obligations ”).

§1.2 Joint and Several Liability .

The Co-Obligors and the Note Issuer (collectively, the “ Obligors ”) agree that they are jointly and severally liable to the Note Holders for the performance and payment in full when due of all of the Obligations, and that such liability is independent of the obligations of each other Obligor. Each obligation, promise, covenant, representation and warranty in the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes shall be deemed to have been made by, and be binding upon, each Obligor. The Note Holders may bring an action against any Obligor without regard to whether an action is brought against any other Obligor.

§1.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Obligations .

The obligations of the Co-Obligors shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance or payment in full of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations with respect to the Note Issuer, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations as against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, or this Assumption and Guaranty, by any waiver or modification of any provision thereof or hereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations by the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Co-Obligors or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Co-Obligors as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations).

§1.4 Defenses of Note Issuer Waived .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Co-Obligors waive any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Note Issuer or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof as against the Note Issuer from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Note Issuer, other than the performance and payment in full of the Obligations. The Co-Obligors hereby acknowledge that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Note Issuer or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Note Issuer, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Co-Obligors hereunder except to the extent that the Obligations have been performed and paid in full.

 

A-2


§1.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Co-Obligors by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Note Issuer to perform or pay any Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Co-Obligors hereby promise to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unperformed or unpaid Obligations. Upon performance or payment by any Co-Obligor of any of the Obligations as provided above, all rights of such Co-Obligor against the Note Issuer or any other Co-Obligor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all of the Obligations.

SECTION 2. GUARANTY OF OBLIGATIONS.

§2.1 Guaranty .

The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by required prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise and at all times thereafter) and performance by the Obligors of all obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, and this Assumption and Guaranty (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). The Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon this Assumption and Guaranty notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

§2.2 Guaranty of Payment .

The Guarantor agrees that this Assumption and Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment and performance when due of all Guaranteed Obligations and not of collection and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, waives any right to require that any resort be had by the holder of any Note to any remedies it may have against the Obligors.

§2.3 No Discharge or Diminishment of Guaranty .

The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranteed Obligations shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Note Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Note Purchase Agreement, the

 

A-3


Notes, this Assumption and Guaranty or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations).

§2.4 Defenses of Obligors Waived .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Obligors or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof as against the Obligors from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Obligors, other than the performance and payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the Note Holders may compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Obligors or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Obligors, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Guarantor hereunder except to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations have been performed or paid in full.

§2.5 Agreement to Pay .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Note Holders have at law or in equity against the Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Obligors to perform or pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as such performance or payment shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith perform or pay, or cause to be performed or paid, for the benefit of the Note Holders all such unpaid Guaranteed Obligations. Upon performance or payment by the Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations as provided above, all rights of the Guarantor against the Obligors arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior performance or payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 3. OTHER PROVISIONS.

§3.1 Effectiveness .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall become effective upon the transfer of assets by OCM as part of the Restructuring and is expressly conditioned upon the effectiveness thereof.

§3.2 Termination .

This Assumption and Guaranty (a) shall terminate when (i) the Note Purchase Agreements, the Other Agreements and the Notes have been terminated or (ii) all of the Obligations and Guaranteed Obligations have been performed and paid in full or

 

A-4


otherwise satisfied, and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time performance or payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation or Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Note Issuer, the Co-Obligors, or the Guarantor upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any of them or otherwise.

§3.3 Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and other agreements made by the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor for the benefit of the Note Holders in this Assumption and Guaranty shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note permitted under the Note Purchase Agreement) whether so expressed or not.

§3.4 Waivers; Amendment .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Guarantor, the Co-Obligors and the Required Holders.

§3.5 Severability .

Any provision of this Assumption and Guaranty that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

§3.6 Counterparts .

This Assumption and Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

§3.7 Governing Law .

This Assumption and Guaranty shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

[The remainder of this page is left intentionally blank]

 

A-5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Co-Obligors and the Guarantor have duly executed and delivered this Assumption and Guarantee Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

Oaktree Capital I, L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
Oaktree Capital II, L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
Oaktree Media Investments, L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
[OpCo 4]
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

Exhibit 4.14

Execution Version

SECOND AMENDMENT AND WAIVER TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SECOND AMENDMENT AND WAIVER TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“ Waiver ”) is entered into as of July 6, 2010 by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ OCM ”), Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Oaktree Capital I ”), Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Oaktree Capital II ”), Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership formerly named Oaktree Media Investments. L.P. (“ Oaktree AIF ” and collectively with OCM, Oaktree Capital I and Oaktree Capital II, the “ Company ”), and the undersigned holders (the “ Holders ”) of the Notes (as hereinafter defined) party hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company and its Affiliates are contemplating a reorganization of their internal corporate structure (referred to herein as the “ Contemplated Restructuring ” and defined below);

WHEREAS, the Holders hold Notes issued by OCM, Oaktree Capital II and Oaktree AIF pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement (as hereinafter defined) relating to the respective issuances of Senior Notes thereunder (guaranteed by Oaktree Capital I pursuant to the Assumption and Guaranty (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement)) (together, the “ Notes ”); and

WHEREAS , the Company and the Holders have agreed to amend and waive certain provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement in order to permit the Contemplated Restructuring, and to waive the occurrence of any Default or Change of Control resulting from the Contemplated Restructuring, in each case on the terms and conditions expressly set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Waiver shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Note Purchase Agreement.

(b) As used herein, the term “ Contemplated Restructuring ” means (i) the contribution, assignment or other transfer by Oaktree (Cayman) to members of the Oaktree Domestic Operating Group and their Subsidiaries of equity interests; and (ii) (a) the formation by ControlCo and ControlCo’s Subsidiary Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ OHI ”) of a new Delaware limited partnership named OCMH, L.P. (“ OCMH ”), in which OHI will be the sole general partner and ControlCo and OHI will each be a limited partner, (b) the contribution to OCMH by ControlCo and OHI of their respective limited partner interests in OCM (together comprising 100% of the limited partner interests of OCM) to OCMH, and (c) the dividend, distribution or other

 

- 1 -


Execution Version

transfer by ControlCo to the limited partners of ControlCo of ControlCo’s limited partner interests in OCMH.

(c) As used herein, the term “ Note Purchase Agreement ” means, in the aggregate and each of them, (i) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 25, 2001 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 7.93% Senior Notes due June 25, 2011; (ii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 14, 2004 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 5.03% Senior Notes due June 14, 2014; (iii) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 6, 2006 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 6.09% Senior Notes due June 6, 2016; and (iv) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 8, 2006 among OCM and the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto relating to the issuance and sale of OCM’s 5.82% Senior Notes due November 8, 2016, in each case, as amended by the Amendment and Waiver Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2007, by and among OCM and the Holders of Notes party thereto and as otherwise amended and in effect from time to time.

SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Company represents and warrants to each Holder that:

§2.1 Organization, Power and Authority .

Each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree AIF, and OCM is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and is duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree AIF and OCM has the power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact its business and to execute this Waiver.

§2.2 Authorization, etc .

This Waiver has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree AIF, and OCM, and this Waiver constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree AIF, and OCM enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

§2.3 Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc .

 

- 2 -


Execution Version

The execution, delivery and performance by each of Oaktree Capital I, Oaktree Capital II, Oaktree AIF, and OCM of this Waiver and the consummation of the Contemplated Restructuring will not (i) except pursuant to amendments, waivers or consents received prior to the consummation of the Contemplated Restructuring, contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, operating agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision or other statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

§2.4 Beneficial Ownership and Control .

The beneficial ownership and Control of the Company will remain unchanged as a result of the Contemplated Restructuring.

§2.5 Absence of Defaults .

Immediately following the Contemplated Restructuring, after giving effect to this Waiver, no Default or Event of Default will exist.

SECTION 3. AMENDMENT

The definition of “ Capital Stock ” set forth in Schedule B to the Note Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of the following sentence at the end of such definition:

With respect to any determination of the ownership of the Capital Stock of the Company, such determination shall be made on the basis of both (a) the ownership of the Capital Stock of each member of the Oaktree Domestic Operating Group individually and (b) the aggregate ownership of the Capital Stock of the Oaktree Domestic Operating Group.

SECTION 4. WAIVERS

§4.1 Waiver of Section 8.03 .

Subject to the representation in Section 2.4 above, the Holders hereby acknowledge and agree that the transactions constituting the Contemplated Restructuring shall not constitute a Change of Control under the Note Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, the Holders waive any right they may have under the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes resulting from a Change of Control by virtue of the Contemplated Restructuring, including any right to require the Company to prepay the

 

- 3 -


Execution Version

Notes pursuant to Section 8.03. The waiver contained in this Section 4.1 is expressly limited to the Contemplated Restructuring, and no waiver is given hereby for any other transaction.

§ 4.2 Waiver of Section 10.01—Transaction with Affiliates .

The Holders hereby waive any Default arising from any violation of Section 10.01 of the Note Purchase Agreement that has occurred or may occur solely as a result of the transactions constituting the Contemplated Restructuring.

SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS

§5.1 Conditions to Effectiveness . The effectiveness of this Waiver is expressly subject to the following conditions: (i) the representations and warranties made by the Company under Section 2 of this Waiver shall be true and correct, (ii) the Company shall have paid, or reimbursed the Holders for, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of special counsel to the Holders; provided that the Company shall not be liable for the attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements of more than one firm of special counsel (which firm shall be the firm retained to represent all holders of Notes collectively), and (iii) the Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2010, which amends the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 6, 2008 (as amended as of December 3, 2008 and November 10, 2009) by and among the Company, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “ Credit Agreement ”) shall have been duly executed by the parties thereto and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of such parties, enforceable against each of such parties in accordance with its terms, and each of the Holders shall have received a copy thereof (which shall be delivered via email to the Holders’ special counsel); provided that if the Credit Agreement is no longer outstanding, or if no amendments or waivers with respect to the Credit Agreement are reasonably necessary in connection with the Contemplated Restructuring, then this clause 5.1(iii) shall be null and void.

§5.2 Instrument Pursuant to Note Purchase Agreement . This Waiver is executed pursuant to Section XVII of the Note Purchase Agreement and shall be construed, administered, and applied in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement. Except as expressly set forth herein, all of the representations, warranties, terms, covenants and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement shall remain unamended and in full force and effect. The waivers set forth herein shall be limited as expressly provided herein and shall not be or be deemed to be a waiver of, amendment of, consent to, or modification of any other term or provision of the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes or of any transaction or further action on the part of the Company that requires the consent of the Note Holders.

§5.3 Successors and Assigns . This Waiver shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

 

- 4 -


Execution Version

§5.4 Counterparts . This Waiver may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

§5.5 Governing Law . This Waiver shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

- 5 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed and delivered this Waiver as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By:   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
  Name: David M. Kirchheimer
 

Title:   Principal, Chief Financial Officer and

 Administrative Officer

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ            
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title:   Managing Director and General Counsel

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.
By:   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
  Name: David M. Kirchheimer
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ            
  Name: Todd Molz
 

Title:   Managing Director, General Counsel and

  Secretary

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.
By:   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
  Name: David M. Kirchheimer
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ            
  Name: Todd Molz
 

Title:   Managing Director, General Counsel and

  Secretary

 

OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P.
By:   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
  Name: David M. Kirchheimer
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ            
 

Name: Todd Molz

 

Title:   Managing Director, General Counsel and

  Secretary

Exhibit 4.15

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

Indenture

Dated as of November 24, 2009

 

 

Among

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.,

As Issuer

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P.

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.

OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P.,

As Initial Guarantors

and


EXECUTION COPY

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

As Trustee

 

 

6.75% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2019


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Parties

     1   

Recitals

     1   
ARTICLE ONE   

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

  

  

SECTION 101. Definitions

     2   

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     18   

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     19   

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates

     19   

SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors

     22   

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver

     22   

SECTION 107. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     23   

SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns

     23   

SECTION 109. Separability Clause

     23   

SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture

     23   

SECTION 111. Governing Law

     24   

SECTION 112. Legal Holidays

     24   

SECTION 113. Force Majeure

     24   

SECTION 114. U.S.A. Patriot Act

     24   
ARTICLE TWO   
SECURITY FORMS   

SECTION 201. Forms Generally; Initial Forms of Rule 144A and Regulation S

     25   

SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security

     26   

SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security

     32   

SECTION 204. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     35   
ARTICLE THREE   
THE SECURITIES   

SECTION 301. Title and Terms

     35   

SECTION 302. Denominations

     36   

 

i


SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     36   

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities

     37   

SECTION 305. Global Securities

     38   

SECTION 306. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally; Certain Transfers and Exchanges; Securities Act Legends; Applicable Procedures for Delegending

     39   

SECTION 307. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

     47   

SECTION 308. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     48   

SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners

     49   

SECTION 310. Cancellation

     50   

SECTION 311. Computation of Interest

     50   

SECTION 312. CUSIP and Similar Numbers

     50   
ARTICLE FOUR   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     50   

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money

     52   
ARTICLE FIVE   
REMEDIES   

SECTION 501. Events of Default

     52   

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     54   

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     56   

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     56   

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     57   

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected

     57   

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits

     58   

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

     59   

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     59   

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     59   

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     60   

SECTION 512. Control by Holders

     60   

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults

     60   

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs

     61   

SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     61   

 

ii


ARTICLE SIX   
THE TRUSTEE   

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities

     62   

SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults

     62   

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee

     62   

SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

     64   

SECTION 605. May Hold Securities

     64   

SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust

     65   

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement

     65   

SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

     66   

SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     66   

SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     66   

SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     68   

SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     68   

SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

     69   
ARTICLE SEVEN   
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY   

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

     69   

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     70   
ARTICLE EIGHT   
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, ETC.   

SECTION 801. Mergers, Consolidations and Certain Transfers of Assets

     70   

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted

     71   
ARTICLE NINE   
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

     71   

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

     72   

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     74   

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     74   

SECTION 905. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

     74   

 

iii


ARTICLE TEN   
COVENANTS   

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     74   

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     75   

SECTION 1003. Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust

     76   

SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default

     77   

SECTION 1005. Limitation on Liens

     77   

SECTION 1006. Repurchase of Securities upon a Change of Control

     78   

SECTION 1007. Financial Reports

     80   
ARTICLE ELEVEN   
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES   

SECTION 1101. Right of Redemption

     82   

SECTION 1102. Applicability of Article

     82   

SECTION 1103. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     82   

SECTION 1104. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

     83   

SECTION 1105. Notice of Redemption

     83   

SECTION 1106. Deposit of Redemption Price

     84   

SECTION 1107. Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     84   

SECTION 1108. Securities Redeemed in Part

     85   
ARTICLE TWELVE   
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE   

SECTION 1201. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     85   

SECTION 1202. Defeasance and Discharge

     85   

SECTION 1203. Covenant Defeasance

     86   

SECTION 1204. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     86   

SECTION 1205. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

     88   

SECTION 1206. Reinstatement

     88   
ARTICLE THIRTEEN   
GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES   

SECTION 1301. Guarantee

     89   

SECTION 1302. Additional Guarantors

     89   

SECTION 1303. Waiver

     89   

 

iv


SECTION 1304. Guarantee of Payment

     90   

SECTION 1305. No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee

     90   

SECTION 1306. Defenses of Company Waived

     91   

SECTION 1307. Continued Effectiveness

     91   

SECTION 1308. Subrogation

     91   

SECTION 1309. Subordination

     92   

SECTION 1310. Release of Guarantor and Termination of Guarantee

     92   

SECTION 1311. Limitation of Guarantors’ Liability

     93   

SECTION 1312. No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company

     94   

SECTION 1313. Execution and Delivery

     94   

 

v


ANNEXES

ANNEX A Form of Regulation S Certificate

ANNEX B Form of Restricted Securities Certificate

ANNEX C Form of Unrestricted Securities Certificate

ANNEX D Form of Form of Free Transferability Certificate

 

vi


INDENTURE, dated as of November 24, 2009, among OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P., a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, the Guarantors (as defined below), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS

The Company has duly authorized the creation of an issue of its 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 (herein called the “Securities”) of substantially the tenor hereinafter set forth, and to provide therefor, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

Each Guarantor has duly authorized its guarantee of the Securities (the “Guarantees”), and to provide therefor, each Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture.

All things necessary (i) to make the Securities, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and (ii) to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, all in accordance with their respective terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities, as follows:

 

1


ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions . For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined herein have the meanings assigned to them herein and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “GAAP” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean GAAP as generally accepted at the date of such computation;

(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to “Article”, “Section” or “Annex” refers to an Article or Section of or, Annex, to this Indenture; and

(5) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Additional Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 301.

“Agent Member” means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.

 

2


“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control”, when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, Euroclear and Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

“Bankruptcy Law”has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the rating on the Securities is lowered in respect of a Change of Control and the Securities are rated below Investment Grade by both of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended until the ratings are announced if during such 60 day period the rating of the Securities is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by both of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Company in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

“Board of Directors” means, (i) with respect to a partnership, the general partner(s) of the partnership, and (ii) with respect to any other Person, the board of directors, committee or similar body of such person serving a similar function.

“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or

 

3


obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in the place where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, or any repurchase price of, the Securities are payable.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of the following:

(a) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Credit Group to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision), other than to a Continuing Oaktree Entity; or

(b) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision), other than a Continuing Oaktree Entity, becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor provision) of a controlling interest in (i) OCG or (ii) one or more Guarantors that, together with its or their direct and indirect Subsidiaries, comprise all or substantially all of the assets of the Credit Group.

“Change of Control Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 1006.

“Change of Control Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 1006.

“Change of Control Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1006.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme.

 

4


“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

“Company Order” or “Company Request” means a written request or order signed by or on behalf of the Company by any Officer, manager, member or partner thereof (or any Person designated in writing as authorized to execute and deliver Company Requests and Company Orders), and delivered to the Trustee.

“Company Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions certified by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or general partner of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company as the case may be, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Securities.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.

“Continuing Oaktree Entity” means an Oaktree Principal or any entity that, immediately prior to and immediately following any relevant date of determination, is directly or indirectly controlled by one or more Oaktree Principals.

 

5


“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be conducted, which office is located as of the date of this Indenture at 625 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Corporate Trust Services, and for purpose of maintaining a corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York pursuant to Sections 609 and 1002 hereunder, means the office of the Trustee located at 45 Broadway, 14 th Floor, New York, NY 10006, Attention: Wells Fargo Corporate Trust Services, or for any other purpose, the corporate trust office of the Trustee shall also include its offices at 707 Wilshire Blvd., 17 th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017, or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company).

“Credit Group” means the Credit Parties and the Credit Parties’ direct and indirect Subsidiaries (to the extent of their economic ownership interest in such Subsidiaries) taken as a whole.

“Credit Parties” means the Company together with the Guarantors.

“Current Reporting Information ” means the annual and quarterly reports specified in the Undertakings, which reports include a discussion of OCG’s financial condition and results of operations consistent with the discussion in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in annual and quarterly reports required under, and the other information and reports otherwise required by, Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

“Custodian” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 308.

“Depositary” means, with respect to any Securities, a clearing agency that is registered as such under the Exchange Act and is designated by the Company to act as Depositary for such Securities (or any successor securities clearing agency so registered).

 

6


“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.

“Euroclear” means the Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor statute), as it may be amended from time to time.

“Excluded Entity” has the meaning specified in Section 1310.

“Excluded Entity Limitation” has the meaning specified in Section 1310.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Inc. or any successor thereto.

“Foreign Operating Group Entity” means Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., its Subsidiaries and any New Operating Group Partnership Entity that is formed under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States or any of its states.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied.

“Global Security” means a Security that is registered in the Security Register in the name of a Depositary or a nominee thereof and bears the legend set forth in Section 202.

 

7


“Guarantees” has the meaning specified in the second recital of this Indenture, and more particularly means any Guarantee made by each of the Guarantors as set forth in Article Thirteen hereof.

“Guarantors” means (i) the Initial Guarantors and (ii) any New Operating Group Partnership Entity (other than a Non-Guarantor Entity) that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Article Thirteen, in each case, excluding each Person who ceases to be a Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.

“Independent Investment Banker” means a Primary Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.

“Initial Guarantors” means OCG, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.

“Initial Purchasers” means Banc of America Securities LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Wells Fargo Securities LLC, Commerzbank Capital Markets Corp., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

“Initial Regulation S Securities” means the Securities sold by the Initial Purchasers in the initial offering contemplated by the Purchase Agreement in reliance on Regulation S.

“Insignificant Guarantor” means a Guarantor (or group of Guarantors taken together) that would not, on a combined and consolidated basis, including with their respective Subsidiaries, and taken as a whole, together

 

8


with all then-existing Excluded Entities designated pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Excluded Entity (set forth in Section 1310), constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any successor provision) of OCG.

“Interest Payment Date” means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on the Securities, which shall be each June 2 and December 2, commencing June 2, 2010.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch) and BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) (or, in each case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Securities for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency).

“Issue Date” means the date on which the Securities are first authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“New Operating Group Partnership Entity” means any Subsidiary of OCG other than (i) a then-existing Guarantor, (ii) a directly or indirectly wholly owned Subsidiary of OCG, (iii) any Person in which OCG directly or indirectly owns its interests through the Company or one or more then-existing Guarantors, and (iv) any Person through which OCG directly or indirectly owns its interest in the Company, Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P. or one or more then-existing Guarantors

“Non-Global Security” means a certificated Security, registered in the name of the Holder thereof, substantially in the form of Security set forth in Sections 202 and 203, except that such Security shall not bear the legend in Section 202 to be inserted for a Global Security.

 

9


“Non-Guarantor Entity” means (i) any Foreign Operating Group Entity and (ii) any “Excluded Entity” designated as such by the Company pursuant to Section 1310.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501.

“Oaktree Domestic Operating Group” means the Company, Oaktree Capital Group I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.

“Oaktree Principal” means any individual who (i) has devoted substantially all of his or her business and professional time to the activities of the Credit Parties and/or their Subsidiaries during the 12-month period immediately preceding such date and (ii) is a member of the Executive Committee of the general partner of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. and has been designated as a Principal of OCG by the Board of Directors of OCG.

“Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 1301.

“Officer” means the Chairman, the President, any Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, any Principal, the Chief Operating Officer, any Legal Vice President, any Legal Assistant Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Principal Accounting Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Chief Legal Officer, any Senior Managing Director, any Managing Director, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company or any Guarantor (or any sole or managing member or general partner of the Company or any Guarantor).

“Officers’ Certificate” of the Company or any Guarantor means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Company or any Guarantor (or any sole or managing member or general partner of the Company or any Guarantor), as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference herein to an “Officers’ Certificate” means an Officers’ Certificate of the Company.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company or any Guarantor, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

10


“OGC” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“Original Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 301.

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except :

(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company or any Guarantor) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company or any Guarantor (if the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be, shall act as a Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(c) Securities which have been defeased pursuant to Section 1202 hereof; and

(d) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 307 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, any Guarantor, or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,

 

11


direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, as amended, and signed into law October 26, 2001.

“Paying Agent” means the Trustee or any other Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor.

“Permitted Jurisdiction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 801.

“Permitted Liens” means (i) liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of any Subsidiary existing at the time such entity becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of OCG or is merged into a direct or indirect Subsidiary of OCG (provided such liens are not created or incurred in connection with such transaction and do not extend to any other Subsidiary), (ii) statutory liens, liens for taxes or assessments or governmental liens not yet due or delinquent or which can be paid without penalty or are being contested in good faith, (iii) liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security laws or regulations, (iv) any attachment or judgment lien arising in connection with a court proceeding, unless the judgment it secures shall not, within sixty (60) days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged within sixty (60) days after the expiration of any such stay, (v) liens existing on the Issue Date, (vi) any lien renewing, extending or refunding any lien permitted hereby, and (vii) in the case of a Subsidiary which serves as the general partner of a limited partnership managed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, any lien on such Subsidiary’s interests and rights as a general partner of such limited partnership and any special purpose vehicle owned by such limited partnership, provided that such lien shall not extend to such Subsidiary’s right to receive distributions or incentive allocations, from such limited partnership.

 

12


“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every Security issued before, and evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by, such particular Security; for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 307 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

“Primary Treasury Dealer” has the meaning specified in the definition of Reference Treasury Dealer.

“Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2009, among the Company, the Initial Guarantors and Banc of America Securities LLC, as representative of the Initial Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

“Rating Agency” means either Fitch and S&P; and if either of Fitch or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Fitch or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Securities to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price” means, when used with respect to any Securities to be redeemed, the price at which such Securities are to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) Banc of America Securities LLC, or its Affiliates that are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in The City of New York, and their respective successors; provided that if any of them ceases to be a primary dealer in U.S. Government securities in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury

 

13


Dealer, and (2) two other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with the Company.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Company or an agent of the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date means the day that is 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day), which dates are May 18 with respect to the Interest Payment Date of June 2 and November 17 with respect to the Interest Payment Date of December 2.

“Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

“Regulation S Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Annex A.

“Regulation S Global Security” has the meaning specified in Section 201.

“Regulation S Legend” means a legend substantially in the form of the legend required in the form of Security set forth in Section 202 to be placed upon a Regulation S Security.

“Regulation S Securities” means all Securities required pursuant to Section 306(c) to bear a Regulation S Legend. Such term includes the Regulation S Global Security.

“Resale Restriction Termination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 306(d)(i).

 

14


“Responsible Officer” means with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Department (or any successor department, division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and, for the purposes of Section 602, shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Restricted Global Security” has the meaning specified in Section 201.

“Restricted Period” means (a) the period of 40 consecutive days after the later of (i) the day on which the closing of the offering of Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement occurs and any other closing date in respect of the issuance of Additional Securities and (ii) the last day that the Company or any of its Affiliates was the owner of the Securities or any predecessor of the Securities or (b) such later date, if any, as may be required by any subsequent change in applicable law.

“Restricted Securities” means all Securities required pursuant to Section 306(c) to bear a Restricted Securities Legend. Such term includes the Restricted Global Security.

“Restricted Securities Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Annex B.

“Restricted Securities Legend” has the meaning specified in Section 202.

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.

“Rule 144A Securities” means the Securities purchased by the Initial Purchasers from the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, other than the Initial Regulation S Securities.

 

15


“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.

“Securities” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the recitals to this instrument, and includes both Original Securities and Additional Securities.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 (or any successor statute), as it may be amended from time to time.

“Securities Act Legend” means a Restricted Securities Legend or a Regulation S Legend.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 306.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 308.

“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of interest, as the case may be, is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by such Person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled by such Person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; provided, that with respect to the Credit Parties, Subsidiaries shall not include any investment fund, separate account or any Subsidiary thereof that is managed by any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof.

 

16


“Substantially All Merger” means a merger or consolidation of one or more Credit Parties with or into another Person that would, in one or a series of related transactions, result in the transfer or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Credit Group.

“Substantially All Sale” means a sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance to any other Person in one or a series of related transactions, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Credit Group.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided , however , that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean such successor Trustee.

“Undertakings” has the meaning specified in Section 1007.

“Unrestricted Securities Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Annex C.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit

 

17


obligation by the United States of America and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable except at the option of the holders thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or specific payment of interest on or principal of other amount with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or any Guarantor (or any sole or managing member or general partner of the Company or any Guarantor) or the Trustee, means any vice president of such Person, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

Upon any application or request by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act (as if the Trust Indenture Act applied) or this Indenture. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an Officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with any requirement set forth in this Indenture.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

18


(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which such Officer’s certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates .

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent of such Holders duly appointed in writing and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where hereby expressly required, to the Company or any Guarantor.

 

19


Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Company or any Guarantor in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

The Company or any Guarantor may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities; provided that none of the Company nor any Guarantor may set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Guarantor from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be

 

20


construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 106.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company or any Guarantor in writing and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 106.

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

21


SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors .

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company or any Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing and mailed first-class postage prepaid (or by overnight courier) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Department, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Holders or the Company by the Trustee, or, with respect to notices by the Company or any Guarantor, transmitted by facsimile transmission (confirmed by guaranteed overnight courier (e.g., Federal Express or United Parcel Service) to the following facsimile number (213) 614-3355 or to any other facsimile number previously furnished in writing to the Company or any Guarantor by the Trustee, or

(2) the Company or any Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to it addressed to it at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: General Counsel, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company or, with respect to notices by the Trustee, transmitted by facsimile transmission (confirmed by guaranteed overnight courier) to the following facsimile number: (213) 830-6293 or to any other facsimile number subsequently furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver .

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or by overnight courier), to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail (or by overnight courier), neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such

 

22


notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

SECTION 107. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and the Guarantors shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 109. Separability Clause .

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities or any Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture .

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or any Guarantee, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the

 

23


Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 111. Governing Law .

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

SECTION 112. Legal Holidays .

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a business day in The City of New York, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities or any Guarantee) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding business day in The City of New York with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, to such business day in The City of New York if such payment is made or duly provided for on such business day in The City of New York.

SECTION 113. Force Majeure.

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

SECTION 114. U.S.A. Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The

 

24


parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms Generally; Initial Forms of Rule 144A and Regulation S .

The Securities and the Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or the Depositary, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The definitive Securities shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods or may be produced in any other manner as determined by the Officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution thereof.

Upon their original issuance, Rule 144A Securities shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of DTC, as Depositary, or its nominee and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, for credit by DTC to the respective accounts of beneficial owners of the Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct). Such Global Securities, together with their successor securities which are Global Securities other than the Regulation S Global Security, are collectively herein called the “Restricted Global Security”.

Upon their original issuance, Initial Regulation S Securities shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of DTC, as Depositary, or its nominee and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, for credit by DTC to the respective accounts of beneficial owners of the Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct); provided that upon such deposit all such Securities shall be credited to or through accounts maintained at DTC by or on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream. Such Global Securities, together with their successor securities which are Global Securities other than the Restricted Global Security, are collectively herein called the “Regulation S Global Security”.

 

25


SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security .

Except as permitted by this Indenture, each Global Security and each Non-Global Security (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend (the “Restricted Securities Legend”) in substantially the following form:

(1) Each Rule 144A Security will contain a legend substantially to the following effect:

THIS SECURITY (INCLUDING THE RELATED GUARANTEES) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS (X) ONE YEAR OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR ANY OTHER ISSUE DATE IN RESPECT OF A FURTHER ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES OF THE SAME SERIES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. OR ANY AFFILIATE OF OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) OR (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW, ONLY (A) TO OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P., OR OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P., OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP LLC, OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P., OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P OR OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE

 

26


ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

(2) Each Regulation S Security will contain a legend substantially to the following effect:

THIS SECURITY (INCLUDING THE RELATED GUARANTEES) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS (X) 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR ANY OTHER ISSUE DATE IN RESPECT OF A FURTHER ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES OF THE SAME SERIES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. OR ANY AFFILIATE OF OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) OR (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAW, ONLY (A) TO OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P., OR OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P., OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP LLC, OAKTREE

 

27


CAPITAL I, L.P., OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P OR OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P.’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

(3) The following legend shall appear on the face of each Global Security:

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR ITS NOMINEE OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.”

(4) The following legend shall appear on the face of each Global Security for which DTC is to be the Depositary:

 

28


“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.,

6.75% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2019

[If Restricted Global Security - CUSIP Number: 674003 AA6]

[If Regulation S Global Security - CUSIP Number: U63105AA5 4]

 

No.                            $                 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P., a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of             Dollars on December 2, 2019 and to pay interest thereon from November 24, 2009 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually on June 2 and December 2, of each year, commencing June 2, 2010, at the rate of 6.75% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment; provided that any amount of interest on this Security that is overdue shall bear interest (to the extent that payment thereof shall be legally enforceable) at the rate per annum then borne by this Security from the date such amount is due to the day it is paid or made available for payment, and such overdue interest shall be payable on demand.

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the November 17 or May 18 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Except as provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted

 

29


Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest on this Security shall be computed on the basis set forth in the Indenture.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security and any Change of Control Payment will be made at the Corporate Trust Office, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. With respect to Global Securities, the Company will make such payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Depositary, or its nominee, as registered owner of the Global Securities. With respect to certificated Notes, the Company will make such payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a United States dollar account maintained in New York, New York to each Holder of an aggregate principal amount of Notes in excess of U.S. $5,000,000 that has furnished wire instructions in writing to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date. If a Holder of a certificated Note (i) does not furnish such wire instructions as provided in the preceding sentence or (ii) holds U.S. $5,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, the Company will make such payments by mailing a check to such Holder’s registered address.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

30


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its seal.

Dated:

 

    OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
[SEAL]     By:    
      Name:
      Title:
     
    By:    
     

Name:

      Title:

 

Attest:

   
OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.

By:

   
 

Name:

Title:

Certificate of Authentication

This is one of the Securities described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

as Trustee

By:  
  Authorized Signatory

 

31


SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security .

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company designated as its 6.75% Senior Notes Due 2019 (herein called the “Securities”) issued under an Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2009 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture). The aggregate principal amount of the Securities is unlimited. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

The Securities will be redeemable in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to (x) the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of any Securities being redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on any Securities being redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus (y) accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities being redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Securities, the Company shall make an offer to each holder of Securities to repurchase all or any part of that Holder’s Securities at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase.

If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all the Securities may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (i) the entire indebtedness of this Security or (ii) certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth therein.

 

32


The Original Securities (as defined in the Indenture) and the Additional Securities (as defined in the Indenture), if any, shall constitute one series for all purposes under the Indenture, including without limitation, amendments, waivers and redemptions.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security (and by the Holders of such specified percentage of all Securities) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No Holder of any Security shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Security or the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default specifying the Event of Default; (ii) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under the Indenture; (iii) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and (v) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities; it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Security or the Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Security or the Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

33


If this Note is a Global Security, then, in the event of a deposit or withdrawal of an interest in this Note, including an exchange, transfer, redemption, repurchase or conversion of this Note in part only, the Trustee, as custodian of the Depositary, shall make an adjustment on its records to reflect such deposit or withdrawal in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at an office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to the Indenture for such purpose, as provided in the Indenture, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth therein, at the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for new Securities of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by the Indenture, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

34


SECTION 204. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

The following is the form of the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication applicable to the Securities:

Dated:

This is one of the Securities described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

as Trustee

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Title and Terms .

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Trustee shall authenticate Securities on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000 (“Original Securities”). In addition, subject to the provisions of Section 102, the Trustee shall authenticate additional Securities (“Additional Securities”) upon receipt of a Company Order specifying the amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which such Securities are to be authenticated and certifying that all conditions precedent to the issuance of the Additional Securities contained herein have been complied with and that no default or Event of Default would occur as a result of the issuance of such Additional Securities. The aggregate principal amount of the Additional Securities, if any, is unlimited.

The Securities shall be known and designated as the “6.75% Senior Notes Due 2019” of the Company. Their Stated Maturity shall be December 2, 2019 and they shall bear interest at the rate of 6.75% per annum, from November 24, 2009 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, payable semiannually on June 2 and December 2 commencing December 2, 2010, until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment.

 

35


The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities shall be payable at the Corporate Trust Office (which initially shall be the office of the Trustee located at Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, 625 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402; provided , however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

The Securities shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund obligations.

The Securities shall be subject to defeasance at the option of the Company as provided in Article Twelve.

The Original Securities and the Additional Securities, if any, shall constitute one series for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, amendments, waivers and redemptions. The Additional Securities may have a different date of issue or initial Interest Payment Date from the Original Securities and may have a different amount of interest payable on the first Interest Payment Date after issuance than is payable on the Original Securities, and may have the same or a different CUSIP number as the Original Securities (including if certain of the Securities have a restricted CUSIP number and other Securities have an unrestricted CUSIP number after issuance of the Original Securities hereby to allow certain of such Securities to become freely tradeable under the Securities Act or to otherwise comply with U.S. securities laws).

The Securities shall be guaranteed by any Guarantors as provided in Article Thirteen.

SECTION 302. Denominations .

The Securities shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any two of its Chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Principals, its Chief Financial Officer, one of its managing directors or one of its Vice Presidents, under its seal reproduced thereon attested by one of its Legal Officers. The signature of any of these officers or the Company’s seal on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the

 

36


Company’s use of a seal is optional to the Company and may be discontinued or adopted at any time or from time to time without affecting the due execution, delivery, validity or enforceability of any of the Securities.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to or after the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, subject to Section 102 hereof, the Company may deliver Additional Securities executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities; and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein, executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities .

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities, which Securities are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities, in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

If temporary Securities are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities, upon surrender of the temporary Securities at any office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 1002, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more

 

37


temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.

SECTION 305. Global Securities .

(a) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated by the Company for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (i) such Depositary (A) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security and the Company fails to appoint a successor within 90 days or (B) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Exchange Act and the Company fails to appoint a successor within 90 days, or (ii) the Company so directs the Trustee by a Company Order or (iii) upon the request of the Trustee or Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Securities, there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security.

(c) If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Securities or cancelled in whole, it shall be surrendered by or on behalf of the Depositary or its nominee to the Trustee, as Security Registrar, for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article Three. If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Securities or cancelled in part, or if another Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Security, then either (i) such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article Three or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be reduced or increased by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged or cancelled, or equal to the principal amount of such other Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee, as Security Registrar, whereupon the Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, shall

 

38


instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Security, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 305(b) and as otherwise provided in this Article Three, authenticate and deliver any Securities issuable in exchange for such Global Security (or any portion thereof) to or upon the order of, and registered in such names as may be directed by, the Depositary or its authorized representative. Upon the request of the Trustee in connection with the occurrence of any of the events specified in the preceding paragraph, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Securities that are not in the form of Global Securities. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon any order, direction or request of the Depositary or its authorized representative which is given or made pursuant to this Article Three if such order, direction or request is given or made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

(d) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Article Three, Section 905, Section 1006 or Section 1108 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

(e) The Depositary or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Security for all purposes under this Indenture, the Securities and any Guarantees, and owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Accordingly, any such owner’s beneficial interest in a Global Security will be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members.

SECTION 306. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange Generally; Certain Transfers and Exchanges; Securities Act Legends; Applicable Procedures for Delegending .

(a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency designated pursuant to Section 1002 being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers and exchanges of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers and exchanges of Securities as herein provided.

 

39


Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at an office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.

At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for new Securities of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company and any Guarantors, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities, surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1108 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities selected for redemption under Section 1104 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

40


(b) Certain Transfers and Exchanges . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities, transfers and exchanges of Securities and beneficial interests in a Global Security of the kinds specified in this Section 306(b) shall be made only in accordance with this Section 306(b).

(i) Restricted Global Security to Regulation S Global Security . If the owner of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security wishes at any time to transfer such interest to a Person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with the provisions of this clause (b)(i) and clause (b)(vii) below and subject to the Applicable Procedures. Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (A) an order given by the Depositary or its authorized representative directing that a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security in a specified principal amount be credited to a specified Agent Member’s account and that a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security in an equal principal amount be debited from another specified Agent Member’s account and (B) a Regulation S Certificate, satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the owner of such beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security or such owner’s attorney duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee, as Security Registrar but subject to clause (b)(vii) below, shall reduce the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security and increase the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security by such specified principal amount as provided in Section 305(c).

(ii) Regulation S Global Security to Restricted Global Security . If the owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security wishes at any time to transfer such interest to a Person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with this clause (b)(ii) and subject to the Applicable Procedures. Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (A) an order given by the Depositary or its authorized representative directing that a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security in a specified principal amount be credited to a specified Agent Member’s account and that a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security in an equal principal amount be debited from another specified Agent Member’s account and (B) if such transfer is to occur during the Restricted Period, a Restricted Securities Certificate, satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the owner of such beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security or such owner’s attorney duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall reduce the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security and increase the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security by such specified principal amount as provided in Section 305(c).

 

41


(iii) Restricted Non-Global Security to Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security . If the Holder of a Restricted Security (other than a Global Security) wishes at any time to transfer all or any portion of such Security to a Person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with the provisions of this clause (b)(iii), clause (b)(vii) and clause (b)(viii) below and subject to the Applicable Procedures. Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (A) such Security as provided in Section 306(a) and instructions satisfactory to the Trustee directing that a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security in a specified principal amount not greater than the principal amount of such Security be credited to a specified Agent Member’s account and (B) a Restricted Securities Certificate, if the specified account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security, or a Regulation S Certificate, if the specified account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security, in either case satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by such Holder or such Owner’s attorney duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee, as Security Registrar but subject to clause (b)(vii) and clause (b)(viii) below, shall cancel such Security (and issue a new Security in respect of any untransferred portion thereof) as provided in Section 306(a) and increase the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be, by the specified principal amount as provided in Section 305(c).

(iv) Regulation S Non-Global Security to Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security . If the Holder of a Regulation S Security (other than a Global Security) wishes at any time to transfer all or any portion of such Security to a Person who wishes to take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, such transfer may be effected only in accordance with this clause (b)(iv), clause (b)(vii) and clause (b)(viii) below and subject to the Applicable Procedures. Upon receipt by the Trustee, as Security Registrar, of (A) such Security as provided in Section 306(a) and instructions satisfactory to the Trustee directing that a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security in a specified principal amount not greater than the principal amount of such Security be credited to a specified Agent Member’s account and (B) if the transfer is to occur during the Restricted Period and the specified account is to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security, a Restricted Securities Certificate satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by such Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, then the Trustee, as Security Registrar but subject to clause (b)(vii) and clause (b)(viii) below, shall cancel such Security (and issue a new Security in

 

42


respect of any untransferred portion thereof) as provided in Section 306(a) and increase the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security or the Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be, by the specified principal amount as provided in Section 305(c).

(v) Non-Global Security to Non-Global Security . A Security that is not a Global Security may be transferred, in whole or in part, to a Person who takes delivery in the form of another Security that is not a Global Security as provided in Section 306(a); provided that, if the Security to be transferred in whole or in part is a Restricted Security, or is a Regulation S Security and the transfer is to occur during the Restricted Period, then the Trustee shall have received (A) a Restricted Securities Certificate, satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the transferor Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, in which case the transferee Holder shall take delivery in the form of a Restricted Security, or (B) a Regulation S Certificate, satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the transferor Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, in which case the transferee Holder shall take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Security (subject in each case to Section 306(c)).

(vi) Exchanges between Global Security and Non-Global Security . A beneficial interest in a Global Security may be exchanged for a Security that is not a Global Security as provided in Section 305; provided that, if such interest is a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Security, or if such interest is a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security and such exchange is to occur during the Restricted Period, then such interest shall be exchanged for a Restricted Security (subject in each case to Section 306(c)). A Security that is not a Global Security may be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Security only if (A) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer effected in accordance with clause (b)(iii) or (iv) above or (B) such Security is a Regulation S Security and such exchange occurs after the Restricted Period; provided that, so long as the Securities are not freely tradeable pursuant to Rule 144 by Holders who are not affiliates of the Company (as defined in Rule 144) where no conditions of Rule 144 are then applicable, in no event shall a beneficial interest in a Global Security be credited, or a Non-Global Security not bearing the Securities Act Legend be issued, to a Person who is an affiliate of the Company (as defined in Rule 144).

(vii) Regulation S Global Security to be Held Through Euroclear or Clearstream during Restricted Period . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Depositary to ensure that, until the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global

 

43


Security may be held only in or through accounts maintained at the Depositary by Euroclear or Clearstream (or by Agent Members acting for the account thereof), and no person shall be entitled to effect any transfer or exchange that would result in any such interest being held otherwise than in or through such an account; provided that this clause (b)(vii) shall not prohibit any transfer or exchange of such an interest in accordance with clause (b)(ii) or (vi) above.

(viii) Transfers of Securities Held by Affiliates . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 306(b)(viii), any certificate, (1) evidencing a Security that has been transferred to an Affiliate of the Company, as evidenced by a notation on the certificate of transfer or certificate of exchange for such transfer or in the representation letter delivered in respect thereof or otherwise, or (2) evidencing a Security that has been acquired from an Affiliate of the Company (other than by an Affiliate of the Company) in a transaction or a chain of transactions not involving any public offering or offering pursuant to Regulation S, as evidenced by a notation on the certificate of transfer or certificate of exchange for such transfer or in the representation letter delivered in respect thereof or otherwise, shall, until one year after the last date on which either the Company or any Affiliate of the Company was an owner of such Security, in each case, be in the form of a Non-Global Security and bear the Securities Act Legend subject to the restrictions in this Section 306. The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to this Section 306(b)(viii). The Company, at its sole cost and expense, shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon giving reasonable advance notice to the Trustee.

(ix) Global Security to Same Global Security . Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Security in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Securities Act Legend and subject to clause (b)(viii) above; provided , however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Security may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Global Security that do not bear the Securities Act Legend may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Security that does not bear the Securities Act Legend. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 306(b)(ix).

 

44


(x) Miscellaneous . The Trustee shall have no obligations or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements thereof.

(c) Securities Act Legends . Rule 144A Securities and their successor securities shall bear a Restricted Securities Legend, and Initial Regulation S Securities and their successor securities shall bear a Regulation S Legend, subject to the following:

(i) subject to the following clauses of this Section 306(c), a Security or any portion thereof which is exchanged, upon transfer or otherwise, for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall bear the Securities Act Legend borne by such Global Security while represented thereby;

(ii) subject to the following clauses of this Section 306(c), a new Security that is not a Global Security and is issued in exchange for another Security (including a Global Security) or any portion thereof, upon transfer or otherwise, shall bear the Securities Act Legend borne by such other Security; provided that, if such new Security is required pursuant to Section 306(b)(v) or (vi) to be issued in the form of a Restricted Security, it shall bear a Restricted Securities Legend and, if such new Security is so required to be issued in the form of a Regulation S Security, it shall bear a Regulation S Legend;

(iii) at any time after the Securities may be freely transferred without registration under the Securities Act or without being subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to the Securities Act, a new Security that does not bear a Securities Act Legend may be issued in exchange for or in lieu of a Security (other than a Global Security) or any portion thereof which bears such a legend if the Trustee has received an Unrestricted Securities Certificate, satisfactory to the Trustee and duly executed by the Holder of such legended Security or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and after such date and receipt of such certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such a new Security in exchange for or in lieu of such other Security as provided in this Article Three;

 

45


(iv) a new Security that does not bear a Securities Act Legend may be issued in exchange for or in lieu of a Security (other than a Global Security) or any portion thereof which bears such a legend if, in the Company’s judgment, placing such a legend upon such new Security is not necessary to ensure compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and the Trustee, at the written direction of the Company, shall authenticate and deliver such a new Security as provided in this Article Three; and

(v) notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 306(c), a successor security of a Security that does not bear a particular form of Securities Act Legend shall not bear such form of legend unless the Company has reasonable cause to believe that such successor security is a “restricted security” within the meaning of Rule 144, in which case the Trustee, at the direction of the Company, shall authenticate and deliver a new Security bearing a Restricted Securities Legend in exchange for such successor security as provided in this Article Three.

(d) Applicable Procedures for Delegending .

(i) Promptly after one year has elapsed following the date of original issuance of the Securities, if the Securities are freely tradeable pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act by Holders who are not affiliates of the Company (as defined in Rule 144) where no conditions of Rule 144 are then applicable (other than the holding period requirement in paragraph (d)(l)(ii) of Rule 144 so long as such holding period requirement is satisfied), the Company shall:

(1) instruct the Trustee in writing to remove the Restricted Securities Legend from the Securities by delivering to the Trustee a certificate in the form of Annex D hereto, and upon such instruction the Restricted Securities Legend shall be deemed removed from any Global Securities representing such Securities without further action on the part of Holders;

(2) notify Holders of the Securities that the Restricted Securities Legend has been removed or deemed removed; and

(3) instruct DTC to change the CUSIP number for the Securities to the unrestricted CUSIP number for the Securities.

 

46


In no event will the failure of the Company to comply with the provisions of this paragraph or of the Trustee to remove the Restricted Securities Legend constitute a failure by the Company to comply with any of its covenants, warranties or agreements set forth in this Indenture. Any Restricted Security (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms (the date of such expiration being the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) may, upon surrender of such Restricted Security for exchange to the Security Registrar in accordance with the provisions of Article Three of the Indenture, be exchanged for a new Security or Securities, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

(ii) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 306 to the contrary, in the event that Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule) is amended to change the one-year holding period thereunder (or the corresponding period under any successor rule), (i) each reference in this Section 306(d)(i) to “one year” and in the Restricted Securities Legend and in Section 202 herein to “ONE YEAR” shall be deemed for all purposes hereof to be references to such changed period, and (ii) all corresponding references in the Securities and the Restricted Securities Legends thereon shall be deemed for all purposes hereof to be references to such changed period, provided , that such changes shall not become effective if they are otherwise prohibited by, or would otherwise cause a violation of, the then-applicable federal securities laws. This Section 306(d) shall apply to successive amendments to Rule 144 (or any successor rule) changing the holding period thereunder.

SECTION 307. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them, any Guarantor and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor and principal amount, having the Guarantees notes therein bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

47


In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities and Guarantees duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

SECTION 308. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Security which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company

 

48


shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners .

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 308) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

49


SECTION 310. Cancellation .

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company or any Guarantor may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with the Trustee’s customary procedures.

SECTION 311. Computation of Interest .

Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 312. CUSIP and Similar Numbers .

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers and/or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and, if so, the Trustee shall use such numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in such numbers.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the

 

50


Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:

(1) either

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 307 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

(i) have become due and payable, or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of discharging its obligations under this Indenture an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) the Company has or any Guarantors have, jointly or severally, paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company and under any Guarantees by any Guarantors, as the case may be; and

 

51


(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any Guarantor acting as the Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default .

An “Event of Default” means, whenever used herein or in a Security issued hereunder, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) the Company’s failure to pay any interest on the Securities when due and payable, continued for 30 days;

(2) the Company’s failure to pay principal (or premium, if any) on any Securities when due, regardless of whether such payment became due because of maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise;

 

52


(3) the Company’s failure to pay the repurchase price when due in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event;

(4) any Credit Party’s failure to observe or perform any other covenants or agreements with respect to the Securities for 90 days after the Company receives notice of such failure from the Trustee or 90 days after the notice specified below;

(5) the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor), pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law (as defined below):

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian (as defined below) of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(E) files a petition in bankruptcy or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief;

(F) consents to the filing of such petition or the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian; or

(G) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law, and such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days, that:

 

53


(A) is for relief against the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) in an involuntary case, or adjudicates the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) insolvent or bankrupt;

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor); or

(C) orders the winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) (or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws);

(7) except as otherwise provided herein, a Guarantee of any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared to be null and void and unenforceable or such Guarantee is found to be invalid or a Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) denies its liability under its Guarantee (other than by reason of release of such Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Indenture).

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state or foreign law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any custodian, receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

A default with respect to Securities under clause (4) of this Section 501 shall not be an Event of Default until the Trustee (by written notice to the Company and the Guarantors) or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities (by written notice to the Company and the Guarantors and the Trustee) gives notice of the default and the Company and the Guarantors do not cure such default within the time specified in clause (4) after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding

 

54


Securities may declare the principal amount, together with all accrued and unpaid interest therein, of all Outstanding Securities to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantors (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration, such principal amount (or specified amount), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) occurs, the principal amount of all Outstanding Securities, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal and interest of the Securities shall terminate.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due based on such acceleration has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article Five, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities,

(B) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

 

55


(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest, at the rate provided therefor in the Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or its creditors or of any Guarantor or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such

 

56


proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions, including participation as a member, voting or otherwise, of any committee of creditors, which would be authorized under the Trust Indenture Act (as if such Trust Indenture Act applied) in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities or any Guarantee may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected .

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

 

57


SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or the Guarantors.

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits .

No Holder of any Security shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to any Security or this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default specifying the Event of Default;

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities;

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of the Securities or this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain

 

58


priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under the Securities or this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders.

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest .

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 308) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the written consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 307, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

59


SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders .

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided that

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

Before proceeding to exercise any right or power hereunder at the direction of the Holders, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive from such Holders security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults .

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities waive any past default hereunder and its consequences, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, or the repurchase price in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event, or

 

60


(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the written consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs .

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs, including legal fees and expenses, against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act (as if such Trust Indenture Act applied); provided that this Section shall not be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities or in any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws .

The Company and each Guarantor covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

61


ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities .

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act (as if the Trust Indenture Act applied). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults .

If an Event of Default occurs with respect to Securities and is continuing and written notice of such Event of Default has been received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to each Holder of Securities notice of the Event of Default within 90 days after such written notice is received by such Responsible Officer. Except in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities.

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee .

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

62


(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the general partner or Board of Directors of the Company, as the case may be, shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Resolution thereof;

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company or the Guarantors, personally or by agent or attorney upon reasonable notice during normal business hours;

(7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(8) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

63


(9) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless written notice of such event has been received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(10) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

(11) The parties hereto acknowledge, in accordance with Section 326 of the Patriot Act, that the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The Company and the Guarantors agree that they will provide the Trustee with all such information as it may reasonably request in order to satisfy the requirements or its obligations under the Patriot Act.

SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities and in any Guarantee, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or the applicable Guarantor as the case may be, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture, the Securities or any Guarantees. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605. May Hold Securities .

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company, any Guarantor and any other obligor upon the Securities and any Guarantees with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

64


SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust .

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or any Guarantor, as the case may be.

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement .

The Company agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its gross negligence or bad faith; and

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Guarantor, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities as to all property and funds held by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 607, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

 

65


When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or Section 501(6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests .

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, this Indenture.

SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has a corporate trust office located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or any other major city in the United States acceptable to the Company. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 611.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee

 

66


shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, delivered to the Trustee and the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor.

(d) If at any time:

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company or the Guarantors may remove the Trustee, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the Company, by a Company Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the Outstanding Securities

 

67


delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) The Company or the Guarantors shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on written request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or

 

68


filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company .

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Guarantee, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (as if such Trust Indenture Act applied) regarding the collection of claims against the Company, any Guarantor or any such other obligor.

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .

If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(1) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such Regular Record Date, and

(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

69


SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act as if this Indenture were subject to such Trust Indenture Act.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to applicable law or in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

ARTICLE EIGHT

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, ETC.

SECTION 801. Mergers, Consolidations and Certain Transfers of Assets .

(a) None of the Credit Parties shall be party to a Substantially All Merger or participate in a Substantially All Sale, unless:

(1) a Credit Party is the surviving Person, or the Person formed by or surviving such Substantially All Merger or to which such Substantially All Sale has been made is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof (collectively, the “Permitted Jurisdictions”) and has expressly assumed by supplemental indenture all of the obligations of such Credit Party under the Indenture;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

70


(3) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction and any supplemental Indenture comply with the Indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

(b) For as long as any Securities remain outstanding, each of the Credit Parties must be organized under the laws of a Permitted Jurisdiction.

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted .

Upon the consummation of a transaction contemplated by and consummated in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the applicable Credit Party under this Indenture, with the same effect as if such successor Person had been an original party to this Indenture, and, except in the case of a lease, the applicable Credit Party shall be released from all of its liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities (including the Guarantees).

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors, for any of the following purposes:

(1) to add to the covenants for the benefit of the Holders of Securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor hereunder, under any indenture supplemental hereto or under the Securities;

(2) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or any Guarantor, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Article Eight;

 

71


(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of Securities;

(4) to add new Guarantors;

(5) to provide for the release of any Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture;

(6) to secure the Securities;

(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities; or

(8) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities;

(9) to comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;

(10) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

(11) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of this Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein.

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders .

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under this Indenture; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

72


(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal or interest on, any Security, or reduce the rate of interest or extend the time of payment of interest thereon or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof; or

(2) change the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable; or

(3) reduce the principal amount of any Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Stated Maturity thereof; or

(4) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date); or

(5) modify the provisions of any Guarantee or the provisions of this Indenture relating to any such Guarantee in any way that shall adversely affect the interests of each Holder; or

(6) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or

(7) subordinate the Securities or any Guarantee to any other obligation of the Company or the applicable Guarantor; or

(8) modify clauses (1) to (7) above.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

73


SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

SECTION 905. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .

Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .

The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if, on or before 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such date, the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or Guarantor

 

74


is the Paying Agent, the segregated account or separate trust fund maintained by the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Section 1003) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors or the Paying Agent may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America or other domestic or foreign taxing authorities from principal or interest payments hereunder.

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company will maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company or any Guarantor in respect of the Securities, any Guarantees and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency; provided , however , that on the date of this Indenture and until such notice is given, such office or agency will be located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 301, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the place of payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided , however , that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the place of payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

75


SECTION 1003. Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust .

If the Company or any Guarantor shall at any time act as the Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent (as if such Trust Indentue Act applied) and (ii) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent as such.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company or any Guarantor, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company or any Guarantor) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability

 

76


of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an officers’ certificate, signed by either the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 1005. Limitation on Liens .

The Credit Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed that is secured by a pledge, mortgage, lien or other encumbrance (other than Permitted Liens) on any voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their respective Subsidiaries (to the extent of their ownership of such voting stock or profit participating equity interests) or any entity that succeeds (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to all or any substantial part of the business of any of such Subsidiaries, without providing that the Securities (together with, if the Credit Parties shall so determine, any other indebtedness of, or guarantee by, the Credit Parties ranking equally with the Securities and existing as of the Issue Date or thereafter created) will be secured equally and ratably with or prior to all other indebtedness secured by such pledge, mortgage, lien or other encumbrance on the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of any such entities. This covenant will not limit the ability of the Credit Parties

 

77


or their Subsidiaries to incur indebtedness or other obligations secured by liens on assets other than the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries.

SECTION 1006. Repurchase of Securities upon a Change of Control .

(a) If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Securities pursuant to Article Eleven, the Company shall make an offer to each holder of Securities to repurchase all or any part (each new Security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Securities (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).

(b) In connection with any Change of Control related to a Change of Control Repurchase Event and any particular reduction in the rating on the Securities, the Company shall request from the Rating Agencies each such Rating Agency’s written confirmation that such reduction in the rating on the Securities was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of any Below Investment Grade Rating Event). The Company shall promptly certify to the Trustee as to whether or not such confirmation has been received or denied.

(c) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company will give notice to each Holder, with a written copy to the Trustee. Such notice shall state:

(i) a description of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event;

(ii) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 1006;

 

78


(iii) the Repurchase Price and the date on which the Repurchase Price will be paid, which date shall be a Business Day that is no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “Change of Control Payment Date”); and

(iv) if the notice is given prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, a statement that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

(d) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act of and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Securities, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Securities by virtue of such conflict.

(e) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Repurchase Price in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities or portions of Securities being purchased.

The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Securities properly tendered the Repurchase Price for such Securities, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or

 

79


cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder of Securities properly tendered a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Securities surrendered; provided that each new Security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Securities upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in respect of the Securities in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all the Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

SECTION 1007. Financial Reports .

(a) (1) The Company shall provide, or cause its Affiliates to provide to the Trustee copies of the Current Reporting Information within 15 days after OCG is required (or would have been required), pursuant to the undertakings set forth in that certain OCG offering circular dated as of May 21, 2007 under the heading “Current and Periodic Reporting and Certain Other Information Matters—Our Reporting Obligations—Current and Periodic Reports,” (the “Undertakings”), to provide to its Class A unit holders such Information, whether or not OCG remains subject to the Undertakings.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1) above, in the event that OCG becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in lieu of the Current Reporting Information, the Company shall provide (or cause its Affiliates to provide) to the Trustee, unless available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or successor system), within 15 days after OCG files or furnishes the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that OCG may file or furnish with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided , that if OCG files a registration statement with the Commission with respect to any units of OCG and upon such filing chooses to provide information, documents and other reports required by Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act to its Class A unit holders prior to becoming subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, OCG shall provide such information, documents and other reports to the Trustee in satisfaction of this clause (a)(2).

 

80


(b) In addition to the information required by paragraph (a) above, the Company shall provide (or cause its Affiliates to provide) to the Trustee, the following financial information:

(1) Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the members of Oaktree Domestic Operating Group, (i) an audited combined consolidated statement of financial condition and related statements of operations, partners’ capital and cash flows of Oaktree Domestic Operating Group and their respective consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent accountants of recognized national standing to the effect that such combined consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Oaktree Domestic Operating Group and their respective consolidated subsidiaries on a combined consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) copies of such accountants’ unqualified opinion.

(2) Within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the members of Oaktree Domestic Operating Group, a combined consolidated statement of financial condition and related statements of operations, partners’ capital and cash flows of Oaktree Domestic Operating Group and their respective consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the statement of financial condition, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a financial officer of the Company as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Oaktree Domestic Operating Group and their respective consolidated subsidiaries on a combined consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c) In addition to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, for so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will, or will cause its Affiliates to, furnish to the holders of the Securities and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act for the Company and, unless available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or successor system), for OCG (as if such rule applied to it), provided , however , that if at any time OCG no longer directly or indirectly controls the Credit Parties or guarantees the Securities, such information shall be provided for either (i) the Credit Parties on a combined and consolidated basis and taken as a whole or (ii) any Person that directly or indirectly controls the Credit Parties and guarantees the notes (in each case, as if such rule applied to such Persons). The Company

 

81


will, or will cause its Affiliates to, make the above information and reports available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101. Right of Redemption .

The Securities will be redeemable in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to (x) the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of any Securities being redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on any Securities being redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus (y) accrued and unpaid on the Securities being redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

SECTION 1102. Applicability of Article .

Redemption of Securities at the election of the Company, as permitted by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article Eleven.

SECTION 1103. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities pursuant to Section 1101 shall be evidenced by a Company Resolution or Officer’s Certificate of the Company. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities, the Company shall, at least 5 Business Days prior to the date on which notice of such redemption is given to Holders of Securities (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. In addition, in case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least five Business Days prior to the date on which notice of such redemption is given to Holders of Securities (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with Section 1101 (after giving effect to such proposed redemption).

 

82


SECTION 1104. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .

If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, including by lot or pro rata, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and each Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 1105. Notice of Redemption .

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register.

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price (or the method of calculating such price),

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

 

83


(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and

(6) if applicable, the CUSIP, ISIN or any similar numbers of the Securities; provided, however, that no representation will be made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP, ISIN or any similar number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

SECTION 1106. Deposit of Redemption Price .

Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any Guarantor is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 1107. Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 308.

 

84


If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate provided therefor in the Security.

SECTION 1108. Securities Redeemed in Part .

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at an office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1201. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The Company may at its option by Company Resolution, at any time, elect to have either Section 1202 or Section 1203 applied to the Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Twelve.

SECTION 1202. Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1201 applicable to this Section, the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities and related Guarantees on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that (i) the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) and (ii) any Guarantor shall be released from all of its obligations under its Guarantee, except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1204 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of

 

85


(and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities and the Guarantor’s obligations with respect to such Guarantees under Sections 304, 305, 306, 307, 1002 and 1003, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article Twelve. Subject to compliance with this Article Twelve the Company or any Guarantor may exercise its option under this Section 1202 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1203.

SECTION 1203. Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1201 applicable to this Section, (i) the Company and the Guarantors shall be released from their obligations under Sections 1005 through 1007, inclusive, Article Thirteen and Section 801 for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, and (ii) the occurrence of an event specified in Section 501(4) (with respect to any of Sections 1005 through 1007, inclusive) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that (a) the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section, clause or Article, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section, clause or Article or by reason of any reference in any such Section, clause or Article to any other provision herein or in any other document and (b) any Guarantors shall be released from all of their obligations under their Guarantees; but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 1204. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1202 or Section 1203 to the then Outstanding Securities:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609, who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Twelve applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of

 

86


independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of, and premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.

(2) In the case of an election under Section 1202, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

(3) In the case of an election under Section 1203, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the Securities, if then listed on any securities exchange or approved for trading in any automated quotation system, will not be delisted or disapproved for such trading as a result of such deposit.

(5) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as subsections 501(5) and (6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(6) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

87


(7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 1202 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1203 (as the case may be) have been complied with (in each case, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions in clause 5).

SECTION 1205. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee—collectively, for purposes of this Section 1205, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1204 in respect of the Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any Guarantor acting as the Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1204 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article Twelve to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request and be relieved of all liability with respect to any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1204 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

SECTION 1206. Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 1202 or 1203 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities and Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Twelve until such time as the Trustee

 

88


or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 1202 or 1203; provided , however , that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1301. Guarantee .

Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee hereunder, and to the Trustee on behalf of each such Holder, the due and punctual payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Security when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and (to the extent permitted by law) interest, if any, on such Security (collectively, the “Obligations”), in accordance with the terms of such Security and this Indenture. If the Company shall fail to pay when due any Obligations, for whatever reason, each Guarantor shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay in cash the same promptly. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Security shall entitle the Holders of such Securities to accelerate the Obligations of the Guarantors hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Company.

SECTION 1302. Additional Guarantors .

The Company and each Guarantor shall cause each New Operating Group Partnership Entity (other than a Non-Guarantor Entity) to become a Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture and provide a Guarantee in respect of the Securities.

SECTION 1303. Waiver .

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives the benefits of diligence, presentment, demand for payment, any requirement that the Trustee or any of the Holders exhaust any right or take any action against the Company or any other Person, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to any Security

 

89


or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that no Guarantee will be discharged in respect of any Security except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in such Security and in this Article.

SECTION 1304. Guarantee of Payment .

Each Guarantee shall constitute a guarantee of payment when due and not a guarantee of collection. The Guarantors hereby agree that, in the event of a default in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, whether at its Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of, or by, the Holder of such Security, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against the Guarantors to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company.

SECTION 1305. No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee .

Subject to Section 1310, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional and not be subject to any reduction, limitation, termination, impairment or for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Securities, this Indenture or the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture or any Security, any other guarantee or any other agreement, by any waiver, modification or indulgence of any provision thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, by any release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 1310 or by any other act or omission or delay to do any other act that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations); provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantors, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, change any redemption provisions thereof (including any change to increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof) or change the Stated Maturity of any payment thereon.

 

90


SECTION 1306. Defenses of Company Waived .

To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Guarantors waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Company or any other Guarantor or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Company, other than payment in full in cash of the Obligations. Each of the Guarantors waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of each of the Guarantors against the Company or any security.

SECTION 1307. Continued Effectiveness .

Subject to Section 1310, each of the Guarantors further agrees that its Guarantee with respect to any Security hereunder shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be irrevocable notwithstanding any petition filed by or against the Company for liquidation or reorganization, the Company becoming insolvent or making an assignment for the benefit of creditors or a receiver or trustee being appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Trustee or any Holder of any Security, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” upon bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made, until the date upon which the entire Obligation, if any, and interest on such Security has been, or has been deemed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture to have been paid in full. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned on any Security, such Security shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed paid only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

SECTION 1308. Subrogation .

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right of each of the Guarantors by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, each of the Guarantors hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities of any series, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Holders in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligations, and thereupon the Holders shall, assign (except to the extent that such assignment would render a Guarantor a “creditor” of the Company within the meaning of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code as now in effect or hereafter amended or any comparable provision of any successor statute) the amount of the Obligations owed to it and paid by such Guarantor pursuant

 

91


to this Guarantee to such Guarantor, such assignment to be pro rata to the extent the Obligations in question were discharged by such Guarantor, or make such other disposition thereof as such Guarantor shall direct (all without recourse to the Holders, and without any representation or warranty by the Holders). If (a) a Guarantor shall make payment to the Holders of all or any part of the Obligations and (b) all the Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Indenture shall be paid in full, the Trustee will, at such Guarantor’s request, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Obligations resulting from such payment by such Guarantor.

SECTION 1309. Subordination .

Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Holders, as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Company, arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise, shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all the Obligations to the Trustee; provided, however, that any right of subrogation that such Guarantor may have pursuant to this Indenture is subject to Section 1308.

SECTION 1310. Release of Guarantor and Termination of Guarantee .

A Guarantor shall, upon the occurrence of any of the following events, be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder; provided that such Guarantor would not, immediately after such release and discharge, be required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 1302:

(1) at any time such Guarantor is not OCG or Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. and is sold or disposed of (whether by merger, consolidation or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets) to an entity that is not required to become a Guarantor, if such sale or disposition is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture;

(2) such Guarantor is designated a Non-Guarantor Entity in accordance with this Indenture; or

(3) the Company effects a Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article Twelve hereof.

 

92


The Company may designate any Person as an “Excluded Entity” if (i) such Person is directly or indirectly wholly owned by one or more of the Credit Parties or (ii) such Person, together with all then-existing Excluded Entities designated pursuant to this clause (ii) on a combined and consolidated basis and taken as a whole, would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any successor provision) of OCG (the foregoing, the “Excluded Entity Limitation”). The Company may also, from time to time, remove the designation of any Person as an Excluded Entity and must remove the designation as to one or more Excluded Entities designated pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence to the extent as of the end of any fiscal quarter such Excluded Entities exceed the Excluded Entity Limitation. Any such designation or removal by the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a Company Resolution giving effect to such designation or removal, and in the case of a designation, a certificate of a financial officer of OCG certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions. The Company shall promptly file with the Trustee a notice of any such release of a Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to the compliance with this Section.

SECTION 1311. Limitation of Guarantors’ Liability .

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee by such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Title 11 of the United States Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantor. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and its Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum aggregate amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor, and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of, any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, will result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance. Each Guarantee is expressly limited so that in no event, including the acceleration of the Maturity of the Securities, shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid in respect of interest on the Securities (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) exceed the maximum permissible amount under applicable law, as in effect on the date hereof and as subsequently amended or modified to allow a greater amount of interest (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) to be paid under such Guarantee. If for any reason the amount in respect of interest (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) required by a Guarantee exceeds such maximum permissible amount, the obligation to pay interest under such Guarantee (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) shall be automatically reduced to such maximum permissible amount and any amounts collected by any holder of any Security in excess of the

 

93


permissible amount shall be automatically applied to reduce the outstanding principal on such Security.

SECTION 1312. No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company .

Neither the Trustee, any Holder nor any other Person shall have any obligation to enforce or exhaust any rights or remedies or take any other steps under any security for the Obligations or against the Company or any other Person or any Property of the Company or any other Person before the Trustee, such Holder or such other Person is entitled to demand payment and performance by any or all Guarantors of their liabilities and obligations under their Guarantee.

SECTION 1313. Execution and Delivery .

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in this Article Thirteen, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor, and in the case of any New Operating Group Partnership Entity that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture, such New Operating Group Partnership Entity’s Guarantee shall be evidenced by the execution and delivery on behalf of such New Operating Group Partnership Entity of a supplemental indenture hereto by an Officer of such New Holdings Partnership Entity. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in this Article Thirteen shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on any Securities. If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates any Security, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

 

 

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

 

94


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT,

L.P., as Issuer

By:

  / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH
  Name: Bruce A. Karsh
  Title: President

By:

  / S / J OHN B. F RANK
  Name: John B. Frank
  Title: Managing Principal

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP

HOLDINGS, L.P., as Guarantor

By:

  / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH
  Name: Bruce A. Karsh
  Title: Authorized Officer

By:

  / S / J OHN B. F RANK
  Name: John B. Frank
  Title: Authorized Officer
OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC, as Guarantor

By:

  / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH
  Name: Bruce A. Karsh
  Title: President

By:

  / S / J OHN B. F RANK
  Name: John B. Frank
  Title: Managing Principal

 

95


OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P., as Guarantor
By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH
  Name: Bruce A. Karsh
  Title: President
By:   / S / J OHN B. F RANK
  Name: John B. Frank
  Title: Managing Principal
OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P., as Guarantor
By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH
  Name: Bruce A. Karsh
  Title: President
By:   / S / J OHN B. F RANK
  Name: John B. Frank
  Title: Managing Principal

OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P.,

as Guarantor

By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH
  Name: Bruce A.Karsh
  Title: President
By:   / S / J OHN B. F RANK
  Name: John B. Frank
  Title: Managing Principal

 

96


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:   / S / M ADDY H ALL
  Name: Maddy Hall
  Title: Vice President

 

97


ANNEX A — Form of

Regulation S Certificate

REGULATION S CERTIFICATE

(For transfers pursuant to § 306(b)(i), (iii) and (v) of the Indenture)

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

    as Trustee

707 Wilshire Blvd., 17 th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90017

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

 

  Re: 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 of
     Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (the “Securities”)

Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2009 (the “Indenture”), from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (the “Company”) to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. Terms used herein and defined in the Indenture or in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) are used herein as so defined.

This certificate relates to U.S. $            principal amount of Securities, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the “Specified Securities”):

CUSIP No(s).                                                                          

CERTIFICATE No(s).                                                              

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the “Undersigned”) hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified Securities or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the Specified Securities and is duly authorized by them to do so. Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the “Owner”. If the Specified Securities are represented by a Global Security, they are held through the Depositary or an Agent Member in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner. If the Specified Securities are not represented by a Global Security, they are registered in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.

 

A-1


The Owner has requested that the Specified Securities be transferred to a person (the “Transferee”) who will take delivery in the form of a Regulation S Security (the “Transfer”). In connection with such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies that, unless such transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Owner hereby further certifies as follows:

Rule 903 or Rule 904 Transfers . If the transfer is being effected pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904:

(i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States;

(ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act;

(iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and

(iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Non-Global Security will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

[    ] CHECK IF OWNER IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY AS CONTEMPLATED IN SECTION 306(b)(viii) OF THE INDENTURE.

 

A-2


[    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY AS CONTEMPLATED IN SECTION 306(b)(viii) OF THE INDENTURE.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, any Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.

Dated:

 

 
(Print the name of the Undersigned, as such term is
defined in the second paragraph of this certificate.)
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
(If the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or fiduciary, the title of the person signing on behalf of the Undersigned must be stated.)

 

A-3


ANNEX B — Form of

Restricted Securities Certificate

RESTRICTED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE

(For transfers pursuant to § 306(b)(ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) of the Indenture)

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

    as Trustee

707 Wilshire Blvd., 17 th Street

Los Angeles, California 90017

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

 

  Re: 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 of
     Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (the “Securities”)

Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2009 (the “Indenture”), from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (the “Company”) to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. Terms used herein and defined in the Indenture or in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) are used herein as so defined.

This certificate relates to U.S. $            principal amount of Securities, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the “Specified Securities”):

CUSIP No(s).                                                                          

CERTIFICATE No(s).                                                              

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the “Undersigned”) hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified Securities or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the Specified Securities and is duly authorized by them to do so. Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the “Owner”. If the Specified Securities are represented by a Global Security, they are held through the Depositary or an Agent Member in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner. If the Specified Securities are not represented by a Global Security, they are registered in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.

 

B-1


The Owner has requested that the Specified Securities be transferred to a person (the “Transferee”) who will take delivery in the form of a Restricted Security (the “Transfer”). In connection with such transfer, the Owner hereby certifies that, unless such transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, it is being effected in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. Accordingly, the Owner hereby further certifies that:

Rule 144A Transfers . The beneficial interest or Non-Global Security is being transferred to a Person that the Owner reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Non-Global Security for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

[    ] CHECK IF OWNER IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY AS CONTEMPLATED IN SECTION 306(b)(viii) OF THE INDENTURE.

[    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY AS CONTEMPLATED IN SECTION 306(b)(viii) OF THE INDENTURE.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, any Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.

Dated:

 

 
(Print the name of the Undersigned, as such term is
defined in the second paragraph of this certificate.)
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

B-2


(If the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or fiduciary, the title of the person signing on behalf of the Undersigned must be stated.)

 

B-3


ANNEX C — Form of

Unrestricted Securities Certificate

UNRESTRICTED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE

(For removal of Securities Act Legends pursuant to § 306(c))

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

    as Trustee

707 Wilshire Blvd., 17 th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90017

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

 

  Re: 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 of
     Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (the “Securities”)

Reference is made to the Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2009 (the “Indenture”), from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (the “Company”) to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. Terms used herein and defined in the Indenture or in Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) are used herein as so defined.

This certificate relates to U.S. $            principal amount of Securities, which are evidenced by the following certificate(s) (the “Specified Securities”):

CUSIP No(s).                                                                          

CERTIFICATE No(s).                                                              

The person in whose name this certificate is executed below (the “Undersigned”) hereby certifies that either (i) it is the sole beneficial owner of the Specified Securities or (ii) it is acting on behalf of all the beneficial owners of the Specified Securities and is duly authorized by them to do so. Such beneficial owner or owners are referred to herein collectively as the “Owner”. If the Specified Securities are represented by a Global Security, they are held through the Depositary or an Agent Member in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner. If the Specified Securities are not represented by a Global Security, they are registered in the name of the Undersigned, as or on behalf of the Owner.

 

D-1


The Owner has requested that the Specified Securities be exchanged for Securities bearing no Securities Act Legend pursuant to Section 306(c) of the Indenture (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that the Exchange is occurring after a holding period of at least one year (computed in accordance with paragraph (d) of Rule 144) has elapsed since the Specified Securities were last acquired from the Company or from an Affiliate of the Company, whichever is later, and the Owner is not, and during the preceding three months has not been, an Affiliate of the Company. The Owner also acknowledges that any future transfers of the Specified Securities must comply with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions and also certifies that:

(i) the beneficial interest or Non-Global Security is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer,

(ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Specified Securities and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),

(iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Securities Act Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, and

(iv) the beneficial interest or the Non-Global Security is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company, any Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.

Dated:

 

 

(Print the name of the Undersigned, as such term is defined in the second paragraph of this certificate.)

 

By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

D-2


(If the Undersigned is a corporation, partnership or fiduciary, the title of the person signing on behalf of the Undersigned must be stated.

 

D-3


ANNEX D — Form of

Free Transferability Certificate

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

707 Wilshire Blvd., 17 th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90017

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

  Re: 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019; CUSIP:             ; ISIN: US            

Dear Sir/Madam:

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 24, 2009 (the “Indenture”), between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., as issuer (the “Company”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

Whereas the 6.75% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Securities”) have become freely tradable without restrictions by non-affiliates of the Company pursuant to Rule 144(b)(l) under the Securities Act, in accordance with Section 306(d) of the Indenture pursuant to which the Securities were issued, the Company hereby instructs you that:

(i) the Restrictive Securities Legend described in Section 202 of the Indenture and set forth on the Securities shall be deemed removed from the Securities, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Securities and as provided in the Indenture, without further action on the part of Holders; and

(ii) the restricted CUSIP number and restricted ISIN number for the Securities shall be deemed removed from the Securities and replaced with the unrestricted CUSIP number (            ) and unrestricted ISIN number (            ), respectively, set forth therein, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Securities and as provided in the Indenture, without further action on the part of Holders.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

E-1

EXHIBIT 5.1

S IMPSON T HACHER  & B ARTLETT LLP

1999 A VENUE OF THE S TARS , 29 TH F LOOR

L OS A NGELES , CA 90067

(310) 407-7500

 

 

[                   ], 2011

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-174993) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to (a) the offer and sale by the Company of Class A units representing limited liability company interests (the “Class A Units” and together with any additional Class A Units that may be issued by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) (as prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the Act) in connection with the offering described in the Registration Statement, the “Company Units”) and (b) the offer and sale by the selling unitholders listed in the Registration Statement (the “Selling Unitholders”) of Class A Units and together with any additional Class A Units that may be sold by the Selling Unitholders pursuant to Rule 462(b) (as prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the Act) in connection with the offering described in the Registration Statement, the “Selling Unitholders’ Units” and, together with the Company Units, the “Units”). The Company and the Selling Unitholders together will sell in the aggregate up to [              ] Units.


We have examined the Registration Statement and a form of certificate representing the Class A Units, which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

(1)(a) When the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly constituted and acting committee of such Board (such Board of Directors or committee being hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Company Units and (b) upon payment and delivery in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting agreement approved by the Board, the Company Units will be validly issued and holders of Company Units will have no obligation to make contributions to the Company solely by reason of their ownership of Company Units or any further payments for the purchase of the Company Units.

(2) The Selling Unitholders’ Units have been validly issued, holders of Selling Unitholders’ Units have no obligation to make contributions to the Company solely by reason of their ownership of Selling Unitholders’ Units and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting agreement approved by the Board, holders of Selling Unitholders’ Units will have no obligation to make any further payments for the purchase of the Selling Unitholders’ Units.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

 

2


We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

 

3

EXHIBIT 8.1

S IMPSON T HACHER  & B ARTLETT LLP

1999 A VENUE OF THE S TARS , 29 TH F LOOR

L OS A NGELES , CA 90067

(310) 407-7500

 

 

[            ], 2011

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90071

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to (a) the offer and sale by the Company of an aggregate of up to [              ] Class A units representing limited liability company interests (the “Class A Units” and together with any additional Class A Units that may be issued by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) (as prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the Act) in connection with the offering described in the Registration Statement, the “Company Units”) and (b) the offer and sale by the selling unitholders listed in the Registration Statement (the “Selling Unitholders”) of Class A Units (together with any additional Class A Units that may be sold by the Selling Unitholders pursuant to Rule 462(b) (as prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the Act) in connection with the offering described in the Registration Statement, the “Selling Unitholders’ Units” and, together with the Company Units, the “Units”). The Company and the Selling Unitholders together will sell in the aggregate up to [              ] Units.

We have examined (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, (iii) the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital I, L.P., (iv) the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital II, L.P., (v) the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P., (vi) the Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (vii) the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., (viii) the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Oaktree AIF Investment, L.P. and (ix) the representation letter of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC and the Company delivered to us for purposes of this opinion (the “Representation Letter”). We have also examined originals or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such other and


further investigations, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth. As to matters of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates and comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have further assumed that any documents will be executed by the parties in the forms provided to and reviewed by us and that the representations made by Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC and the Company in the Representation Letter are true, complete and correct and will remain true, complete and correct at all times.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein and in the Registration Statement, the discussion set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations”, insofar as it expresses conclusions as to the application of United States federal tax law, is our opinion as to the material United States federal tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Units.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the federal tax law of the United States.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the headings “Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations” in the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

 

2

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

Oaktree Capital I, L.P.

Dated as of May 25, 2007

 

 

 

THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, PROVINCE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR PROVINCE, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS AND THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.


Table of Contents

 

Page

  

ARTICLE I

  

DEFINITIONS

  

SECTION 1.01

  Definitions      1   

ARTICLE II

  

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

  

SECTION 2.01

  Formation      6   

SECTION 2.02

  Name      7   

SECTION 2.03

  Term      7   

SECTION 2.04

  Offices      7   

SECTION 2.05

  Agent for Service of Process      7   

SECTION 2.06

  Business Purpose      7   

SECTION 2.07

  Powers of the Partnership      7   

SECTION 2.08

  Partners; Admission of New Partners      7   

SECTION 2.09

  Withdrawal      8   

SECTION 2.10

  Substitution of General Partner      8   

ARTICLE III

  

MANAGEMENT

  

SECTION 3.01

  General Partner      8   

SECTION 3.02

  Compensation      9   

SECTION 3.03

  Expenses      9   

SECTION 3.04

  Officers      9   

SECTION 3.05

  Authority of Partners      9   

SECTION 3.06

  Action by Written Consent or Ratification      9   

ARTICLE IV

  

DISTRIBUTIONS

  

SECTION 4.01

  Distributions      10   

SECTION 4.02

  Liquidation Distribution      10   

SECTION 4.03

  Limitations on Distribution      10   

 

-i-


ARTICLE V

  

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

  

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

  

SECTION 5.01

  Initial Capital Contributions      10   

SECTION 5.02

  No Additional Capital Contributions      10   

SECTION 5.03

  Capital Accounts      10   

SECTION 5.04

  Allocations of Profits and Losses      11   

SECTION 5.05

  Special Allocations      11   

SECTION 5.06

  Tax Allocations      12   

SECTION 5.07

  Tax Advances      13   

SECTION 5.08

  Tax Matters      13   

SECTION 5.09

  Other Allocation Provisions      13   

ARTICLE VI

  

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

  

SECTION 6.01

  Books and Records      14   

ARTICLE VII

  

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

  

SECTION 7.01

  Units      14   

SECTION 7.02

  Register      15   

SECTION 7.03

  Registered Partners      15   

ARTICLE VIII

  

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

  

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

  

SECTION 8.01

  Units Subject to Vesting      15   

SECTION 8.02

  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event      15   

SECTION 8.03

  Limited Partnership Transfers      16   

SECTION 8.04

  Mandatory Exchanges      16   

SECTION 8.05

  Further Restrictions      16   

SECTION 8.06

  Rights of Assignees      17   

SECTION 8.07

  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals      17   

SECTION 8.08

  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners      17   

SECTION 8.09

  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners      18   

 

-ii-


ARTICLE IX

  

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

  

SECTION 9.01

  No Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.02

  Events Causing Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.03

  Distribution upon Dissolution      19   

SECTION 9.04

  Time for Liquidation      19   

SECTION 9.05

  Termination      19   

SECTION 9.06

  Claims of the Partners      19   

SECTION 9.07

  Survival of Certain Provisions      20   

ARTICLE X

  

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

  

SECTION 10.01

  Liability of Partners      20   

SECTION 10.02

  Indemnification      21   

ARTICLE XI

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

SECTION 11.01

  Severability      22   

SECTION 11.02

  Notices      23   

SECTION 11.03

  Cumulative Remedies      23   

SECTION 11.04

  Binding Effect      23   

SECTION 11.05

  Interpretation      24   

SECTION 11.06

  Counterparts      24   

SECTION 11.07

  Further Assurances      24   

SECTION 11.08

  Entire Agreement      24   

SECTION 11.09

  Governing Law      24   

SECTION 11.10

  Arbitration of Disputes      24   

SECTION 11.11

  Expenses      25   

SECTION 11.12

  Amendments and Waivers      26   

SECTION 11.13

  No Third Party Beneficiaries      27   

SECTION 11.14

  Headings      27   

SECTION 11.15

  Construction      27   

SECTION 11.16

  Power of Attorney      27   

SECTION 11.17

  Partnership Status      27   

 

-iii-


AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Oaktree Capital I, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is made as of the 25th day of May, 2007, by and among OCM Holdings I, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, as general partner, and the Limited Partners (as defined herein) of the Partnership.

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Act ”), by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the execution of the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated as of May 11, 2007 (the “ Original Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership and to permit the admission of the Limited Partners to the Partnership.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement (as defined herein) in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01  Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

Act ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Adjusted Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to each Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.


Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

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

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.

Assumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Partners.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Partnership’s operations.

Capital Account ” means the separate capital account maintained for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Article V.

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the General Partner, and the Carrying Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets to a Partner; (c) the date a Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)”

 

2


rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Class ” means the classes of Units into which the interests in the Partnership may be classified or divided from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

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

Contingencies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).

Creditable Foreign Tax ” means a foreign tax paid or accrued for United States federal income tax purposes by the Partnership, in either case to the extent that such tax is eligible for credit under Section 901(a) of the Code. A foreign tax is a creditable foreign tax for these purposes without regard to whether a partner receiving an allocation of such foreign tax elects to claim a credit for such amount. This definition is intended to be consistent with the definition of “creditable foreign tax” in Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi)( b ), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Disabling Event ” means the General Partner ceasing to be the general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 17-402 of the Act.

Dissolution Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of this Agreement.

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Units and units in other members of the Oaktree Operating Group in accordance with the terms thereof.

Exchange Transaction ” means the distribution of Units by OCGH or other holder thereof to an employee of the Oaktree Operating Group or any other person pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of OCGH, the Exchange Agreement or any other applicable document.

Fiscal Year ” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Partnership and ending on December 31, 2007 or (ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

 

3


General Partner ” means OCM Holdings I, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any successor general partner admitted to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Incapacity ” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.

Issuer ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.

Limited Partner ” means each of the Persons from time to time listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the Partnership.

Liquidation Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of this Agreement.

Net Taxable Income ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, the Partnership, Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership, and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

OCGH ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Original Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partners ” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner (including the General Partner) on the books and records of the Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a partner of the Partnership as provided hereunder.

Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

4


Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Profits ” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Partnership, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis ( provided that if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); and (f) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Partnership and thereby subject the Partnership, the General Partner or OCGH (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Partnership’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar

 

 

5


to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title 1 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Tax Advances ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

Tax Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.

Total Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested or unvested) then owned by such Partner by the number of Units then owned by all Partners.

Transfer ” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including, without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other security and any transfer that is part of an Exchange Transaction.

Transferee ” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.

Treasury Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Trigger Event ” means an event or events designated by the General Partner at the time of issuance of any Units subject to vesting upon the occurrence of which any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Even shall be forfeit pursuant to Section 8.02. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may designate as a Trigger Event for any particular Units the termination of the employment of a Person with any member of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Partnership and authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute interests in the Partnership as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership at any particular time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a Partner as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Partner to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

SECTION 2.01  Formation . The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the provisions of the Act by the filing on May 11, 2007 of the Certificate as provided in the

 

6


preamble of this Agreement and the execution of the Original Agreement. If requested by the General Partner, the Limited Partners shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the General Partner to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the General Partner deems it advisable, the operation of the Partnership as a limited partnership, or partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Partnership proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Partnership.

SECTION 2.02  Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of, Oaktree Capital I, L.P.

SECTION 2.03  Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article IX. The existence of the Partnership shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 2.04  Offices . The Partnership may have offices at such places either within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner from time to time may select.

SECTION 2.05  Agent for Service of Process . The Partnership’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate, as the same may be amended by the General Partner from time to time.

SECTION 2.06  Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited partnerships may be formed under the Act.

SECTION 2.07  Powers of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the assets contributed to the Partnership by the Partners, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership set forth in Section 2.06.

SECTION 2.08  Partners; Admission of New Partners . Each of the Persons listed in the books and records of the Partnership, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by virtue of the execution of this Agreement, are admitted as Partners of the Partnership. The rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the Partners consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that each new Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Partner agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

7


SECTION 2.09  Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 8.07.

SECTION 2.10  Substitution of General Partner The Partners hereby agree and consent to (i) the admission of OCM Holdings I, LLC as the General Partner and (ii) the withdrawal of Oaktree Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company as general partner of the Partnership. The Partners hereby continue the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Act.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

SECTION 3.01  General Partner . (a) The business, property and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to act on behalf of the Partnership.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Partnership (which may be delegated to officers of the Partnership), including, without limitation, the following powers:

(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year;

(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Partnership;

(iii) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness and the incurring of any other obligations;

(iv) to employ, retain, consult with and dismiss personnel;

(v) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;

(vi) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Partnership;

(vii) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Partnership’s books of account; and

(viii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in writing from time to time.

 

8


SECTION 3.02  Compensation . The General Partner shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its capacity as General Partner.

SECTION 3.03  Expenses . The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with serving as the general partner of the Partnership.

SECTION 3.04  Officers . Subject to the direction and oversight of the General Partner, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Partnership may be carried out by employees and agents who may be designated as officers by the General Partner, with titles as and to the extent authorized by the General Partner. The officers of the Partnership shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the General Partner and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. All employees, agents and officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner and may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not cease to be a general partner of the Partnership as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Partnership, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a general partner of the Partnership by agreement, estoppel, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.

SECTION 3.05  Authority of Partners . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate in the affairs of the Partnership described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Limited Partners shall have no right to vote on any matter involving the Partnership, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Partnership. The conduct, control and management of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General Partner shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Partnership, no Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Partnership in its capacity as a Partner, nor shall any Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Partnership in his or its capacity as a Partner in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Partnership or of any other Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may employ one or more Partners from time to time, and such Partners, in their capacity as employees of the Partnership (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Limited Partners of the Partnership), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Partnership to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Partnership has been delegated to them by the General Partner.

SECTION 3.06  Action by Written Consent or Ratification . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Partners pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Partners whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a ratification in writing.

 

9


ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 4.01  Distributions . (a) The General Partner, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the Partners, which distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interests.

(b) In addition to the foregoing, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the taxable income of the Partnership for a Fiscal Year will give rise to taxable income for the Partners (“ Net Taxable Income ”), the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Available Cash in respect of income tax liabilities (the “ Tax Distributions ”) pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interest to the extent that other distributions made by the Partnership for such year are otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities. The Tax Distributions payable with respect to a period shall be computed based upon the General Partner’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in accordance with Article V for such period, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the “ Tax Amount ”). For purposes of computing the Tax Amount, the effect of any benefit to a Partner under Section 743(b) of the Code will be ignored. The partnership shall make distributions under this Section 4.01 quarterly based on the expected, estimated taxable income of the Partnership for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within 90 days after the end of the Fiscal Year with respect to a Fiscal Year.

SECTION 4.02  Liquidation Distribution . Distributions made upon dissolution of the Partnership shall be made as provided in Section 9.03.

SECTION 4.03  Limitations on Distribution . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not make a Partnership distribution to any Partner if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

SECTION 5.01  Initial Capital Contributions . The Partners have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and have acquired the number of Units as specified in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 5.02  No Additional Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, no Partner shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the consent of such Partner or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

SECTION 5.03  Capital Accounts . A separate capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Partner shall be credited with such Partner’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Partner

 

10


pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Partnership specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Partnership to such Partner. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any interest in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.

SECTION 5.04  Allocations of Profits and Losses . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Partnership) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Partner after giving effect to the Special Allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Article IV if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.05  Special Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Partnership taxable year, the Partners shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Qualified Income Offset . If any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of

 

11


such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c) Gross Income Allocation . If any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Total Percentage Interests.

(e) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).

(f) Creditable Foreign Taxes . Creditable Foreign Taxes for any taxable period attributable to the Partnership, or an entity owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership, shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to the partners’ distributive shares of income (including income allocated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code) to which the Creditable Foreign Tax relates (under principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.904-6). The provisions of this Section 5.05(f) are intended to comply with the provisions of Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(g) Ameliorative Allocations . Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(g), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Partner shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.

SECTION 5.06  Tax Allocations . For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (as determined by the General Partner and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations) so as to take account of the difference

 

12


between Carrying Value and adjusted basis of such asset; provided, further, that the Partnership shall use the traditional method (as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.704-3(b)(1)) for all Section 704(c) and “reverse Section 704(c)” allocations. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.07  Tax Advances . To the extent the General Partner reasonably believes that the Partnership is required by law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Partner or the Partnership is subjected to tax itself by reason of the status of any Partner (“ Tax Advances ”), the General Partner may withhold such amounts and make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Partner shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Partner or, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Partner. For all purposes of this Agreement such Partner shall be treated as having received the amount of the distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance.

SECTION 5.08  Tax Matters . The General Partner shall be the initial “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”). The Partnership shall file as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes, except where otherwise required by Law. All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership, and all other tax decisions and determinations relating to federal, state or local tax matters of the Partnership, shall be made by the Tax Matters Partner, in consultation with the Partnership’s attorneys and/or accountants. Tax audits, controversies and litigations shall be conducted under the direction of the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner shall keep the other Partners reasonably informed as to any tax actions, examinations or proceedings relating to the Partnership and shall submit to the other Partners, for their review and comment, any settlement or compromise offer with respect to any disputed item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership. As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall send to each Partner a copy of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, and any comparable statements required by applicable state or local income tax Law, with respect to such Fiscal Year. The Partnership also shall provide the Partners with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Partners (or the direct or indirect owners of the Partners) to prepare and file their own tax returns.

SECTION 5.09  Other Allocation Provisions . Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may be amended at any time by the General Partner if necessary, in the opinion of tax counsel to the Partnership, to comply with such regulations, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Partners.

 

13


ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

SECTION 6.01  Books and Records . (a) At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partnership shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Partnership in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(ii) promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the three most recent years.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership, could damage the Partnership or its business or that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential.

ARTICLE VII

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

SECTION 7.01  Units . Interests in the Partnership shall be represented by Units. The Units initially are comprised of a single Class. The General Partner may establish, from time to time in accordance with such procedures as the General Partner shall determine from time to time, other Classes, one or more series of any such Classes, or other Partnership securities with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Classes and series of Units), as shall be determined by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Unit is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Unit will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Total Percentage Interest as to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Unit to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include all Classes that may be

 

14


established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular Class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such Class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02  Register . The register of the Partnership shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Partner. Unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 7.03  Registered Partners . The Partnership 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 Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

SECTION 8.01  Units Subject to Vesting . (a) Subject to Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed to in writing between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, the General Partner may issue Units that are subject to vesting on a schedule determined by the General Partner at the time such Units are issued and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership. The General Partner shall designate a Trigger Event with respect to each Unit issued that is subject to vesting, which shall be set forth in the books and records of the Partnership. All Units outstanding as of the date hereof are fully vested.

(b) In addition, the General Partner in its sole discretion may authorize the earlier vesting of all or a portion of any unvested Units owned by any one or more Limited Partners at any time and from time to time, and in such event, such unvested Units shall vest and thereafter be vested Units for all purposes of this Agreement. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of unvested Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(c) Upon the vesting of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.01, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such vesting.

SECTION 8.02  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event . (a) Other than as set forth in Section 8.01(b) and except as agreed otherwise between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Event shall be immediately forfeited without any consideration, and such Limited Partner shall cease to own or have any rights with respect to such unvested Units.

 

15


(b) Upon the forfeiture of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.02, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such forfeiture.

SECTION 8.03  Limited Partnership Transfers . No Limited Partner or Assignee thereof may Transfer (other than as part of an Exchange Transaction) all or any portion of its Units (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the General Partner may require) as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

SECTION 8.04  Mandatory Exchanges . The General Partner may, with the consent of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 75% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate, require all Limited Partners to Transfer in an Exchange Transaction all Units held by them.

SECTION 8.05  Further Restrictions . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit be made by any Limited Partner or Assignee if:

(a) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;

(b) such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable United States federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or other foreign securities laws or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;

(c) such Transfer would not cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Partnership to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the General Partner to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;

(d) to the extent requested by the General Partner, the Partnership does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound

 

16


by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner, as determined in the General Partner’s sole discretion.

SECTION 8.06  Rights of Assignees . Subject to Section 8.05, the transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“ Assignee ”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Partner which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Partner, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such Interest remaining with the transferring Partner. The transferring Partner will remain a Partner even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Partnership as a Partner pursuant to Section 8.08.

SECTION 8.07  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals . (a) No Person may be admitted to the Partnership as an additional General Partner or substitute General Partner without the prior written consent or ratification of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 50% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate. A General Partner will not be entitled to Transfer all of its Units or to withdraw from being a General Partner of the Partnership unless another General Partner shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or withdrawn).

(b) No Limited Partner will be removed or entitled to withdraw from being a Partner of the Partnership except in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of a Partner will cause the dissolution of the Partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, withdrawal or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

SECTION 8.08  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners . An Assignee will become a substitute Limited Partner only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) the General Partner consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion;

(b) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Limited Partner) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner (as determined in its sole discretion);

(c) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the General Partner to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable laws; and

 

17


(d) if required by the General Partner, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Partnership’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Partnership).

SECTION 8.09  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners . If a Limited Partner ceases to hold any Units, then such Limited Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership and shall cease to be a Limited Partner and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a Limited Partner.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

SECTION 9.01  No Dissolution . Except as required by the Act, Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Partners or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Partners hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any or all of the Partnership assets.

SECTION 9.02  Events Causing Dissolution . The Partnership shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-802 of the Act upon the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that the General Partner (i) is permanently incapable of performing its part of this Agreement, (ii) has been guilty of conduct that is calculated to affect prejudicially the carrying on of the business of the Partnership, (iii) willfully or persistently commits a breach of this Agreement or (iv) conducts itself in a manner relating to the Partnership or its business such that it is not reasonably practicable for the other Partners to carry on the business of the Partnership with the General Partner;

(b) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Partnership to be carried on by the Partners;

(c) the written consent of all Partners;

(d) any other event not inconsistent with any provision hereof causing a dissolution of the Partnership under the Act;

(e) the Incapacity or removal of the General Partner or the occurrence of a Disabling Event with respect to the General Partner; provided that the Partnership will not be dissolved or required to be wound up in connection with any of the events specified in this Section 9.02(f) if: (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one other general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to, and elects to, carry on the business of the Partnership; or (ii) all remaining Limited Partners consent to or ratify the continuation of the business of the Partnership and the appointment of another general

 

18


partner of the Partnership, effective as of the event that caused the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership, within 90 days following the occurrence of any such event, which consent shall be deemed (and if requested each Limited Partner shall provide a written consent or ratification) to have been given for all Limited Partners if the holders of more than 50% of the Units then outstanding agree in writing to so continue the business of the Partnership.

SECTION 9.03  Distribution upon Dissolution . Upon dissolution, the Partnership shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Partnership is completed. Upon the winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner, or any other Person designated by the General Partner (the “ Liquidation Agent ”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Partnership and shall, unless the General Partner determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Partnership as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Partnership (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Partners and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Partnership (“ Contingencies ”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03; and

(b) The balance, if any, to the Partners, pro rata to each of the Partners in accordance with their Total Percentage Interests.

SECTION 9.04  Time for Liquidation . A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation.

SECTION 9.05  Termination . The Partnership shall terminate when all of the assets of the Partnership, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 9.06  Claims of the Partners . The Partners shall look solely to the Partnership’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Partnership remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Partners shall have no recourse against the Partnership or any other Partner or any other Person. No Partner with a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Partnership or to the other Partners or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of

 

19


the Partnership, upon dissolution or termination of the Partnership or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.

SECTION 9.07  Survival of Certain Provisions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 11.09 shall survive the termination of the Partnership.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01  Liability of Partners . (a) No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership or of any other Partner or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Partner of the Partnership, except to the extent required by the Act.

(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, the Partners hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by Law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Partnership are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement and those required by the Act.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to another Partner, the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Partnership or to any such other Partner for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Partners relating thereto (including without limitation, the General Partner).

(d) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors and any act or omission suffered or taken by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the interests of the Partnership in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or financial or other advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and the General Partner will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such General Partner shall be entitled to consider only 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

 

20


affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

SECTION 10.02  Indemnification . (a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify any person (and such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Partnership or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was the legal representative, is or was a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership or, while a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership, is or was serving at the request of the Partnership as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such person’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(b) Advancement of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall promptly pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any person described in Section 10.02(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(c) Unpaid Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 10.02(a) has been received by the Partnership, such person may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

21


(d) Insurance . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Partnership and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Partnership Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Partnership that indemnification of any person whom the Partnership is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Partnership” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Partnership which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.

This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01  Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually

 

22


acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

SECTION 11.02  Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.02):

(a) If to the Partnership, to:

Oaktree Capital I, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(b) If to any Partner, to:

c/o OCM Holdings I, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(c) If to the General Partner, to:

OCM Holdings I, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

SECTION 11.03  Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.

SECTION 11.04  Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

 

23


SECTION 11.05  Interpretation . Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.06  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 11.06.

SECTION 11.07  Further Assurances . Each Limited Partner shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.08  Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

SECTION 11.09  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 11.10  Arbitration of Disputes . Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to (i) the Partnership, (ii) any Limited Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, (iii) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, (iv) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.10 and (v) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq . A party hereto may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other party or parties to the arbitration in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 3.1. The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with JAMS and with each other in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided , that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The parties to the arbitration shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. Each party to the arbitration shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.10 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the parties to the arbitration.

 

24


No party to an arbitration shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided , that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed (i) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, (ii) two interrogatories, (iii) ten document requests and (iv) ten requests for admissions; provided , further , that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.10 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

The provisions of this Section 11.10 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10, including the existence and/or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided , that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided , further , that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If a party to an arbitration receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such party shall (i) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and (ii) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions, including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and (ii) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between parties to this Agreement that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

SECTION 11.11  Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Partnership shall be responsible for all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and

 

25


disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with its operation.

SECTION 11.12  Amendments and Waivers . (a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the General Partner; provided that any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any Class of Units in relation to other Classes of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Total Percentage Interests of the Class affected; provided further , that the General Partner may, without the written consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (i) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership; (ii) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership; (iv) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; (v) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.

(c) The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, unilaterally amend this Agreement on or before the effective date of the final regulations to provide for (i) the election of a safe harbor under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(l) (or any similar provision) under which the fair market value of a partnership interest that is transferred is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest, (ii) an agreement by the Partnership and each of its Partners to comply with all of the requirements set forth in such regulations and Notice 2005-43 (and any other guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such election) with respect to all partnership interests transferred in connection with the performance of services while the election remains effective, (iii) the allocation of items of income, gains, deductions and losses required by the final regulations similar to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(b) and (c), and (iv) any other related amendments.

(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

 

26


SECTION 11.13  No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof).

SECTION 11.14  Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 11.15  Construction . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement and that it is the intent of the parties hereto that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.

SECTION 11.16  Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner, by its execution hereof, hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the General Partner as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been adopted as herein provided; (b) the original certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership and all amendments thereto required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Limited Partners have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Limited Partners) deemed advisable by the General Partner to carry out the provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 8.04) and Law or to permit the Partnership to become or to continue as a limited partnership or partnership wherein the Limited Partners have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Partnership may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the admission of additional Limited Partners or substituted Limited Partners pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the General Partner to effect the liquidation and termination of the Partnership; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Partnership’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Partnership.

SECTION 11.17  Partnership Status . The parties intend to treat the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

OCM HOLDINGS I, LLC

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING        
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Vice President

 

LIMITED PARTNERS:

OCM HOLDINGS I, LLC

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING        
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Vice President


OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P.

By: Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC,

        its general partner

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING        
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

WITHDRAWING GENERAL   PARTNER:

OAKTREE HOLDINGS, LLC, solely to

reflect its withdrawal pursuant to Section 2.10 herof

By: Oaktree Capital Group, LLC,

      its managing member

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING        
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Vice President

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

Oaktree Capital II, L.P.

Dated as of May 25, 2007

 

 

 

THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, PROVINCE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR PROVINCE, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS AND THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.


Table of Contents

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

  

DEFINITIONS

  

SECTION 1.01

  Definitions      1   

ARTICLE II

  

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

  

SECTION 2.01

  Formation      6   

SECTION 2.02

  Name      7   

SECTION 2.03

  Term      7   

SECTION 2.04

  Offices      7   

SECTION 2.05

  Agent for Service of Process      7   

SECTION 2.06

  Business Purpose      7   

SECTION 2.07

  Powers of the Partnership      7   

SECTION 2.08

  Partners; Admission of New Partners      7   

SECTION 2.09

  Withdrawal      8   

ARTICLE III

  

MANAGEMENT

  

SECTION 3.01

  General Partner      8   

SECTION 3.02

  Compensation      8   

SECTION 3.03

  Expenses      9   

SECTION 3.04

  Officers      9   

SECTION 3.05

  Authority of Partners      9   

SECTION 3.06

  Action by Written Consent or Ratification      9   

ARTICLE IV

  

DISTRIBUTIONS

  

SECTION 4.01

  Distributions      10   

SECTION 4.02

  Liquidation Distribution      10   

SECTION 4.03

  Limitations on Distribution      10   

 

-i-


ARTICLE V

  

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

  

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

  

SECTION 5.01

  Initial Capital Contributions      10   

SECTION 5.02

  No Additional Capital Contributions      10   

SECTION 5.03

  Capital Accounts      10   

SECTION 5.04

  Allocations of Profits and Losses      11   

SECTION 5.05

  Special Allocations      11   

SECTION 5.06

  Tax Allocations      12   

SECTION 5.07

  Tax Advances      13   

SECTION 5.08

  Tax Matters      13   

SECTION 5.09

  Other Allocation Provisions      13   

ARTICLE VI

  

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

  

SECTION 6.01

  Books and Records      14   

ARTICLE VII

  

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

  

SECTION 7.01

  Units      14   

SECTION 7.02

  Register      15   

SECTION 7.03

  Registered Partners      15   

ARTICLE VIII

  

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

  

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

  

SECTION 8.01

  Units Subject to Vesting      15   

SECTION 8.02

  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event      15   

SECTION 8.03

  Limited Partnership Transfers      16   

SECTION 8.04

  Mandatory Exchanges      16   

SECTION 8.05

  Further Restrictions      16   

SECTION 8.06

  Rights of Assignees      17   

SECTION 8.07

  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals      17   

SECTION 8.08

  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners      17   

SECTION 8.09

  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners      18   

 

-ii-


ARTICLE IX

  

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

  

SECTION 9.01

  No Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.02

  Events Causing Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.03

  Distribution upon Dissolution      19   

SECTION 9.04

  Time for Liquidation      19   

SECTION 9.05

  Termination      19   

SECTION 9.06

  Claims of the Partners      19   

SECTION 9.07

  Survival of Certain Provisions      20   

ARTICLE X

  

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

  

SECTION 10.01

  Liability of Partners      20   

SECTION 10.02

  Indemnification      21   

ARTICLE XI

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

SECTION 11.01

  Severability      22   

SECTION 11.02

  Notices      23   

SECTION 11.03

  Cumulative Remedies      23   

SECTION 11.04

  Binding Effect      23   

SECTION 11.05

  Interpretation      24   

SECTION 11.06

  Counterparts      24   

SECTION 11.07

  Further Assurances      24   

SECTION 11.08

  Entire Agreement      24   

SECTION 11.09

  Governing Law      24   

SECTION 11.10

  Arbitration of Disputes      24   

SECTION 11.11

  Expenses      25   

SECTION 11.12

  Amendments and Waivers      26   

SECTION 11.13

  No Third Party Beneficiaries      27   

SECTION 11.14

  Headings      27   

SECTION 11.15

  Construction      27   

SECTION 11.16

  Power of Attorney      27   

SECTION 11.17

  Partnership Status      27   

 

-iii-


AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Oaktree Capital II, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is made as of the 25th day of May, 2007, by and among Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, as general partner, and the Limited Partners (as defined herein) of the Partnership.

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Act ”), by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the execution of the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated as of May 11, 2007 (the “ Original Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership and to permit the admission of the Limited Partners to the Partnership.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement (as defined herein) in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01  Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

Act ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Adjusted Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to each Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.


Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

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

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.

Assumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Partners.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Partnership’s operations.

Capital Account ” means the separate capital account maintained for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Article V.

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the General Partner, and the Carrying Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets to a Partner; (c) the date a Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)”

 

2


rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Class ” means the classes of Units into which the interests in the Partnership may be classified or divided from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

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

Contingencies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).

Creditable Foreign Tax ” means a foreign tax paid or accrued for United States federal income tax purposes by the Partnership, in either case to the extent that such tax is eligible for credit under Section 901(a) of the Code. A foreign tax is a creditable foreign tax for these purposes without regard to whether a partner receiving an allocation of such foreign tax elects to claim a credit for such amount. This definition is intended to be consistent with the definition of “creditable foreign tax” in Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi)( b ), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Disabling Event ” means the General Partner ceasing to be the general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 17-402 of the Act.

Dissolution Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of this Agreement.

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Units and units in other members of the Oaktree Operating Group in accordance with the terms thereof.

Exchange Transaction ” means the distribution of Units by OCGH or other holder thereof to an employee of the Oaktree Operating Group or any other person pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of OCGH, the Exchange Agreement or any other applicable document.

Fiscal Year ” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Partnership and ending on December 31, 2007 or (ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

 

3


General Partner ” means Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any successor general partner admitted to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Incapacity ” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.

Issuer ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.

Limited Partner ” means each of the Persons from time to time listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the Partnership.

Liquidation Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of this Agreement.

Net Taxable Income ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, the Partnership, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership, and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

OCGH ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Original Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partners ” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner (including the General Partner) on the books and records of the Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a partner of the Partnership as provided hereunder.

Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

4


Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Profits ” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Partnership, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis ( provided that if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); and (f) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Partnership and thereby subject the Partnership, the General Partner or OCGH (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Partnership’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar

 

5


to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title 1 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Tax Advances ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

Tax Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.

Total Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested or unvested) then owned by such Partner by the number of Units then owned by all Partners.

Transfer ” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including, without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other security and any transfer that is part of an Exchange Transaction.

Transferee ” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.

Treasury Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Trigger Event ” means an event or events designated by the General Partner at the time of issuance of any Units subject to vesting upon the occurrence of which any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Even shall be forfeit pursuant to Section 8.02. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may designate as a Trigger Event for any particular Units the termination of the employment of a Person with any member of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Partnership and authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute interests in the Partnership as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership at any particular time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a Partner as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Partner to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

SECTION 2.01  Formation . The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the provisions of the Act by the filing on May 11, 2007 of the Certificate as provided in the

 

6


preamble of this Agreement and the execution of the Original Agreement. If requested by the General Partner, the Limited Partners shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the General Partner to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the General Partner deems it advisable, the operation of the Partnership as a limited partnership, or partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Partnership proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Partnership.

SECTION 2.02  Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of, Oaktree Capital II, L.P.

SECTION 2.03  Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article IX. The existence of the Partnership shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 2.04  Offices . The Partnership may have offices at such places either within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner from time to time may select.

SECTION 2.05  Agent for Service of Process . The Partnership’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate, as the same may be amended by the General Partner from time to time.

SECTION 2.06  Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited partnerships may be formed under the Act.

SECTION 2.07  Powers of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the assets contributed to the Partnership by the Partners, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership set forth in Section 2.06.

SECTION 2.08  Partners; Admission of New Partners . Each of the Persons listed in the books and records of the Partnership, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by virtue of the execution of this Agreement, are admitted as Partners of the Partnership. The rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the Partners consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that each new Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Partner agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

7


SECTION 2.09  Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 8.07.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

SECTION 3.01  General Partner . (a) The business, property and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to act on behalf of the Partnership.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Partnership (which may be delegated to officers of the Partnership), including, without limitation, the following powers:

(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year;

(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Partnership;

(iii) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness and the incurring of any other obligations;

(iv) to employ, retain, consult with and dismiss personnel;

(v) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;

(vi) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Partnership;

(vii) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Partnership’s books of account; and

(viii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in writing from time to time.

SECTION 3.02  Compensation. The General Partner shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its capacity as General Partner.

 

8


SECTION 3.03  Expenses. The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with serving as the general partner of the Partnership.

SECTION 3.04  Officers. Subject to the direction and oversight of the General Partner, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Partnership may be carried out by employees and agents who may be designated as officers by the General Partner, with titles as and to the extent authorized by the General Partner. The officers of the Partnership shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the General Partner and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. All employees, agents and officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner and may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not cease to be a general partner of the Partnership as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Partnership, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a general partner of the Partnership by agreement, estoppel, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.

SECTION 3.05  Authority of Partners. No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate in the affairs of the Partnership described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Limited Partners shall have no right to vote on any matter involving the Partnership, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Partnership. The conduct, control and management of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General Partner shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Partnership, no Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Partnership in its capacity as a Partner, nor shall any Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Partnership in his or its capacity as a Partner in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Partnership or of any other Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may employ one or more Partners from time to time, and such Partners, in their capacity as employees of the Partnership (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Limited Partners of the Partnership), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Partnership to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Partnership has been delegated to them by the General Partner.

SECTION 3.06  Action by Written Consent or Ratification. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Partners pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Partners whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a ratification in writing.

 

9


ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 4.01  Distributions. (a) The General Partner, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the Partners, which distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interests.

(b) In addition to the foregoing, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the taxable income of the Partnership for a Fiscal Year will give rise to taxable income for the Partners (“ Net Taxable Income ”), the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Available Cash in respect of income tax liabilities (the “ Tax Distributions ”) pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interest to the extent that other distributions made by the Partnership for such year are otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities. The Tax Distributions payable with respect to a period shall be computed based upon the General Partner’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in accordance with Article V for such period, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the “ Tax Amount ”). For purposes of computing the Tax Amount, the effect of any benefit to a Partner under Section 743(b) of the Code will be ignored. The partnership shall make distributions under this Section 4.01 quarterly based on the expected, estimated taxable income of the Partnership for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within 90 days after the end of the Fiscal Year with respect to a Fiscal Year.

SECTION 4.02  Liquidation Distribution . Distributions made upon dissolution of the Partnership shall be made as provided in Section 9.03.

SECTION 4.03  Limitations on Distribution. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not make a Partnership distribution to any Partner if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

SECTION 5.01  Initial Capital Contributions. The Partners have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and have acquired the number of Units as specified in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 5.02  No Additional Capital Contributions. Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, no Partner shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the consent of such Partner or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

SECTION 5.03  Capital Accounts. A separate capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Partner shall be credited with such Partner’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Partner

 

10


pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Partnership specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Partnership to such Partner. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any interest in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.

SECTION 5.04  Allocations of Profits and Losses . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Partnership) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Partner after giving effect to the Special Allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Article IV if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.05  Special Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Partnership taxable year, the Partners shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Qualified Income Offset . If any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of

 

11


such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c) Gross Income Allocation . If any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Total Percentage Interests.

(e) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).

(f) Creditable Foreign Taxes . Creditable Foreign Taxes for any taxable period attributable to the Partnership, or an entity owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership, shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to the partners’ distributive shares of income (including income allocated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code) to which the Creditable Foreign Tax relates (under principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.904-6). The provisions of this Section 5.05(f) are intended to comply with the provisions of Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(g) Ameliorative Allocations . Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(g), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Partner shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.

SECTION 5.06  Tax Allocations. For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (as determined by the General Partner and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations) so as to take account of the difference

 

12


between Carrying Value and adjusted basis of such asset; provided, further, that the Partnership shall use the traditional method (as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.704-3(b)(1)) for all Section 704(c) and “reverse Section 704(c)” allocations. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.07  Tax Advances . To the extent the General Partner reasonably believes that the Partnership is required by law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Partner or the Partnership is subjected to tax itself by reason of the status of any Partner (“ Tax Advances ”), the General Partner may withhold such amounts and make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Partner shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Partner or, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Partner. For all purposes of this Agreement such Partner shall be treated as having received the amount of the distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance.

SECTION 5.08  Tax Matters. The General Partner shall be the initial “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”). The Partnership shall file as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes, except where otherwise required by Law. All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership, and all other tax decisions and determinations relating to federal, state or local tax matters of the Partnership, shall be made by the Tax Matters Partner, in consultation with the Partnership’s attorneys and/or accountants. Tax audits, controversies and litigations shall be conducted under the direction of the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner shall keep the other Partners reasonably informed as to any tax actions, examinations or proceedings relating to the Partnership and shall submit to the other Partners, for their review and comment, any settlement or compromise offer with respect to any disputed item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership. As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall send to each Partner a copy of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, and any comparable statements required by applicable state or local income tax Law, with respect to such Fiscal Year. The Partnership also shall provide the Partners with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Partners (or the direct or indirect owners of the Partners) to prepare and file their own tax returns.

SECTION 5.09  Other Allocation Provisions . Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may be amended at any time by the General Partner if necessary, in the opinion of tax counsel to the Partnership, to comply with such regulations, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Partners.

 

13


ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

SECTION 6.01  Books and Records . (a) At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partnership shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Partnership in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(ii) promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the three most recent years.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership, could damage the Partnership or its business or that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential.

ARTICLE VII

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

SECTION 7.01  Units . Interests in the Partnership shall be represented by Units. The Units initially are comprised of a single Class. The General Partner may establish, from time to time in accordance with such procedures as the General Partner shall determine from time to time, other Classes, one or more series of any such Classes, or other Partnership securities with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Classes and series of Units), as shall be determined by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Unit is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Unit will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Total Percentage Interest as to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Unit to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include all Classes that may be

 

14


established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular Class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such Class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02  Register . The register of the Partnership shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Partner. Unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 7.03  Registered Partners . The Partnership 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 Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

SECTION 8.01  Units Subject to Vesting . (a) Subject to Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed to in writing between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, the General Partner may issue Units that are subject to vesting on a schedule determined by the General Partner at the time such Units are issued and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership. The General Partner shall designate a Trigger Event with respect to each Unit issued that is subject to vesting, which shall be set forth in the books and records of the Partnership. All Units outstanding as of the date hereof are fully vested.

(b) In addition, the General Partner in its sole discretion may authorize the earlier vesting of all or a portion of any unvested Units owned by any one or more Limited Partners at any time and from time to time, and in such event, such unvested Units shall vest and thereafter be vested Units for all purposes of this Agreement. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of unvested Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(c) Upon the vesting of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.01, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such vesting.

SECTION 8.02  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event . (a) Other than as set forth in Section 8.01(b) and except as agreed otherwise between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Event shall be immediately forfeited without any consideration, and such Limited Partner shall cease to own or have any rights with respect to such unvested Units.

 

15


(b) Upon the forfeiture of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.02, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such forfeiture.

SECTION 8.03  Limited Partnership Transfers . No Limited Partner or Assignee thereof may Transfer (other than as part of an Exchange Transaction) all or any portion of its Units (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the General Partner may require) as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

SECTION 8.04  Mandatory Exchanges . The General Partner may, with the consent of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 75% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate, require all Limited Partners to Transfer in an Exchange Transaction all Units held by them.

SECTION 8.05  Further Restrictions . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit be made by any Limited Partner or Assignee if:

(a) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;

(b) such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable United States federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or other foreign securities laws or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;

(c) such Transfer would not cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Partnership to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the General Partner to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;

(d) to the extent requested by the General Partner, the Partnership does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound

 

16


by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner, as determined in the General Partner’s sole discretion.

SECTION 8.06  Rights of Assignees . Subject to Section 8.05, the transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“ Assignee ”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Partner which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Partner, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such Interest remaining with the transferring Partner. The transferring Partner will remain a Partner even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Partnership as a Partner pursuant to Section 8.08.

SECTION 8.07  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals . (a) No Person may be admitted to the Partnership as an additional General Partner or substitute General Partner without the prior written consent or ratification of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 50% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate. A General Partner will not be entitled to Transfer all of its Units or to withdraw from being a General Partner of the Partnership unless another General Partner shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or withdrawn).

(b) No Limited Partner will be removed or entitled to withdraw from being a Partner of the Partnership except in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of a Partner will cause the dissolution of the Partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, withdrawal or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

SECTION 8.08  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners . An Assignee will become a substitute Limited Partner only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) the General Partner consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion;

(b) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Limited Partner) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner (as determined in its sole discretion);

(c) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the General Partner to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable laws; and

 

17


(d) if required by the General Partner, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Partnership’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Partnership).

SECTION 8.09  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners . If a Limited Partner ceases to hold any Units, then such Limited Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership and shall cease to be a Limited Partner and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a Limited Partner.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

SECTION 9.01  No Dissolution . Except as required by the Act, Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Partners or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Partners hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any or all of the Partnership assets.

SECTION 9.02  Events Causing Dissolution . The Partnership shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the expiration of the term of the Partnership as provided in Section 2.03;

(b) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-802 of the Act upon the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that the General Partner (i) is permanently incapable of performing its part of this Agreement, (ii) has been guilty of conduct that is calculated to affect prejudicially the carrying on of the business of the Partnership, (iii) willfully or persistently commits a breach of this Agreement or (iv) conducts itself in a manner relating to the Partnership or its business such that it is not reasonably practicable for the other Partners to carry on the business of the Partnership with the General Partner;

(c) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Partnership to be carried on by the Partners;

(d) the written consent of all Partners;

(e) any other event not inconsistent with any provision hereof causing a dissolution of the Partnership under the Act;

(f) the Incapacity or removal of the General Partner or the occurrence of a Disabling Event with respect to the General Partner; provided that the Partnership will not be dissolved or required to be wound up in connection with any of the events specified in this Section 9.02(f) if: (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one other general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to, and elects to, carry on

 

18


the business of the Partnership; or (ii) all remaining Limited Partners consent to or ratify the continuation of the business of the Partnership and the appointment of another general partner of the Partnership, effective as of the event that caused the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership, within 90 days following the occurrence of any such event, which consent shall be deemed (and if requested each Limited Partner shall provide a written consent or ratification) to have been given for all Limited Partners if the holders of more than 50% of the Units then outstanding agree in writing to so continue the business of the Partnership.

SECTION 9.03  Distribution upon Dissolution . Upon dissolution, the Partnership shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Partnership is completed. Upon the winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner, or any other Person designated by the General Partner (the “ Liquidation Agent ”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Partnership and shall, unless the General Partner determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Partnership as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Partnership (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Partners and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Partnership (“ Contingencies ”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03; and

(b) The balance, if any, to the Partners, pro rata to each of the Partners in accordance with their Total Percentage Interests.

SECTION 9.04  Time for Liquidation . A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation.

SECTION 9.05  Termination . The Partnership shall terminate when all of the assets of the Partnership, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 9.06  Claims of the Partners . The Partners shall look solely to the Partnership’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Partnership remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Partners shall have no recourse against the Partnership or any other Partner or any other Person. No Partner with a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Partnership or to the other

 

19


Partners or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of the Partnership, upon dissolution or termination of the Partnership or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.

SECTION 9.07  Survival of Certain Provisions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 11.09 shall survive the termination of the Partnership.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01  Liability of Partners . (a) No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership or of any other Partner or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Partner of the Partnership, except to the extent required by the Act.

(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, the Partners hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by Law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Partnership are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement and those required by the Act.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to another Partner, the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Partnership or to any such other Partner for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Partners relating thereto (including without limitation, the General Partner).

(d) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors and any act or omission suffered or taken by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the interests of the Partnership in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or financial or other advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and the General Partner will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by

 

20


applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

SECTION 10.02  Indemnification . (a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify any person (and such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Partnership or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was the legal representative, is or was a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership or, while a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership, is or was serving at the request of the Partnership as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such person’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(b) Advancement of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall promptly pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any person described in Section 10.02(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(c) Unpaid Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 10.02(a) has been received by the Partnership, such person may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

21


(d) Insurance . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Partnership and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Partnership Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Partnership that indemnification of any person whom the Partnership is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Partnership” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Partnership which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.

This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01  Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually

 

22


acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

SECTION 11.02  Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.02):

(a) If to the Partnership, to:

Oaktree Capital II, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(b) If to any Partner, to:

c/o Oaktree Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(c) If to the General Partner, to:

Oaktree Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

SECTION 11.03  Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.

SECTION 11.04  Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

 

23


SECTION 11.05  Interpretation . Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.06  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 11.06.

SECTION 11.07  Further Assurances . Each Limited Partner shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.08  Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

SECTION 11.09  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 11.10  Arbitration of Disputes . Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to (i) the Partnership, (ii) any Limited Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, (iii) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, (iv) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.10 and (v) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq . A party hereto may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other party or parties to the arbitration in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 3.1. The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with JAMS and with each other in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided , that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The parties to the arbitration shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. Each party to the arbitration shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.10 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the parties to the arbitration.

 

24


No party to an arbitration shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided , that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed (i) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, (ii) two interrogatories, (iii) ten document requests and (iv) ten requests for admissions; provided , further , that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.10 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

The provisions of this Section 11.10 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10, including the existence and/or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided , that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided , further , that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If a party to an arbitration receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such party shall (i) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and (ii) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions, including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and (ii) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between parties to this Agreement that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

SECTION 11.11  Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Partnership shall be responsible for all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and

 

25


disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with its operation.

SECTION 11.12  Amendments and Waivers . (a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the General Partner; provided that any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any Class of Units in relation to other Classes of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Total Percentage Interests of the Class affected; provided further , that the General Partner may, without the written consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (i) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership; (ii) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership; (iv) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; (v) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.

(c) The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, unilaterally amend this Agreement on or before the effective date of the final regulations to provide for (i) the election of a safe harbor under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(l) (or any similar provision) under which the fair market value of a partnership interest that is transferred is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest, (ii) an agreement by the Partnership and each of its Partners to comply with all of the requirements set forth in such regulations and Notice 2005-43 (and any other guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such election) with respect to all partnership interests transferred in connection with the performance of services while the election remains effective, (iii) the allocation of items of income, gains, deductions and losses required by the final regulations similar to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(b) and (c), and (iv) any other related amendments.

(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

 

26


SECTION 11.13  No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof).

SECTION 11.14  Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 11.15  Construction . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement and that it is the intent of the parties hereto that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.

SECTION 11.16  Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner, by its execution hereof, hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the General Partner as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been adopted as herein provided; (b) the original certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership and all amendments thereto required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Limited Partners have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Limited Partners) deemed advisable by the General Partner to carry out the provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 8.04) and Law or to permit the Partnership to become or to continue as a limited partnership or partnership wherein the Limited Partners have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Partnership may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the admission of additional Limited Partners or substituted Limited Partners pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the General Partner to effect the liquidation and termination of the Partnership; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Partnership’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Partnership.

SECTION 11.17  Partnership Status . The parties intend to treat the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

OAKTREE HOLDINGS, INC.

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President
By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Vice President

 

LIMITED PARTNERS:

OAKTREE HOLDINGS, INC.

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President
By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Vice President

 


OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P.

By: Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, its         general partner

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Managing Director and General Counsel
By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

Dated as of May 25, 2007

 

 

 

THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, PROVINCE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR PROVINCE, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS AND THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.


Table of Contents

Page

 

ARTICLE I

  

DEFINITIONS

  

SECTION 1.01 Definitions

     1   

ARTICLE II

  

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

  

SECTION 2.01 Formation

     6   

SECTION 2.02 Name

     7   

SECTION 2.03 Term

     7   

SECTION 2.04 Offices

     7   

SECTION 2.05 Agent for Service of Process

     7   

SECTION 2.06 Business Purpose

     7   

SECTION 2.07 Powers of the Partnership

     7   

SECTION 2.08 Partners; Admission of New Partners

     7   

SECTION 2.09 Withdrawal

     7   

ARTICLE III

  

MANAGEMENT

  

SECTION 3.01 General Partner

     8   

SECTION 3.02 Compensation

     8   

SECTION 3.03 Expenses

     8   

SECTION 3.04 Officers

     9   

SECTION 3.05 Authority of Partners

     9   

SECTION 3.06 Action by Written Consent or Ratification

     9   

ARTICLE IV

  

DISTRIBUTIONS

  

SECTION 4.01 Distributions

     10   

SECTION 4.02 Liquidation Distribution

     10   

SECTION 4.03 Limitations on Distribution

     10   

 

-i-


ARTICLE V

  

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

  

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

  

SECTION 5.01 Initial Capital Contributions

     10   

SECTION 5.02 No Additional Capital Contributions

     10   

SECTION 5.03 Capital Accounts

     10   

SECTION 5.04 Allocations of Profits and Losses

     11   

SECTION 5.05 Special Allocations

     11   

SECTION 5.06 Tax Allocations

     12   

SECTION 5.07 Tax Advances

     13   

SECTION 5.08 Tax Matters

     13   

SECTION 5.09 Other Allocation Provisions

     13   

ARTICLE VI

  

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

  

SECTION 6.01 Books and Records

     14   

ARTICLE VII

  

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

  

SECTION 7.01 Units

     14   

SECTION 7.02 Register

     15   

SECTION 7.03 Registered Partners

     15   

ARTICLE VIII

  

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

  

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

  

SECTION 8.01 Units Subject to Vesting

     15   

SECTION 8.02 Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event

     15   

SECTION 8.03 Limited Partnership Transfers

     16   

SECTION 8.04 Mandatory Exchanges

     16   

SECTION 8.05 Further Restrictions

     16   

SECTION 8.06 Rights of Assignees

     17   

SECTION 8.07 Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals

     17   

SECTION 8.08 Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners

     17   

SECTION 8.09 Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners

     18   

 

-ii-


ARTICLE IX

  

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

  

SECTION 9.01 No Dissolution

     18   

SECTION 9.02 Events Causing Dissolution

     18   

SECTION 9.03 Distribution upon Dissolution

     19   

SECTION 9.04 Time for Liquidation

     19   

SECTION 9.05 Termination

     19   

SECTION 9.06 Claims of the Partners

     19   

SECTION 9.07 Survival of Certain Provisions

     20   

ARTICLE X

  

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

  

SECTION 10.01 Liability of Partners

     20   

SECTION 10.02 Indemnification

     21   

ARTICLE XI

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

SECTION 11.01 Severability

     22   

SECTION 11.02 Notices

     23   

SECTION 11.03 Cumulative Remedies

     23   

SECTION 11.04 Binding Effect

     23   

SECTION 11.05 Interpretation

     24   

SECTION 11.06 Counterparts

     24   

SECTION 11.07 Further Assurances

     24   

SECTION 11.08 Entire Agreement

     24   

SECTION 11.09 Governing Law

     24   

SECTION 11.10 Arbitration of Disputes

     24   

SECTION 11.11 Expenses

     25   

SECTION 11.12 Amendments and Waivers

     26   

SECTION 11.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries

     27   

SECTION 11.14 Headings

     27   

SECTION 11.15 Construction

     27   

SECTION 11.16 Power of Attorney

     27   

SECTION 11.17 Partnership Status

     27   

 

-iii-


LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.

This LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is made as of the 25 th day of May, 2007, by and among Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, as general partner, and the Limited Partners (as defined herein) of the Partnership.

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Act ”), by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership and to permit the admission of the Limited Partners to the Partnership.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01  Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

Act ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Adjusted Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to each Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.


Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

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

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.

Assumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Partners.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Partnership’s operations.

Capital Account ” means the separate capital account maintained for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Article V.

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the General Partner, and the Carrying Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets to a Partner; (c) the date a Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)”

 

2


rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Class ” means the classes of Units into which the interests in the Partnership may be classified or divided from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

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

Contingencies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).

Creditable Foreign Tax ” means a foreign tax paid or accrued for United States federal income tax purposes by the Partnership, in either case to the extent that such tax is eligible for credit under Section 901(a) of the Code. A foreign tax is a creditable foreign tax for these purposes without regard to whether a partner receiving an allocation of such foreign tax elects to claim a credit for such amount. This definition is intended to be consistent with the definition of “creditable foreign tax” in Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi)( b ), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Disabling Event ” means the General Partner ceasing to be the general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 17-402 of the Act.

Dissolution Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of this Agreement.

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Units and units in other members of the Oaktree Operating Group in accordance with the terms thereof.

Exchange Transaction ” means the distribution of Units by OCGH or other holder thereof to an employee of the Oaktree Operating Group or any other person pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of OCGH, the Exchange Agreement or any other applicable document.

Fiscal Year ” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Partnership and ending on December 31, 2007 or (ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

 

3


General Partner ” means Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any successor general partner admitted to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Incapacity ” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.

Issuer ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.

Limited Partner ” means each of the Persons from time to time listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the Partnership.

Liquidation Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of this Agreement.

Net Taxable Income ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, the Partnership, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership, and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

OCGH ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Partners ” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner (including the General Partner) on the books and records of the Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a partner of the Partnership as provided hereunder.

Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

4


Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Profits ” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Partnership, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis ( provided that if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); and (f) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Partnership and thereby subject the Partnership, the General Partner or OCGH (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Partnership’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar

 

5


to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title 1 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Tax Advances ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

Tax Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.

Total Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested or unvested) then owned by such Partner by the number of Units then owned by all Partners.

Transfer ” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including, without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other security and any transfer that is part of an Exchange Transaction.

Transferee ” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.

Treasury Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Trigger Event ” means an event or events designated by the General Partner at the time of issuance of any Units subject to vesting upon the occurrence of which any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Even shall be forfeit pursuant to Section 8.02. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may designate as a Trigger Event for any particular Units the termination of the employment of a Person with any member of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Partnership and authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute interests in the Partnership as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership at any particular time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a Partner as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Partner to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

SECTION 2.01  Formation . The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the provisions of the Act by the filing on May 25, 2007 of the Certificate as provided in the

 

6


preamble of this Agreement. If requested by the General Partner, the Limited Partners shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the General Partner to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the General Partner deems it advisable, the operation of the Partnership as a limited partnership, or partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Partnership proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Partnership.

SECTION 2.02  Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

SECTION 2.03  Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article IX. The existence of the Partnership shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 2.04  Offices . The Partnership may have offices at such places either within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner from time to time may select.

SECTION 2.05  Agent for Service of Process . The Partnership’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate, as the same may be amended by the General Partner from time to time.

SECTION 2.06  Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited partnerships may be formed under the Act.

SECTION 2.07  Powers of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the assets contributed to the Partnership by the Partners, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership set forth in Section 2.06.

SECTION 2.08  Partners; Admission of New Partners . Each of the Persons listed in the books and records of the Partnership, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by virtue of the execution of this Agreement, are admitted as Partners of the Partnership. The rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the Partners consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that each new Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Partner agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

SECTION 2.09  Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Partner in

 

7


accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 8.07.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

SECTION 3.01  General Partner . (a) The business, property and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to act on behalf of the Partnership.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Partnership (which may be delegated to officers of the Partnership), including, without limitation, the following powers:

(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year;

(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Partnership;

(iii) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness and the incurring of any other obligations;

(iv) to employ, retain, consult with and dismiss personnel;

(v) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;

(vi) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Partnership;

(vii) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Partnership’s books of account; and

(viii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in writing from time to time.

SECTION 3.02  Compensation . The General Partner shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its capacity as General Partner.

SECTION 3.03  Expenses . The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with serving as the general partner of the Partnership.

 

8


SECTION 3.04  Officers . Subject to the direction and oversight of the General Partner, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Partnership may be carried out by employees and agents who may be designated as officers by the General Partner, with titles as and to the extent authorized by the General Partner. The officers of the Partnership shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the General Partner and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. All employees, agents and officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner and may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not cease to be a general partner of the Partnership as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Partnership, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a general partner of the Partnership by agreement, estoppel, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.

SECTION 3.05  Authority of Partners . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate in the affairs of the Partnership described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Limited Partners shall have no right to vote on any matter involving the Partnership, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Partnership. The conduct, control and management of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General Partner shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Partnership, no Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Partnership in its capacity as a Partner, nor shall any Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Partnership in his or its capacity as a Partner in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Partnership or of any other Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may employ one or more Partners from time to time, and such Partners, in their capacity as employees of the Partnership (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Limited Partners of the Partnership), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Partnership to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Partnership has been delegated to them by the General Partner.

SECTION 3.06  Action by Written Consent or Ratification . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Partners pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Partners whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a ratification in writing.

 

9


ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 4.01  Distributions . (a) The General Partner, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the Partners, which distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interests.

(b) In addition to the foregoing, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the taxable income of the Partnership for a Fiscal Year will give rise to taxable income for the Partners (“ Net Taxable Income ”), the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Available Cash in respect of income tax liabilities (the “ Tax Distributions ”) pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interest to the extent that other distributions made by the Partnership for such year are otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities. The Tax Distributions payable with respect to a period shall be computed based upon the General Partner’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in accordance with Article V for such period, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the “ Tax Amount ”). For purposes of computing the Tax Amount, the effect of any benefit to a Partner under Section 743(b) of the Code will be ignored. The partnership shall make distributions under this Section 4.01 quarterly based on the expected, estimated taxable income of the Partnership for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within 90 days after the end of the Fiscal Year with respect to a Fiscal Year.

SECTION 4.02  Liquidation Distribution . Distributions made upon dissolution of the Partnership shall be made as provided in Section 9.03.

SECTION 4.03  Limitations on Distribution . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not make a Partnership distribution to any Partner if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

SECTION 5.01  Initial Capital Contributions . The Partners have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and have acquired the number of Units as specified in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 5.02  No Additional Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, no Partner shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the consent of such Partner or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

SECTION 5.03  Capital Accounts . A separate capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Partner shall be credited with such Partner’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Partner

 

10


pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Partnership specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Partnership to such Partner. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any interest in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.

SECTION 5.04  Allocations of Profits and Losses . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Partnership) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Partner after giving effect to the Special Allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Article IV if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.05  Special Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Partnership taxable year, the Partners shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Qualified Income Offset . If any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of

 

11


such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c) Gross Income Allocation . If any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Total Percentage Interests.

(e) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).

(f) Creditable Foreign Taxes . Creditable Foreign Taxes for any taxable period attributable to the Partnership, or an entity owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership, shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to the partners’ distributive shares of income (including income allocated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code) to which the Creditable Foreign Tax relates (under principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.904-6). The provisions of this Section 5.05(f) are intended to comply with the provisions of Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(g) Ameliorative Allocations . Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(g), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Partner shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.

SECTION 5.06  Tax Allocations . For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (as determined by the General Partner and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations) so as to take account of the difference

 

12


between Carrying Value and adjusted basis of such asset; provided, further, that the Partnership shall use the traditional method (as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.704-3(b)(1)) for all Section 704(c) and “reverse Section 704(c)” allocations. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.07  Tax Advances . To the extent the General Partner reasonably believes that the Partnership is required by law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Partner or the Partnership is subjected to tax itself by reason of the status of any Partner (“ Tax Advances ”), the General Partner may withhold such amounts and make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Partner shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Partner or, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Partner. For all purposes of this Agreement such Partner shall be treated as having received the amount of the distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance.

SECTION 5.08  Tax Matters . The General Partner shall be the initial “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”). The Partnership shall file as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes, except where otherwise required by Law. All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership, and all other tax decisions and determinations relating to federal, state or local tax matters of the Partnership, shall be made by the Tax Matters Partner, in consultation with the Partnership’s attorneys and/or accountants. Tax audits, controversies and litigations shall be conducted under the direction of the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner shall keep the other Partners reasonably informed as to any tax actions, examinations or proceedings relating to the Partnership and shall submit to the other Partners, for their review and comment, any settlement or compromise offer with respect to any disputed item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership. As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall send to each Partner a copy of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, and any comparable statements required by applicable state or local income tax Law, with respect to such Fiscal Year. The Partnership also shall provide the Partners with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Partners (or the direct or indirect owners of the Partners) to prepare and file their own tax returns.

SECTION 5.09  Other Allocation Provisions . Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may be amended at any time by the General Partner if necessary, in the opinion of tax counsel to the Partnership, to comply with such regulations, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Partners.

 

13


ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

SECTION 6.01  Books and Records . (a) At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partnership shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Partnership in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(ii) promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the three most recent years.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership, could damage the Partnership or its business or that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential.

ARTICLE VII

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

SECTION 7.01  Units . Interests in the Partnership shall be represented by Units. The Units initially are comprised of a single Class. The General Partner may establish, from time to time in accordance with such procedures as the General Partner shall determine from time to time, other Classes, one or more series of any such Classes, or other Partnership securities with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Classes and series of Units), as shall be determined by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Unit is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Unit will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Total Percentage Interest as to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Unit to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include all Classes that may be

 

14


established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular Class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such Class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02  Register . The register of the Partnership shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Partner. Unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 7.03  Registered Partners . The Partnership 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 Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

SECTION 8.01  Units Subject to Vesting . (a) Subject to Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed to in writing between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, the General Partner may issue Units that are subject to vesting on a schedule determined by the General Partner at the time such Units are issued and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership. The General Partner shall designate a Trigger Event with respect to each Unit issued that is subject to vesting, which shall be set forth in the books and records of the Partnership. All Units outstanding as of the date hereof are fully vested.

(b) In addition, the General Partner in its sole discretion may authorize the earlier vesting of all or a portion of any unvested Units owned by any one or more Limited Partners at any time and from time to time, and in such event, such unvested Units shall vest and thereafter be vested Units for all purposes of this Agreement. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of unvested Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(c) Upon the vesting of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.01, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such vesting.

SECTION 8.02  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event . (a) Other than as set forth in Section 8.01(b) and except as agreed otherwise between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Event shall be immediately forfeited without any consideration, and such Limited Partner shall cease to own or have any rights with respect to such unvested Units.

 

15


(b) Upon the forfeiture of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.02, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such forfeiture.

SECTION 8.03  Limited Partnership Transfers . No Limited Partner or Assignee thereof may Transfer (other than as part of an Exchange Transaction) all or any portion of its Units (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the General Partner may require) as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

SECTION 8.04  Mandatory Exchanges . The General Partner may, with the consent of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 75% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate, require all Limited Partners to Transfer in an Exchange Transaction all Units held by them.

SECTION 8.05  Further Restrictions . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit be made by any Limited Partner or Assignee if:

(a) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;

(b) such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable United States federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or other foreign securities laws or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;

(c) such Transfer would not cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Partnership to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the General Partner to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;

(d) to the extent requested by the General Partner, the Partnership does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound

 

16


by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner, as determined in the General Partner’s sole discretion.

SECTION 8.06  Rights of Assignees . Subject to Section 8.05, the transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“ Assignee ”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Partner which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Partner, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such Interest remaining with the transferring Partner. The transferring Partner will remain a Partner even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Partnership as a Partner pursuant to Section 8.08.

SECTION 8.07  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals . (a) No Person may be admitted to the Partnership as an additional General Partner or substitute General Partner without the prior written consent or ratification of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 50% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate. A General Partner will not be entitled to Transfer all of its Units or to withdraw from being a General Partner of the Partnership unless another General Partner shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or withdrawn).

(b) No Limited Partner will be removed or entitled to withdraw from being a Partner of the Partnership except in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of a Partner will cause the dissolution of the Partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, withdrawal or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

SECTION 8.08  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners . An Assignee will become a substitute Limited Partner only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) the General Partner consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion;

(b) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Limited Partner) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner (as determined in its sole discretion);

(c) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the General Partner to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable laws; and

 

17


(d) if required by the General Partner, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Partnership’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Partnership).

SECTION 8.09  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners . If a Limited Partner ceases to hold any Units, then such Limited Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership and shall cease to be a Limited Partner and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a Limited Partner.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

SECTION 9.01  No Dissolution . Except as required by the Act, Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Partners or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Partners hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any or all of the Partnership assets.

SECTION 9.02  Events Causing Dissolution . The Partnership shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the expiration of the term of the Partnership as provided in Section 2.03;

(b) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-802 of the Act upon the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that the General Partner (i) is permanently incapable of performing its part of this Agreement, (ii) has been guilty of conduct that is calculated to affect prejudicially the carrying on of the business of the Partnership, (iii) willfully or persistently commits a breach of this Agreement or (iv) conducts itself in a manner relating to the Partnership or its business such that it is not reasonably practicable for the other Partners to carry on the business of the Partnership with the General Partner;

(c) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Partnership to be carried on by the Partners;

(d) the written consent of all Partners;

(e) any other event not inconsistent with any provision hereof causing a dissolution of the Partnership under the Act;

(f) the Incapacity or removal of the General Partner or the occurrence of a Disabling Event with respect to the General Partner; provided that the Partnership will not be dissolved or required to be wound up in connection with any of the events specified in this Section 9.02(f) if: (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one other general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to, and elects to, carry on

 

18


the business of the Partnership; or (ii) all remaining Limited Partners consent to or ratify the continuation of the business of the Partnership and the appointment of another general partner of the Partnership, effective as of the event that caused the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership, within 90 days following the occurrence of any such event, which consent shall be deemed (and if requested each Limited Partner shall provide a written consent or ratification) to have been given for all Limited Partners if the holders of more than 50% of the Units then outstanding agree in writing to so continue the business of the Partnership.

SECTION 9.03  Distribution upon Dissolution . Upon dissolution, the Partnership shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Partnership is completed. Upon the winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner, or any other Person designated by the General Partner (the “ Liquidation Agent ”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Partnership and shall, unless the General Partner determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Partnership as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Partnership (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Partners and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Partnership (“ Contingencies ”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03; and

(b) The balance, if any, to the Partners, pro rata to each of the Partners in accordance with their Total Percentage Interests.

SECTION 9.04  Time for Liquidation . A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation.

SECTION 9.05  Termination . The Partnership shall terminate when all of the assets of the Partnership, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 9.06  Claims of the Partners . The Partners shall look solely to the Partnership’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Partnership remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Partners shall have no recourse against the Partnership or any other Partner or any other Person. No Partner with a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Partnership or to the other

 

19


Partners or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of the Partnership, upon dissolution or termination of the Partnership or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.

SECTION 9.07  Survival of Certain Provisions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 11.09 shall survive the termination of the Partnership.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01  Liability of Partners . (a) No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership or of any other Partner or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Partner of the Partnership, except to the extent required by the Act.

(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, the Partners hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by Law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Partnership are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement and those required by the Act.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to another Partner, the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Partnership or to any such other Partner for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Partners relating thereto (including without limitation, the General Partner).

(d) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors and any act or omission suffered or taken by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the interests of the Partnership in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or financial or other advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and the General Partner will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by

 

20


applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

SECTION 10.02  Indemnification . (a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify any person (and such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Partnership or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was the legal representative, is or was a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership or, while a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership, is or was serving at the request of the Partnership as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such person’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(b) Advancement of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall promptly pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any person described in Section 10.02(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(c) Unpaid Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 10.02(a) has been received by the Partnership, such person may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

21


(d) Insurance . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Partnership and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Partnership Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Partnership that indemnification of any person whom the Partnership is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Partnership” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Partnership which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.

This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01  Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually

 

22


acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

SECTION 11.02  Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.02):

(a) If to the Partnership, to:

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(b) If to any Partner, to:

c/o Oaktree Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(c) If to the General Partner, to:

Oaktree Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

SECTION 11.03  Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.

SECTION 11.04  Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

 

23


SECTION 11.05  Interpretation . Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.06  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 11.06.

SECTION 11.07  Further Assurances . Each Limited Partner shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.08  Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

SECTION 11.09  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 11.10  Arbitration of Disputes . Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to (i) the Partnership, (ii) any Limited Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, (iii) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, (iv) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.10 and (v) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq . A party hereto may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other party or parties to the arbitration in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 3.1. The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with JAMS and with each other in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided , that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The parties to the arbitration shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. Each party to the arbitration shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.10 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the parties to the arbitration.

 

24


No party to an arbitration shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided , that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed (i) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, (ii) two interrogatories, (iii) ten document requests and (iv) ten requests for admissions; provided , further , that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.10 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

The provisions of this Section 11.10 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10, including the existence and/or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided , that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided , further , that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If a party to an arbitration receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such party shall (i) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and (ii) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions, including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and (ii) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between parties to this Agreement that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

SECTION 11.11  Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Partnership shall be responsible for all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and

 

25


disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with its operation.

SECTION 11.12  Amendments and Waivers . (a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the General Partner; provided that any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any Class of Units in relation to other Classes of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Total Percentage Interests of the Class affected; provided further , that the General Partner may, without the written consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (i) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership; (ii) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership; (iv) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; (v) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.

(c) The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, unilaterally amend this Agreement on or before the effective date of the final regulations to provide for (i) the election of a safe harbor under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(l) (or any similar provision) under which the fair market value of a partnership interest that is transferred is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest, (ii) an agreement by the Partnership and each of its Partners to comply with all of the requirements set forth in such regulations and Notice 2005-43 (and any other guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such election) with respect to all partnership interests transferred in connection with the performance of services while the election remains effective, (iii) the allocation of items of income, gains, deductions and losses required by the final regulations similar to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(b) and (c), and (iv) any other related amendments.

(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

 

26


SECTION 11.13  No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof).

SECTION 11.14  Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 11.15  Construction . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement and that it is the intent of the parties hereto that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.

SECTION 11.16  Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner, by its execution hereof, hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the General Partner as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been adopted as herein provided; (b) the original certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership and all amendments thereto required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Limited Partners have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Limited Partners) deemed advisable by the General Partner to carry out the provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 8.04) and Law or to permit the Partnership to become or to continue as a limited partnership or partnership wherein the Limited Partners have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Partnership may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the admission of additional Limited Partners or substituted Limited Partners pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the General Partner to effect the liquidation and termination of the Partnership; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Partnership’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Partnership.

SECTION 11.17  Partnership Status . The parties intend to treat the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

GENERAL PARNTER:
OAKTREE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Vice President

 

LIMITED PARTNERS :
OAKTREE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Vice President

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Vice President

 


OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:   Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC,
its general partner

 

By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Managing Director and General Counsel

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

Exhibit 10.4

Execution Version

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P.

Dated as of May 25, 2007

 

 

 

THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (CAYMAN), L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, PROVINCE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR PROVINCE, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS AND THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS MAY NOT BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.


Table of Contents

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

  

DEFINITIONS

  

SECTION 1.01

  Definitions      1   

ARTICLE II

  

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

  

SECTION 2.01

  Formation      7   

SECTION 2.02

  Name      7   

SECTION 2.03

  Term      7   

SECTION 2.04

  Offices      7   

SECTION 2.05

  Registered Office/Agent for Service of Process      7   

SECTION 2.06

  Business Purpose      7   

SECTION 2.07

  Powers of the Partnership      7   

SECTION 2.08

  Partners; Admission of New Partners      7   

SECTION 2.09

  Withdrawal      8   

SECTION 2.10

  Withdrawal of Organizational Limited Partner      8   

ARTICLE III

  

MANAGEMENT

  

SECTION 3.01

  General Partner      8   

SECTION 3.02

  Compensation      9   

SECTION 3.03

  Expenses      9   

SECTION 3.04

  Officers      9   

SECTION 3.05

  Authority of Partners      9   

SECTION 3.06

  Action by Written Consent or Ratification      10   

ARTICLE IV

  

DISTRIBUTIONS

  

SECTION 4.01

  Distributions      10   

SECTION 4.02

  Liquidation Distribution      10   

SECTION 4.03

  Limitations on Distribution      10   

 

-i-


ARTICLE V  

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

  

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

  

SECTION 5.01

  Initial Capital Contributions      11   

SECTION 5.02

  No Additional Capital Contributions      11   

SECTION 5.03

  Capital Accounts      11   

SECTION 5.04

  Allocations of Profits and Losses      11   

SECTION 5.05

  Special Allocations      11   

SECTION 5.06

  Tax Allocations      13   

SECTION 5.07

  Tax Advances      13   

SECTION 5.08

  Tax Matters      13   

SECTION 5.09

  Other Allocation Provisions      14   

ARTICLE VI

  

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

  

SECTION 6.01

  Books and Records      14   

ARTICLE VII

  

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

  

SECTION 7.01

  Units      14   

SECTION 7.02

  Register      15   

SECTION 7.03

  Registered Partners      15   

ARTICLE VIII

  

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

  

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

  

SECTION 8.01

  Units Subject to Vesting      15   

SECTION 8.02

  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event      16   

SECTION 8.03

  Limited Partnership Transfers      16   

SECTION 8.04

  Mandatory Exchanges      16   

SECTION 8.05

  Further Restrictions      16   

SECTION 8.06

  Rights of Assignees      17   

SECTION 8.07

  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals      17   

SECTION 8.08

  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners      17   

SECTION 8.09

  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners      18   

 

-ii-


ARTICLE IX

  

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

  

SECTION 9.01

  No Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.02

  Events Causing Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.03

  Distribution upon Dissolution      19   

SECTION 9.04

  Time for Liquidation      19   

SECTION 9.05

  Termination      19   

SECTION 9.06

  Claims of the Partners      19   

SECTION 9.07

  Survival of Certain Provisions      20   

ARTICLE X

  

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

  

SECTION 10.01

  Liability of Partners      20   

SECTION 10.02

  Indemnification      21   

ARTICLE XI

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

SECTION 11.01

  Severability      22   

SECTION 11.02

  Notices      23   

SECTION 11.03

  Cumulative Remedies      23   

SECTION 11.04

  Binding Effect      23   

SECTION 11.05

  Interpretation      24   

SECTION 11.06

  Counterparts      24   

SECTION 11.07

  Further Assurances      24   

SECTION 11.08

  Entire Agreement      24   

SECTION 11.09

  Governing Law      24   

SECTION 11.10

  [RESERVED]      24   

SECTION 11.11

  Expenses      24   

SECTION 11.12

  Amendments and Waivers      24   

SECTION 11.13

  No Third Party Beneficiaries      25   

SECTION 11.14

  Headings      25   

SECTION 11.15

  Construction      25   

SECTION 11.16

  Power of Attorney      26   

SECTION 11.17

  Partnership Status      26   

 

-iii-


AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (CAYMAN), L.P.

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is made as of the 25th day of May, 2007, by and among Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., a limited liability exempted company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands, as general partner, and the Limited Partners (as defined herein) of the Partnership.

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner entered into the initial limited partnership agreement dated 13 April. 2007 (the “ Original Agreement ”) in order to establish the Partnership, and the Partnership was registered as an exempted limited partnership in the Cayman Islands on 13 April 2007; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for the withdrawal of the Organizational Limited Partner, to reflect the admission of certain additional parties as Limited Partners of the Partnership.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement (as defined herein) in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01  Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

Act ” means the Exempted Limited Partnership Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, as in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time or any successor law.

Adjusted Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to each Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.


Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

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

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.

Assumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Partners.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Partnership’s operations.

Capital Account ” means the separate capital account maintained for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Article V.

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the General Partner, and the Carrying Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets to a Partner; (c) the date a Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)”

 

2


rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

Class ” means the classes of Units into which the interests in the Partnership may be classified or divided from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

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

Contingencies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a`).

Creditable Foreign Tax ” means a foreign tax paid or accrued for United States federal income tax purposes by the Partnership, in either case to the extent that such tax is eligible for credit under Section 901(a) of the Code. A foreign tax is a creditable foreign tax for these purposes without regard to whether a partner receiving an allocation of such foreign tax elects to claim a credit for such amount. This definition is intended to be consistent with the definition of “creditable foreign tax” in Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi)( b ), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Disabling Event ” means removal (unless a replacement general partner is admitted to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement), retirement, bankruptcy, commencement of liquidation proceedings, resignation, insolvency or dissolution of the General Partner unless (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one remaining general partner of the Partnership that is hereby authorised to and does (unanimously in the case of more than one general partner) elect to continue the investment or other activities of the Partnership without dissolution or (ii) within 90 days after the occurrence of such event the Limited Partners unanimously agree in writing or vote to continue the investment or other activities of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the date of such event, if required, of one or more general partners of the Partnership.

Dissolution Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of this Agreement.

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Units and units in other members of the Oaktree Operating Group in accordance with the terms thereof.

Exchange Transaction ” means the distribution of Units by OCGH or other holder thereof to an employee of the Oaktree Operating Group or any other person pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of OCGH, the Exchange Agreement or any other applicable document.

 

3


Fiscal Year ” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Partnership and ending on December 31, 2007 or (ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

General Partner ” means Oaktree Holdings, Ltd., a limited liability exempted company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands or any successor general partner admitted to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Incapacity ” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.

Issuer ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.

Limited Partner ” means each of the Persons from time to time listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the Partnership.

Liquidation Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of this Agreement.

Net Taxable Income ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, the Partnership, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

OCGH ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Organizational Limited Partner ” means Todd E. Molz.

 

4


Original Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partners ” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner (including the General Partner) on the books and records of the Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a partner of the Partnership as provided hereunder.

Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Profits ” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Partnership, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis ( provided that if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); and (f) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into

 

5


account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Partnership and thereby subject the Partnership, the General Partner or OCGH (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Partnership’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title 1 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Tax Advances ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

Tax Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.

Total Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested or unvested) then owned by such Partner by the number of Units then owned by all Partners.

Transfer ” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including, without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other security and any transfer that is part of an Exchange Transaction.

Transferee ” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.

Treasury Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Trigger Event ” means an event or events designated by the General Partner at the time of issuance of any Units subject to vesting upon the occurrence of which any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Even shall be forfeit pursuant to Section 8.02. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may designate as a Trigger Event for any particular Units the termination of the employment of a Person with any member of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Partnership and authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute interests in the Partnership as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership at any particular time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a

 

6


Partner as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Partner to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

SECTION 2.01  Formation . The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the provisions of the Act pursuant to the Original Agreement. If requested by the General Partner, the Limited Partners shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the General Partner to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the Cayman Islands, (b) if the General Partner deems it advisable, the operation of the Partnership as a limited partnership, or partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Partnership proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Partnership.

SECTION 2.02  Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of, Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P.

SECTION 2.03  Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article IX.

SECTION 2.04  Offices . The Partnership may have offices, including its principal office, at such places as the General Partner from time to time may select.

SECTION 2.05  Registered Office/Agent for Service of Process . The Partnership shall maintain its registered office in the Cayman Islands at the office of Walkers SPV Limited, Walker House, Mary Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-9002 and its registered agent for service of process in the Cayman Islands shall be Walkers SPV Limited, Walker House, Mary Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-9002 unless a different registered office or agent is designated from time to time by the General Partners.

SECTION 2.06  Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited partnerships may be formed under the Act.

SECTION 2.07  Powers of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the assets contributed to the Partnership by the Partners, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership set forth in Section 2.06.

SECTION 2.08  Partners; Admission of New Partners . Each of the Persons listed in the books and records of the Partnership, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by virtue of the execution of this Agreement, are admitted as

 

7


Partners of the Partnership. The rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the Partners consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that each new Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Partner agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

SECTION 2.09  Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 8.07.

SECTION 2.10  Withdrawal of Organizational Limited Partner . The Organizational Limited Partner hereby withdraws from the Partnership on the date hereof for US$1.00, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and the Organizational Limited partner shall from the date hereof have no further rights or obligations under this Agreement. The Partners hereby continue the Partnership as an exempted limited partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Act.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

SECTION 3.01  General Partner . (a) The business, property and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to act on behalf of the Partnership.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Partnership (which may be delegated to officers of the Partnership), including, without limitation, the following powers:

(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year;

(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Partnership;

(iii) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness and the incurring of any other obligations;

(iv) to employ, retain, consult with and dismiss personnel;

 

8


(v) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;

(vi) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Partnership;

(vii) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Partnership’s books of account; and

(viii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in writing from time to time.

SECTION 3.02  Compensation . The General Partner shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its capacity as General Partner.

SECTION 3.03  Expenses . The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with serving as the general partner of the Partnership.

SECTION 3.04  Officers . Subject to the direction and oversight of the General Partner, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Partnership may be carried out by employees and agents who may be designated as officers by the General Partner, with titles as and to the extent authorized by the General Partner. The officers of the Partnership shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the General Partner and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. All employees, agents and officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner and may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not cease to be a general partner of the Partnership as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Partnership, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a general partner of the Partnership by agreement, estoppel, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.

SECTION 3.05  Authority of Partners . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in or be involved in the conduct of the business of the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate in the affairs of the Partnership described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Limited Partners shall have no right to vote on any matter involving the Partnership, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Partnership. The conduct, control and management of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General Partner shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Partnership, no Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Partnership in its capacity as a Partner, nor shall any Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on

 

9


behalf of or bind the Partnership in his or its capacity as a Partner in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Partnership or of any other Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may employ one or more Partners from time to time, and such Partners, in their capacity as employees of the Partnership (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Limited Partners of the Partnership), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Partnership to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Partnership has been delegated to them by the General Partner in their capacity as employees of the Partnership.

SECTION 3.06  Action by Written Consent or Ratification . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Partners pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Partners whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a ratification in writing.

ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 4.01  Distributions . (a) The General Partner, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the Partners, which distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interests; provided , that no distributions will be made to the Partners in accordance with the Total Percentage Interests prior to the General Partner having received aggregate distributions in each Fiscal Year of $100.

(b) In addition to the foregoing, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the taxable income of the Partnership for a Fiscal Year will give rise to taxable income for the Partners (“ Net Taxable Income ”), the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Available Cash in respect of income tax liabilities (the “ Tax Distributions ”) pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interest to the extent that other distributions made by the Partnership for such year are otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities. The Tax Distributions payable with respect to a period shall be computed based upon the General Partner’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in accordance with Article V for such period, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the “ Tax Amount ”). For purposes of computing the Tax Amount, the effect of any benefit to a Partner under Section 743(b) of the Code will be ignored. The partnership shall make distributions under this Section 4.01 quarterly based on the expected, estimated taxable income of the Partnership for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within 90 days after the end of the Fiscal Year with respect to a Fiscal Year.

SECTION 4.02  Liquidation Distribution . Distributions made upon dissolution of the Partnership shall be made as provided in Section 9.03.

SECTION 4.03  Limitations on Distribution . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not make a Partnership distribution to any Partner if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

 

10


ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

SECTION 5.01  Initial Capital Contributions . The Partners have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and have acquired the number of Units as specified in the register of the Partnership.

SECTION 5.02  No Additional Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, no Partner shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the consent of such Partner or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

SECTION 5.03  Capital Accounts . A separate capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Partner shall be credited with such Partner’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Partnership specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Partnership to such Partner. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any interest in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.

SECTION 5.04  Allocations of Profits and Losses . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) the first $100 of Profits in each Fiscal Year shall be allocated to the General Partner and (ii) thereafter, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Partnership) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Limited Partner after giving effect to the Special Allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Article IV if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Limited Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.05  Special Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the

 

11


principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Partnership taxable year, the Partners shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Qualified Income Offset . If any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c) Gross Income Allocation . If any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Total Percentage Interests.

(e) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).

(f) Creditable Foreign Taxes . Creditable Foreign Taxes for any taxable period attributable to the Partnership, or an entity owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership, shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to the partners’ distributive shares of income (including income allocated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code) to which the Creditable Foreign Tax relates (under principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.904-6). The provisions of this Section

 

12


5.05(f) are intended to comply with the provisions of Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(g) Ameliorative Allocations . Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(g), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Partner shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.

SECTION 5.06  Tax Allocations . For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (as determined by the General Partner and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations) so as to take account of the difference between Carrying Value and adjusted basis of such asset; provided, further, that the Partnership shall use the traditional method (as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.704-3(b)(1)) for all Section 704(c) and “reverse Section 704(c)” allocations. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.07  Tax Advances . To the extent the General Partner reasonably believes that the Partnership is required by law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Partner or the Partnership is subjected to tax itself by reason of the status of any Partner (“ Tax Advances ”), the General Partner may withhold such amounts and make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Partner shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Partner or, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Partner. For all purposes of this Agreement such Partner shall be treated as having received the amount of the distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance.

SECTION 5.08  Tax Matters . The General Partner shall be the initial “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”). The Partnership shall file as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes, except where otherwise required by Law. All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership, and all other tax decisions and determinations relating to federal, state or local tax matters of the Partnership, shall be made by the Tax Matters Partner, in consultation with the Partnership’s attorneys and/or accountants. Tax audits, controversies and litigations shall be conducted under the direction of the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner shall keep the other Partners reasonably informed as to any tax actions, examinations or proceedings relating to the Partnership and shall submit to the other Partners, for their review and comment, any settlement or compromise offer with respect to any disputed item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership. As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall send to

 

13


each Partner a copy of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, and any comparable statements required by applicable state or local income tax Law, with respect to such Fiscal Year. The Partnership also shall provide the Partners with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Partners (or the direct or indirect owners of the Partners) to prepare and file their own tax returns.

SECTION 5.09  Other Allocation Provisions . Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may be amended at any time by the General Partner if necessary, in the opinion of tax counsel to the Partnership, to comply with such regulations, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Partners.

ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

SECTION 6.01  Books and Records . (a) At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partnership shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Partnership in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) a copy of this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(ii) promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the three most recent years.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership, could damage the Partnership or its business or that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential.

ARTICLE VII

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

SECTION 7.01  Units . Interests in the Partnership shall be represented by Units. The Units initially are comprised of a single Class. The General Partner may establish, from time to time in accordance with such procedures as the General Partner shall determine from time to

 

14


time, other Classes, one or more series of any such Classes, or other Partnership securities with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Classes and series of Units), as shall be determined by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Unit is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Unit will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Total Percentage Interest as to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Unit to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include all Classes that may be established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular Class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such Class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02  Register . The register of the Partnership shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Partner. Unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 7.03  Registered Partners . The Partnership 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 Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

SECTION 8.01  Units Subject to Vesting . (a) Subject to Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed to in writing between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, the General Partner may issue Units that are subject to vesting on a schedule determined by the General Partner at the time such Units are issued and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership. The General Partner shall designate a Trigger Event with respect to each Unit issued that is subject to vesting, which shall be set forth in the books and records of the Partnership. All Units outstanding as of the date hereof are fully vested.

(b) In addition, the General Partner in its sole discretion may authorize the earlier vesting of all or a portion of any unvested Units owned by any one or more Limited Partners at any time and from time to time, and in such event, such unvested Units shall vest and thereafter be vested Units for all purposes of this Agreement. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of unvested Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations

 

15


need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(c) Upon the vesting of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.01, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such vesting.

SECTION 8.02  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event . (a) Other than as set forth in Section 8.01(b) and except as agreed otherwise between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Event shall be immediately forfeited without any consideration, and such Limited Partner shall cease to own or have any rights with respect to such unvested Units.

(b) Upon the forfeiture of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.02, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such forfeiture.

SECTION 8.03  Limited Partnership Transfers . No Limited Partner or Assignee thereof may Transfer (other than as part of an Exchange Transaction) all or any portion of its Units (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the General Partner may require) as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

SECTION 8.04  Mandatory Exchanges . The General Partner may, with the consent of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 75% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate, require all Limited Partners to Transfer in an Exchange Transaction all Units held by them.

SECTION 8.05  Further Restrictions . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit be made by any Limited Partner or Assignee if:

(a) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;

(b) such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable United States federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or other foreign securities laws or would

 

16


constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;

(c) such Transfer would not cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Partnership to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the General Partner to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;

(d) to the extent requested by the General Partner, the Partnership does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner, as determined in the General Partner’s sole discretion.

SECTION 8.06  Rights of Assignees . Subject to Section 8.05, the transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“ Assignee ”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Partner which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Partner, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such Interest remaining with the transferring Partner. The transferring Partner will remain a Partner even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Partnership as a Partner pursuant to Section 8.08.

SECTION 8.07  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals . (a) No Person may be admitted to the Partnership as an additional General Partner or substitute General Partner without the prior written consent or ratification of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 50% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate. A General Partner will not be entitled to Transfer all of its Units or to withdraw from being a General Partner of the Partnership unless another General Partner shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or withdrawn). The Partnership shall at all times have at least one general partner registered or incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

(b) No Limited Partner will be removed or be deemed to have withdrawn from being a Partner of the Partnership except in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of a Partner will cause the dissolution of the Partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, withdrawal or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

SECTION 8.08  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners . An Assignee will become a substitute Limited Partner only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:

 

17


(a) the General Partner consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion;

(b) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Limited Partner) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner (as determined in its sole discretion);

(c) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the General Partner to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable laws; and

(d) if required by the General Partner, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Partnership’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Partnership).

SECTION 8.09  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners . If a Limited Partner ceases to hold any Units, then such Limited Partner shall be deemed to have been withdrawn from the Partnership and shall cease to be a Limited Partner and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a Limited Partner.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

SECTION 9.01  No Dissolution . Except as required by the Act, Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Partners or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Partners hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any or all of the Partnership assets.

SECTION 9.02  Events Causing Dissolution . The Partnership shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under the Act;

(b) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Partnership to be carried on by the Partners;

(c) the written consent of all Partners and the filing by the General Partner of a notice of dissolution with the Registrar of Exempted Limited Partnerships;

the occurrence of a Disabling Event with respect to the General Partner; provided that the Partnership will not be dissolved or required to be wound up in connection with any of the events specified in this Section 9.02(f) if: (i) at the time of the occurrence of such

 

18


event there is at least one other general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to, and elects to, carry on the business of the Partnership; or (ii) all remaining Limited Partners consent to or ratify the continuation of the business of the Partnership and the appointment of another general partner of the Partnership, effective as of the event that caused the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership, within 90 days following the occurrence of any such event.

SECTION 9.03  Distribution upon Dissolution . Upon dissolution, the Partnership shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Partnership is completed. Upon the winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner, or any other Person designated by the General Partner (the “ Liquidation Agent ”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Partnership and shall, unless the General Partner determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Partnership as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Partnership (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Partners and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Partnership (“ Contingencies ”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03; and

(b) The balance, if any, to the Partners, pro rata to each of the Partners in accordance with their Total Percentage Interests.

SECTION 9.04  Time for Liquidation . A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation.

SECTION 9.05  Termination . The Partnership shall terminate when all of the assets of the Partnership, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 9.06  Claims of the Partners . The Partners shall look solely to the Partnership’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Partnership remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Partners shall have no recourse against the Partnership or any other Partner or any other Person. No Partner with a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Partnership or to the other Partners or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of

 

19


the Partnership, upon dissolution or termination of the Partnership or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.

SECTION 9.07  Survival of Certain Provisions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 11.09 shall survive the termination of the Partnership.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01  Liability of Partners . (a) No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership or of any other Partner or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Partner of the Partnership, except to the extent required by the Act.

(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, the Partners hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by Law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Partnership are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement and those required by the Act.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to another Partner, the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Partnership or to any such other Partner for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Partners relating thereto (including without limitation, the General Partner).

(d) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors and any act or omission suffered or taken by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the interests of the Partnership in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or financial or other advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and the General Partner will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such General Partner shall be entitled to consider only 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

 

20


affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

SECTION 10.02  Indemnification . (a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify any person (and such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Partnership or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was the legal representative, is or was a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership or, while a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership, is or was serving at the request of the Partnership as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such person’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(b) Advancement of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall promptly pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any person described in Section 10.02(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(c) Unpaid Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 10.02(a) has been received by the Partnership, such person may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

21


(d) Insurance . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Partnership and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Partnership Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Partnership that indemnification of any person whom the Partnership is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Partnership” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Partnership which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.

This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01  Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually

 

22


acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

SECTION 11.02  Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.02):

(a) If to the Partnership, to:

Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(b) If to any Partner, to:

c/o Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

(c) If to the General Partner, to:

Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecap.com

SECTION 11.03  Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.

SECTION 11.04  Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

 

23


SECTION 11.05  Interpretation . Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.06  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 11.06.

SECTION 11.07  Further Assurances . Each Limited Partner shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.08  Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

SECTION 11.09  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the Cayman Islands. The parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands courts.

SECTION 11.10  [RESERVED]

SECTION 11.11  Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Partnership shall be responsible for all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with its operation.

SECTION 11.12  Amendments and Waivers . (a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the General Partner; provided that any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any Class of Units in relation to other Classes of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Total Percentage Interests of the Class affected; provided further, that the General Partner may, without the written consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (i) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership; (ii) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership; (iv) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations,

 

24


legislation or interpretation; (v) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.

(c) The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, unilaterally amend this Agreement on or before the effective date of the final regulations to provide for (i) the election of a safe harbor under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(l) (or any similar provision) under which the fair market value of a partnership interest that is transferred is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest, (ii) an agreement by the Partnership and each of its Partners to comply with all of the requirements set forth in such regulations and Notice 2005-43 (and any other guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such election) with respect to all partnership interests transferred in connection with the performance of services while the election remains effective, (iii) the allocation of items of income, gains, deductions and losses required by the final regulations similar to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(b) and (c), and (iv) any other related amendments.

(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

SECTION 11.13  No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof).

SECTION 11.14  Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 11.15  Construction . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement and that it is the intent of the parties hereto that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.

 

25


SECTION 11.16  Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner, by its execution hereof, hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the General Partner as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been adopted as herein provided; (b) the original certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership and all amendments thereto required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Limited Partners have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Limited Partners) deemed advisable by the General Partner to carry out the provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 8.04) and Law or to permit the Partnership to become or to continue as a limited partnership or partnership wherein the Limited Partners have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Partnership may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the admission of additional Limited Partners or substituted Limited Partners pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the General Partner to effect the liquidation and termination of the Partnership; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Partnership’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Partnership.

SECTION 11.17  Partnership Status . The parties intend to treat the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

26


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement as a Deed or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as a Deed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

Witnessed By:    

GENERAL PARTNER:

OAKTREE HOLDINGS, LTD.,

as general partner

/ S / J EFFREY J OSEPH             

    By:     / S / T ODD M OLZ

Name:

    Name: Todd Molz
      Title: Vice President

 

Witnessed By:

   

/ S / J EFFREY J OSEPH             

    By:     / S / R ICHARD T ING
      Name: Richard Ting
      Title: Vice President

 

Witnessed By:

   

LIMITED PARTNER:

OAKTREE HOLDINGS, LTD.

/ S / J EFFREY J OSEPH             

    By:     / S / T ODD M OLZ

Name:

    Name: Todd Molz
      Title: Vice President

 

Witnessed By:

   

/ S / J EFFREY J OSEPH             

    By:     / S / R ICHARD T ING
      Name: Richard Ting
      Title: Vice President


Witnessed By:    

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P.

By: Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC,

its general partner

/ S / J EFFREY J OSEPH

    By:     / S / T ODD M OLZ

Name:

    Name: Todd Molz
    Title: Managing Director and
General Counsel

Witnessed By:

   

/ S / J EFFREY J OSEPH             

    By:     / S / R ICHARD T ING

Name:

    Name: Richard Ting
      Title: Senior Vice President

 

Witnessed By:

   

WITHDRAWING LIMITED PARTNER:

Todd Molz, solely to reflect his withdrawal pursuant

to Section 2.10 hereof

/ S / J EFFREY J OSEPH             

   

/ S / T ODD M OLZ

Name:

   

Exhibit 10.5

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P.

Dated as of May 25, 2011

 

 

 

THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF OAKTREE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, PROVINCE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR PROVINCE, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS AND THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.


Table of Contents

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS   

SECTION 1.01

   Definitions      1   
ARTICLE II   
FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS   

SECTION 2.01

   Formation      7   

SECTION 2.02

   Name      7   

SECTION 2.03

   Term      7   

SECTION 2.04

   Offices      7   

SECTION 2.05

   Agent for Service of Process      7   

SECTION 2.06

   Business Purpose      7   

SECTION 2.07

   Powers of the Partnership      7   

SECTION 2.08

   Partners; Admission of New Partners      7   

SECTION 2.09

   Withdrawal      8   
ARTICLE III   
MANAGEMENT   

SECTION 3.01

   General Partner      8   

SECTION 3.02

   Compensation      9   

SECTION 3.03

   Expenses      9   

SECTION 3.04

   Officers      9   

SECTION 3.05

   Authority of Partners      9   

SECTION 3.06

   Action by Written Consent or Ratification      9   
ARTICLE IV   
DISTRIBUTIONS   

SECTION 4.01

   Distributions      10   

SECTION 4.02

   Liquidation Distribution      10   

SECTION 4.03

   Limitations on Distribution      10   

 

-i-


ARTICLE V   

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

  

  

SECTION 5.01

   Initial Capital Contributions      10   

SECTION 5.02

   No Additional Capital Contributions      10   

SECTION 5.03

   Capital Accounts      10   

SECTION 5.04

   Allocations of Profits and Losses      11   

SECTION 5.05

   Special Allocations      11   

SECTION 5.06

   Tax Allocations      12   

SECTION 5.07

   Tax Advances      13   

SECTION 5.08

   Tax Matters      13   

SECTION 5.09

   Other Allocation Provisions      13   
ARTICLE VI   
BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS   

SECTION 6.01

   Books and Records      14   
ARTICLE VII   
PARTNERSHIP UNITS   

SECTION 7.01

   Units      14   

SECTION 7.02

   Register      15   

SECTION 7.03

   Registered Partners      15   
ARTICLE VIII   

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

  

  

SECTION 8.01

   Units Subject to Vesting      15   

SECTION 8.02

   Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event      15   

SECTION 8.03

   Limited Partnership Transfers      16   

SECTION 8.04

   Mandatory Exchanges      16   

SECTION 8.05

   Further Restrictions      16   

SECTION 8.06

   Rights of Assignees      17   

SECTION 8.07

   Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals      17   

SECTION 8.08

   Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners      17   

SECTION 8.09

   Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners      18   

 

-ii-


ARTICLE IX   
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION   

SECTION 9.01

   No Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.02

   Events Causing Dissolution      18   

SECTION 9.03

   Distribution upon Dissolution      19   

SECTION 9.04

   Time for Liquidation      19   

SECTION 9.05

   Termination      19   

SECTION 9.06

   Claims of the Partners      19   

SECTION 9.07

   Survival of Certain Provisions      20   
ARTICLE X   
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION   

SECTION 10.01

   Liability of Partners      20   

SECTION 10.02

   Indemnification      21   
ARTICLE XI   
MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 11.01

   Severability      22   

SECTION 11.02

   Notices      23   

SECTION 11.03

   Cumulative Remedies      23   

SECTION 11.04

   Binding Effect      23   

SECTION 11.05

   Interpretation      24   

SECTION 11.06

   Counterparts      24   

SECTION 11.07

   Further Assurances      24   

SECTION 11.08

   Entire Agreement      24   

SECTION 11.09

   Governing Law      24   

SECTION 11.10

   Arbitration of Disputes      24   

SECTION 11.11

   Expenses      25   

SECTION 11.12

   Amendments and Waivers      26   

SECTION 11.13

   No Third Party Beneficiaries      27   

SECTION 11.14

   Headings      27   

SECTION 11.15

   Construction      27   

SECTION 11.16

   Power of Attorney      27   

SECTION 11.17

   Partnership Status      27   

 

-iii-


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, L.P.

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is made as of the 25th day of May, 2011, by and among Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, as general partner and the Limited Partners (as defined herein) of the Partnership.

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership named Oaktree Servicer Holdings, L.P. pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Act ”), by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the execution of the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated as of January 3, 2011 (the “ Original Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Original Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by an Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “ Amended Agreement ”) dated as of January 4, 2011;

WHEREAS, the name of the Partnership was changed from Oaktree Servicer Holdings, L.P. to Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P. pursuant to the Act by the filing of a Certificate of Amendment with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 25, 2011; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership to reflect the change of name.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement (as defined herein) in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01  Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

Act ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.


Adjusted Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to each Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

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

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.

Assumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Partners.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Partnership’s operations.

Capital Account ” means the separate capital account maintained for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Article V.

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the General Partner, and the Carrying Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-

 

2


1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets to a Partner; (c) the date a Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)” rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Class ” means the classes of Units into which the interests in the Partnership may be classified or divided from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

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

Contingencies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).

Creditable Foreign Tax ” means a foreign tax paid or accrued for United States federal income tax purposes by the Partnership, in either case to the extent that such tax is eligible for credit under Section 901(a) of the Code. A foreign tax is a creditable foreign tax for these purposes without regard to whether a partner receiving an allocation of such foreign tax elects to claim a credit for such amount. This definition is intended to be consistent with the definition of “creditable foreign tax” in Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi)( b ), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Disabling Event ” means the General Partner ceasing to be the general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 17-402 of the Act.

Dissolution Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of this Agreement.

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Units and units in other members of the Oaktree Operating Group in accordance with the terms thereof.

Exchange Transaction ” means the distribution of Units by OCGH or other holder thereof to an employee of the Oaktree Operating Group or any other person pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of OCGH, the Exchange Agreement or any other applicable document.

 

3


Fiscal Year ” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Partnership and ending on December 31, 2011 or (ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

General Partner ” means Oaktree Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any successor general partner admitted to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Incapacity ” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.

Issuer ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.

Limited Partner ” means each of the Persons from time to time listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the Partnership.

Liquidation Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of this Agreement.

Net Taxable Income ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, the Partnership, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership, and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

OCGH ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

 

4


Original Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partners ” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner (including the General Partner) on the books and records of the Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a partner of the Partnership as provided hereunder.

Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Profits ” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Partnership, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis ( provided that if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); and (f) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into

 

5


account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Partnership and thereby subject the Partnership, the General Partner or OCGH (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Partnership’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title 1 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Tax Advances ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

Tax Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.

Total Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested or unvested) then owned by such Partner by the number of Units then owned by all Partners.

Transfer ” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including, without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other security and any transfer that is part of an Exchange Transaction.

Transferee ” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.

Treasury Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Trigger Event ” means an event or events designated by the General Partner at the time of issuance of any Units subject to vesting upon the occurrence of which any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Even shall be forfeit pursuant to Section 8.02. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may designate as a Trigger Event for any particular Units the termination of the employment of a Person with any member of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Partnership and authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute interests in the Partnership as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership at any particular time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a

 

6


Partner as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Partner to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

SECTION 2.01  Formation . The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the provisions of the Act by the filing on January 3, 2011 of the Certificate as provided in the preamble of this Agreement and the execution of the Original Agreement. If requested by the General Partner, the Limited Partners shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the General Partner to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the General Partner deems it advisable, the operation of the Partnership as a limited partnership, or partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Partnership proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Partnership.

SECTION 2.02  Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of, Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P.

SECTION 2.03  Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article IX. The existence of the Partnership shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 2.04  Offices . The Partnership may have offices at such places either within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner from time to time may select.

SECTION 2.05  Agent for Service of Process . The Partnership’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate, as the same may be amended by the General Partner from time to time.

SECTION 2.06  Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited partnerships may be formed under the Act.

SECTION 2.07  Powers of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the assets contributed to the Partnership by the Partners, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership set forth in Section 2.06.

SECTION 2.08  Partners . Each of the Partners, by virtue of the execution of this Agreement, continues as a Partner of the Partnership. The rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the

 

7


Partners consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that each new Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Partner agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

SECTION 2.09  Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 8.07.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

SECTION 3.01  General Partner . (a) The business, property and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to act on behalf of the Partnership.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Partnership (which may be delegated to officers of the Partnership), including, without limitation, the following powers:

(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year;

(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Partnership;

(iii) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness and the incurring of any other obligations;

(iv) to employ, retain, consult with and dismiss personnel;

(v) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;

(vi) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Partnership;

(vii) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Partnership’s books of account; and

(viii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in writing from time to time.

 

8


SECTION 3.02  Compensation . The General Partner shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its capacity as General Partner.

SECTION 3.03  Expenses . The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with serving as the general partner of the Partnership.

SECTION 3.04  Officers . Subject to the direction and oversight of the General Partner, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Partnership may be carried out by employees and agents who may be designated as officers by the General Partner, with titles as and to the extent authorized by the General Partner. The officers of the Partnership shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the General Partner and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. All employees, agents and officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner and may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not cease to be a general partner of the Partnership as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Partnership, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a general partner of the Partnership by agreement, estoppel, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.

SECTION 3.05  Authority of Partners . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate in the affairs of the Partnership described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Limited Partners shall have no right to vote on any matter involving the Partnership, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Partnership. The conduct, control and management of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General Partner shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Partnership, no Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Partnership in its capacity as a Partner, nor shall any Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Partnership in his or its capacity as a Partner in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Partnership or of any other Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may employ one or more Partners from time to time, and such Partners, in their capacity as employees of the Partnership (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Limited Partners of the Partnership), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Partnership to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Partnership has been delegated to them by the General Partner.

SECTION 3.06  Action by Written Consent or Ratification . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Partners pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Partners whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a ratification in writing.

 

9


ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 4.01  Distributions . (a) The General Partner, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the Partners, which distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interests.

(b) In addition to the foregoing, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the taxable income of the Partnership for a Fiscal Year will give rise to taxable income for the Partners (“ Net Taxable Income ”), the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Available Cash in respect of income tax liabilities (the “ Tax Distributions ”) pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interest to the extent that other distributions made by the Partnership for such year are otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities. The Tax Distributions payable with respect to a period shall be computed based upon the General Partner’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in accordance with Article V for such period, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the “ Tax Amount ”). For purposes of computing the Tax Amount, the effect of any benefit to a Partner under Section 743(b) of the Code will be ignored. The partnership shall make distributions under this Section 4.01 quarterly based on the expected, estimated taxable income of the Partnership for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within 90 days after the end of the Fiscal Year with respect to a Fiscal Year.

SECTION 4.02  Liquidation Distribution . Distributions made upon dissolution of the Partnership shall be made as provided in Section 9.03.

SECTION 4.03  Limitations on Distribution . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not make a Partnership distribution to any Partner if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

SECTION 5.01  Initial Capital Contributions . The Partners have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and have acquired the number of Units as specified in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 5.02  No Additional Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, no Partner shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the consent of such Partner or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

SECTION 5.03  Capital Accounts . A separate capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Partner shall be credited with such Partner’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Partner

 

10


pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Partnership specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Partnership to such Partner. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any interest in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.

SECTION 5.04  Allocations of Profits and Losses . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Partnership) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Partner after giving effect to the Special Allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Article IV if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.05  Special Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Partnership taxable year, the Partners shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Qualified Income Offset . If any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of

 

11


such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c) Gross Income Allocation . If any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Total Percentage Interests.

(e) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).

(f) Creditable Foreign Taxes . Creditable Foreign Taxes for any taxable period attributable to the Partnership, or an entity owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership, shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to the partners’ distributive shares of income (including income allocated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code) to which the Creditable Foreign Tax relates (under principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.904-6). The provisions of this Section 5.05(f) are intended to comply with the provisions of Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(g) Ameliorative Allocations . Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(g), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Partner shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.

SECTION 5.06  Tax Allocations . For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (as determined by the General Partner and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations) so as to take account of the difference

 

12


between Carrying Value and adjusted basis of such asset; provided, further, that the Partnership shall use the traditional method (as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.704-3(b)(1)) for all Section 704(c) and “reverse Section 704(c)” allocations. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.07  Tax Advances . To the extent the General Partner reasonably believes that the Partnership is required by law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Partner or the Partnership is subjected to tax itself by reason of the status of any Partner (“ Tax Advances ”), the General Partner may withhold such amounts and make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Partner shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Partner or, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Partner. For all purposes of this Agreement such Partner shall be treated as having received the amount of the distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance.

SECTION 5.08  Tax Matters . The General Partner shall be the initial “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”). The Partnership shall file as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes, except where otherwise required by Law. All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership, and all other tax decisions and determinations relating to federal, state or local tax matters of the Partnership, shall be made by the Tax Matters Partner, in consultation with the Partnership’s attorneys and/or accountants. Tax audits, controversies and litigations shall be conducted under the direction of the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner shall keep the other Partners reasonably informed as to any tax actions, examinations or proceedings relating to the Partnership and shall submit to the other Partners, for their review and comment, any settlement or compromise offer with respect to any disputed item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership. As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall send to each Partner a copy of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, and any comparable statements required by applicable state or local income tax Law, with respect to such Fiscal Year. The Partnership also shall provide the Partners with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Partners (or the direct or indirect owners of the Partners) to prepare and file their own tax returns.

SECTION 5.09  Other Allocation Provisions . Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may be amended at any time by the General Partner if necessary, in the opinion of tax counsel to the Partnership, to comply with such regulations, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Partners.

 

13


ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

SECTION 6.01  Books and Records . (a) At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partnership shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Partnership in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(ii) promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the three most recent years.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership, could damage the Partnership or its business or that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential.

ARTICLE VII

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

SECTION 7.01  Units . Interests in the Partnership shall be represented by Units. The Units initially are comprised of a single Class. The General Partner may establish, from time to time in accordance with such procedures as the General Partner shall determine from time to time, other Classes, one or more series of any such Classes, or other Partnership securities with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Classes and series of Units), as shall be determined by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Unit is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Unit will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Total Percentage Interest as to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Unit to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include all Classes that may be

 

14


established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular Class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such Class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02  Register . The register of the Partnership shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Partner. Unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 7.03  Registered Partners . The Partnership 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 Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

SECTION 8.01  Units Subject to Vesting . (a) Subject to Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed to in writing between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, the General Partner may issue Units that are subject to vesting on a schedule determined by the General Partner at the time such Units are issued and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership. The General Partner shall designate a Trigger Event with respect to each Unit issued that is subject to vesting, which shall be set forth in the books and records of the Partnership. All Units outstanding as of the date hereof are fully vested.

(b) In addition, the General Partner in its sole discretion may authorize the earlier vesting of all or a portion of any unvested Units owned by any one or more Limited Partners at any time and from time to time, and in such event, such unvested Units shall vest and thereafter be vested Units for all purposes of this Agreement. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of unvested Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(c) Upon the vesting of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.01, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such vesting.

SECTION 8.02  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event . (a) Other than as set forth in Section 8.01(b) and except as agreed otherwise between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Event shall be immediately forfeited without any consideration, and such Limited Partner shall cease to own or have any rights with respect to such unvested Units.

 

15


(b) Upon the forfeiture of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.02, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such forfeiture.

SECTION 8.03  Limited Partnership Transfers . No Limited Partner or Assignee thereof may Transfer (other than as part of an Exchange Transaction) all or any portion of its Units (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the General Partner may require) as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

SECTION 8.04  Mandatory Exchanges . The General Partner may, with the consent of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 75% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate, require all Limited Partners to Transfer in an Exchange Transaction all Units held by them.

SECTION 8.05  Further Restrictions . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit be made by any Limited Partner or Assignee if:

(a) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;

(b) such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable United States federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or other foreign securities laws or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;

(c) such Transfer would not cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Partnership to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the General Partner to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;

(d) to the extent requested by the General Partner, the Partnership does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound

 

16


by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner, as determined in the General Partner’s sole discretion.

SECTION 8.06  Rights of Assignees . Subject to Section 8.05, the transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“ Assignee ”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Partner which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Partner, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such Interest remaining with the transferring Partner. The transferring Partner will remain a Partner even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Partnership as a Partner pursuant to Section 8.08.

SECTION 8.07  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals . (a) No Person may be admitted to the Partnership as an additional General Partner or substitute General Partner without the prior written consent or ratification of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 50% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate. A General Partner will not be entitled to Transfer all of its Units or to withdraw from being a General Partner of the Partnership unless another General Partner shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or withdrawn).

(b) No Limited Partner will be removed or entitled to withdraw from being a Partner of the Partnership except in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of a Partner will cause the dissolution of the Partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, withdrawal or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

SECTION 8.08  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners . An Assignee will become a substitute Limited Partner only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) the General Partner consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion;

(b) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Limited Partner) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner (as determined in its sole discretion);

(c) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the General Partner to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable laws; and

 

17


(d) if required by the General Partner, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Partnership’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Partnership).

SECTION 8.09  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners . If a Limited Partner ceases to hold any Units, then such Limited Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership and shall cease to be a Limited Partner and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a Limited Partner.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

SECTION 9.01  No Dissolution . Except as required by the Act, Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Partners or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Partners hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any or all of the Partnership assets.

SECTION 9.02  Events Causing Dissolution . The Partnership shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the expiration of the term of the Partnership as provided in Section 2.03;

(b) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-802 of the Act upon the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that the General Partner (i) is permanently incapable of performing its part of this Agreement, (ii) has been guilty of conduct that is calculated to affect prejudicially the carrying on of the business of the Partnership, (iii) willfully or persistently commits a breach of this Agreement or (iv) conducts itself in a manner relating to the Partnership or its business such that it is not reasonably practicable for the other Partners to carry on the business of the Partnership with the General Partner;

(c) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Partnership to be carried on by the Partners;

(d) the written consent of all Partners;

(e) any other event not inconsistent with any provision hereof causing a dissolution of the Partnership under the Act;

(f) the Incapacity or removal of the General Partner or the occurrence of a Disabling Event with respect to the General Partner; provided that the Partnership will not be dissolved or required to be wound up in connection with any of the events specified in this Section 9.02(f) if: (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one other general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to, and elects to, carry on

 

18


the business of the Partnership; or (ii) all remaining Limited Partners consent to or ratify the continuation of the business of the Partnership and the appointment of another general partner of the Partnership, effective as of the event that caused the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership, within 90 days following the occurrence of any such event, which consent shall be deemed (and if requested each Limited Partner shall provide a written consent or ratification) to have been given for all Limited Partners if the holders of more than 50% of the Units then outstanding agree in writing to so continue the business of the Partnership.

SECTION 9.03  Distribution upon Dissolution . Upon dissolution, the Partnership shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Partnership is completed. Upon the winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner, or any other Person designated by the General Partner (the “ Liquidation Agent ”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Partnership and shall, unless the General Partner determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Partnership as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Partnership (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Partners and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Partnership (“ Contingencies ”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03; and

(b) The balance, if any, to the Partners, pro rata to each of the Partners in accordance with their Total Percentage Interests.

SECTION 9.04  Time for Liquidation . A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation.

SECTION 9.05  Termination . The Partnership shall terminate when all of the assets of the Partnership, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 9.06  Claims of the Partners . The Partners shall look solely to the Partnership’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Partnership remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Partners shall have no recourse against the Partnership or any other Partner or any other Person. No Partner with a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Partnership or to the other

 

19


Partners or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of the Partnership, upon dissolution or termination of the Partnership or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.

SECTION 9.07  Survival of Certain Provisions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 11.09 shall survive the termination of the Partnership.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01  Liability of Partners . (a) No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership or of any other Partner or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Partner of the Partnership, except to the extent required by the Act.

(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, the Partners hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by Law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Partnership are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement and those required by the Act.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to another Partner, the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Partnership or to any such other Partner for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Partners relating thereto (including without limitation, the General Partner).

(d) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors and any act or omission suffered or taken by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the interests of the Partnership in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or financial or other advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and the General Partner will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by

 

20


applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

SECTION 10.02  Indemnification . (a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify any person (and such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Partnership or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was the legal representative, is or was a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership or, while a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership, is or was serving at the request of the Partnership as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such person’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(b) Advancement of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall promptly pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any person described in Section 10.02(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(c) Unpaid Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 10.02(a) has been received by the Partnership, such person may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

21


(d) Insurance . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Partnership and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Partnership Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Partnership that indemnification of any person whom the Partnership is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Partnership” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Partnership which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.

This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01  Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually

 

22


acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

SECTION 11.02  Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.02):

(a) If to the Partnership, to:

Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecapital.com

(b) If to any Partner, to:

c/o Oaktree Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecapital.com

(c) If to the General Partner, to:

Oaktree Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecapital.com

SECTION 11.03  Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.

SECTION 11.04  Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

 

23


SECTION 11.05  Interpretation . Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.06  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 11.06.

SECTION 11.07  Further Assurances . Each Limited Partner shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.08  Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

SECTION 11.09  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 11.10  Arbitration of Disputes . Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to (i) the Partnership, (ii) any Limited Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, (iii) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, (iv) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.10 and (v) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq . A party hereto may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other party or parties to the arbitration in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 3.1. The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with JAMS and with each other in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided , that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The parties to the arbitration shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. Each party to the arbitration shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.10 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the parties to the arbitration.

 

24


No party to an arbitration shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided , that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed (i) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, (ii) two interrogatories, (iii) ten document requests and (iv) ten requests for admissions; provided , further , that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.10 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

The provisions of this Section 11.10 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10, including the existence and/or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided , that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided , further , that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If a party to an arbitration receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such party shall (i) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and (ii) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions, including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and (ii) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between parties to this Agreement that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

SECTION 11.11  Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Partnership shall be responsible for all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and

 

25


disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with its operation.

SECTION 11.12  Amendments and Waivers . (a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the General Partner; provided that any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any Class of Units in relation to other Classes of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Total Percentage Interests of the Class affected; provided further , that the General Partner may, without the written consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (i) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership; (ii) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership; (iv) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; (v) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.

(c) The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, unilaterally amend this Agreement on or before the effective date of the final regulations to provide for (i) the election of a safe harbor under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(l) (or any similar provision) under which the fair market value of a partnership interest that is transferred is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest, (ii) an agreement by the Partnership and each of its Partners to comply with all of the requirements set forth in such regulations and Notice 2005-43 (and any other guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such election) with respect to all partnership interests transferred in connection with the performance of services while the election remains effective, (iii) the allocation of items of income, gains, deductions and losses required by the final regulations similar to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(b) and (c), and (iv) any other related amendments.

(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

 

26


SECTION 11.13  No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof).

SECTION 11.14  Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 11.15  Construction . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement and that it is the intent of the parties hereto that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.

SECTION 11.16  Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner, by its execution hereof, hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the General Partner as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been adopted as herein provided; (b) the original certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership and all amendments thereto required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Limited Partners have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Limited Partners) deemed advisable by the General Partner to carry out the provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 8.04) and Law or to permit the Partnership to become or to continue as a limited partnership or partnership wherein the Limited Partners have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Partnership may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the admission of additional Limited Partners or substituted Limited Partners pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the General Partner to effect the liquidation and termination of the Partnership; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Partnership’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Partnership.

SECTION 11.17  Partnership Status . The parties intend to treat the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
OAKTREE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/ S / T ODD M OLZ

  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Managing Director and General Counsel
By:  

/ S / R ICHARD T ING

  Name: Richard Ting
 

Title: Managing Director and Associate General

Counsel

LIMITED PARTNERS:
OAKTREE HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/ S / T ODD M OLZ

  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Managing Director and General Counsel
By:  

/ S / R ICHARD T ING

  Name: Richard Ting
 

Title: Managing Director and Associate General

Counsel


OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:   Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/ S / T ODD M OLZ

  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Managing Director and General Counsel
By:  

/ S / R ICHARD T ING

  Name: Richard Ting
 

Title: Managing Director and Associate General

Counsel

Exhibit 10.6

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.

Dated as of October 29, 2008

 

 

 

THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, PROVINCE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR PROVINCE, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS AND THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.


Table of Contents

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS   
SECTION 1.01    Definitions      1   
ARTICLE II   
FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS   
SECTION 2.01    Formation      7   
SECTION 2.02    Name      7   
SECTION 2.03    Term      7   
SECTION 2.04    Offices      7   
SECTION 2.05    Agent for Service of Process      7   
SECTION 2.06    Business Purpose      7   
SECTION 2.07    Powers of the Partnership      7   
SECTION 2.08    Partners      7   
SECTION 2.09    Withdrawal      8   
ARTICLE III   
MANAGEMENT   
SECTION 3.01    General Partner      8   
SECTION 3.02    Compensation      9   
SECTION 3.03    Expenses      9   
SECTION 3.04    Officers      9   
SECTION 3.05    Authority of Partners      9   
SECTION 3.06    Action by Written Consent or Ratification      10   
ARTICLE IV   
DISTRIBUTIONS   
SECTION 4.01    Distributions      10   
SECTION 4.02    Liquidation Distribution      10   
SECTION 4.03    Limitations on Distribution      10   

 

-i-


ARTICLE V   

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

  

  

SECTION 5.01    Initial Capital Contributions      10   
SECTION 5.02    No Additional Capital Contributions      10   
SECTION 5.03    Capital Accounts      11   
SECTION 5.04    Allocations of Profits and Losses      11   
SECTION 5.05    Special Allocations      11   
SECTION 5.06    Tax Allocations      12   
SECTION 5.07    Tax Advances      13   
SECTION 5.08    Tax Matters      13   
SECTION 5.09    Other Allocation Provisions      13   
ARTICLE VI   
BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS   
SECTION 6.01    Books and Records      14   
ARTICLE VII   
PARTNERSHIP UNITS   
SECTION 7.01    Units      14   
SECTION 7.02    Register      15   
SECTION 7.03    Registered Partners      15   

ARTICLE VIII

  

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

  

  

SECTION 8.01    Units Subject to Vesting      15   
SECTION 8.02    Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event      15   
SECTION 8.03    Limited Partnership Transfers      16   
SECTION 8.04    Mandatory Exchanges      16   
SECTION 8.05    Further Restrictions      16   
SECTION 8.06    Rights of Assignees      17   
SECTION 8.07    Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals      17   
SECTION 8.08    Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners      17   
SECTION 8.09    Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners      18   

 

-ii-


ARTICLE IX

  

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION   
SECTION 9.01    No Dissolution      18   
SECTION 9.02    Events Causing Dissolution      18   
SECTION 9.03    Distribution upon Dissolution      19   
SECTION 9.04    Time for Liquidation      19   
SECTION 9.05    Termination      19   
SECTION 9.06    Claims of the Partners      19   
SECTION 9.07    Survival of Certain Provisions      20   

ARTICLE X

  

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

  

SECTION 10.01    Liability of Partners      20   
SECTION 10.02    Indemnification      21   

ARTICLE XI

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

SECTION 11.01    Severability      22   
SECTION 11.02    Notices      23   
SECTION 11.03    Cumulative Remedies      23   
SECTION 11.04    Binding Effect      23   
SECTION 11.05    Interpretation      24   
SECTION 11.06    Counterparts      24   
SECTION 11.07    Further Assurances      24   
SECTION 11.08    Entire Agreement      24   
SECTION 11.09    Governing Law      24   
SECTION 11.10    Arbitration of Disputes      24   
SECTION 11.11    Expenses      25   
SECTION 11.12    Amendments and Waivers      26   
SECTION 11.13    No Third Party Beneficiaries      27   
SECTION 11.14    Headings      27   
SECTION 11.15    Construction      27   
SECTION 11.16    Power of Attorney      27   
SECTION 11.17    Partnership Status      27   

 

-iii-


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P.

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is made as of the 29 th day of October, 2008, by and among Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, as general partner, and the Limited Partners (as defined herein) of the Partnership.

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership named Oaktree Media Investments, L.P. pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Act ”), by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the execution of the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated as of May 15, 2007 (the “ Original Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Original Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by an Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “ Amended Agreement ”) dated as of May 25, 2007;

WHEREAS, the name of the Partnership was changed from Oaktree Media Investments, L.P. to Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. pursuant to the Act by the filing of a Certificate of Amendment with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 29, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership to reflect the change of name.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Amended Agreement (as defined herein) in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01  Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

Act ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.


Adjusted Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to each Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

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

Amended Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.

Assumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in Los Angeles, California or New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductibility of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all Partners.

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Partnership’s operations.

Capital Account ” means the separate capital account maintained for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Article V.

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the General Partner, and the Carrying Values of all

 

2


Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets to a Partner; (c) the date a Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; or (d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)” rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.

Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Class ” means the classes of Units into which the interests in the Partnership may be classified or divided from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

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

Contingencies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).

Creditable Foreign Tax ” means a foreign tax paid or accrued for United States federal income tax purposes by the Partnership, in either case to the extent that such tax is eligible for credit under Section 901(a) of the Code. A foreign tax is a creditable foreign tax for these purposes without regard to whether a partner receiving an allocation of such foreign tax elects to claim a credit for such amount. This definition is intended to be consistent with the definition of “creditable foreign tax” in Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi)( b ), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

Disabling Event ” means the General Partner ceasing to be the general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 17-402 of the Act.

Dissolution Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of this Agreement.

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Units and units in other members of the Oaktree Operating Group in accordance with the terms thereof.

Exchange Transaction ” means the distribution of Units by OCGH or other holder thereof to an employee of the Oaktree Operating Group or any other person pursuant to the

 

3


terms of the partnership agreement of OCGH, the Exchange Agreement or any other applicable document.

Fiscal Year ” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Partnership and ending on December 31, 2008 or (ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

General Partner ” means Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any successor general partner admitted to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Incapacity ” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.

Issuer ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.

Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.

Limited Partner ” means each of the Persons from time to time listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the Partnership.

Liquidation Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of this Agreement.

Net Taxable Income ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, the Partnership, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership, and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the Issuer (whether now existing or hereafter formed) that is designated as part of the Oaktree Operating Group by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

 

4


OCGH ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Original Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partners ” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner (including the General Partner) on the books and records of the Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a partner of the Partnership as provided hereunder.

Partnership ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Profits ” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Partnership, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis ( provided that if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); and (f)

 

5


except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

Similar Law ” means any state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that would cause the underlying assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of an investing entity by virtue of its investment (or any beneficial interest) in the Partnership and thereby subject the Partnership, the General Partner or OCGH (or other Persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Partnership’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title 1 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Tax Advances ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

Tax Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.

Total Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested or unvested) then owned by such Partner by the number of Units then owned by all Partners.

Transfer ” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including, without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other security and any transfer that is part of an Exchange Transaction.

Transferee ” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.

Treasury Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Trigger Event ” means an event or events designated by the General Partner at the time of issuance of any Units subject to vesting upon the occurrence of which any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Even shall be forfeit pursuant to Section 8.02. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may designate as a Trigger Event for any particular Units the termination of the employment of a Person with any member of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Unit ” means a unit issued by the Partnership and authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute interests in the Partnership as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership at any particular time as set forth in

 

6


this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a Partner as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Partner to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

SECTION 2.01  Formation . The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the provisions of the Act by the filing on May 15, 2007 of the Certificate as provided in the preamble of this Agreement and the execution of the Original Agreement. If requested by the General Partner, the Limited Partners shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the General Partner to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the General Partner deems it advisable, the operation of the Partnership as a limited partnership, or partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Partnership proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Partnership.

SECTION 2.02  Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of, Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.

SECTION 2.03  Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article IX. The existence of the Partnership shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 2.04  Offices . The Partnership may have offices at such places either within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner from time to time may select.

SECTION 2.05  Agent for Service of Process . The Partnership’s registered agent for service of process in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate, as the same may be amended by the General Partner from time to time.

SECTION 2.06  Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited partnerships may be formed under the Act.

SECTION 2.07  Powers of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the assets contributed to the Partnership by the Partners, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership set forth in Section 2.06.

SECTION 2.08  Partners . Each of the Partners, by virtue of the execution of this Agreement, continues as a Partner of the Partnership. The rights, duties and liabilities of the

 

7


Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the Partners consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that each new Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Partner agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

SECTION 2.09  Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Partner in accordance with Article VIII; provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 8.07.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

SECTION 3.01  General Partner . (a) The business, property and affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to act on behalf of the Partnership.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Partnership (which may be delegated to officers of the Partnership), including, without limitation, the following powers:

(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year;

(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Partnership;

(iii) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness and the incurring of any other obligations;

(iv) to employ, retain, consult with and dismiss personnel;

(v) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;

(vi) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Partnership;

(vii) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Partnership’s books of account; and

 

8


(viii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in writing from time to time.

SECTION 3.02  Compensation . The General Partner shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its capacity as General Partner.

SECTION 3.03  Expenses . The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with serving as the general partner of the Partnership.

SECTION 3.04  Officers . Subject to the direction and oversight of the General Partner, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Partnership may be carried out by employees and agents who may be designated as officers by the General Partner, with titles as and to the extent authorized by the General Partner. The officers of the Partnership shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the General Partner and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. All employees, agents and officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner and may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not cease to be a general partner of the Partnership as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Partnership, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a general partner of the Partnership by agreement, estoppel, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.

SECTION 3.05  Authority of Partners . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate in the affairs of the Partnership described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Limited Partners shall have no right to vote on any matter involving the Partnership, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Partnership. The conduct, control and management of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General Partner shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Partnership, no Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Partnership in its capacity as a Partner, nor shall any Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Partnership in his or its capacity as a Partner in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Partnership or of any other Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may employ one or more Partners from time to time, and such Partners, in their capacity as employees of the Partnership (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Limited Partners of the Partnership), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Partnership to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Partnership has been delegated to them by the General Partner.

 

9


SECTION 3.06  Action by Written Consent or Ratification . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Partners pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Partners whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a ratification in writing.

ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 4.01  Distributions . (a) The General Partner, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the Partners, which distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interests.

(b) In addition to the foregoing, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the taxable income of the Partnership for a Fiscal Year will give rise to taxable income for the Partners (“ Net Taxable Income ”), the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Available Cash in respect of income tax liabilities (the “ Tax Distributions ”) pro rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interest to the extent that other distributions made by the Partnership for such year are otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities. The Tax Distributions payable with respect to a period shall be computed based upon the General Partner’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in accordance with Article V for such period, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the “ Tax Amount ”). For purposes of computing the Tax Amount, the effect of any benefit to a Partner under Section 743(b) of the Code will be ignored. The partnership shall make distributions under this Section 4.01 quarterly based on the expected, estimated taxable income of the Partnership for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within 90 days after the end of the Fiscal Year with respect to a Fiscal Year.

SECTION 4.02  Liquidation Distribution . Distributions made upon dissolution of the Partnership shall be made as provided in Section 9.03.

SECTION 4.03  Limitations on Distribution . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not make a Partnership distribution to any Partner if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

SECTION 5.01  Initial Capital Contributions . The Partners have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and have acquired the number of Units as specified in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 5.02  No Additional Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, no Partner shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the consent of such Partner or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

 

10


SECTION 5.03  Capital Accounts . A separate capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Partner shall be credited with such Partner’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Partnership specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Partnership to such Partner. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any interest in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.

SECTION 5.04  Allocations of Profits and Losses . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Partnership) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Partner after giving effect to the Special Allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Article IV if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.05  Special Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain or Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Partnership taxable year, the Partners shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Qualified Income Offset . If any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to

 

11


such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c) Gross Income Allocation . If any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Partner is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Total Percentage Interests.

(e) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).

(f) Creditable Foreign Taxes . Creditable Foreign Taxes for any taxable period attributable to the Partnership, or an entity owned directly or indirectly by the Partnership, shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to the partners’ distributive shares of income (including income allocated pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code) to which the Creditable Foreign Tax relates (under principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.904-6). The provisions of this Section 5.05(f) are intended to comply with the provisions of Temporary Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi), and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(g) Ameliorative Allocations . Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(g), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Partner shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.

SECTION 5.06  Tax Allocations . For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which

 

12


differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (as determined by the General Partner and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations) so as to take account of the difference between Carrying Value and adjusted basis of such asset; provided, further, that the Partnership shall use the traditional method (as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.704-3(b)(1)) for all Section 704(c) and “reverse Section 704(c)” allocations. The General Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a partner’s interest in the Partnership.

SECTION 5.07  Tax Advances . To the extent the General Partner reasonably believes that the Partnership is required by law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Partner or the Partnership is subjected to tax itself by reason of the status of any Partner (“ Tax Advances ”), the General Partner may withhold such amounts and make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Partner shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Partner or, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Partner. For all purposes of this Agreement such Partner shall be treated as having received the amount of the distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance.

SECTION 5.08  Tax Matters . The General Partner shall be the initial “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”). The Partnership shall file as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes, except where otherwise required by Law. All elections required or permitted to be made by the Partnership, and all other tax decisions and determinations relating to federal, state or local tax matters of the Partnership, shall be made by the Tax Matters Partner, in consultation with the Partnership’s attorneys and/or accountants. Tax audits, controversies and litigations shall be conducted under the direction of the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner shall keep the other Partners reasonably informed as to any tax actions, examinations or proceedings relating to the Partnership and shall submit to the other Partners, for their review and comment, any settlement or compromise offer with respect to any disputed item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership. As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall send to each Partner a copy of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, and any comparable statements required by applicable state or local income tax Law, with respect to such Fiscal Year. The Partnership also shall provide the Partners with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Partners (or the direct or indirect owners of the Partners) to prepare and file their own tax returns.

SECTION 5.09  Other Allocation Provisions . Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may be amended at any time by the General Partner if necessary, in the opinion of tax counsel to the Partnership, to comply with such regulations, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Partners.

 

13


ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

SECTION 6.01  Books and Records . (a) At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the Partnership shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Partnership in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(ii) promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the three most recent years.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership, could damage the Partnership or its business or that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential.

ARTICLE VII

PARTNERSHIP UNITS

SECTION 7.01  Units . Interests in the Partnership shall be represented by Units. The Units initially are comprised of a single Class. The General Partner may establish, from time to time in accordance with such procedures as the General Partner shall determine from time to time, other Classes, one or more series of any such Classes, or other Partnership securities with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Classes and series of Units), as shall be determined by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Unit is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Unit will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Total Percentage Interest as to such Units; and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Unit to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include all Classes that may be

 

14


established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular Class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such Class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02  Register . The register of the Partnership shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Partner. Unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 7.03  Registered Partners . The Partnership 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 Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII

VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS; ADMISSION OF

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

SECTION 8.01  Units Subject to Vesting . (a) Subject to Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed to in writing between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, the General Partner may issue Units that are subject to vesting on a schedule determined by the General Partner at the time such Units are issued and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership. The General Partner shall designate a Trigger Event with respect to each Unit issued that is subject to vesting, which shall be set forth in the books and records of the Partnership. All Units outstanding as of the date hereof are fully vested.

(b) In addition, the General Partner in its sole discretion may authorize the earlier vesting of all or a portion of any unvested Units owned by any one or more Limited Partners at any time and from time to time, and in such event, such unvested Units shall vest and thereafter be vested Units for all purposes of this Agreement. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of unvested Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(c) Upon the vesting of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.01, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such vesting.

SECTION 8.02  Forfeiture of Unvested Units upon Trigger Event . (a) Other than as set forth in Section 8.01(b) and except as agreed otherwise between the General Partner and the applicable Limited Partner and reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event any unvested Units subject to such Trigger Event shall be immediately forfeited without any consideration, and such Limited Partner shall cease to own or have any rights with respect to such unvested Units.

 

15


(b) Upon the forfeiture of any unvested Units in accordance with this Section 8.02, the General Partner shall modify the books and records of the Partnership to reflect such forfeiture.

SECTION 8.03  Limited Partnership Transfers . No Limited Partner or Assignee thereof may Transfer (other than as part of an Exchange Transaction) all or any portion of its Units (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the General Partner may require) as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion. Any such determination in the General Partner’s discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

SECTION 8.04  Mandatory Exchanges . The General Partner may, with the consent of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 75% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate, require all Limited Partners to Transfer in an Exchange Transaction all Units held by them.

SECTION 8.05  Further Restrictions . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit be made by any Limited Partner or Assignee if:

(a) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;

(b) such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable United States federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or other foreign securities laws or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;

(c) such Transfer would not cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Partnership to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the General Partner to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Limited Partner, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;

(d) to the extent requested by the General Partner, the Partnership does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound

 

16


by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner, as determined in the General Partner’s sole discretion.

SECTION 8.06  Rights of Assignees . Subject to Section 8.05, the transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“ Assignee ”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Partner which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Partner, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such Interest remaining with the transferring Partner. The transferring Partner will remain a Partner even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Partnership as a Partner pursuant to Section 8.08.

SECTION 8.07  Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals . (a) No Person may be admitted to the Partnership as an additional General Partner or substitute General Partner without the prior written consent or ratification of Partners whose Total Percentage Interests exceed 50% of the Total Percentage Interests of all Partners in the aggregate. A General Partner will not be entitled to Transfer all of its Units or to withdraw from being a General Partner of the Partnership unless another General Partner shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or withdrawn).

(b) No Limited Partner will be removed or entitled to withdraw from being a Partner of the Partnership except in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of a Partner will cause the dissolution of the Partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, withdrawal or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

SECTION 8.08  Admission of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners . An Assignee will become a substitute Limited Partner only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) the General Partner consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the General Partner, in each case in the General Partner’s sole discretion;

(b) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Limited Partner) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner (as determined in its sole discretion);

(c) if required by the General Partner, the General Partner receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the General Partner to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable laws; and

 

17


(d) if required by the General Partner, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Partnership’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Partnership).

SECTION 8.09  Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners . If a Limited Partner ceases to hold any Units, then such Limited Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership and shall cease to be a Limited Partner and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a Limited Partner.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

SECTION 9.01  No Dissolution . Except as required by the Act, Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Partners or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Partners hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any or all of the Partnership assets.

SECTION 9.02  Events Causing Dissolution . The Partnership shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the expiration of the term of the Partnership as provided in Section 2.03;

(b) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-802 of the Act upon the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that the General Partner (i) is permanently incapable of performing its part of this Agreement, (ii) has been guilty of conduct that is calculated to affect prejudicially the carrying on of the business of the Partnership, (iii) willfully or persistently commits a breach of this Agreement or (iv) conducts itself in a manner relating to the Partnership or its business such that it is not reasonably practicable for the other Partners to carry on the business of the Partnership with the General Partner;

(c) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Partnership to be carried on by the Partners;

(d) the written consent of all Partners;

(e) any other event not inconsistent with any provision hereof causing a dissolution of the Partnership under the Act;

(f) the Incapacity or removal of the General Partner or the occurrence of a Disabling Event with respect to the General Partner; provided that the Partnership will not be dissolved or required to be wound up in connection with any of the events specified in this Section 9.02(f) if: (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one other general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to, and elects to, carry on

 

18


the business of the Partnership; or (ii) all remaining Limited Partners consent to or ratify the continuation of the business of the Partnership and the appointment of another general partner of the Partnership, effective as of the event that caused the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership, within 90 days following the occurrence of any such event, which consent shall be deemed (and if requested each Limited Partner shall provide a written consent or ratification) to have been given for all Limited Partners if the holders of more than 50% of the Units then outstanding agree in writing to so continue the business of the Partnership.

SECTION 9.03  Distribution upon Dissolution . Upon dissolution, the Partnership shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Partnership is completed. Upon the winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner, or any other Person designated by the General Partner (the “ Liquidation Agent ”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Partnership and shall, unless the General Partner determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Partnership as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Partnership (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Partners and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Partnership (“ Contingencies ”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03; and

(b) The balance, if any, to the Partners, pro rata to each of the Partners in accordance with their Total Percentage Interests.

SECTION 9.04  Time for Liquidation . A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation.

SECTION 9.05  Termination . The Partnership shall terminate when all of the assets of the Partnership, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

SECTION 9.06  Claims of the Partners . The Partners shall look solely to the Partnership’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Partnership remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Partners shall have no recourse against the Partnership or any other Partner or any other Person. No Partner with a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Partnership or to the other

 

19


Partners or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of the Partnership, upon dissolution or termination of the Partnership or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.

SECTION 9.07  Survival of Certain Provisions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 11.09 shall survive the termination of the Partnership.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 10.01  Liability of Partners . (a) No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership or of any other Partner or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Partner of the Partnership, except to the extent required by the Act.

(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, the Partners hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by Law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Partnership are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement and those required by the Act.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to another Partner, the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Partnership or to any such other Partner for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Partners relating thereto (including without limitation, the General Partner).

(d) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors and any act or omission suffered or taken by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the interests of the Partnership in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or financial or other advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and the General Partner will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by

 

20


applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.

SECTION 10.02  Indemnification . (a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify any person (and such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Partnership or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was the legal representative, is or was a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership or, while a director, officer or agent of a Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) or the Partnership, is or was serving at the request of the Partnership as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such person’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(b) Advancement of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall promptly pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any person described in Section 10.02(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Partnership shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the General Partner.

(c) Unpaid Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 10.02(a) has been received by the Partnership, such person may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

21


(d) Insurance . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Partnership and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Partnership Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Partnership that indemnification of any person whom the Partnership is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Partnership” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Partnership which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.

This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01  Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually

 

22


acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

SECTION 11.02  Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.02):

(a) If to the Partnership, to:

Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecapital.com

(b) If to any Partner, to:

c/o Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecapital.com

(c) If to the General Partner, to:

Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: (213) 830-8545

Electronic Mail: tmolz@oaktreecapital.com

SECTION 11.03  Cumulative Remedies . The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.

SECTION 11.04  Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

 

23


SECTION 11.05  Interpretation . Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.06  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 11.06.

SECTION 11.07  Further Assurances . Each Limited Partner shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.08  Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

SECTION 11.09  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 11.10  Arbitration of Disputes . Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to (i) the Partnership, (ii) any Limited Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, (iii) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, (iv) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.10 and (v) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq . A party hereto may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other party or parties to the arbitration in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 3.1. The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with JAMS and with each other in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided , that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the parties to the arbitration shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The parties to the arbitration shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. Each party to the arbitration shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.10 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the parties to the arbitration.

 

24


No party to an arbitration shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided , that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed (i) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, (ii) two interrogatories, (iii) ten document requests and (iv) ten requests for admissions; provided , further , that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.10 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

The provisions of this Section 11.10 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10, including the existence and/or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided , that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided , further , that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If a party to an arbitration receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such party shall (i) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and (ii) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions, including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and (ii) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.10 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between parties to this Agreement that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

SECTION 11.11  Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Partnership shall be responsible for all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and

 

25


disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with its operation.

SECTION 11.12  Amendments and Waivers . (a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the General Partner; provided that any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any Class of Units in relation to other Classes of Units must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Total Percentage Interests of the Class affected; provided further , that the General Partner may, without the written consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (i) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership; (ii) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership; (iv) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the General Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; (v) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.

(c) The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, unilaterally amend this Agreement on or before the effective date of the final regulations to provide for (i) the election of a safe harbor under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(l) (or any similar provision) under which the fair market value of a partnership interest that is transferred is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest, (ii) an agreement by the Partnership and each of its Partners to comply with all of the requirements set forth in such regulations and Notice 2005-43 (and any other guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such election) with respect to all partnership interests transferred in connection with the performance of services while the election remains effective, (iii) the allocation of items of income, gains, deductions and losses required by the final regulations similar to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(b) and (c), and (iv) any other related amendments.

(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

 

26


SECTION 11.13  No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof).

SECTION 11.14  Headings . The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 11.15  Construction . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement and that it is the intent of the parties hereto that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of Law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.

SECTION 11.16  Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner, by its execution hereof, hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the General Partner as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been adopted as herein provided; (b) the original certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership and all amendments thereto required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Limited Partners have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Limited Partners) deemed advisable by the General Partner to carry out the provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 8.04) and Law or to permit the Partnership to become or to continue as a limited partnership or partnership wherein the Limited Partners have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Partnership may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the admission of additional Limited Partners or substituted Limited Partners pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the General Partner to effect the liquidation and termination of the Partnership; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Partnership’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Partnership.

SECTION 11.17  Partnership Status . The parties intend to treat the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
OAKTREE AIF HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/ S / T ODD M OLZ

  Name:   Todd Molz
  Title:   Vice President
By:  

/ S / R ICHARD T ING

  Name:   Richard Ting
  Title:   Vice President
LIMITED PARTNERS:
OAKTREE AIF HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/ S / T ODD M OLZ

  Name:   Todd Molz
  Title:   Vice President
By:  

/ S / R ICHARD T ING

  Name:   Richard Ting
  Title:   Vice President


OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP HOLDINGS, L.P.
By:   Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, its
  general partner
By:  

/ S / T ODD M OLZ

  Name:   Todd Molz
  Title:   Managing Director and General Counsel
By:  

/ S / R ICHARD T ING

  Name:   Richard Ting
  Title:   Managing Director and Associate General Counsel

Exhibit 10.10

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

January 7, 2011

among

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.,

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.,

OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P.,

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.,

The Lenders Party Hereto,

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender,

and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

and

HSBC SECURITIES (USA), INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Lead Bookrunners

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

and

HSBC BANK USA, N.A.,

as Co-Syndication Agents

$550,000,000 SENIOR UNSECURED

CREDIT FACILITIES

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

     1   

SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms

     1   

SECTION 1.2. Terms Generally

     26   

SECTION 1.3. Accounting Terms; GAAP

     26   

SECTION 1.4. Time

     26   

SECTION 1.5. Joint and Several Obligations

     26   

SECTION 1.6. Classification of Loans and Borrowings

     27   

ARTICLE II. THE CREDITS

     27   

SECTION 2.1. Commitments; Commitment Increase(s)

     27   

SECTION 2.2. Loans and Borrowings

     30   

SECTION 2.3. Requests for Borrowings

     31   

SECTION 2.4. Funding of Borrowings

     32   

SECTION 2.5. Interest Elections

     32   

SECTION 2.6. Termination and Reduction of Commitments

     34   

SECTION 2.7. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

     34   

SECTION 2.8. Prepayment of Loans

     35   

SECTION 2.9. Fees

     36   

SECTION 2.10. Interest

     36   

SECTION 2.11. Alternate Rate of Interest

     37   

SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs

     38   

SECTION 2.13. Break Funding Payments

     38   

SECTION 2.14. Taxes

     39   

SECTION 2.15. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

     41   

SECTION 2.16. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

     42   

SECTION 2.17. Letters of Credit

     43   

SECTION 2.18. Swing Line

     51   

SECTION 2.19. Notes

     55   

SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders

     56   

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     57   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 3.1. Organization; Powers

     58   

SECTION 3.2. Authorization; Enforceability

     58   

SECTION 3.3. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

     58   

SECTION 3.4. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

     58   

SECTION 3.5. Properties

     59   

SECTION 3.6. Litigation and Environmental Matters

     59   

SECTION 3.7. Compliance with Laws and Agreements

     59   

SECTION 3.8. Investment and Holding Company Status

     59   

SECTION 3.9. Taxes

     60   

SECTION 3.10. ERISA

     60   

SECTION 3.11. Disclosure

     60   

SECTION 3.12. No Default

     61   

SECTION 3.13. Subsidiaries

     61   

SECTION 3.14. Federal Regulations

     61   

SECTION 3.15. No Burdensome Restrictions

     61   

SECTION 3.16. Foreign Assets Control, Etc.

     61   

SECTION 3.17. Obligations to Rank Pari Passu

     62   

ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS

     62   

SECTION 4.1. Effective Date

     62   

SECTION 4.2. Each Credit Event

     63   

ARTICLE V. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     64   

SECTION 5.1. Financial Statements and Other Information

     64   

SECTION 5.2. Notices of Material Events

     66   

SECTION 5.3. Existence; Conduct of Business

     66   

SECTION 5.4. Payment of Obligations

     67   

SECTION 5.5. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance

     67   

SECTION 5.6. Books and Records; Inspection Rights

     67   

SECTION 5.7. Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations

     67   

SECTION 5.8. Use of Proceeds

     67   

SECTION 5.9. Environmental Laws

     68   

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

ARTICLE VI. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     68   

SECTION 6.1. Indebtedness

     68   

SECTION 6.2. Liens

     70   

SECTION 6.3. Fundamental Changes

     71   

SECTION 6.4. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions; Hedging Agreements

     72   

SECTION 6.5. Restricted Payments

     73   

SECTION 6.6. Transactions with Affiliates

     73   

SECTION 6.7. Restrictive Agreements; Negative Pledge Clauses

     74   

SECTION 6.8. Financial Condition Covenants

     74   

SECTION 6.9. Reserved

     74   

SECTION 6.10. Changes in Fiscal Periods

     75   

SECTION 6.11. Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments

     75   

ARTICLE VII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     75   

ARTICLE VIII. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     78   

SECTION 8.1. Appointment, Powers and Immunities

     78   

SECTION 8.2. Reliance by the Administrative Agent

     79   

SECTION 8.3. Defaults

     79   

SECTION 8.4. Indemnification

     79   

SECTION 8.5. Non-Reliance

     80   

SECTION 8.6. Resignation of the Administrative Agent

     80   

SECTION 8.7. Collateral Matters

     81   

SECTION 8.8. Performance of Conditions

     81   

SECTION 8.9. The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity

     81   

ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS

     82   

SECTION 9.1. Notices

     82   

SECTION 9.2. Waivers; Amendments

     83   

SECTION 9.3. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

     85   

SECTION 9.4. Successors and Assigns

     86   

SECTION 9.5. Survival

     90   

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 9.6. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

     90   

SECTION 9.7. Severability

     91   

SECTION 9.8. Right of Setoff

     91   

SECTION 9.9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

     91   

SECTION 9.10. No Third Party Rights

     92   

SECTION 9.11. Relationship of Parties

     92   

SECTION 9.12. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     92   

SECTION 9.13. Time

     93   

SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act

     93   

SECTION 9.15. Headings

     93   

SECTION 9.16. Confidentiality

     93   

SECTION 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation

     94   

SECTION 9.18. Waivers and Agreements of Borrowers

     94   

SECTION 9.19. Clarification

     95   

SCHEDULES :

Schedule 2.1 – Names, Addresses, Commitments, and Proportionate Shares of the Lenders

Schedule 3.6 – Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.13 – Subsidiaries

Schedule 6.1 – Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.2 – Existing Liens

Schedule 6.6 – Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 6.7 – Existing Restrictions

EXHIBITS :

Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B – Form of Legal Opinion of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Special Counsel to Borrower

Exhibit C-1 – Form of Report Under Section 5.1(e)(i)

Exhibit C-2 – Form of Report Under Section 5.1(e)(ii)

Exhibit D – Notice of Swing Line Borrowing

Exhibit E – Form of Revolving Loan Note

Exhibit F – Form of Term Loan Note

Exhibit G – Form of Swing Line Note

Exhibit H – Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit I – Form of Borrowing Request

 

-iv-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Exhibit J – Form of Interest Election Request

 

-v-


EXECUTION VERSION

CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 7, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), among OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (each a “ Borrower ” and collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), the LENDERS party hereto, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC (“ Wells Fargo Securities ”), MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED (“ MLPF&S ”) and HSBC SECURITIES (USA), INC. have each been given the titles of joint lead arranger and joint lead bookrunner in connection with this Agreement (in such capacity, collectively, the “ Joint Lead Arrangers ”) and Bank of America, N.A. (“ Bank of America ”) and HSBC Bank USA, N.A. have each been given the title of co-syndication agent in connection with this Agreement (in such capacity, the “ Co-Syndication Agents ”).

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders provide the credit facility set forth in this Agreement to the Borrowers, including the Revolving Loans, Term Loans Swing Line Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit; and

WHEREAS, each Borrower will directly and indirectly benefit from the financing provided to it and to each other Borrower pursuant to this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABR ” when used in reference to any Loan (or in the case of the Term Loans, a portion thereof) or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan (or portion thereof), or the Loans (or portion thereof) comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Acquired Portion ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.1(b)(v).

Administrative Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.


Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified; provided that for the purposes of Section 6.6, no member of Oaktree Operating Group shall be considered to be an “Affiliate” of any other member of the Oaktree Operating Group.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Alternate Base Rate ” means, on any day, the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the day immediately preceding such day plus one and one-half percent (1.50%) and (c) One Month LIBOR Rate for such day (determined on a daily basis as set forth below) plus one and one-half percent (1.50%). As used in this definition, “One Month LIBOR Rate” shall mean, with respect to any interest rate calculation for a Loan, a portion of a Loan, Borrowing or any other obligation of any Borrower under the Loan Documents bearing interest at the Alternate Base Rate, a rate per annum equal to the quotient (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest 1/100 of one percent) of (a) the rate per annum referred to as the BBA (British Bankers Association) LIBOR RATE as reported on Reuters LIBOR page 1, or if not reported by Reuters, as reported by any service selected by the Administrative Agent, on the applicable day (provided that if such day is not a Business Day for which a LIBOR Rate is quoted, the next preceding Business Day for which a LIBOR Rate is quoted) at or about 11:00 a.m., London time (or as soon thereafter as practicable), for dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank eurodollar currency market for a term of one month commencing on such date of determination, divided by (b) one minus the Reserve Requirement in effect on such day. If for any reason rates are not available as provided in clause (a) of the preceding sentence, the rate to be used in clause (a) shall be, at the Administrative Agent’s discretion (in each case, rounded upward if necessary to the nearest 1/100 of one percent), (i) the rate per annum at which dollar deposits are offered to the Administrative Agent in the London interbank eurodollar currency market or (ii) the rate at which dollar deposits are offered to the Administrative Agent in, or by the Administrative Agent to major banks in, any offshore interbank eurodollar market selected by the Administrative Agent, in each case on the applicable day (provided that if such day is not a Business Day for which dollar deposits are offered to or by the Administrative Agent in the London or such offshore interbank eurodollar currency market, the next preceding Business Day for which dollar deposits are offered to or by the Administrative Agent in the London or such offshore interbank eurodollar currency market) at or about 11:00 a.m., London time (or as soon thereafter as practicable) (for delivery on such date of determination) for a one month term.

Anti-Terrorism Law ” means each of: (a) the Executive Order; (b) the Patriot Act; (c) the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. Sect. 1956; and (d) any other Governmental Rule now or hereafter enacted to monitor, deter or otherwise prevent terrorism or the funding or support of terrorism.

Applicable Margin ” means, at any time when there is a Debt Rating (as defined below), (a) in the case of interest calculable with respect to each Eurodollar Loan, the percentage

 

2


set forth in the column headed “Eurodollar” opposite the applicable Tier level below, (b) in the case of interest calculable with respect to each ABR Loan, the percentage set forth below in the column headed “ABR” opposite the applicable Tier level below, and (c) in the case of the Commitment Fees, the percentage set forth in the column headed “Commitment Fees” opposite the applicable Tier level below:

 

Tier

  Debt Rating   Eurodollar     ABR     Commitment Fees  
I   ³ A     1.250     0.250     0.175
II   A-     1.500     0.500     0.200
III   BBB+     1.625     0.625     0.225
IV   £  BBB     2.000     1.000     0.250

Debt Rating ” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Fitch Ratings of the non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (along with its affiliates); provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one Tier, then the Tier for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Tier I being the highest and the Debt Rating for Tier IV being the lowest) and (b) if such Debt Ratings differ by more than one Tier, then the Tier that is one Tier above the Tier of the lower Debt Rating shall apply.

Initially the Applicable Margin shall be based on Tier II. The Applicable Margin shall be subject to adjustment (upwards or downwards, as appropriate), effective as of the date on which S&P or Fitch Ratings announces a change of Debt Rating that results in a change in the Applicable Margin.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time when there is no Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin for each of Eurodollar Loans, ABR Loans and Commitment Fees shall be determined pursuant to the following pricing grid:

 

Tier

  Combined Leverage Ratio   Eurodollar     ABR     Commitment Fees  
I   <1.00     1.250     0.250     0.175
II   > 1.00 <1.75     1.500     0.500     0.200
III   > 1.75 <2.25     1.625     0.625     0.225
IV   > 2.25     2.000     1.000     0.250

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Combined Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the fifth Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c) with respect to any fiscal quarter or fiscal year; provided that (x) during the period commencing on the date there is no Debt Rating (each, a “ Debt Rating Drop Date ”) until the fifth Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c)

 

3


with respect to the fiscal quarter or fiscal year in which such Debt Rating Drop Date occurs, Tier IV shall apply and (y) at any time when there is no Debt Rating, if no Compliance Certificate is delivered when due in accordance with Section 5.1(c), then Tier IV shall apply as of the date of the failure to deliver such Compliance Certificate until such date as the Borrowers deliver such Compliance Certificate and thereafter the Applicable Margin shall be based on the Combined Leverage Ratio indicated on such Compliance Certificate until such time as the Applicable Margin is further adjusted as set forth in this definition. At any time when there is no Debt Rating, if the Combined Leverage Ratio reported in any Compliance Certificate shall be determined to have been incorrectly reported and if correctly reported would have resulted in a higher Applicable Margin, then the Applicable Margin shall be retroactively adjusted to reflect the higher rate that would have been applicable had the Combined Leverage Ratio been correctly reported in such Compliance Certificate and the additional amounts resulting therefrom shall be due and payable within two (2) Business Days of written notice therefor from the Administrative Agent or any Lender (the Borrowers’ obligations to pay such additional amounts shall survive the payment and performance of all other Obligations and the termination of this Agreement). At any time when there is no Debt Rating, if the Combined Leverage Ratio reported in any Compliance Certificate shall be determined to have been incorrectly reported and if correctly reported would have resulted in a lower Applicable Margin and such determination is made within ninety (90) days after the delivery of such Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 5.1(c) (and notice thereof has been provided to the Administrative Agent within such ninety (90) day period), then the Applicable Margin shall be retroactively adjusted to reflect the lower rate that would have been applicable had the Combined Leverage Ratio been correctly reported in such Compliance Certificate, and any excess interest paid by the Borrowers to the Lenders resulting from such incorrect reporting of the Combined Leverage Ratio shall be refunded to the Borrowers within two (2) Business Days of receipt by the applicable Lender or Lenders of written demand therefor from the Borrowers (the Lenders’ obligations to refund such excess amounts shall survive the termination of this Agreement).

Assets Under Management ” means the Net Asset Value of all investment funds and accounts managed by any member of the Oaktree Operating Group or their respective subsidiaries plus the amount of any undrawn capital that may be called from investors in such investment funds pursuant to the capital commitments of such investors to such investment funds. As used in this definition, “ Net Asset Value ” means, as of any date, the value of all assets of an investment fund or account (including cash and accrued interest and dividends) less all liabilities of such investment fund or account (including accrued expenses and any reserves established for contingent liabilities).

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.

Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.4), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Debt ” means, in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction entered into by a Borrower or any Subsidiary of a Borrower, at the time of determination, the present value of the total obligation of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the

 

4


lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the sole option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America (or any successor).

Borrower ” and “ Borrowers ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Borrowing ” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, (b) Term Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (c) a Swing Line Loan.

Borrowing Request ” means a request by a Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3 in the form of Exhibit I .

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or Los Angeles are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “ Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) that should be capitalized under GAAP on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , that for purposes of this definition of Capital Lease Obligations, capital leases shall be determined based upon GAAP as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, partnership, membership or other interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

5


Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and/or the Lenders, as applicable, as collateral subject to a first priority security interest securing the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, cash or deposit account balances in an amount equal to the L/C Obligations, obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans or obligations of a Defaulting Lender, as applicable, pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term shall have a corresponding meaning.

Change in Control ” means (a) the acquisition of direct or indirect beneficial ownership by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of Capital Stock representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of any Borrower; or (b) the acquisition of Control of any Borrower by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof); other than, in the case of (a) or (b), by (i) any beneficial owner as of the Effective Date of ControlCo, (ii) any officer, employee or principal of any member of the Oaktree Operating Group or any of their respective Subsidiaries that is an equity holder of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC or ControlCo on the Effective Date or is admitted as an equity holder of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC or ControlCo after the Effective Date in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) any holding company or intermediate entity that is beneficially owned and controlled by any Person identified in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).

Change in Law ” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.12(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided , however , for purposes of this Agreement and to the extent permitted by applicable laws, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, guidelines or directives in connection therewith are deemed to have gone into effect and adopted after the date of this Agreement.

Charges ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.17.

Class ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Term Loans or Swing Line Loans.

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

Combined EBITDA ” means, for any period, Combined Net Income for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Combined Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) income tax expense, (b) Combined Interest

 

6


Expense, (c) amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness (including the Loans), (d) depreciation and amortization expense, (e) amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs, (f) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Combined Net Income for such period, non-cash losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business); provided that the amounts referred to in this clause (f) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $4,000,000 for any fiscal year of the Borrowers, and (g) any other non-cash charges, including non-cash charges resulting from the vesting or issuance of equity to employees, principals or others, and minus, without duplication and to the extent included as income or gain in the statement of such Combined Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Combined Net Income for such period, non-cash gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business) and (b) any other non-cash income, all as determined on a combined basis; provided that the contribution to Combined EBITDA of a Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary shall be calculated in proportion to the Borrowers’ aggregate direct or indirect economic interests in such Subsidiary. For the purposes of calculating Combined EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “ Reference Period ”) pursuant to any determination of the Combined Leverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Combined EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Combined EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Combined EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Combined EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. As used in this definition, “ Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes assets comprising in excess of 51% of an operating unit of a business or constitutes in excess of 51% of the common stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries in excess of $100,000,000; and “ Material Disposition ” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to one or more of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries in excess of $100,000,000.

Combined Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, for any period, the ratio of (a) Combined EBITDA for such period to (b) the sum of (i) Combined Interest Expense for such period plus (ii) payments of principal on Indebtedness scheduled to be paid during such period; provided that that the calculation made pursuant to clause (b) shall exclude (x) the scheduled principal payment with respect to the Term Loans on the Term Loan Maturity Date and (y) the scheduled principal payment with respect to any private placement of debt by any Borrower on the final maturity date thereof.

Combined Interest Expense ” means, for any period, the aggregate interest expense (including interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Borrowers

 

7


and their respective Subsidiaries for such period in accordance with GAAP (without any deduction for any interest income of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries).

Combined Leverage Ratio ” means, as at the last day of any period, the ratio of (a) Combined Total Debt on such day to (b) Combined EBITDA for such period.

Combined Net Income ” means, for any period, the combined net income (or loss) of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of any Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with any Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of any of the Borrowers) in which any Borrower or any Subsidiary has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Borrowers to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation, Organizational Document or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

Combined Net Worth ” means at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be included on a combined statement of financial condition of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries under partners’ capital at such date without giving effect to any non-cash charges resulting from the vesting or issuance of equity to employees, principals or others.

Combined Total Debt ” means, at any date, the combined principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment or Term Loan Commitment (as the context requires).

Commitment Fees ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.9(a).

Communications ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 9.1(b).

Confidential Information ” means information delivered to any Lender or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of any Borrower pursuant to the Loan Documents or otherwise related to the Loans that is non-public or proprietary in nature; provided; however, that such term does not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to the receiving party prior to the time of such disclosure, other than from a source having or appearing to have breached its duties or obligations to any Borrower or its Affiliates by such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by the receiving party or any person acting on its behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to the receiving party other than through disclosure by any Borrower or from a source not having and not appearing to have breached its duties or obligations to any Borrower or its Affiliates by such disclosure or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Section 5.1 that are otherwise publicly available. For this purpose, it is understood that

 

8


disclosure of information through the GSTrUE trading platform (and any successor platform) to Persons who agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information by means of a “click-through” confidentiality agreement or similar agreement shall not constitute public disclosure.

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

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 ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

ControlCo ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Co-Syndication Agents ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. The capacity of the Co-Syndication Agents is titular in nature, and neither Co-Syndication Agent shall have any special rights or obligations over those of a Lender by reason thereof.

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, and all other applicable liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Governmental Rules from time to time in effect affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Decreasing Lender ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.1(b)(v).

Default ” means any event or condition which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.20(f), any Lender that has at any time (a) failed to fund its portion of any amount required to be funded by it under this Agreement and has continued in such failure for one Business Day after written notice from the Administrative Agent, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (b) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day after the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, (c) been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or that is a subsidiary or Affiliate of any Person that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, (d) defaulted in fulfilling its monetary or other material obligations under one or more other credit facilities in which it is a lender or become a “defaulting lender” (or equivalent designation) thereunder, (e) notified any Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender or party in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or under other credit facilities or (f) failed within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent to confirm in writing that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund any Borrowing; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any

 

9


equity interest by a Governmental Authority in such Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof.

Designated Deposit Account ” means a deposit account to be maintained by the Borrowers with the Administrative Agent, as from time to time designated by the Borrowers by written notification to the Administrative Agent.

Designated Person ” means any Person who (a) is named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and/or any other similar lists maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control pursuant to authorizing statute, executive order or regulation, (b) (i) is a Person whose property or interest in property is blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of the Executive Order or any related legislation or any other similar executive order(s) or (ii) engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by Section 2 of the Executive Order or is otherwise associated with any such Person in any manner violative of Section 2 of the Executive Order or (c)(i) is an agency of the government of a country, (ii) an organization controlled by a country, or (iii) a Person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or as otherwise published from time to time, as such program may be applicable to such agency, organization or Person.

Disclosed Matters ” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.6.

dollars ” (whether or not capitalized) or “ $ ” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Downgraded Lender ” means any Lender that has a non-investment grade rating from S&P or another nationally recognized rating agency.

Effective Amount ” means (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, Term Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to (i) any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans, Term Loans and Swing Line Loans and (ii) with respect to Swing Line Loans, any risk participation amongst the Lenders, as the case may be, occurring or deemed to occur on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Effective Date ” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.1 shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.2), which date is the date of this Agreement.

Eligible Assignee ” means (a) any Lender and any Affiliate of any Lender; and (b) a Person that is (i) a commercial bank, savings and loan association or savings bank organized under the laws of the United States of America, or any state thereof, and having a

 

10


combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000,000, or (ii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the “OECD”), or a political subdivision of any such country, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000,000; provided that (a) such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which it is organized or another country which is also a member of the OECD, and (b) if such bank is not currently a Lender, such bank’s (or such bank’s parent’s) senior unsecured long term indebtedness must be rated BBB or higher by S&P or Baa2 or higher by Moody’s. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include (x) any Borrower or any Affiliate of any Borrower, (y) any natural person or (z) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person which, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (z).

Environmental Laws ” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters relating to the environment.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by any Borrower or any Borrower’s ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by any Borrower or any Borrower’s ERISA Affiliates of any liability

 

11


with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by any Borrower or any Borrower’s ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Borrower or any Borrower’s ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

Eurodollar ”, when used in reference to any Loan (or in the case of the Term Loans, any portion thereof) or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan (or portion thereof), or the Loans (or portion thereof) comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate.

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

Evergreen Letter of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(b)(iii).

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder, (a) income or franchise Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by any other jurisdiction, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction, (c) any withholding Tax that is attributable to any U.S. Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.14(f), and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender that is in effect at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability to comply with Section 2.14(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from any Borrower with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.14(a).

Executive Order ” means Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financings:—Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism issued on 23rd September, 2001.

Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 6, 2008, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., Oaktree Capital I, L.P., the lenders party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.

FASB ASC ” shall mean the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next

 

12


preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letters ” mean, collectively, (i) the letter agreement dated as of December 1, 2010 between the Borrowers, Wells Fargo Securities, MLPF&S, the Administrative Agent and Bank of America regarding certain fees payable by the Borrowers to Wells Fargo Securities and MLPF&S as expressly indicated therein, (ii) the letter agreement dated as of December 1, 2010 between the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Securities regarding certain fees payable by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent as expressly indicated therein and (iii) any other fee letter, engagement letter, mandate letter or commitment letter executed by on or more of the Borrowers and any of the Administrative Agent, the Co-Syndication Agents or the Joint Lead Arrangers in connection with this Agreement.

Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of any of the Borrowers.

Forecast ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(d).

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrowers are located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, except any requirement for the consolidation of investment funds advised or managed by the Borrowers and other entities that may be required by FASB ASC 810-20 or similar and subsequent authoritative accounting pronouncements.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or government or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Governmental Authorization ” means any permit, license, registration, approval, finding of suitability, authorization, plan, directive, order, consent, exemption, waiver, consent order or consent decree of or from, or notice to, action by or filing with, any Governmental Authority.

Governmental Rule ” means any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, code interpretation, judgment, decree, directive, Governmental Authorization, guidelines, policy or similar form of decision of any Governmental Authority.

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “ guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other similar obligation of any other Person (the “ primary

 

13


obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other similar obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any obligation under a Guarantee shall be deemed equal to the stated or determinable amount of the guarantor’s obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or if indeterminable, the guarantor’s maximum liability in respect thereof.

Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedging Agreement ” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement.

Honor Date ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.17(c)(i).

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.1(b)(iv).

Increasing Lenders ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.1(b)(i).

Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or payment obligations with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all payment obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, representing an extension of credit to such Person, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all payment obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, but only to the extent of the fair market value of the assets subject to such Lien, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of reimbursement for draws under letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances and (k) net liabilities of such Person under

 

14


Hedging Agreements. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any general partnership and any other entity under which the equity owners of such entity do not have limited liability, in each case, to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Interest Election Request ” means a request by the Borrowers to convert or continue a Revolving Loan in accordance with Section 2.5.

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, each Quarterly Payment Date and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

Interest Period ” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months or one week or two weeks thereafter (or, in the case of the initial Eurodollar Term Loan Borrowing on the Effective Date, the initial Interest Period shall commence on the date of such Borrowing and end on January 31, 2011), as the Borrowers may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, with respect to an Interest Period of one month or greater, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period with respect to any Interest Period of one month or greater that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (c) (i) any Interest Period for any Revolving Loan that would otherwise extend beyond the Revolving Loan Maturity Date shall end on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date and (ii) any Interest Period for any Term Loan that would otherwise extend beyond the Term Loan Maturity Date shall end on the Term Loan Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Joint Lead Arrangers ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. Except as expressly set forth in Section 9.3, the capacity of the Joint Lead Arrangers is titular in nature, and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have no special rights or obligations over those of a Lender by reason thereof.

L/C Advance ” means with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its L/C Risk Participation therein.

 

15


L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced or deemed refinanced as a Revolving Loan.

L/C Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof, the amendment thereof, the extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Issuer ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

L/C Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.

L/C Risk Participation ” means, with respect to any Lender and any Letter of Credit as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share of the Effective Amount of the L/C Obligation attributable to such Letter of Credit outstanding at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Proportionate Shares of the Effective Amount of the L/C Obligation attributable to such Letter of Credit outstanding at such time that have been reallocated to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.20(d).

Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.1 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance in accordance with Section 9.4 or pursuant to Section 2.1(b), other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance; provided that Lenders shall also include the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (unless the context requires otherwise).

Letter of Credit ” means any of the standby letters of credit issued by the L/C Issuer under this Agreement, either as originally issued or as the same may be supplemented, modified, amended, extended, restated or supplanted.

Letter of Credit Application ” means an application and agreement (including any master letter of credit agreement) for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is thirty (30) days prior to the Revolving Loan Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the aggregate amount of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment.

LIBOR Rate ” means, with respect to any Interest Period for the Eurodollar Loans in any Eurodollar Borrowing, a rate per annum equal to the quotient of (a) the rate per annum appearing referred to as the BBA (British Bankers Association) LIBOR RATE as set

 

16


forth by any service selected by the Administrative Agent which has been nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates on the second Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period at or about 11:00 a.m., London time (or as soon thereafter as practicable), for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one minus the Reserve Requirement for such Loans in effect from time to time. If for any reason rates are not available as provided in clause (a) of the preceding sentence, the rate to be used in clause (a) shall be, at the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, (i) the rate per annum at which dollar deposits are offered to the Administrative Agent in the London interbank eurodollar currency market or (ii) the rate at which dollar deposits are offered to the Administrative Agent in, or by the Administrative Agent to major banks in, any offshore interbank eurodollar market selected by the Administrative Agent, in each case on the second Business Day prior to the commencement of such Interest Period at or about 11:00 a.m., London time, for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period and in an amount approximately equal to the amount of the Loan to be made or funded by the Administrative Agent as part of such Borrowing. The LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted automatically as to all Eurodollar Loans then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the Reserve Requirement.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Loan ” means a loan made by the Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement.

Loan Documents ” means and includes this Agreement, the Notes, each Letter of Credit Application, each Borrowing Request, each Notice of Swing Line Borrowing, each Interest Election Request, each notice of continuation or conversion, the Fee Letters, and all other documents, instruments and agreements delivered by any Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document on or after the date of this Agreement, including any amendments, consents or waivers, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, property, operations or financial condition of the Borrowers and all of their respective Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other material Loan Document, or (c) the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder.

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of each

 

17


Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that such Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

Material Subsidiary ” of the Borrowers means, at any time, any Subsidiary of any Borrower having or accounting for (a) assets with a value of not less than 5% of the total value of the aggregate assets of all the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) Combined EBITDA of not less than 5% of the Combined EBITDA of all of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as at the last day of any period for four consecutive fiscal quarters of such Borrower.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.17.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

New Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(ii).

Nonrenewal Notice Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(b)(iii).

Note ” means a Revolving Loan Note, Term Loan Note or a Swing Line Note.

Notice ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 9.1(b).

Notice of Swing Line Borrowing ” means a notice of Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.18(b), which if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

Oaktree Operating Group ” means a collective reference to Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.

Organizational Document ” means, as to any Person, the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement or other organization or governing documents of such Person.

Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.

Patriot Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (commonly known as the USA Patriot Act).

 

18


PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Permitted Encumbrances ” means:

(a) Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.4;

(b) landlords’, bankers’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.4;

(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(e) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of any Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

(f) any interest or title of a lessor under any equipment lease entered into by any Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the equipment so leased.

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof), in each case maturing within five years from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b) (i) investments in commercial paper having, at the date of acquisition thereof, one of the highest two credit ratings obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s, (ii) investments in corporate, asset-backed and municipal and other governmental debt securities and preferred securities (excluding convertible securities) that are freely tradeable in the financial markets of the U.S. (other than under Rule 144A), maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a credit rating of at least BBB- from S&P or Baa3 (or, in the case of preferred securities, baa3) from Moody’s, and (iii) investments, in an aggregate amount not in excess of $50,000,000 at any one time, in any securities based on municipal bonds that are freely tradeable in the financial markets of the U.S. (other than under

 

19


Rule 144A), maturing within 30 years from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a credit rating of at least AAA- from S&P or Aaa from Moody’s;

(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of, or licensed to conduct a banking or trust business in, the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clauses (a) through (c) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;

(e) not more than an aggregate of $600,000,000 in any four consecutive fiscal quarters of funded investments in (A) investment companies or funds in either case advised or managed by one or more of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries or an unrelated third party or (B) investments intended for sale to investment companies or funds advised or managed by one or more of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

(f) not more than an aggregate of $800,000,000 during the term of this Agreement of repurchases of the Capital Stock of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, ControlCo or any of their respective subsidiaries so long as at the time of any such repurchase, no Default or Event of Default has occurred or would result therefrom; provided that in no event shall the repurchases of such Capital Stock in any four consecutive fiscal quarter period exceed $300,000,000;

(g) funded investments in investment companies or funds the assets of which principally consist of obligations and securities of the types referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (d) above; and

(h) investments in Persons engaged in a similar line of business as a Borrower or a Subsidiary of a Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 invested during any twelve (12) consecutive month period.

Permitted Note Financing ” means senior notes issued and/or guaranteed by any Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $550,000,000 at any time outstanding, including (a) $75,000,000 aggregate principal of senior notes issued under the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2001, by and between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and each of the Purchasers listed in Schedule A thereto, as amended; (b) $75,000,000 aggregate principal of senior notes issued under the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2004, by and between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and each of the Purchasers listed in Schedule A thereto, as amended; (c) $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior notes issued under the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2006, by and between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and each of the Purchasers listed in Schedule A thereto, as amended; (d) $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior notes issued under the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2006 by and between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and each of the Purchasers listed in Schedule A thereto, as amended; (e) $250,000,000 aggregate

 

20


principal of senior notes issued under the Indenture, dated November 24, 2009, by and among Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., ControlCo, Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, Oaktree Capital I, L.P., Oaktree Capital II, L.P., Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, as amended; and (f) senior notes to be issued and/or guaranteed after the Effective Date by any Borrower.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Platform ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 9.1(b).

Prime Rate ” means the per annum rate of interest most recently announced by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association at its principal office in San Francisco, California as its Prime Rate, with the understanding that Wells Fargo Bank, National Association’s Prime Rate is one of its base rates and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or publications as Wells Fargo Bank, National Association may designate. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate resulting from a change in the Prime Rate shall become effective on the Business Day on which each such change in the Prime Rate is announced by Wells Fargo, National Association.

Quarterly Payment Date ” means the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December.

Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.

Related Party ” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of (i) the Revolving Credit Exposures, (ii) the unused Revolving Loan Commitments plus (iii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans (or if the Term Loans shall not yet have been made, the Total Term Loan Commitment), excluding from such sum the aggregate amount held by Defaulting Lenders, in each case determined at such time; provided that Required Lenders shall comprise no less than two such Lenders that are not Affiliates of one another, unless (x) all Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders are Affiliates of one another or (y) there is only one Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender, at such time.

 

21


Requirement of Law ” means, as to any Person, any law, treaty, rule or regulation or order or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Reserve Requirement ” means, with respect to any day in an Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan and for any calculation of the One Month LIBOR Rate, the aggregate of the maximum of the reserve requirement rates (expressed as a decimal) in effect on such day for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board) maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. As used herein, the term “reserve requirement” shall include, without limitation, any basic, supplemental or emergency reserve requirements imposed on any Lender by the Board.

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to each Borrower or its Subsidiaries, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, managing director, vice president, principal accounting officer, treasurer, controller, assistant treasurer, assistant secretary or secretary of such Borrower or Subsidiary. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Borrower or Subsidiary and any request or other communication conveyed telephonically or otherwise by a Responsible Officer of a Borrower or Subsidiary (or any individual reasonably believed by the Administrative Agent to be such Responsible Officer) shall be presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Borrower or Subsidiary and such Responsible Officer (or such individual reasonably believed by the Administrative Agent to be such Responsible Officer) shall be presumed to have acted on behalf of such Borrower or Subsidiary.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) on account of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such shares of Capital Stock of any Borrower or of any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such shares of Capital Stock of any Borrower.

Revolving Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and participations in Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations at such time.

Revolving Lender ” means at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Loan Commitment at such time or, if the Revolving Loan Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.

Revolving Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(ii).

Revolving Loan Commitment ” means with respect to each Revolving Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.6, (b) reduced or

 

22


increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.4 and (c) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.1(b). The initial amount of each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1, and/or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Loan Commitment, as applicable.

Revolving Loan Maturity Date ” means January 7, 2014.

Revolving Loan Note ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(a).

Revolving Proportionate Share ” means:

(a) With respect to any Lender so long as the Revolving Loan Commitments are in effect, the ratio (expressed as a percentage rounded to the eighth digit to the right of the decimal point) of (i) such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment at such time to (ii) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time; and

(b) With respect to any Lender at any other time, the ratio (expressed as a percentage rounded to the eighth digit to the right of the decimal point) of (i) the sum of (A) the aggregate Effective Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans, (B) such Lender’s pro rata share of the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations, and (C) such Lender’s pro rata share of the aggregate Effective Amount of all Swing Line Loans to (ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans and (B) the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations.

The initial Revolving Proportionate Share of each Lender is set forth under the caption “Revolving Proportionate Share” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s.

subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary of the Borrowers other than any investment fund or any subsidiary thereof that is managed by any Borrower or any Subsidiary.

Swing Line ” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.18.

Swing Line Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan.

 

23


Swing Line Lender ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan ” means the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

Swing Line Note ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(c).

Swing Line Risk Participation ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender and any Swing Line Loan as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share of the Effective Amount of such Swing Line Loan outstanding at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Proportionate Shares of the Effective Amount of such Swing Line Loan outstanding at such time that have been reallocated to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.20(d).

Swing Line Settlement Date ” means the fifteenth day of each month and the last Business Day of each month.

Swing Line Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $20,000,000 and (b) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Total Revolving Loan Commitment.

Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Term Lender ” means a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

Term Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i).

Term Loan Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Term Loan hereunder on the Effective Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loans to be made by such Lender hereunder. The amount of each Lender’s Term Loan Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1.

Term Loan Maturity Date ” means January 7, 2016.

Term Loan Note ” has the meaning given to that term in Section 2.19(b).

Term Proportionate Share ” means:

(a) With respect to any Lender at any time on or prior to the Effective Date, the ratio (expressed as a percentage rounded to the eighth digit to the right side of the decimal point) of (i) such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment at such time to (ii) the Total Term Loan Commitment at such time; and

(b) With respect to any Lender at any time after the Effective Date, the ratio (expressed as a percentage rounded to the eighth digit to the right of the decimal point) of (i) the

 

24


Effective Amount of such Lender’s Term Loan outstanding at such time to (ii) the Effective Amount of all Term Loans outstanding at such time.

The initial Term Proportionate Share of each Lender is set forth under the caption “Term Proportionate Share” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1.

Total Lender Risk Participation ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) such Lender’s L/C Risk Participations in all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time plus (b) such Lender’s Swing Line Risk Participations in all Swing Line Loans outstanding at such time.

Total Revolving Loan Commitment ” means, at any time, Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000) or, if such amount is reduced pursuant to Section 2.6 or Article VII, the amount to which so reduced and in effect at such time, or, if such amount is increased pursuant to Section 2.1(b), the amount to which so increased and in effect at such time.

Total Term Loan Commitment ” means, at any time, Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000) or, if such amount is reduced pursuant to Section 2.6, the amount to which so reduced and in effect at such time.

Transactions ” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans, the incurrence of obligations in respect of L/C Obligations and the use of the proceeds thereof.

Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

Unfunded Pension Liability ” means the excess of a pension plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that pension plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the pension plan pursuant to Section 412 of the IRC for the applicable plan year.

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(c)(i).

Unused Commitment ” means, at any time, the remainder of (a) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time minus (b) the sum of the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans and the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time. For the avoidance of doubt, Swing Line Loans shall not be counted as Revolving Loans for purposes of determining the amount of Unused Commitment.

U.S. Lender ” means a Lender other than a Foreign Lender.

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

25


SECTION 1.2. Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.3. Accounting Terms; GAAP . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that if the Borrowers notify the Administrative Agent that any provision hereof requires amendment to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers that any provision hereof requires amendment for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice is withdrawn or such provision is amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness and other liabilities of the Borrowers shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and, to the extent applicable, the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded. If generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time, is generally supplanted by the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, or if such standards exist as an alternative to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and the Borrowers select such standards, and such adoption or such selection would alter the application of any provision of this Agreement, then such adoption or selection shall be treated as a “change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP” for purposes of the foregoing sentence.

SECTION 1.4. Time . All references in this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to a time of day shall mean Los Angeles, California time, unless otherwise indicated.

SECTION 1.5. Joint and Several Obligations . Each of the Borrowers agrees that its obligations and liabilities under this Agreement and all other Loan Documents are joint and

 

26


several obligations. Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it receives a benefit from the availability of credit under this Agreement to itself and to each other Borrower.

SECTION 1.6. Classification of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan Borrowing”).

ARTICLE II.

THE CREDITS

SECTION 2.1. Commitments; Commitment Increase(s) .

(a) Commitments .

(i) Term Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender agrees to make a Term Loan to the Borrowers on the Effective Date in an amount equal to its Term Loan Commitment.

(ii) Revolving Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period; provided , however , that (i) the sum of (A) the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans made by such Lender outstanding as of any date of determination and (B) such Lender’s Total Lender Risk Participation at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment at such time and (ii) the sum of (A) the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans made by all the Lenders outstanding as of any date of determination and (B) the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans outstanding at such time shall not exceed the Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans until the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.

(b) Optional Increase .

(i) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below, Borrowers may, at any time before the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, increase the Total Revolving Loan Commitment; provided that:

(A) after giving effect to the requested increase, the aggregate amount of the increases in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.1(b)(i) shall not exceed $50,000,000;

(B) prior to the date of any proposed increase, the Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall not have been decreased pursuant to Section 2.6;

 

27


(C) all required third party consents and approvals shall have been obtained;

(D) each such increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall be equal to at least $10,000,000 plus an integral multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof;

(E) the aggregate number of increases in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment made during the term of this Agreement does not exceed three (3);

(F) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall occur as a result of such increase; and

(G) the Borrowers shall have executed and delivered such documents and instruments and taken such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in connection with any such increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment (new or amended Notes, any related fee letters, documents evidencing the increased Revolving Loan Commitment held by any applicable Lender, any joinder agreements related to a new Lender, resolutions regarding the increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment and related actions taken by Borrowers and certified as true and correct by a Responsible Officer and legal opinions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

Any request under this Section 2.1(b) shall be submitted by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly forward copies to the Lenders), specify the proposed effective date and amount of such increase and be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that no Default or Event of Default exists or will occur as a result of such increase. If the Borrowers determine to pay or offer any fees in connection with such increase, the Administrative Agent in such notice (with the consent of the Borrowers) may also specify any fees offered to those Lenders (the “ Increasing Lenders ”) that agree to increase the amount of their respective Revolving Loan Commitment, which fees may be variable based upon the amount by which any such Lender is willing to increase the amount of its Revolving Loan Commitment; no Lender that is not an Increasing Lender shall be entitled to receive any such fees. No Lender shall have any obligation, express or implied, to offer to increase the amount of its Revolving Loan Commitment. No consent of the Lenders or Administrative Agent shall be required for an increase in the amount of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.1(b), other than the consent of each Increasing Lender, if any. No Lender that elects not to increase the amount of its Revolving Loan Commitment may be replaced in respect of its existing Revolving Loan Commitment solely as a result of such election without such Lender’s written consent.

(ii) Each Increasing Lender shall, as soon as practicable after the Borrowers have submitted a request under Section 2.1(b)(i), specify the amount of the proposed increase in its Revolving Loan Commitment that it is willing to offer. To the extent the increased Revolving Loan Commitment offered by the Increasing Lenders is insufficient or there are no Increasing Lenders, the Borrowers may designate new lenders that qualify

 

28


as Eligible Assignees and that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as additional Lenders hereunder in accordance with this Section 2.1(b)(ii) (each such new Lender being a “ New Lender ”), which New Lender may assume all or a portion of the increase in the amount of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment. To the extent agreed by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall pay a fee to the Administrative Agent solely for the account of the Administrative Agent in connection any such increase. The Borrowers in consultation with the Administrative Agent shall have discretion to adjust the allocation of the increased amount of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment among Increasing Lenders and New Lenders.

(iii) Each New Lender designated by the Borrowers and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent shall become an additional party hereto as a New Lender concurrently with the effectiveness of the proposed increase in the amount of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment upon its execution of an instrument of joinder (which may contain such modifications to this Agreement and terms and conditions relating thereto as may be necessary to ensure that such New Lender’s commitments to lend are treated as Revolving Loan Commitments for all purposes under the Loan Documents), in each case prepared by the Administrative Agent and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

(iv) Subject to the foregoing, any increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment requested by Borrowers shall be effective as of the date proposed by Borrowers (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) and shall be in the principal amount equal to (A) the aggregate amount by which the Increasing Lenders offered to increase the amount of their Revolving Loan Commitments, plus (B) the aggregate amount offered by the New Lenders, in either case as adjusted by Borrowers and the Administrative Agent pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.1(b)(ii).

(v) On or prior to the Increase Effective Date, with respect to any increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount required to be paid by or to such Lender so that the Revolving Loans held by the Lenders on the Increase Effective Date (before giving effect to any new Revolving Loans made on such date) shall be held by each Lender pro rata in accordance with the Revolving Loan Commitments of the Lenders as adjusted pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.1(b)(ii). Each Lender that is required to reduce the amount of Revolving Loans held by it (each such Lender, a “ Decreasing Lender ”) shall irrevocably assign, without recourse or warranty of any kind whatsoever (except that each Decreasing Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Revolving Loans assigned by it under this Section 2.1(b)(v) and that such Revolving Loans are held by such Decreasing Lender free and clear of adverse claims), to each Increasing Lender and New Lender participating in the applicable increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment, and each applicable Increasing Lender and New Lender shall irrevocably acquire from the Decreasing Lenders, a portion of the principal amount of the Revolving Loans of each Decreasing Lender (collectively, the “ Acquired Portion ”) outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (before giving effect to any new Revolving Loans made on such date) in an amount such that the principal amount of the Revolving Loans held by each applicable Increasing Lender, New Lender and Decreasing Lender as

 

29


of the Increase Effective Date shall be held in accordance with each such Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share (if any) as of such date (after giving effect to the increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment). Such assignment and acquisition shall be effective on the Increase Effective Date automatically and without any action required on the part of any party other than the payment by the applicable Increasing Lenders and New Lenders to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Decreasing Lenders of an aggregate amount equal to the Acquired Portion, which amount shall be allocated and paid by the Administrative Agent at or before 12:00 p.m. on the Increase Effective Date to the Decreasing Lenders pro rata based upon the respective reductions in the principal amount of the Revolving Loans held by such Lenders on the Increase Effective Date (before giving effect to any new Revolving Loans made on such date). Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall adjust its records accordingly to reflect the payment of the Acquired Portion. The payments to be made in respect of the Acquired Portion shall be made by the applicable Increasing Lenders and New Lenders to the Administrative Agent in dollars in immediately available funds at or before 11:00 a.m. on the Increase Effective Date, such payments to be made by the applicable Increasing Lenders and New Lenders pro rata based upon the respective increases in the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitments held by such Lenders on the Increase Effective Date (after giving effect to the increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment).

(vi) To the extent any of the Revolving Loans acquired by the applicable Increasing Lenders and New Lenders from the Decreasing Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(v) above are Eurodollar Loans and the Increase Effective Date is not the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loans, the Decreasing Lenders shall be entitled to compensation from the Borrowers as provided in Section 2.13 (as if the Borrowers had prepaid such Revolving Loans in an amount equal to the Acquired Portion on the Increase Effective Date); provided, that such Decreasing Lender shall not be entitled to such compensation unless such Decreasing Lender shall have used its reasonable commercial efforts to assign Revolving Loans of a Type other than Eurodollar Loans to the applicable Increasing Lenders and New Lenders.

SECTION 2.2. Loans and Borrowings . (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Revolving Loan Commitments. Each Term Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Term Loans made by the Term Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Term Loan Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required (except as a result of a reallocation of a Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share of the Effective Amount of L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.20(d)).

(b) Subject to Section 2.11, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrowers may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan, provided that any exercise of such option shall not

 

30


affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Loan shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of, and not less than, $1,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Loan shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Loan Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire Unused Commitment. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of seven Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, (i) the Borrowers shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Revolving Loan Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving Loan Maturity Date and (ii) the Borrowers shall not be entitled to elect to convert or continue any Term Loan Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Term Loan Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.3. Requests for Borrowings . To request a Revolving Loan Borrowing or Term Loan Borrowing, the Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m. one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Term Loan Borrowings shall initially be Eurodollar Borrowings with an initial Interest Period of the duration set forth in the definition of Interest Period; provided that for any Eurodollar Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date, the Borrowers shall have provided prior to or concurrently with their telephonic Borrowing Request an indemnification letter for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any costs incurred as set forth in Section 2.13 hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or e-mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request substantially in the form of Exhibit I and signed by the Borrowers. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

(i) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;

(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(iv) with respect to Borrowings on the Effective Date, whether such Borrowing is a Revolving Loan Borrowing or Term Loan Borrowing; and

 

31


(v) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

If no election as to the Type of any Revolving Loan Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be a Eurodollar Borrowing with a one-month Interest Period, provided that (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) such Interest Period shall not extend beyond the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, otherwise such Revolving Loan Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

SECTION 2.4. Funding of Borrowings . (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 p.m. to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrowers by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Designated Deposit Account.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrowers a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to the requested Loan; provided that if both shall pay, the Administrative Agent will remit Borrowers’ payment back to the Borrowers, without interest. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

SECTION 2.5. Interest Elections . (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrowers may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrowers may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

 

32


(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone not later than 11:00 a.m. three Business Days before the effective date of the proposed election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, e-mail or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request substantially in the form of Exhibit J and signed by the Borrowers.

(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is an ABR Borrowing, the aggregate amount (which shall be an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000);

(v) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the aggregate amount (which shall be an integral multiple of, and not less than, $1,000,000); and

(vi) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(e) If the Borrowers fail to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month, subject to the following sentence. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so notifies the Borrowers, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (A) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (B) unless repaid, each Eurodollar

 

33


Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (ii) no Revolving Loan Borrowing or Term Loan Borrowing may be made as, be converted into or be continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period ending after the Revolving Loan Maturity Date or Term Loan Maturity Date, respectively.

SECTION 2.6. Termination and Reduction of Commitments .

(a) Unless previously terminated, (i) the Revolving Loan Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date and (ii) the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate on the Effective Date immediately after the funding of the Term Loans.

(b) The Borrowers may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Loan Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 and (ii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Loan Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.8, (A) the sum of the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans, L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans then outstanding would exceed the Total Revolving Loan Commitment, (B) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment would not be greater than or equal to zero, or (C) the Revolving Loan Commitment of any Lender would not be greater than or equal to zero.

(c) The Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Loan Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least five Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Revolving Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrowers pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Loan Commitments delivered by the Borrowers may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrowers or the date of termination extended (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Loan Commitments.

SECTION 2.7. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) The Borrowers hereby unconditionally promise to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender, on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan of such Lender outstanding as of such date and all Unreimbursed Amounts and (ii) to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Term Lender, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans on each Quarterly Payment Date in equal installments of $7,500,000, provided that the Borrowers shall pay all outstanding principal on the Term Loans, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on the Term Loan Maturity Date. The Borrowers hereby further agree to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Loans, L/C Obligations and other interest bearing obligations from time to time outstanding from the date hereof until payment in full thereof at the rates per annum, and on the dates, set forth in

 

34


Section 2.10, Section 2.17, Section 2.18 or otherwise set forth in the Loan Documents, or if no date is specified, on demand.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing each Loan made by such Lender and other amounts owing to such Lender under the Loan Documents, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto and the L/C Obligations, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof. The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans and L/C Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.8. Prepayment of Loans .

(a) Optional Prepayment . The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 2.8(a)(i) and subject to Section 2.13.

(i) The Borrowers shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by e-mail) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Loan Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.6, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked or extended if such notice of termination is revoked or extended in accordance with Section 2.6. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of, and not less than, $1,000,000, or, if less, the entire amount of such Borrowing. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.10. Optional prepayments of the Term Loans shall be applied to regular installments of principal due under the Term Loans in inverse order of maturity.

(b) Mandatory Prepayment . The Borrowers shall prepay (or Cash Collateralize, as applicable) the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as follows:

 

35


(i) If, at any time, the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations then outstanding exceeds the Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time, the Borrowers shall immediately (A) prepay the Swing Line Loans in whole or to the extent Swing Line Loans in a sufficient amount are then outstanding to eliminate such excess, in part, then (B) prepay the Revolving Loans in whole or to the extent Revolving Loans in a sufficient amount are then outstanding to eliminate such excess, in part, and then (C) Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate principal amount equal to any remaining excess.

(ii) The Borrowers shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (A) the second Swing Line Settlement Date occurring after such Swing Line Loan is made and (B) the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.9. Fees . (a) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders commitment fees (collectively, “ Commitment Fees ”), for the period from and including the Effective Date to the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, computed at the Applicable Margin times the average daily amount of the Unused Commitment during the period from and including the date hereof to but excluding the Revolving Loan Maturity Date. Accrued Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date and on the date on which the Revolving Loan Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(b) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Co-Syndication Agents the fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Fee Letters.

(c) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, in the case of Commitment Fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.10. Interest . (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swing Line Loan) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any principal of or interest on any Loan or L/C Obligations is not paid when due, or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrowers under the Loan Documents is not paid when due and notice thereof is given to the Borrowers, in each case, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise and (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII, such overdue amount (in the case of clause (i)) and all Obligations (in the case of clause (ii)) shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (A) in

 

36


the case of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided above or (B) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided above; provided that (I) in the case of clause (i) above the additional interest accruing hereunder shall accrue beginning on the date any such payment was due regardless of when the notice contemplated under clause (i) was given to the Borrowers and (II) in the case of clause (ii) above the additional interest accruing hereunder shall accrue beginning on the first date of any such Event of Default described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII.

(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Loan Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment, (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion and (iv) all accrued interest on the Revolving Loans and Term Loans shall be payable on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date and Term Loan Maturity Date, respectively.

(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day); provided that any Loan, Unreimbursed Amount or L/C Borrowing that is paid on the same day it is made or otherwise arises shall bear interest for one day. The applicable Alternate Base Rate or LIBOR Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.11. Alternate Rate of Interest . If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrowers and the Lenders by telephone, e-mail or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

37


SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs . (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate); or

(ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrowers and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrowers of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.13. Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow,

 

38


convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be revocable or extendable under Section 2.8(b) and is revoked or extended in accordance herewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.16 or as a result of Section 2.1(b), then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. The loss to any Lender attributable to any such event shall be deemed to be equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that such Lender would pay for a deposit equal to the principal amount of such Loan for the period from the date of such payment, conversion, failure or assignment to the last day of the then current Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the duration of the Interest Period that would have resulted from such borrowing, conversion or continuation) if the interest rate payable on such deposit were equal to the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period, over (ii) the amount of interest that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for such period if such Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that would be bid by such Lender (or an affiliate of such Lender) for dollar deposits from other banks in the eurodollar market at the commencement of such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrowers and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

SECTION 2.14. Taxes . (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrowers shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrowers shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrowers shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) In addition, the Borrowers shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within 30 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.14), and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrowers by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

39


(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrowers to a Governmental Authority, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrowers are located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. Each Lender shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances of which it has knowledge which would modify adversely or render invalid any such claimed exemption or reduction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States of America, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable: (i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, (ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, (iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (1) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (2) a “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (3) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or (iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrowers to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(f) Each U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such U.S. Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent) duly completed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such U.S. Lender is entitled to an exemption from U.S. backup withholding tax.

(g) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrowers or with respect to which the Borrowers have paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.14, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrowers, net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Nothing contained in this Section

 

40


2.14 shall require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available any of its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems to be confidential).

(h) Each Lender shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policies and legal and regulatory restrictions) to select a jurisdiction for its applicable lending office or change the jurisdiction of its applicable lending office, as the case may be, so as to avoid the imposition of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes or to eliminate or reduce the payment of any additional sums under this Section 2.14; provided that no such selection or change of the jurisdiction for its applicable lending office shall be made if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such selection or change would be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

SECTION 2.15. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs . (a) The Borrowers shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, or under Section 2.12, 2.13 or 2.14, or otherwise) prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at the address set forth in Section 9.1 except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 9.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, to pay interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, to pay principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it, resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans or participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of other Lenders of the same Class to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders of the same Class ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery,

 

41


without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds provided for under Section 2.20(b) arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any Assignee or Participant, other than to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrowers consent to the foregoing and agree, to the extent the Borrowers may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrowers’ rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation.

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrowers prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 2.15(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

SECTION 2.16. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders . (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12, or if the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.14, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.

(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12, (ii) the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, (iii) any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, (iv) any Lender refuses to approve any proposed amendment, modification, supplement, extension, termination, consent or waiver with respect to any Loan Document which requires the approval of all Lenders under Section 9.2 and which has been approved by the Required Lenders, or (v) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Downgraded

 

42


Lender, then in any such case the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to any such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.4), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (A) the Assignee shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent if the Assignee is not another Lender, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the Assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts) and (C) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.14, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply and the Borrowers have not already arranged in writing for one or more replacement Lenders and any each such potential replacement Lender has not yet agreed in writing to be a replacement Lender with no conditions other than the execution and delivery of an Assignment and Acceptance.

SECTION 2.17. Letters of Credit .

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment .

(i) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Lenders set forth in this Section 2.17, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit in dollars for the account of a Borrower in support of the obligations of such Borrower, and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Revolving Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit; provided that the L/C Issuer shall not be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations would exceed the Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time, (y) the aggregate Effective Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Revolving Lender, plus such Revolving Lender’s Total Lender Risk Participation would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, or (z) the Effective Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each Letter of Credit shall be in a form acceptable to the L/C Issuer. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers’ ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrowers may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

43


(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) subject to Section 2.17(b)(iii) , in the case of any Letter of Credit, the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur later than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer or the terms and conditions of the applicable Letter of Credit Application;

(E) such Letter of Credit is in a face amount less than $100,000, or denominated in a currency other than dollars; or

(F) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.17(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements satisfactory to the L/C Issuer with the Borrowers or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.

(iii) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Evergreen Letters of Credit .

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrowers delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later

 

44


than 1:00 p.m., at least three Business Days (or such later date and time as the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole and reasonable discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which date shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the account party thereunder, and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which date shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrowers and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the applicable Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit; provided , however that the amount of such Lender’s participation shall be adjusted in the manner set forth in Section 2.20(d). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender upon the issuance of a Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Borrowers so request in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “ Evergreen Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Evergreen Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Nonrenewal Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrowers shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Evergreen Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to a date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided , however , that the L/C Issuer shall not

 

45


permit any such renewal if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof, or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the Business Day immediately preceding the Nonrenewal Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrowers that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.2 is not then satisfied. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the L/C Issuer shall have no obligation to permit the renewal of any Evergreen Letter of Credit at any time.

(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations .

(i) Upon any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent of the amount to be paid by the L/C Issuer as a result of such drawing and the date on which payment is to be made by the L/C Issuer to the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit in respect of such drawing. Not later than 1:00 p.m., on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date of payment, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrowers shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrowers fail to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Revolving Lender’s L/C Risk Participation with respect thereto. In such event, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested an ABR Loan to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.2 for the principal amount of ABR Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 (other than the delivery of a Borrowing Request). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.17(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Revolving Lender (including the Revolving Lender acting as L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.17(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Revolving Proportionate Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 12:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.17(c)(iii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made an ABR Loan to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.

 

46


(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Loan because the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate applicable to Revolving Loans upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default. In such event, each Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.17(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Revolving Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.17.

(iv) Until each Revolving Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.17(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Revolving Lender’s L/C Risk Participation with respect thereto shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer. For the avoidance of doubt, interest shall accrue beginning on the Honor Date for any such unreimbursed draw under a Letter of Credit.

(v) Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for, or participate in, amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.17(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Revolving Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Any such reimbursement shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.17(c) by the time specified in Section 2.17(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Repayment of Participations .

(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Lender such Revolving Lender’s L/C

 

47


Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.17(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrowers or otherwise), including proceeds of cash collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent or any payment of interest thereon, the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Revolving Lender a portion of such payment allocable to such Revolving Lender’s L/C Risk Participation with respect to such Letter of Credit in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.17(c)(i) is required to be returned, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer a portion of such payment allocable to such Revolving Lender’s L/C Risk Participation with respect to such Letter of Credit on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Revolving Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect.

(e) Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit, and to repay each L/C Borrowing and each drawing under a Letter of Credit that is refinanced by a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the obligations of the Borrowers in respect of any Letter of Credit or any other amendment or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, all or any of the Loan Documents;

(iii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that a Borrower or any other Person may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iv) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

 

48


(v) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

(vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrowers.

The Borrowers’ unconditional obligation to reimburse the L/C Issuer as set forth above is not in limitation of any rights or claims the Borrowers may have against the L/C Issuer or any other Person for payment under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or failure to pay upon presentation of a draft or certificate that strictly complies with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(f) Role of L/C Issuer . Each of the Borrowers and the Revolving Lenders agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the L/C Issuer nor any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors nor any of the correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Revolving Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided , however , that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers’ pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the L/C Issuer nor any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors nor any of the correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (vi) of Section 2.17(e); provided , however , that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrowers may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrowers, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrowers arising from the L/C Issuer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or the L/C Issuer’s failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of

 

49


any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

(g) Cash Collateral .

(i) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, if, as of the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remains outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrowers shall immediately Cash Collateralize the outstanding L/C Obligations in an amount equal to 105% of the then Effective Amount of the L/C Obligations.

(ii) Subject to Section 2.20(e), if at any time during which one or more Letters of Credit are outstanding, any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender, then no later than five (5) Business Days of written demand thereof from the L/C Issuer the Borrowers shall provide the Administrative Agent with cash collateral or similar security satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) in respect of such Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund under Section 2.17(c) in an amount not less than the aggregate amount of such obligations (after giving effect to Section 2.20(d)). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as cash collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate L/C Obligations in respect of such Defaulting Lender, the Borrowers will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as cash collateral, an amount equal to the excess of (x) such aggregate L/C Obligations over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as cash collateral that the Administrative Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any for which funds are on deposit as cash collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Governmental Rules, to reimburse the L/C Issuer.

(iii) The Borrowers hereby grant the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a Lien on all such cash and deposit account balances described in the definition of “Cash Collateralize” and all other cash collateral described in this Section 2.17(g) as security for the L/C Obligations. Cash collateral shall be maintained in segregated, blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts with the Administrative Agent or other institutions satisfactory to it. Such accounts must be the subject of control agreements pursuant to which the Administrative Agent has “control” as such term is used in the Uniform Commercial Code, sufficient to perfect on a first priority basis a security interest in such cash collateral. The Lien held by the Administrative Agent in such cash collateral to secure the L/C Obligations shall be released upon the satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (a) no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, (b) all L/C Obligations shall have been repaid in full and (c) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(h) Applicability of ISP 98 . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrowers when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the “International Standby

 

50


Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance) shall apply to each Letter of Credit.

(i) Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrowers shall pay, to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender in accordance with its L/C Risk Participation in each Letter of Credit, a Letter of Credit fee for each such Letter of Credit for the period from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit until the expiry thereof, at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans multiplied by the actual daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit , provided that if the Borrowers have Cash Collateralized any portion of a Defaulting Lender’s obligations to fund under any Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.17(g) , the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender during the period such Defaulting Lender’s obligations are Cash Collateralized. Such fee for each Letter of Credit shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, and on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date. Each such fee, when due, shall be fully earned and when paid, shall be non-refundable. All letter of credit fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.

(j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer . The Borrowers shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee in an amount with respect to each Letter of Credit equal to 0.125% per annum multiplied by the face amount of such Letter of Credit, due and payable quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, and on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date; provided , that in the case of an increase in the amount of a Letter of Credit after the issuance thereof, such fronting fee shall be payable only on the increased amount thereof. In addition, the Borrowers shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary, issuance, presentation, amendment, negotiation and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such fees and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(k) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application . In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.

SECTION 2.18. Swing Line .

(a) The Swing Line . On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “ Swing Line Loan ”) in dollars to the Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Effective Amount of Revolving Loans of the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as a Revolving Lender of Revolving Loans, may exceed the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment; provided , however , that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the aggregate Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time, and (ii) the aggregate Effective Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Revolving Lender (other than the Swing Line Lender) at

 

51


such time, plus such Lender’s Total Lender Risk Participation at such time shall not exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, and provided , further , that the Swing Line Lender shall not make any Swing Line Loan to refinance an outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.18, prepay under Section 2.8, and reborrow under this Section 2.18. Each Swing Line Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan; provided , however that the amount of such Lender’s risk participation shall be adjusted in the manner set forth in Section 2.20(d). Furthermore, subject to Section 2.20(e), before making any Swing Line Loans (if at such time any Lender is a Defaulting Lender), the Swing Line Lender may condition the provision of such Swing Line Loans on its receipt of cash collateral or similar security satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender (in its sole discretion) from the Borrowers in respect of such Defaulting Lender’s risk participation in such Swing Line Loans as set forth below (as adjusted pursuant to Section 2.20(d)). The Borrowers hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Swing Line Lender, a security interest in all such cash collateral and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash collateral shall be maintained in segregated, blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts with the Administrative Agent or other institutions satisfactory to it. Such accounts must be the subject of control agreements pursuant to which the Administrative Agent has “control” as such term is used in the Uniform Commercial Code, sufficient to perfect on a first priority basis a security interest in such cash collateral. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as cash collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate risk participation of such Defaulting Lender in the relevant Swing Line Loan, the Borrowers will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as cash collateral, an amount equal to the excess of (x) such aggregate risk participation over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as cash collateral that the Administrative Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. At such times there are Swing Line Loans outstanding for which funds are on deposit as cash collateral, such funds shall be applied as and when determined by the Swing Line Lender, to the extent permitted under applicable Governmental Rules, to reimburse and otherwise pay the applicable obligations owing to the Swing Line Lender.

(b) Borrowing Procedures . Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrowers’ irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 3:00 p.m., on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which amount shall be a minimum amount of $100,000 or an integral multiple of $25,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by the delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Notice of Swing Line Borrowing, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers, which notice may be delivered by telecopy or e-mail. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Notice of Swing Line Borrowing, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received

 

52


such Notice of Swing Line Borrowing and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Revolving Lender) prior to 4:00 p.m., on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.18(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.2 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 4:30 p.m., on the borrowing date specified in such Notice of Swing Line Borrowing, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrowers at its office by crediting the account of the Borrowers on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans .

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably requests the Swing Line Lender to act on its behalf for such purpose), under this subsection (c), that each Revolving Lender make an ABR Loan in an amount equal to the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Swing Line Risk Participation with respect to the Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Article II, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of ABR Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.2. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrowers with a copy of the applicable Borrowing Request promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Lender shall make an amount equal to its Swing Line Risk Participation in the amount specified in such Borrowing Request available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 p.m., on the day specified in such Borrowing Request for Revolving Loans, whereupon, subject to Section 2.18(c)(ii), each Revolving Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made an ABR Loan to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Revolving Loan cannot be requested in accordance with Section 2.18(c)(i) or any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Loan, the Borrowing Request for Revolving Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Lenders fund the amount of its Swing Line Risk Participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.18(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such Swing Line Risk Participation.

(iii) If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.18(c) by the time specified in Section 2.18(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such

 

53


amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund Swing Line Risk Participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.18(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Revolving Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Any such purchase of participations shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations .

(i) At any time after any Revolving Lender has purchased and funded a Swing Line Risk Participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Swing Line Risk Participation with respect thereto (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Lender’s Swing Line Risk Participation was outstanding and funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Swing Line Risk Participation with respect thereto on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.

(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender . Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to (i) the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for ABR Loans minus (ii) the then applicable Commitment Fees percentage determined pursuant to the pricing grid set forth in the definition of “Applicable Margin.” The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrowers for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving Lender funds its Swing Line Risk Participation pursuant to this Section 2.18 to refinance such Revolving Lender’s Swing Line Risk Participation with respect to any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Swing Line Risk Participation shall be solely for the account of

 

54


the Swing Line Lender. The Borrowers shall pay accrued interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Swing Line Loan on each Quarterly Payment Date and at maturity.

(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender . The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

SECTION 2.19. Notes .

(a) Revolving Loan Notes . Each Lender’s Revolving Loans shall be evidenced by a promissory note in the form of Exhibit E (individually, a “ Revolving Loan Note ”) which note shall be (i) payable to such Lender, (ii) in the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, (iii) dated the Effective Date and (iv) otherwise appropriately completed. The Borrowers authorize each Lender to record on the schedule annexed to such Lender’s Revolving Loan Note the date and amount of each Revolving Loan made by such Lender and of each payment or prepayment of principal thereon made by the Borrowers, and agrees that all such notations shall be prima facie evidence of the Loans, payments or prepayments noted thereon; provided , however , that any failure by a Lender to make, or any error by any Lender in making, any such notation shall not affect the Borrowers’ Loans and other obligations under the Loan Documents. The Borrowers further authorize each Lender to attach to and make a part of such Lender’s Revolving Loan Note continuations of the schedule attached thereto as necessary. If, because any Lender designates separate applicable lending offices for ABR Loans and Eurodollar Loans, such Lender requests that separate promissory notes be executed to evidence separately such Revolving Loans, then each such note shall be in the form of Exhibit E , mutatis mutandis to reflect such division, and shall be (A) payable to such Lender, (B) in the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, (C) dated the Effective Date and (D) otherwise appropriately completed. Such notes shall, collectively, constitute a Revolving Loan Note.

(b) Term Loan Notes . Each Term Loan shall be evidenced by a promissory note to each Term Lender in the amount of their respective Term Proportionate Share in the form of Exhibit F (individually, a “ Term Loan Note ”) which note shall be (i) payable to the order of such Term Lender, (ii) in the amount of such Term Lender’s Term Loan, (iii) dated the Effective Date (or such other date acceptable to such Term Lender) and (iv) otherwise appropriately completed. If, because any Term Lender designates separate Applicable Lending Offices for ABR Loans and Eurodollar Loans, such Term Lender requests that separate promissory notes be executed to evidence separately such Term Loans, then each such note shall be in the form of Exhibit F , mutatis mutandis to reflect such division, and shall be (w) payable to the order of such Term Lender, (x) in the amount of such Term Lender’s Term Loan, (y) dated the Effective Date (or such other date acceptable to such Term Lender) and (z) otherwise appropriately completed. Such notes shall, collectively, constitute a Term Loan Note.

(c) Swing Line Notes . The Swing Line Lender’s Swing Line Loans shall be evidenced by a promissory note in the form of Exhibit G (individually, a “ Swing Line Note ”) which note shall be (i) payable to the Swing Line Lender, (ii) in the amount of the Swing Line Lender’s Swing Line Loans, (iii) dated the Effective Date and (iv) otherwise appropriately completed.

 

55


SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(a) Waivers and Amendments . Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and in the last sentence of Section 9.2(b).

(b) Reallocation of Payments . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of such Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit; fourth , as the Borrowers may request (so long as no Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , as the Borrowers may request and if so agreed by the Administrative Agent, to be held in a deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, such Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.20(b) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(c) Certain Fees . The Defaulting Lender (i) shall not be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee under Section 2.9(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fees that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (ii) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit fees as provided in Section 2.17(i).

 

56


(d) Reallocation of Participations . All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share of the Effective Amount of L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall automatically (effective on the day such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender) be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Proportionate Shares (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (i) the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 are satisfied at such time (and, unless the Borrowers shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at the time, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), and (ii) such reallocation does not cause the sum of (A) the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Lender outstanding at such time and (B) such Revolving Lender’s Total Lender Risk Participation at such time to exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment at such time.

(e) Cash Collateral by Borrowers . If the reallocation described in clause (d) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, no later than five (5) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent, Cash Collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share of the Effective Amount of L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (iv) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 2.17(g) and 2.18(a), as applicable, for so long as such L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans are outstanding.

(f) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Revolving Proportionate Shares (without giving effect to Section 2.20(d)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrowers represent and warrant to the Lenders that:

 

57


SECTION 3.1. Organization; Powers . Each of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

SECTION 3.2. Authorization; Enforceability . The Transactions are within each Borrower’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action and, if required, action by its partners. Each of this Agreement and any other documents executed and delivered in connection with the Transactions has been duly executed and delivered by each Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

SECTION 3.3. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts . The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation other than violations which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) will not violate the charter, by-laws, articles, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or other organizational documents of any Borrower or any Subsidiary or any order of any Governmental Authority, (d) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Borrower or any Subsidiary or the assets of any Borrower or any Subsidiary other than violations or defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (e) will not give rise to a right under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Borrower or any Subsidiary or upon the assets of any Borrower or any Subsidiary to require any material payment to be made by any Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (f) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Borrower or any Subsidiary.

SECTION 3.4. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change . (a) The Borrowers have heretofore furnished to the Lenders combined consolidated statements of financial condition and statements of income, partners’ capital and cash flows (or their predecessor’s consolidated statements) (i) as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, certified by the Borrowers’ chief financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries (or their predecessor and its consolidated subsidiaries) as of such dates and for such periods on a combined basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments. As of the Effective Date, none of the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries has any material Guarantees, material contingent liabilities and material liabilities for taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term commitments, including any interest rate or foreign

 

58


currency swap or exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, that are not reflected in the most recent financial statements referred to in this paragraph.

(b) From December 31, 2009 to the Effective Date, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.5. Properties . (a) Each of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 6.2.

(b) Each of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by each of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.6. Litigation and Environmental Matters . (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened against or affecting any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that arises from this Agreement or the Transactions.

(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

(c) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.7. Compliance with Laws and Agreements . Each of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Requirements of Law and Contractual Obligations binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.8. Investment and Holding Company Status . (a) None of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, each as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Except for net capital and other requirements

 

59


imposed on registered broker-dealers, none of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries is subject to any regulation under any Requirement of Law (other than Regulation X of the Board) that limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

(b) Each of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries that is engaged in investment advisory or investment management activities is, and at all times will be, duly registered as an investment adviser if and to the extent required under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and each Subsidiary of a Borrower which is engaged in broker-dealer business is, and at all times will be, duly registered as a broker-dealer if and to the extent required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as and to the extent required, is, and at all times will be, a member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

SECTION 3.9. Taxes . Each of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it when due and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which each of the Borrowers or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to so file and/or pay could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10. ERISA . No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $10,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

SECTION 3.11. Disclosure . Each Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of such preparation.

 

60


SECTION 3.12. No Default . None of the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 3.13. Subsidiaries . Except as disclosed to the Administrative Agent by the Borrowers in writing from time to time after the Effective Date, (a) Schedule 3.13 sets forth the name and jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation of each Subsidiary and the name of the Borrower or other Subsidiary that is the parent of such Subsidiary and the percentage of such Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by such parent and (b) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options or restricted stock granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Capital Stock of any Borrower or any Subsidiary.

SECTION 3.14. Federal Regulations . No part of the proceeds of any Loans or Letters of Credit will be used for “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect in any manner that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board or for any other purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board. The Borrowers are not engaged in the business of extending credit to others for the purpose of “buying” or “carrying” “margin stock”. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, each Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1, as applicable, referred to in Regulation U. No more than 25% of the consolidated assets of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries (excluding treasury shares) consists of “margin stock” under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect.

SECTION 3.15. No Burdensome Restrictions . No Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of any Borrower would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.16. Foreign Assets Control, Etc.

(a) None of the Borrowers (i) is, or is controlled by, a Designated Person; (ii) has received funds or other property from a Designated Person; or (iii) is in breach of or is the subject of any action or investigation under any Anti-Terrorism Law. None of the Borrowers engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or is or will be otherwise associated, with any Designated Person. To the extent applicable, each of the Borrowers and their respective subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with the Patriot Act. Each Borrower has taken reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws.

(b) No portion of the proceeds of any Loan, L/C Credit Extension or other credit made hereunder has been or will be used, directly or indirectly for, and no fee, commission, rebate or other value has been or will be paid to, or for the benefit of, any governmental official, political party, official of a political party or any other Person acting in an official capacity in violation of any Governmental Rule, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

61


SECTION 3.17. Obligations to Rank Pari Passu . The Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents constitutes unsecured obligations of the Borrowers ranking pari passu with all other present and future unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrowers that is not by its terms subordinate or junior in rank to any other Indebtedness of the Borrowers.

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS

SECTION 4.1. Effective Date . The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.2):

(a) Principal Loan Documents . The Administrative Agent (and if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender) shall have received:

(i) this Agreement, duly executed by the Borrowers and each Lender;

(ii) a Revolving Loan Note in favor of each Revolving Lender requesting such a Note;

(iii) a Term Loan Note in favor of each Term Lender requesting such a Note; and

(iv) a Swing Line Note in favor of the Swing Line Lender.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, special counsel for the Borrowers, substantially in the form of Exhibit B , and covering such other matters relating to the Borrowers, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request. The Borrowers hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinion.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of each Borrower, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrowers, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from each Borrower, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower, (i) confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 4.2 and (ii) setting forth the Debt Ratings as of the Effective Date.

(e) The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have received (i) to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket

 

62


expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrowers hereunder and (ii) all fees payable to the Joint Lead Arrangers pursuant to the Fee Letters.

(f) All governmental and third party approvals reasonably necessary in connection with the continuing operations of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect, and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any Governmental Authority that would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on the financing contemplated hereby.

(g) The Lenders shall have received (i) audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrowers (or their predecessor) for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years and (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Borrowers for each quarterly period ended subsequent to the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available, and such financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Lenders, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of any Borrower as reflected in the financial statements or projections furnished to the Lenders.

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that all amounts outstanding, if any, under the Existing Credit Agreement have been repaid in full as of the Effective Date and such agreement and the commitments thereunder have been terminated.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

SECTION 4.2. Each Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing or any L/C Credit Extension (including its initial Loan) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) The Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, a Borrowing Request, a Notice of Swing Line Borrowing, Letter of Credit Application or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, for such extension of credit in accordance with this Agreement;

(b) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or L/C Credit Extension (unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).

(c) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or L/C Credit Extension, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing and L/C Credit Extension shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

63


ARTICLE V.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, L/C Obligation and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, the Borrowers covenant and agree with the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.1. Financial Statements and Other Information . The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) (i) Annual Financial Statements—GAAP . within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrowers, an audited combined consolidated statement of financial condition and related statements of operations, partners’ capital and cash flows of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (or for the Borrowers’ predecessor’s previous fiscal year), all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing to the effect that such combined consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries on a combined basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, (B) copies of such accountants’ unqualified opinion and (C) to the extent delivered, management letters from such accountants in connection with all such combined consolidated financial statements;

(ii) Annual Financial Statements—generally accepted accounting principals in the U.S. within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrowers, an audited combined consolidated statement of financial condition and related statements of operations, partners’ capital and cash flows of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (or for the Borrowers’ predecessor’s previous fiscal year), all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing to the effect that such combined consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries on a combined basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied, (B) copies of such accountants’ unqualified opinion and (C) to the extent delivered, management letters from such accountants in connection with all such combined consolidated financial statements;

(b) (i) Quarterly Financial Statements—GAAP . within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrowers, a combined consolidated statement of financial condition and related statements of operations, partners’ capital and cash flows of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the statement of financial condition, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year (or for the Borrowers’ predecessor’s previous fiscal year), all certified by one of its Financial Officers as

 

64


presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries on a combined basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments;

(ii) Quarterly Financial Statements—generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrowers, a combined consolidated statement of financial condition and related statements of operations, partners’ capital and cash flows of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the statement of financial condition, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year (or for the Borrowers’ predecessor’s previous fiscal year), all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrowers and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries on a combined basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments;

(c) Compliance Certificate . concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a compliance certificate of a Financial Officer of each of the Borrowers substantially in the form of Exhibit H (i) certifying as to whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.8 , (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.4 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (iv) certifying as to the then current Debt Ratings;

(d) Reserved .

(e) Assets Under Management . within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrowers, (i) a schedule of the Assets Under Management on the last day of such quarter, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 ; and (ii) a statement of changes in Assets Under Management from the last day of the previous quarter to the last day of such quarter, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 ;

(f) Fund or Strategy Information . without undue delay following the availability thereof, copies of quarterly letters provided to the limited partners of the meaningful active investment funds managed by any Borrower or Subsidiary; provided that the Borrowers shall only be required to furnish such letters (i) to the extent that, and at such times as, such letters are required to be furnished by the governing documents of such investment funds; (ii) for so long as such letters continue to be prepared pursuant to the Borrowers’ standard business procedures; and (iii) to the extent that such letters can be furnished without violating any Governmental Rule or binding confidentiality obligation to which any Borrower or Subsidiary is a party;

(g) GSTrUE Materials . without undue delay following the availability thereof, copies of annual and quarterly reports containing “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” (i.e.,

 

65


substantially equivalent to forms 10-K and 10-Q) provided to the unitholders of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC via the GSTrUE trading platform and any successor platform; provided that the Borrowers shall only be required to furnish such reports (i) for so long as such reports continue to be prepared pursuant to the Borrowers’ standard business procedures; and (ii) to the extent that such reports can be furnished without violating any Governmental Rule or binding confidentiality agreement to which any Borrower or Subsidiary is a party; and

(h) Additional Information . promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of any Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request; provided that the Borrowers shall only be required to furnish such information (i) to the extent that such information can be furnished without violating any Governmental Rule or binding confidentiality agreement to which any Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party; and (ii) to the extent such materials are not expressly excluded from the provisions of Section 5.1(a) through 5.1(g).

SECTION 5.2. Notices of Material Events . The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) any involuntary suspension or termination of the registration of any Borrower or any Subsidiary as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or any cancellation or expiration without renewal or replacement of any material investment advisory agreement or similar contract to which any Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party;

(d) any announcement by S&P or Fitch Ratings of any change in a Debt Rating; and

(e) any other development that results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.3. Existence; Conduct of Business . Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges

 

66


and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.3.

SECTION 5.4. Payment of Obligations . Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, which, if not paid, would result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto if required in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.5. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance . Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

SECTION 5.6. Books and Records; Inspection Rights . Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested, subject to Section 9.16 hereof.

SECTION 5.7. Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations . Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with (a) its Organizational Documents, (b) all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property and maintain all Governmental Authorizations, and (c) all Contractual Obligations, except where in each case, the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.8. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans and Letters of Credit will be used only to (a) provide for the working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries, including to repay any amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement, to provide the funding necessary for the Borrowers to make capital contributions to investment companies, funds or accounts which are managed by a member of the Oaktree Operating Group or their respective Subsidiaries or for which such Oaktree Operating Group member or such Subsidiary acts as a general partner or investment manager, and, to the extent permitted under this Agreement, to make equity distributions or fund repurchases by Oaktree Capital Group, LLC or ControlCo of their respective Capital Stock, to make investments, loans or advances as permitted by Section 6.4 and to fund Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.5 and (b) pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions. No part of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used, whether

 

67


directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U or X.

SECTION 5.9. Environmental Laws . Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) comply in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, and obtain and comply in all material respects with and maintain any and all Governmental Authorizations required by applicable Environmental Laws, and (b) conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws, except in each case to the extent that non-compliance therewith would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, L/C Obligation and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Borrowers covenant and agree with the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.1. Indebtedness . The Borrowers will not (x) create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness or (y) permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness or preferred Capital Stock, except, in each case:

(a) Indebtedness created hereunder;

(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.1 and any extensions, renewals or replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount, or shorten the maturity, thereof;

(c) Indebtedness of a Borrower to any Subsidiary or other Borrower, and of any Subsidiary to any Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary of a Borrower;

(d) Indebtedness of a Borrower or Subsidiary to Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P. or any of its subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(e) Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted hereunder;

(f) Indebtedness of any Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal

 

68


amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) when added to the aggregate principal amount of Attributable Debt outstanding, shall not exceed $30,000,000 at any one time;

(g) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided that such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary;

(h) Indebtedness of any Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of letters of credit in a maximum amount of $20,000,000 at any one time;

(i) Unsecured Indebtedness of a Borrower to its partners to finance the Borrowers’ equity contributions in investment companies or funds for which it or any Subsidiary acts as a general partner or an investment advisor in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any one time;

(j) any Permitted Note Financing, provided that at the time of any new issuance or guarantee of any such senior notes, no Default or Event of Default has occurred or would result therefrom;

(k) Indebtedness incurred for the purchase or lease of a corporate jet, in an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 at any one time;

(l) Guarantees by the Borrowers of loans extended to employees or principals of the Borrowers and other Persons for taxes payable upon the vesting of equity interests in connection with equity-based compensation arrangements;

(m) Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries in the nature of any contingent obligations of any Borrower or any such Subsidiary as the general partner (or equivalent) of any investment funds managed by any member of the Oaktree Operating Group or any of their respective subsidiaries, either now existing or newly created in respect of any Indebtedness of those funds;

(n) obligations pursuant to Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(o) Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.4;

(p) Unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000 at any one time.

For purposes of compliance with this Section, (1) in the event any Indebtedness meets the criteria set forth in more than one of clauses (a) through (p) of this Section, the Borrowers in their sole collective discretion may (x) classify or reclassify such Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section and (y) divide and classify such Indebtedness among more than one of the clauses of this Section and, in each case, such Indebtedness shall be treated as having been permitted pursuant to such clause, and (2) Indebtedness in any currency other than U.S. dollars shall be valued in U.S. dollars as of the date such investment was made.

 

69


SECTION 6.2. Liens . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

(a) Permitted Encumbrances;

(b) any Lien on any property or asset of any Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.2; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of any Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof;

(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof (including by merger or consolidation) by any Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be;

(d) Liens on property, plant and equipment acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (f) of Section 6.1, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such property, plant and equipment and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries;

(e) Liens on the corporate jet described in Section 6.1(k) and the proceeds thereof securing the Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(k);

(f) in the case of a Subsidiary that serves as the general partner (or equivalent) of an investment fund managed by any of the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates, any Lien on such Subsidiary’s interests and rights as a general partner (or equivalent) of such fund or any special purpose vehicle owned by such limited partnership; provided that such Lien shall not extend to such Subsidiary’s right to receive distributions or any incentive allocation from such fund;

(g) Liens on property acquired or leased by a Borrower or a Subsidiary of a Borrower securing the related Capital Lease Obligations permitted hereunder;

(h) attachment, judgment and other similar Liens that do not constitute an Event of Default pursuant to subsection (k) of Article VIII; and

(i) Liens arising out of the refinancing extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by any of the foregoing clauses of this Section, provided that the Lien does not apply to any additional property or asset.

 

70


For purposes of compliance with this Section, (x) in the event that any Lien meets the criteria set forth in more than one of clauses (a) through (i) of this Section, Borrowers in their sole discretion may classify or reclassify such Lien in any manner that complies with this Section and such Lien shall be treated as having been permitted pursuant to only one of such clauses of this section; and (y) any Indebtedness secured by a Lien may be divided and classified among more than one of the clauses of this Section and, in each case, such Lien shall be treated as having been permitted pursuant to such clause.

SECTION 6.3. Fundamental Changes . (a) Each Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the Borrowers’ assets (measured on a collective basis across all Borrowers), or all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of the Borrowers’ Subsidiaries (measured on a collective basis across all Borrowers) (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Person, including a Subsidiary or Borrower, may merge into or consolidate with any of the Borrowers in a transaction in which a Borrower is the surviving entity, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with any Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a wholly owned Subsidiary, (iii) any Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a wholly owned Subsidiary, provided that (solely in a case of such a transaction involving a Borrower other than Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.), such wholly owned Subsidiary agrees to become a Borrower hereunder and executes and delivers documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect thereto (including, but not limited to, an opinion of counsel), (iv) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to any of the Borrowers or to a wholly owned Subsidiary, (v) any Borrower may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets (including any Capital Stock) to any other Borrower, (vi) any Borrower may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets (including any Capital Stock) to a wholly owned Subsidiary, provided that in the event such transaction results in a transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Borrowers’ assets (measured on a collective basis across all Borrowers) to such Subsidiary, such Subsidiary agrees to become a Borrower hereunder and executes and delivers documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect thereto (including, but not limited to, an opinion of counsel), (vii) any Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person in a transaction in which the other Person is the surviving entity or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to any other Person which, in each case, (A) prior to such transaction did not have any operations and (B) the Borrowers own the same type and percentage of equity interests in such other Person as the Borrowers owned in such Subsidiary prior to such transaction, (viii) Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. or any Subsidiary of a Borrower may liquidate or dissolve if Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P. or such Borrower, respectively, determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in its best interests and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (ix) any Borrower may transfer any Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries to any other Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary of another Borrower; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary

 

71


immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless the Borrowers’ investment therein is also permitted by Section 6.4.

(b) Each Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by such Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

SECTION 6.4. I nvestments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions; Hedging Agreements . (a) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

(i) Permitted Investments;

(ii) investments by a Borrower in the Capital Stock of its Subsidiaries (including newly created Subsidiaries);

(iii) loans or advances made by the Borrowers to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to the Borrowers or any other Subsidiary, and any loans and advances to any Subsidiary shall include such loans and advances to foreign Subsidiaries and Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman) L.P. and its subsidiaries to fund the operating costs and budgeted Capital Expenditures of such entities; provided that at the time of such loan or advance, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

(iv) Guarantees (A) constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1 and (B) of other obligations (including lease obligations of Subsidiaries and Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman) L.P. and its subsidiaries) not prohibited by this Agreement; and

(v) loans or advances made directly by a Borrower or indirectly by a Borrower through one or more intermediaries to the employees and/or principals of any member of the Oaktree Operating Group or any of their respective subsidiaries (A) that are outstanding for less than four months, (B) that are secured by (x) the Capital Stock of ControlCo or (y) “points” in the management fee or incentive allocation of any investment fund or any subsidiary thereof that is managed by any Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case, held by such employees and/or principals, or (C) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding for all Borrowers.

(b) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Agreement, other than Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which any member of the Oaktree

 

72


Operating Group or any subsidiary thereof is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities or entered into in connection with the issuance or contemplated issuance of a Permitted Note Financing.

SECTION 6.5. Restricted Payments . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a) any Subsidiary of a Borrower may declare and pay dividends on, or make distributions with respect to, its Capital Stock to a Borrower or any intervening Subsidiary, (b) that so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Capital Stock payable solely in additional shares of its Capital Stock, or declare and pay dividends or make distributions in cash solely to holders of its Capital Stock, (c) the Borrowers may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries; (d) the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends and make distributions to holders of their Capital Stock at any time in amounts intended to enable such holders to discharge their respective U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. income and franchise tax liabilities arising from allocations made (or expected to be made) to such holder in respect of such Capital Stock (which amounts may be calculated based on the assumption that such holders are taxed at the highest marginal federal, state and local tax rates applicable to an individual domiciled in Los Angeles, California).

SECTION 6.6. Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except

(a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to a Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties;

(b) transactions between or among the Borrowers and their wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate;

(c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.5;

(d) as identified on Schedule 6.6; and

(e) transfers or contributions of property, assets or Capital Stock from an Affiliate of any Borrower to any Subsidiary or Borrower, provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result after giving effect thereto, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of and after giving effect to such transfer or contribution (unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (iii) if the transfer or contribution is of Capital Stock of any Person and results in such Person becoming a Subsidiary of any Borrower,

 

73


then no Default or Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.8 would have existed if such Person were a Subsidiary of a Borrower as of the last day of the Borrowers’ most recently ended fiscal quarter and (iv) no cash or other property (other than equity interests of the recipient of such transfer or contribution to the transferor in respect thereof) is transferred from any of the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries to such Affiliate or any owner, directly or indirectly, of such Affiliate, in connection with such transfer or contribution.

SECTION 6.7. Restrictive Agreements; Negative Pledge Clauses . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist or become effective any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, limits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of any Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions on account of any shares of its Capital Stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrowers or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.7 (and any extension, renewal or amendment or modification thereof, provided that such extension, renewal, amendment or modification does not expand the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary, business or assets pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary, business or assets that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof; and (vi) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions contained in agreements evidencing the Permitted Note Financing.

SECTION 6.8. Financial Condition Covenants .

(a) Combined Leverage Ratio . The Borrowers will not permit the Combined Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrowers ending with any fiscal quarter to be equal to or greater than the ratio of 2.50 to 1.00.

(b) Combined Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . The Borrowers will not permit the Combined Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrowers ending with any fiscal quarter to be equal to or less than the ratio of 2.50 to 1.00.

(c) Combined Net Worth . The Borrowers will not permit the Combined Net Worth at any time to be less than $400,000,000.

(d) Minimum Assets . The Borrowers will not permit the Assets Under Management at any time to be less than $50,000,000,000.

SECTION 6.9. Reserved .

 

74


SECTION 6.10. Changes in Fiscal Periods . The Borrowers will not permit the fiscal year of the Borrowers to end on a day other than December 31 or change the Borrowers’ method of determining fiscal quarters, except, in each case, with the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) of the Required Lenders.

SECTION 6.11. Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, make or offer to make any optional or voluntary payment, prepayment, repurchase or redemption of or otherwise optionally or voluntarily defease any Indebtedness other than:

(a) the Indebtedness under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and

(b) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred or would result therefrom, prepayments of Indebtedness made when the sum of the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans , the Effective Amount of all Swing Line Loans , and the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time is equal to zero .

The Borrowers also will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, any of the terms relating to the payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, any such Indebtedness that would accelerate the maturity or increase the amount of any payment of principal thereof.

ARTICLE VII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur:

(a) any Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b) any Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or L/C Obligation or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five days;

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Borrower in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been materially incorrect when made or deemed made;

(d) any Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.2, 5.3 (with respect to such Borrower’s existence) or 5.8 or in Article VI; provided that with respect to any non-consensual Lien on any property or asset of any

 

75


Borrower or any Subsidiary, no Default or Event of Default shall exist under this clause (d) unless any such Lien shall not have been terminated, removed or released within 30 days from the date such Lien was initially placed thereon;

(e) any Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) to the Borrowers;

(f) any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or their respective debts, or of a material part of their respective assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a material part of their respective assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 90 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a material part of their respective assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against any of them in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(j) any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing or fail generally to pay their respective debts as they become due;

 

76


(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $20,000,000 in excess of applicable insurance shall be rendered against any Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(m) a Change in Control shall occur;

(n) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become a Designated Person;

(o) the aggregate amount of the Unfunded Pension Liabilities of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries shall exceed $10,000,000 at any time; or

(p) any Loan Document or any material term thereof shall cease to be, or be asserted by any Borrower not to be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Borrower (or any other Borrower) enforceable in accordance with its terms;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrowers take one or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions and thereupon the Commitments and such obligation of the L/C Issuer shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare all or a portion of the Loans and L/C Obligations then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans and L/C Obligations so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law, (iii) require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to 105% of the then Effective Amount of the L/C Obligations, and (iv) exercise all other rights and remedies under the Loan Documents and applicable law; and in case of any event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans and L/C Obligations then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers, and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to the then Effective Amount of the L/C Obligations shall automatically become effective, which amounts shall be immediately pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent as security for the L/C Obligations, without presentment, demand,

 

77


protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE VIII.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

SECTION 8.1. Appointment, Powers and Immunities

(a) Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors to act as its administrative agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents with such powers as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers as are set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Joint Lead Arrangers and Co-Syndication Agents shall not have any duties or responsibilities or any liabilities under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and any amendments, consents, waivers or any other actions taken in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall not require the consent of the Co-Syndication Agents or, except to the extent expressly set forth in Section 9.2(b) , the Joint Lead Arrangers, in such capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, be a trustee for any Lender or have any fiduciary duty to any Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any applicable Governmental Rule. None of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall be responsible to any other Lender for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Borrower contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure by any Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Administrative Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be responsible to any Lender for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. None of the Administrative Agent or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors shall be responsible to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith, except to the extent arising from its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to the Loan Documents as shall be directed by the Required Lenders or in the absence of such direction such action as the Administrative Agent in good faith deems advisable under the circumstances.

(b) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith until such time (and except for so long) as the Administrative Agent may agree at the request of the Required Lenders to act for the L/C Issuer with respect thereto; provided , however , that the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article VIII with respect

 

78


to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the application and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in this Article VIII included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

SECTION 8.2. Reliance by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to rely upon any certificate, notice or other document (including any cable, telegram, facsimile, e-mail or telex) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent with reasonable care. As to any other matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action or exercise any discretion, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting upon instructions of the Required Lenders and shall in all cases be fully protected by the Lenders in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder or under any other Loan Document in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders (or additional Lenders if required by Section 9.2), and such instructions of the Required Lenders (or additional Lenders as the case may be) and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders.

SECTION 8.3. Defaults . The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Administrative Agent has received a written notice from a Lender or the Borrowers, referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default”. If the Administrative Agent receives such a notice of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; provided , however , that until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interest of the Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the order and manner in which the Lenders’ rights and remedies are to be exercised (including the enforcement by any Lender of its Note) shall be determined by the Required Lenders in their sole discretion.

SECTION 8.4. Indemnification . Without limiting the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder, each Lender agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, ratably in accordance with its pro rata share of all obligations of the Borrowers and Commitments, for any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the enforcement of any of the terms hereof or thereof; provided , however , that no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent any of the foregoing arise from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in refusing to take or in continuing

 

79


to take any action hereunder unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The obligations of each Lender under this Section 8.4 shall survive the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers, the termination of this Agreement and any Lender ceasing to be a party to this Agreement (with respect to events which occurred prior to the time such Lender ceased to be a Lender hereunder).

SECTION 8.5. Non-Reliance . Each Lender represents that it has, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of the business, prospects, management, financial condition and affairs of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and its own decision to enter into this Agreement and agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors shall (a) be required to keep any Lender informed as to the performance or observance by any Borrower of the obligations under this Agreement or any other document referred to or provided for herein or to make inquiry of, or to inspect the properties or books of any Borrower; (b) have any duty or responsibility to disclose to or otherwise provide any Lender, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose or otherwise provide any Lender, with any credit or other information concerning any Borrower which may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder; or (c) be responsible to any Lender for (i) any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Borrower or any officer, employee or agent of any Borrower in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, (ii) the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any Loan Document, (iii) the value or sufficiency of the collateral, if any, or the validity or perfection of any of the liens or security interests intended to be created by the Loan Documents, or (iv) any failure by any Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 8.6. Resignation of the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof to the Borrowers and the Lenders. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which successor Administrative Agent, if not a Lender, shall be reasonably acceptable to the Borrowers; provided , however , that the Borrowers shall have no right to approve a successor Administrative Agent if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from the duties and obligations thereafter arising hereunder; provided that the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from the duties and obligations arising hereunder from and after the end of such thirty (30) day even if no successor has been appointed.

 

80


If no such successor has been appointed, the Required Lenders shall act as the Administrative Agent hereunder. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article VIII shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent. The successor Administrative Agent (or if there is no successor one of the Lenders appointed by the Required Lenders that accepts such appointment) shall also simultaneously replace the then existing Administrative Agent and the then existing Administrative Agent shall be fully released as “L/C Issuer,” and “Swing Line Lender” hereunder pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the then existing Administrative Agent.

SECTION 8.7. Collateral Matters . Unless all the Lenders otherwise consent in writing, any and all cash collateral for the L/C Obligations shall be released to the Borrowers, to the extent not applied to the L/C Obligations, only if (a) the Commitments have been terminated and (b) all L/C Obligations have been paid in full and are no longer outstanding.

SECTION 8.8. Performance of Conditions . For the purpose of determining fulfillment by the Borrowers of conditions precedent specified in Article IV only, each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, and approved or accepted, or to be satisfied with each document or other matter sent by the Administrative Agent to such Lender for consent, approval, acceptance or satisfaction, or required under Article IV to be consented to, or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to, that Lender, unless an officer of the Administrative Agent who is responsible for the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents shall have received written notice from that Lender prior to the making of the requested Loan or the issuance of the requested Letter of Credit or the making of any other L/C Credit Extension specifying its objection thereto and either (i) such objection shall not have been withdrawn by written notice to the Administrative Agent or (ii) in the case of any condition to the making of a Loan, that Lender shall not have made available to the Administrative Agent that Lender’s Revolving Proportionate Share of such Loan, Letter of Credit or other L/C Credit Extension.

SECTION 8.9. The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity . The Administrative Agent and its affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any Borrower and its Affiliates as though the Administrative Agent were not the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder. With respect to Loans, if any, made by the Administrative Agent in its capacity as a Lender, the Administrative Agent in its capacity as a Lender shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, and the terms “Lender” or “Lenders” shall include the Administrative Agent in its capacity as a Lender. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to hold a fiduciary, trust or other special relationship with any Lender and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.

 

81


ARTICLE IX.

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.1. Notices .

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands, consents, instructions or other communications to or upon the Borrowers, any Lender or the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be in writing and faxed, mailed, e-mailed or delivered, if to the Borrowers or to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, at its respective telecopy number, e-mail address or address set forth below or, if to any Lender, at the address, e-mail address or telecopy number specified for such Lender in Schedule 2.1 (or to such other telecopy number, e-mail address or address for any party as indicated in any notice given by that party to the other parties). All such notices and communications shall be effective (i) when sent by an overnight courier service of recognized standing, on the second Business Day following the deposit with such service; (ii) when mailed, first-class postage prepaid and addressed as aforesaid through the United States Postal Service, upon receipt; (iii) when delivered by hand, upon delivery; and (iv) when sent by telecopy transmission, upon confirmation of receipt; provided , however , that (A) any notice delivered to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender under Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person, (B) any notice delivered to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender under Article II that is sent via e-mail must be sent in the form of a signed PDF or similar document image file that is attached to an e-mail sent to the e-mail address or e-mail addresses of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, (C) the e-mail or other web-based communication expressly permitted under Section 9.1(b) or otherwise shall no longer be permitted if the Administrative Agent has notified the Borrowers that it is incapable of receiving such notices and communications by e-mail or other web-based communication and (D) unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, notices and other web-based communication sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement (it being understood that an “auto-response” shall not constitute any such written acknowledgement)); provided that if such e-mail notice or other web-based communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

The Administrative Agent,

the L/C Issuer and

the Swing Line Lender:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

333 South Grand Avenue, 3rd Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Janet N. Yamamoto

Tel. No. (213) 253-6141

Fax No. (866) 359-9230

E-mail: yamamojn@wellsfargo.com

 

82


The Borrowers:

c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: David M. Kirchheimer

Fax No. (213) 830-6290

E-mail: dkircheimer@oaktreecapital.com

With copy to: Todd E. Molz

Fax No. (213) 830-8545

E-mail: tmolz@oaktreecapital.com

In any case where this Agreement authorizes notices, requests, demands or other communications by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to be made by telephone, e-mail or telecopy, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may conclusively presume that anyone purporting to be a person designated in any incumbency certificate or other similar document received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender is such a person.

(b) The Borrowers agree that the Administrative Agent may make any material delivered by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, as well as any amendments, waivers, consents, and other written information, documents, instruments and other materials relating to the Borrowers, or any other materials or matters relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, the “ Communications ”) available to the Lenders by posting such notices on an electronic delivery system (which may be provided by the Administrative Agent, an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, or any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent), such as IntraLinks, The Debt Exchange, Inc. or a substantially similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”). The Borrowers acknowledge that (i) the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution, (ii) the Platform is provided “as is” and “as available” and (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates warrants the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, sufficiency, or sequencing of the Communications posted on the Platform. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates expressly disclaim with respect to the Platform any liability for errors in transmission, incorrect or incomplete downloading, delays in posting or delivery, or problems accessing the Communications posted on the Platform and any liability for any losses, costs, expenses or liabilities that may be suffered or incurred in connection with the Platform. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in connection with the Platform. Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) (a “ Notice ”) specifying that any Communication has been posted to the Platform shall for purposes of this Agreement constitute effective delivery to such Lender of such information, documents or other materials comprising such Communication. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify, on or before the date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent in writing of such Lender’s e-mail address to which a Notice may be sent (and from time to time thereafter to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record an effective e-mail address for such Lender) and (ii) that any Notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

SECTION 9.2. Waivers; Amendments .

 

83


(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrowers therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or L/C Credit Extension shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement, nor any other Loan Document, nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or L/C Obligation or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or L/C Obligation, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.15(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights and duties of the Swing Line lender without the written consent of the Swing Line Lender, (vi) amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights and duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued without the written consent of the L/C Issuer, (vii) amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights of the Joint Lead Arrangers under Section 9.3 without the written consent of the Joint Lead Arrangers or (viii) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Revolving Loan Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects Defaulting Lenders more

 

84


adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of any then existing Defaulting Lender which has acknowledged that it is a Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 9.3. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver . (a) The Borrowers shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, the Joint Lead Arrangers, Swing Line Lender and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, the Joint Lead Arrangers and Swing Line Lender, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default or an Event of Default, Lenders, including the fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders selected by the Administrative Agent, in connection with the enforcement or protection of their rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans or L/C Credit Extensions made hereunder, including in connection with any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect thereof.

(b) The Borrowers shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender, and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of (A) one counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender selected by the Administrative Agent and, if any such Indemnitee determines in good faith (on its own or on the advice of counsel) that there are actual or potential conflicts of interest among one or more such Indemnitees, any counsel for each such Indemnitee making such determination and (B) one counsel for the other Indemnitees selected by the Administrative Agent and, if any such Indemnitee determines in good faith (on its own or on the advice of counsel) that there are actual or potential conflicts of interest among one or more such Indemnitees, any counsel for each such Indemnitee making such determination, in each case, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan, L/C Credit Extension or the use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrowers or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or related expenses have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or such Indemnitee’s directors, officers or employees. For the avoidance of doubt, references to “one counsel” in this Section 9.3 shall mean one law firm (as opposed to one lawyer) and each applicable Person with decision making authority may replace its counsel as it deems

 

85


appropriate and such original counsel and each subsequent replacement counsel, as applicable, shall be deemed to be one counsel for purposes of this Section 9.3.

(c) To the extent that any Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or any of the Joint Lead Arrangers under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or such Joint Lead Arranger, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share of all obligations of the Borrowers and Commitments (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or such Joint Lead Arranger in its capacity as such.

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrowers shall not assert, and hereby waive, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or L/C Credit Extension or the use of the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 9.4. Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement and the Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrowers may not assign or otherwise transfer any of their rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrowers without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “ Assignee ”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Loan Commitments, L/C Obligations and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

(A) the Borrowers; provided that no consent of the Borrowers shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Eligible Assignee; and

(B) the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, and Swing Line Lender provided that (1) no consent of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender shall be required for an assignment of any Revolving Loan Commitment to an assignee that is a Lender with a Revolving Loan Commitment immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment, (2) no consent of the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender shall be required for an assignment of any Term Loans and (3) such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

86


(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrowers shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its affiliates;

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with payment by such parties of a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Wells Fargo Bank, National Association assigns all of its Commitments and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrowers and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon five Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers, terminate the Swing Line. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or termination of the Swing Line, the Borrowers shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrowers to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as L/C Issuer or the termination of the Swing Line, as the case may be. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association shall retain all the rights and obligations of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make ABR Loans or fund participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.17(c)). If Wells Fargo Bank, National Association terminates the Swing Line, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such termination, including the right to require the Lenders to make ABR Loans or fund participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.18(c).

In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender

 

87


hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Revolving Proportionate Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under Governmental Rules without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 9.3). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.4 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the, terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c) Any Lender may, without notice to or consent of the Borrowers, at any time sell to one or more banks or other financial institutions (“ Participants ”) participating interests in all or a portion of any Loan owing to such Lender, any Commitment of such Lender or any other interest of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including for purposes of this subsection (c), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans ). In

 

88


the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating interests, such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance thereof, and the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement pursuant to which any such sale is effected may require the selling Lender to obtain the consent of the Participant in order for such Lender to agree in writing to any amendment, waiver or consent of a type specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 9.2(b) but may not otherwise require the selling Lender to obtain the consent of such Participant to any other amendment, waiver or consent hereunder; provided that increases in the Commitment or Loans shall be permitted without the consent if any Participant’s participation is not increased as a result thereof. The Borrowers agree that if amounts outstanding under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are not paid when due (whether upon acceleration or otherwise), each Participant shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have the right of setoff in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement and any other Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents; provided, however, that (i) no Participant shall exercise any rights under this sentence without the consent of the Administrative Agent, (ii) no Participant shall have any rights under this sentence which are greater than those of the selling Lender and (iii) such rights of setoff shall be subject to the obligation of such Participant to share the payment so obtained with all of the Lenders as provided in Section 2.15. The Borrowers also agree that any Lender which has transferred any participating interest in its Commitments or Loans shall, notwithstanding any such transfer, be entitled to the full benefits accorded such Lender under Sections 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14, as if such Lender had not made such transfer.

(d) Registration . Upon its receipt of an Assignment Agreement executed by an Assignor Lender and an Assignee Lender (and, to the extent required by Section 9.4(b), by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) together with payment to the Administrative Agent by Assignor Lender of a registration and processing fee of $3,500 paid by the parties thereto, the Administrative Agent shall (i) promptly accept such Assignment Agreement and (ii) on the Assignment Effective Date determined pursuant thereto record the information contained therein in the Register and give notice of such acceptance and recordation to the Lenders and the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent may, from time to time at its election, prepare and deliver to the Lenders and the Borrowers a revised Schedule 2.1 reflecting the names, addresses and Commitment or Loans of all Lenders then parties hereto (and in any event Schedule 2.1 shall be deemed amended to reflect any assignment consummated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or upon any Lender becoming a party to this Agreement by any other means (including pursuant to a joinder as contemplated by Section 2.1(b)).

(e) Confidentiality . Subject to Section 9.16, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the Loan Documents and any financial or other information relating to the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries to each other or to any potential Participant or Assignee Lender.

(f) Pledges to Federal Reserve Banks; Other Pledges of Notes . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Lender may at any time assign all or a portion of its rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to a Federal Reserve

 

89


Bank. No such assignment shall relieve the assigning Lender from its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(g) True Sale . All participations in the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to provisions hereof or otherwise, are intended to be “true sales” for purposes of financial reporting in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140. Accordingly, the L/C Issuer or any Lender that sells or is deemed to have sold a participation in the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including any participations in Letters of Credit and/or Loans, any participations described in Section 9.4(c) and any participations under Section 2.15(c) (each a “ Participation Seller ”) hereby agrees that if such Participation Seller receives any payment in respect of the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such participation relates through the exercise of setoff by such Participation Seller against the Borrowers or any other obligor, then such Participation Seller agrees to promptly pay to the participating party in such participation such participant’s pro rata share of such setoff (after giving effect to any sharing with the Lenders under Section 2.15(c) hereof).

SECTION 9.5. Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrowers herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default, Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any L/C Obligation or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 9.3 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 9.6. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof (including, except to the extent expressly set forth therein, the commitment letter dated as of December 1, 2010 between the Borrowers, Wells Fargo Securities, MLPF&S, the Administrative Agent and Bank of America, N.A.). Except as provided in Section 4.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the

 

90


parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or by e-mail of a PDF or similar electronic image file shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.7. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.8. Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrowers against any of and all the obligations any Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured; provided , however , that such Lender shall not set off any amount owed to any Borrower under any credit or other debt facility in which any Borrower or a Subsidiary of a Borrower or any investment funds for which a Borrower or a Subsidiary of a Borrower acts as a general partner or an investment advisor and such Lender are lenders thereunder or in which such Lender is an agent. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

SECTION 9.9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process .

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in any Loan Document, this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to conflicts of law rules other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York. The scope of the foregoing governing law provision is intended to be all-encompassing of any and all disputes that may be brought in any court or any mediation or arbitration proceeding and that relate to the subject matter of the Loan Documents, including contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims and all other common law and statutory claims.

(b) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any

 

91


action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against any Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 9.10. No Third Party Rights . Nothing expressed in or to be implied from this Agreement is intended to give, or shall be construed to give, any Person, other than the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns hereunder, any benefit or legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by virtue of this Agreement or under or by virtue of any provision herein.

SECTION 9.11. Relationship of Parties . The relationship between the Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, on the other, is, and at all times shall remain, solely that of borrowers and lenders. None of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent shall under any circumstances be construed to be partners or joint venturers of the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates; nor shall the Lenders nor the Administrative Agent under any circumstances be deemed to be in a relationship of confidence or trust or a fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship with the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates, or to owe any fiduciary duty to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent do not undertake or assume any responsibility or duty to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates to select, review, inspect, supervise, pass judgment upon or otherwise inform the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates of any matter in connection with its or their property, any security held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the operations of the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates. The Administrative Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrowers. The Borrowers and each of their Affiliates shall rely entirely on their own judgment with respect to such matters, and any review, inspection, supervision, exercise of judgment or supply of information undertaken or assumed by any Lender or the Administrative Agent in connection with such matters is solely for the protection of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and neither the Borrowers nor any of their Affiliates is entitled to rely thereon.

SECTION 9.12. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS

 

92


REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 9.13. Time . Time is of the essence as to each term or provision of this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of the Borrowers and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrowers in accordance with the Patriot Act.

SECTION 9.15. Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.16. Confidentiality . Neither any Lender nor the Administrative Agent shall use the Confidential Information for any purpose other than in connection with the Loan Documents, the transactions contemplated hereunder or any credit decisions that any Lender or the Administrative Agent may make or be contemplating in respect of any one or more entities in the Oaktree Operating Group and any of their respective subsidiaries and Affiliates nor disclose to any Person any Confidential Information, except that any Lender or the Administrative Agent may disclose any Confidential Information (a) to its own directors, officers, employees, auditors, counsel and other advisors and to its Affiliates and their respective agents and advisors who are bound by obligations of confidentiality sufficient to ensure their compliance herewith; (b) to any other Lender or the Administrative Agent; (c) if required, requested or appropriate in any report, statement or testimony submitted to any Governmental Authority having or claiming to have jurisdiction over such Lender or the Administrative Agent ( provided that the Administrative Agent and Lenders shall not be required to provide notice regarding examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of the Administrative Agent or such Lender by such Governmental Authority); (d) if required in response to any summons or subpoena; (e) in connection with any enforcement by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent of their rights under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any litigation among the parties relating to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby; (f) to comply with any Requirement of Law applicable to such Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent; (g) to any Assignee Lender or Participant, any prospective Assignee Lender or Participant or to any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or professional advisors thereto) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Borrower and its obligations hereunder; provided that such Assignee Lender or Participant or prospective Assignee Lender or Participant, direct or indirect contractual counterparty and professional advisor thereto agrees to be bound by the provisions of (or provisions at least as restrictive as) this Section 9.16; (h) to any rating agency when required by it, provided that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake in writing to preserve the confidentiality of any Confidential Information received by it from the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or (i)

 

93


otherwise with the prior consent of the Borrowers; provided , however , that any disclosure made in violation of this Agreement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In the case of disclosure pursuant to clauses (c), (d) and (f), the disclosing Lender shall use reasonable efforts to, to the extent permitted by law, provide prior notice of such disclosure to the Borrowers; provided , however , that any failure to provide such notice shall not affect the obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Nothing in this Section 9.16 shall limit the use of any Platform as described in Section 9.1(b); provided that the recipient of any Confidential Information through such Platform shall be required to agree to maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information by means of a “click-through” confidentiality agreement or similar agreement.

SECTION 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “ Charges ”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

SECTION 9.18. Waivers and Agreements of Borrowers . While not intended by the parties hereto, if it is determined that any Borrower is a surety of any other Borrower:

(a) Without limiting the provisions of Section 1.5, the covenants, agreements and obligations of each Borrower set forth herein are joint and several and shall be primary obligations of such Borrower, and such obligations shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or condition whatsoever, foreseeable or unforeseeable.

(b) Each Borrower hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, (i) any right of redemption with respect to any collateral after the sale hereunder, and all rights, if any, of marshalling of any collateral or other security for the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) any right (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to (A) proceed against any other Borrower or any other Person, (B) proceed against or exhaust any other collateral or security for any of the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or (C) pursue any remedy in the Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s power whatsoever. Each Borrower hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of

 

94


any other Borrower or any other Person other than payment in full of the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including any defense based on or arising out of the disability of any other Borrower or any other Person, or the enforceability of the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any other Borrower other than payment in full of the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. To the extent any collateral secures the Obligations, the Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any security held by the Administrative Agent by one or more judicial or non-judicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable (to the extent such sale is permitted by applicable law), or exercise any other right or remedy the Administrative Agent may have against any other Borrower or any other Person, or any security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Borrower hereunder except to the extent the Loans, the L/C Obligations and other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been paid in full. Each Borrower waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by the Administrative Agent, even though that election of remedies, such as nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a guaranteed obligation, has destroyed such Borrower’s rights of subrogation and reimbursement against the other Borrower.

SECTION 9.19. Clarification . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the parties hereto understand and agree that Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is acting in various capacities under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and therefore shall be permitted to fulfill its roles and manage its various duties hereunder in such manner as Wells Fargo Bank, National Association sees fit and, for the avoidance of doubt, in lieu of sending notices to itself when acting in different capacities Wells Fargo Bank, National Association may keep internal records regarding all such communications, notices and actions related to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance with its past practice.

[This Space Intentionally Left Blank]

 

95


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH            
 

Name: Bruce A. Karsh

Title: President

B Y :   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
 

 

 

Name: David M. Kirchheimer

Title: Principal, Chief Financial Officer and

Administrative Officer

OAKTREE CAPITAL II, L.P.
By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH            
 

Name: Bruce A. Karsh

Title: President

B Y :   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
 

 

 

Name: David M. Kirchheimer

Title: Chief Financial Officer

OAKTREE AIF INVESTMENTS, L.P.
By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH            
 

Name: Bruce A. Karsh

Title: President

B Y :   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
 

 

 

Name: David M. Kirchheimer

Title: Chief Financial Officer

OAKTREE CAPITAL I, L.P.
By:   / S / B RUCE A. K ARSH            
 

Name: Bruce A. Karsh

Title: President

B Y :   / S / D AVID M. K IRCHHEIMER            
 

 

 

Name: David M. Kirchheimer

Title: Chief Financial Officer


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, L/C

Issuer, Swing Line Lender and a Lender

By:   / S / J ANET N. Y AMAMOTO            
  Name: Janet N. Yamamoto
  Title: SVP


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
By:   / S / P HILLIP P. W HEWELL            
  Name: Phillip P. Whewell
  Title: Assistant Vice President


HSBC BANK USA, N.A., as a Lender
By:   / S / F ERESHTAH T HORNBERG             
  Name: Fereshtah Thornberg
  Title: Director


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as a Lender
By:   / S / J OANNE C AREY            
  Name: Joanne Carey
  Title: Vice President


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS

BRANCH, as a Lender

By:   / S / J AY C HALL            
  Name: Jay Chall
  Title: Director
By:   / S / K ATHRIN M ARTI             
  Name: Kathrin Marti
  Title: Assistant Vice President


NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED,

A.B.N. 12 004 044 937, as a Lender

By:   / S / R ICHARD G ARRITT            
  Name: Richard Garritt
  Title: Director


COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT,

NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN

BRANCHES, as a Lender

By:   / S / A NDREW C AMPBELL             
  Name: Andrew Campbell
  Title: Managing Director
By:   / S / K ELLY W ILSON            
  Name: Kelly Wilson
  Title: Vice President


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY

AMERICAS, as a Lender

By:   / S / E VELYN T HIERYY            
  Name: Evelyn Thierry
  Title: Director
By:   / S / O MAYRA L AUCELLA            
  Name: Omayra Laucella
  Title: Vice President


GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender
By:   / S / M ARK W ALTON            
  Name: Mark Walton
  Title: Authorized Signatory


MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as a Lender
By:   / S / R YAN V ETSCH            
  Name: Ryan Vetsch
  Title: Authorized Signatory


UNION BANK, N.A., as a Lender
By:   / S / Y UCHIRO I ZUMI            
  Name: Yuichiro Izumi
  Title: Credit Officer

Exhibit 10.11

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is made as of                      by and between Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Company ”), and                      (the “ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to contractually obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, the Indemnitee so that the Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer and/or director of the Company or other members of the Oaktree Group (as defined below);

WHEREAS, the Company’s limited partnership agreement requires the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to certain Persons (as defined below) to the extent provided therein, and the Indemnitee serves as a director and/or officer of a member of the Oaktree Group, in part, in reliance on such provisions; and

WHEREAS, Oaktree Capital Group, LLC has decided that it is appropriate that the Company enter into this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions . As used in this Agreement:

Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.

Action ” means any threatened, asserted, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, or appeal thereof, whether brought in the right of a member of the Oaktree Group or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other nature.

Affiliate ” means as to a specified Person, each Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person.

Board ” means the Board of Directors of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC.

Disinterested Director ” means a director of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC who is not, and was not, a party to (or a Related Person of a party to) the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by an Indemnified Person.

Expenses ” means all costs, disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in a Proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, and delivery service fees and other out-of-pocket costs. Expenses also include


disbursements and expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedes bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

Governmental Authority ” means any United States federal, state, provincial, supranational, county or local or any foreign government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, self-regulatory body, instrumentality or commission, and any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body (including private bodies) and any political or other subdivision, department or branch of any of the foregoing.

Group Status ” means a Person who is or was serving as a director, officer, member, manager, partner, tax matters partner, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of a member of the Oaktree Group or, at the request of the Company or its Affiliates, as a director, officer, member, manager, partner, tax matters partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any other Person (in each case other than by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services). References to “ serving at the request of the Company or its Affiliates ” shall include, without limitation, any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of OCG, Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC or an Affiliate of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.

Indemnified Person ” means the Indemnitee and each Related Person of the Indemnitee.

Oaktree Group ” means OCG, Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC and their respective subsidiaries.

OCG ” means Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, Governmental Authority, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity.

Proceeding ” means any Action in which any Indemnified Person was, is or will be involved (as a party or otherwise) directly or indirectly by reason of (i) the Indemnitee’s Group Status, (ii) any action alleged to be taken by the Indemnitee or omitted or of any action alleged on his part while acting in the Indemnitee’s Group Status, or (iii) establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Agreement or the Act or otherwise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

Related Person ” means, with respect to any Person (i) any Affiliate of such Person, (ii) any investment fund, investment account or investment Person whose investment manager, investment advisor or general partner, is such Person or any Affiliate of such Person or any member, partner, officer or employee of such Person or any Affiliate of such Person, (iii) any member or partner of any Person specified in clause (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) any officer, director or employee of any Person specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above.

 

2


For purposes of this Agreement:

(a) references to “ fines ” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan;

(b) a Person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in manner “ not opposed to the best interests of the Oaktree Group ”; and

(c) references “ to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law ” shall include, but not be limited to:

(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the Act; and

(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by (i) any amendments to or replacements of the Act adopted after the date of this Agreement or (ii) any change in judicial interpretation of the Act which occurs after the date of this Agreement, in each case, that increase the extent to which a limited partnership may indemnify its partners; provided, however , that no change in the Act, whether by way of amendment, replacement or judicial interpretation, shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to the Indemnified Person hereunder based on Delaware law as in effect on the date hereof or as such benefits may improve as a result of amendments, replacements or judicial interpretation after the date hereof.

2. Indemnification . If an Indemnified Person is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, including a Proceeding by or in the right of a member of the Oaktree Group to procure a judgment in its favor against such Indemnified Person, the Company shall indemnify such Indemnified Person to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest and amounts paid in settlement with a member of the Oaktree Group) directly or indirectly incurred by or behalf of such Indemnified Person in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, except to the extent that it shall have been determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Expenses and liabilities arose primarily from acts or omissions, including any mistake of fact or error in judgment, taken, suffered or made, that constituted a breach of the duties of such Indemnified Person and such breach was the result of (A) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable law (including any federal or state securities law), in each case, that resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of a member of the Oaktree Group or (B) fraud. Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnified Person, pursuant to a loan, guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of a member of the Oaktree Group (including any indebtedness which a member of the Oaktree Group has assumed or taken subject to).

3. Partial Indemnity .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if an Indemnified Person is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify such Indemnified Person against all Expenses and liabilities directly or indirectly incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnified

 

3


Person in connection with (x) each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter and (y) each claim, issue, or matter related to any claim, issue or matter on which such Indemnified Person was successful.

(b) For purposes of this Section 3 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify each Indemnified Person against all Expenses directly or indirectly incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person if, by reason of the Group Status of Indemnitee, such Indemnified Person is a witness in any Action to which such Indemnified Person is not a party.

5. Additional Indemnification for Settlement . To the extent any Indemnified Person has met the standard of conduct outlined in Section 2, the Company shall indemnify any Indemnified Person to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if such Indemnified Person is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of a member of the Oaktree Group to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, liabilities and other amounts paid in settlement in connection with the Proceeding; provided , that the Company shall have the right to consent to any settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

6. Exclusions . The Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against any Indemnified Person in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) (x) involving the enforcement of non-compete, non-disclosure and/or non-solicitation agreements or the non-compete, non-disclosure and/or non-solicitation provisions of agreements the Indemnitee is a party to with a member of the Oaktree Group or any other Person, (y) initiated by such Indemnified Person, unless, solely with respect to this clause (y), (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by applicable law; (ii) the Company has joined in the Proceeding or a majority of the Disinterested Directors authorized or consented to the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (iii) the Proceeding is one to enforce the Indemnified Person’s rights under this Agreement (including an action pursued by the Indemnified Person to secure a determination that the Indemnified Person should be indemnified under applicable law) or (z) involving the enforcement by a member of the Oaktree Group of its rights to collect any payment(s) contractually owed by the Indemnified Person to any member of the Oaktree Group pursuant to any written contract or promissory note.

7. Advances of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall advance, or cause to be advanced, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of each Indemnified Person in connection with any Proceeding within 10 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. The Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), either (i) pay, or cause to be paid, such Expenses on behalf of the Indemnified Person or (ii) reimburse, or cause the reimbursement of, the Indemnified Person for such Expenses. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free, and made without regard to

 

4


the ability of such Indemnified Person to repay the expenses or ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an Action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Such Indemnified Person shall qualify for advances solely upon the execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. This Section 7 shall not apply to any claim made by any Indemnified Person for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 6.

8. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a) Within 30 days after an Indemnified Person is served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses or liabilities covered hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall submit to the Company a written request, including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to such Indemnified Person and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent such Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification. The failure to notify the Company within such period will not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to such Indemnified Person (i) under this Agreement except to the extent the failure adversely affects the Company’s or its Affiliate’s rights, legal position, ability to defend or ability to obtain insurance coverage with respect to such Proceeding or (ii) otherwise than under this Agreement. The Company shall advise the Board in writing promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification.

(b) If the Company shall be obligated to pay the Expenses in connection with any Proceeding against an Indemnified Person, the Company shall be entitled to assume and control the defense of such Proceeding (with counsel consented to by such Indemnified Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), upon the delivery to such Indemnified Person of written notice of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice, consent to such counsel by such Indemnified Person and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to such Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any fees of separate counsel subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Person with respect to the same Proceeding, provided , that the reasonable fees and expenses of such Indemnified Person’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company if:

(i) the employment of separate counsel by such Indemnified Person has been previously authorized by the Company;

(ii) such Indemnified Person or counsel selected by the Company shall have concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between a member of the Oaktree Group and such Indemnified Person or among another indemnified Person jointly represented in the conduct of any such defense; or

(iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel, to which such Indemnified Person has consented as aforesaid, to assume the defense of such Proceeding.

 

5


(c) The Company may participate in the Proceeding at its own expense. The Company will not, without prior written consent of an Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of a claim in any threatened or pending Proceeding unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability on any claims that are or were threatened to be made against such Indemnified Person in the Proceeding.

9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the Person or Persons making such determination shall presume that an Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if such Indemnified Person has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption by clear and convincing evidence in connection with the making by any Person or Persons of any determination contrary to that presumption.

(b) The termination of any action, suit or proceeding relating to or involving an Indemnified Person by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, in and of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Person breached any duty or committed (i) willful malfeasance, gross negligence, a felony or a material violation of applicable law (including any federal or state securities law) that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of a member of the Oaktree Group or (ii) fraud.

(c) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of any Person shall not be imputed to any Indemnified Person for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

10. Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a) If (i) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement or (ii) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 2, 3, 4 or 5 of this Agreement within 10 days after a determination has been made that an Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification, then an Indemnified Person shall be entitled to an adjudication by a Delaware court of such Indemnified Person’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. The Company shall not oppose such Indemnified Person’s right to seek any such adjudication.

(b) In any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 10, the Company shall have the burden of proving such Indemnified Person is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

(c) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify any Indemnified Person against any and all Expenses and, if requested by an Indemnified Person, shall (within 10

 

6


days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to such Indemnified Person, which are incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any Action brought by such Indemnified Person for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by a member of the Oaktree Group, regardless of whether such Indemnified Person ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery.

11. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Subrogation .

(a) The rights provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which an Indemnified Person may at any time be entitled under applicable law, any other agreement, a vote of partners and/or members or a resolution of directors and/or a general partner, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of an Indemnified Person under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnified Person prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) To the extent that a member of the Oaktree Group maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of members of the Oaktree Group or any other Person that Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company or its Affiliates, Indemnitee shall be an insured under such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, a member of the Oaktree Group has director and officer liability insurance in effect, such member shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The applicable members of the Oaktree Group and Indemnitee shall mutually cooperate and take all reasonable actions to cause such insurers to pay on behalf of the insureds, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of all applicable policies.

(c) The Company shall be subrogated to the extent of any payment under this Agreement to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights. The Company shall pay or reimburse all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any Indemnified Person in connection with such subrogation.

(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that the Indemnified Person has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

7


(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to an Indemnified Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any Person shall be reduced by any amount the Indemnified Person has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other Person.

12. Duration of Agreement; Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of (a) 10 years after Indemnitee has ceased to occupy any positions or have any relationships with any member of the Oaktree Group and (b) the final termination of all Proceedings pending or threatened during such period to which any Indemnified Person may be subject. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each Indemnified Person and his personal and legal representatives, heirs, executors, administrators, distributees, legatees and other successors.

13. Security . To the extent requested by an Indemnified Person and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to such Indemnified Person for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to an Indemnified Person, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of such Indemnified Person.

14. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement or any application of any provision hereof shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever:

(a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law;

(b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and

(c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

15. Enforcement .

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director and/or officer of a member of the Oaktree Group, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving in such capacity.

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and

 

8


understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided , that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s limited partnership agreement, applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of any Indemnified Person thereunder.

16. Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

17. Notices . Any notices or other communications required or permitted under or otherwise in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or upon confirmation of receipt when transmitted by facsimile transmission (but only if followed by transmittal by national overnight courier or hand for delivery on the next business day) or on receipt after dispatch by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, or on the next business day if transmitted by national overnight courier, in each case as follows:

(a) if to the Company, directed to the Board at its principal place of business; and

(b) if to an Indemnified Person, to such address as set forth below Indemnitee’s name on the signature page to this Agreement; or such other Persons or addresses as shall be furnished in writing by such Indemnified Person to the Company.

18. Contribution . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to an Indemnified Person for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person, shall contribute to the amount incurred by such Indemnified Person, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by members of the Oaktree Group, as the case may be, and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (b) the relative fault of the members of the Oaktree Group, as the case may be, and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s). The relative fault of a Person shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which such Person’s: (i) actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage; (ii) liability is primary or secondary; and (iii) conduct is active or passive.

19. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

9


(a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country;

(b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement;

(c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware, and

(d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

20. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

21. Third Party Beneficiaries . Except as otherwise set forth herein, nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to entitle any Person, other than the parties hereto and each other Indemnified Person, and their respective transferees and assigns permitted hereby, to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind in respect of this Agreement.

22. Miscellaneous . Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

10


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.,       INDEMNITEE
By:  

 

     

 

  Name:   Howard Marks        
  Title:   Chairman       Name:  

 

          Address:  

 

By:  

 

       

 

  Name:   Bruce Karsh        
  Title:   President        

 

11

Exhibit 10.12

O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP

2007 E QUITY I NCENTIVE P LAN

SECTION 1. Purpose . This Oaktree Capital Group 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) is designed to promote the long term financial interests and growth of Oaktree Capital Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, by (i) attracting and retaining investment professionals, other employees, directors and consultants, and (ii) aligning the interests of such individuals with those of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates by providing them with equity-based awards based on the units of OCGH (the “ Units ”), each of which represents an indirect interest in one Oaktree Group Unit.

SECTION 2. Definitions . As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “ Administrator ” means the Board and the General Partner, or the group of Principals (or a subset thereof) to whom authority to administer the Plan has been delegated by the Board and the General Partner.

(b) “ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Person in question. As used herein, the term “ Control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(c) “ Award ” means individually or collectively, any Option, Unit Appreciation Right or Other Unit-Based Award granted under the Plan.

(d) “ Award Agreement ” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

(e) “ Beneficial Owner ” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, such security. The term “ Beneficially Own ” shall have a correlative meaning.

(f) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(g) “ Cause ” means, with respect to any Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events during the Participant’s provision of services to OCGH or any of its Affiliates (regardless of whether the occurrence is discovered before or after the Participant’s cessation of such services) (i) gross negligence or misconduct detrimental to OCGH or any of its Affiliates, (ii) material breach of the OCGH Limited Partnership Agreement or any other agreement between such Participant and OCGH or any of its Affiliates, (iii) violation of any applicable regulatory rule or regulation, (iv) conviction of, or entry of a guilty please or of no contest to, a felony (other than a motor-vehicle-related felony for which no custodial penalty is imposed), (v) entry of an order issued by any court or regulatory agency removing such


Participant as an officer of OCGH or of any of its Affiliates, or prohibiting such Participant from participation in the conduct of affairs of OCGH or any of its Affiliates, and (vi) fraud, theft, misappropriation or dishonesty by such Participant relating to OCGH or any of its Affiliates, including theft of funds.

(h) “ Change in Control ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all, of the assets of the Company to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Act) other than the Permitted Holders;

(ii) any person or group, other than the Permitted Holders, is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company (or any entity which controls the Company), including by way of merger, consolidation, tender or exchange offer or otherwise; or

(iii) a reorganization, recapitalization, merger or consolidation (a “ Corporate Transaction ”) involving the Company, unless securities representing at least 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company or the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (or the parent of such corporation) are held subsequent to such transaction by the person or persons who were the Beneficial Owners of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction.

(i) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

(j) “ Company ” shall mean the Oaktree Capital Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor thereto.

(k) “ Consultant ” means a consultant or advisor who is a natural person, engaged to render services to the Company or any Subsidiary.

(l) “ Disability ” shall have the same meaning as provided in the OCGH Limited Partnership Agreement.

(m) “ Eligible Recipient ” means an employee (including any individual to whom a formal written offer of employment has been extended), director or Consultant of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company who has been selected as an eligible participant by the Administrator.

 

2


(n) “ Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(o) “ Exercise Price ” means the per Unit price at which a holder of an award granted hereunder may purchase the Units issuable upon exercise of such award.

(p) “ Fair Market Value ” as of a particular date shall mean the fair market value as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided , however , (i) if the Units or any securities issued as replacement for the Units are admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value on any date shall be the closing sale price of such Units or replacement securities reported on such date, or (ii) if the Units or replacement securities are then traded in an over-the-counter market (including the GSTrUE OTC market), the fair market value on any date shall be the average of the closing bid and asked prices for such Units or replacement securities in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Units or replacement securities in such market.

(q) “ General Partner ” shall mean the general partner of OCGH.

(r) “ Oaktree Operating Group ” shall mean, collectively, the group consisting of each of the following entities: (i) Oaktree Capital I, L.P.; (ii) Oaktree Capital II, L.P., (iii) Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., (iv) Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., (v) Oaktree Media Investments, L.P., and (vi) any other Subsidiary of the Company (whether now in existence or hereinafter formed) that is designated as part of the group by the Board.

(s) “ OCGH ” means Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

(t) “ Oaktree Group Unit ” means the aggregate of one unit in each of the members of the Oaktree Operating Group, representing an interest in each such entity.

(u) “ Option ” means an option to purchase Units granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

(v) “ Other Unit-Based Awards ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof.

(w) “ Participant ” means (i) any Eligible Recipient selected by the Administrator, pursuant to the Administrator’s authority in Section 3 below, to receive grants of Options, Unit Appreciation Rights, Other Unit-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing, and upon his or her death, his or her successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as applicable.

(x) “ Permitted Holders ” means, as of the date of determination, any and all of (i) an employee benefit plan (or trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) any corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power of its voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or (ii) OCGH or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

3


(y) “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity.

(z) “ Plan ” means this Oaktree Capital Group Equity Incentive Plan.

(aa) “ Principals ” means any individual who may from time to time be designated by the Board of the Company as a principal in the Company, in each case until his or her death, disability, resignation or removal by the Board.

(bb) “ Retirement ” means a termination of a Participant’s employment, other than for Cause, on or after attainment of age 65.

(cc) “ Unit Appreciation Right ” means the right pursuant to an award granted under Section 8 below to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value, as of the date such Unit Appreciation Right or portion thereof is surrendered, of the Units covered by such right or such portion thereof, over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price of such right or such portion thereof.

(dd) “ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting Units or other similar interests or a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

(ee) “ Units ” shall mean the units of OCGH.

SECTION 3. Administration.

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator. Additionally, the Administrator may delegate the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to any employee or group of employees of the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such delegation and grants are consistent with applicable law and guidelines established by the Board and the General Partner from time to time.

(b) Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, subject to any restrictions on the authority delegated to it by the Board or the General Partner, shall have the power and authority:

(1) to select those Eligible Recipients who shall be Participants;

(2) to determine whether and to what extent Options, Unit Appreciation Rights, Other Unit-Based Awards or a combination of any of the foregoing, are to be granted hereunder to Participants;

(3) to determine the number of Units to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

4


(4) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing Options, Unit Appreciation Rights, Other Unit-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, (i) the restrictions applicable to Awards and the conditions under which restrictions applicable to such awards shall lapse, (ii) the Exercise Price, if any, of Awards, (iii) the vesting schedule applicable to Awards, (iv) the number of Units subject to Awards and (v) any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards).

(5) to determine the Fair Market Value with respect to any Award;

(6) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant without constituting a termination of the Participant’s employment for purposes of any Option or other Award granted under the Plan;

(7) to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable;

(8) to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan;

(9) to delegate its authority, in whole or in part, under this Section 3 to two or more individuals (who may or may not be members of the Board), subject to the requirements of applicable law or any stock exchange on which the Units or replacement securities are traded; and

(10) to determine at any time whether, to what extent and under what circumstances and method or methods Awards may be settled by the Company, or any Participating Subsidiary or Affiliate. In the event of such determination, references to the Company shall be deemed to be references to the applicable Participating Subsidiary or Affiliate for purposes of the Plan as appropriate.

(c) All designations, determinations, interpretations and any other decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be within the sole discretion of the Administrator, may be made at any time pursuant to the Plan and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company and the Participants (and their permitted transferees). Neither the General Partner nor any member of the Board or the Administrator, nor any officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate acting on behalf of the General Partner, the Board or the Administrator, shall be personally liable for any action, omission, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the General Partner, the Board or the Administrator and each and any officer or employee of the Company and of any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and

 

5


protected by the Company in respect of any such action, omission, determination or interpretation.

SECTION 4. Units Reserved for Issuance Under the Plan; Limitations .

(a) Subject to Section 9 hereof, the maximum number of Units that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan (the “Unit Limit”) shall be 21,600,000 subject to adjustment as provided herein, as increased on the first day of each fiscal year beginning in calendar year 2008 by a number of Units equal to the excess of (x) 15% of the number of outstanding OOG Units on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year over (y) the number of OOG Units that have been issued or are issuable under the Plan as of such date, unless the Board and the General Partner in their joint discretion decide to increase the number of Units covered by the Plan by a lesser amount. The issuance of Units or the payment of cash upon the exercise of an Award or in consideration of the cancellation or termination of an Award shall reduce the total number of Units available under the Plan, as applicable. Units which are subject to Awards which terminate or lapse without the payment of consideration may be granted again under the Plan.

SECTION 5. Eligibility .

(a) The Participants under the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from among Eligible Recipients.

SECTION 6. Options .

(a) General . Each Participant who is granted an Option shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its discretion, which Award Agreement shall set forth, among other things, the Exercise Price of the Units subject to the Option, the term of the Option and provisions regarding exercisability of the Option granted thereunder. The provisions of each Option need not be the same with respect to each Participant. More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b) Exercise Price . The Exercise Price of Units purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, provided that the Exercise Price of any Units subject to an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Units on the date of grant.

(c) Option Term . The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date such Option is granted. Each Option’s term is subject to earlier expiration pursuant to the applicable provisions in the Plan and the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

6


(d) Exercisability . Each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of preestablished performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, an Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Unit.

(e) Method of Exercise . Options may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Units to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Units so purchased in cash or its equivalent, as determined by the Administrator. Subject to any requirements or limitations imposed by the Board and the General Partner, payment with respect to any Option or category of Options, may also be made: (i) by means of consideration received under any cashless exercise procedure approved by the Administrator (including the withholding of Units otherwise issuable upon exercise), (ii) in the form of unrestricted Units already owned by the Participant which, (x) in the case of unrestricted Units acquired upon exercise of an Option, have been owned by the Participant for more than six months on the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate option price of the Units as to which such Option shall be exercised, (iii) any other form of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by applicable law or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.

(f) Rights as Unitholder . A Participant shall have no rights to distributions or any other rights as a Unitholder of OCGH with respect to the Units subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of exercise, has paid in full for such Units, has satisfied the requirements of Section 12 hereof.

(g) Transfers of Options . Except as otherwise determined by the Board and the General Partner, no Option granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a Participant, other than by (i) a division of property pursuant to community or quasi-community property laws, (ii) a charitable gift, provided that the transferee or donee agrees to be subject to the same restrictions, (iii) a transfer to personal planning vehicles, (iv) a transfer approved by the General Partner, (v) a pledge of the underlying Units to the Company, or (vi) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided , however , that, in addition to such other terms and conditions as the Board and the General Partner may impose in connection with any such transfer, no transferee may further assign, sell, hypothecate or otherwise transfer the transferred Option, in whole or in part, other than by operation of the laws of descent and distribution. Each permitted transferee shall agree to be bound by the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

(h) Termination of Employment or Service .

(1) Unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, in the event that the employment or service of a Participant with the Company or with any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company shall terminate for any reason other

 

7


than Cause, Retirement, Disability, or death, (A) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they are exercisable at the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable until the date that is 90 days after such termination, on which date they shall expire, and (B) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were not exercisable at the time of such termination, shall expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. The 90-day period described in this Section 7(i)(1) shall be extended to one year after the date of such termination in the event of the Participant’s death during such 90-day period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

(2) Unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise, in the event that the employment or service of a Participant with the Company or with any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company shall terminate on account of the Retirement, Disability, or death of the Participant, (A) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were exercisable at the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable until the date that is one year after such termination, on which date they shall expire and (B) Options granted to such Participant, to the extent that they were not exercisable at the time of such termination, shall expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its term.

(3) In the event the employment or service of a Participant with the Company or with any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company shall be terminated for Cause, all outstanding Options granted to such Participant shall expire at the commencement of business on the date of such termination.

(i) Other Change in Employment Status . An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial disability or other changes in the employment status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator. The Administrator shall follow any applicable written policies of the Company (if any), including such rules, guidelines and practices as may be adopted pursuant to Section 3 hereof, as they may be in effect from time to time, with regard to such matters.

SECTION 7. Unit Appreciation Rights .

(a) General . Unit Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone (“ Free Standing Rights ”) or in conjunction with all or part of any other Award granted under the Plan (“ Related Rights ”). The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Unit Appreciation Rights shall be made; the number of Units to be awarded; the price per Unit; and all other conditions of the Unit Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Related Right may be granted for more Units than are subject to the Award to which it relates and any Unit Appreciation Right must be granted with an Exercise Price not less than the Fair Market Value of the Units on the date of grant. The provisions of Unit Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

8


Unit Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator, or the Board and the General Partner shall set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b) Awards . The prospective recipient of a Unit Appreciation Right shall not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such recipient has executed an Award Agreement and delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, within a period of sixty days (or such other period as the Administrator may specify) after the award date. Participants who are granted Unit Appreciation Rights shall have no rights as Unitholders of OCGH with respect to the grant or following exercise of such rights.

(c) Exercisability .

(1) Unit Appreciation Rights that are Free Standing Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(2) Unit Appreciation Rights that are Related Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Awards to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 above, this Section 7 of the Plan, and the terms set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(d) Payment Upon Exercise .

(1) Upon the exercise of a Free Standing Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Units equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of exercise over the price per Unit specified in the Free Standing Right (which price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Unit on the date of grant) multiplied by the number of Units in respect of which the Free Standing Right is being exercised, with the Administrator having the right to determine the form of payment.

(2) A Related Right may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Award. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Units equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price specified in the related Award (which price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of grant) multiplied by the number of Units in respect of which the Related Unit Appreciation Right is being exercised, with the Administrator having the right to determine the form of payment. Awards that have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related Rights have been so exercised.

 

9


(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined by the Board and the General Partner, the Administrator may determine to settle the exercise of a Unit Appreciation Right in cash (or in any combination of Units and cash) to the extent that such settlement does not violate Section 409A of the Code.

(e) Non-Transferability .

(1) Free Standing Rights shall be transferable only when and to the extent that an Award would be transferable under Section 6 of the Plan.

(2) Related Unit Appreciation Rights shall be transferable only when and to the extent that the underlying Award would be transferable under Section 6 of the Plan.

(f) Termination of Employment or Service .

(1) In the event of the termination of employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company of a Participant who has been granted one or more Free Standing Rights, such rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

(2) In the event of the termination of employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company of a Participant who has been granted one or more Related Unit Appreciation Rights, such rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the related Unit Options.

(g) Term .

(1) The term of each Free Standing Right shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Free Standing Unit Appreciation Right shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date such right is granted.

(2) The term of each Related Right shall be the term of the Award to which it relates, but no Related Right shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date such right is granted.

SECTION 8. Other Unit-Based Awards .

(a) The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant or sell Awards of Units, restricted units, phantom restricted units or other unit-based awards based on Fair Market Value of the Units (“Other Unit-Based Awards”). Subject to obtaining any necessary consent or authorization from the Board and the General Partner, each Other Unit-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Administrator shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive, or vest with respect to, one or more Units (or the equivalent cash value of such Units) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Other Unit-Based

 

10


Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and obtaining any necessary consent or authorization from the Board and the General Partner, the Administrator shall determine to whom and when Other Unit-Based Awards will be made, the number of Units to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Unit-Based Awards; whether such Other Unit-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Units or a combination of cash and Units; and all other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof and provisions ensuring that all Units so awarded and issued shall be fully paid and non-assessable).

SECTION 9. Adjustments Upon Certain Events .

Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to all Awards granted under the Plan:

(a) Generally . In the event of any change in the outstanding Units after the Effective Date by reason of any Unit dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, combination or transaction or exchange of Units or other corporate exchange, or any distribution to shareholders of Units other than regular cash dividends or any transaction similar to the foregoing, the Administrator in its sole discretion and without liability to any person shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of Units or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan or pursuant to outstanding Awards, (ii) the maximum number of Units for which Options or Unit Appreciation Rights may be granted during a calendar year to any Participant (iii) the maximum amount of a Performance-Based Award that may be granted during a calendar year to any Participant, (iv) the Option Price or exercise price of any unit appreciation right and/or (v) any other affected terms of such Awards.

(b) Change in Control . In the event of a Change in Control after the Effective Date, (i) if determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise, any outstanding Awards then held by Participants which are unexercisable or otherwise unvested or subject to lapse restrictions shall automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested or no longer subject to lapse restrictions, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control and (ii) the Administrator may, but shall not be obligated to, (A) accelerate, vest or cause the restrictions to lapse with respect to all or any portion of an Award, (B) cancel such Awards for fair value (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator) which, in the case of Options and Unit Appreciation Rights, may equal the excess, if any, of value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction to holders of the same number of Units subject to such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (or, if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of the Units subject to such Options or Unit Appreciation Rights) over the aggregate exercise price of such Options or Unit Appreciation Rights, (C) provide for the issuance of substitute Awards that will substantially preserve the otherwise applicable terms of any affected Awards previously granted hereunder as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion or (D) provide that for a period of at least 15 days prior to the Change in Control, such Options shall be exercisable as to all shares subject thereto and that upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, such Options shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

 

11


SECTION 10. Amendments or Termination .

(a) Subject to obtaining any necessary consent or authorization from the Board and the General Partner, the Administrator may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made without the consent of a Participant, if such action would diminish any of the rights of the Participant under any Award theretofore granted to such Participant under the Plan; provided , however , that the Administrator may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards meeting the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws (including, without limitation, to avoid adverse tax consequences to the Company or to Participants).

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Administrator determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be taxable to a Participant under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance prior to payment to such Participant of such amount, the Company may (a) adopt such amendments to the Plan and Awards and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder and/or (b) take such other actions as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.

SECTION 11. Unfunded Status of Plan .

(a) The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company or OCGH, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or OCGH.

SECTION 12. Withholding Taxes .

(a) Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award first becomes includible in the gross income of the Participant for federal and/or state income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Award. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on the making of such payments or arrangements, and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant. Whenever cash is to be paid pursuant to an Award granted hereunder, the Company shall have the right to deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements related thereto. Whenever Units are to be delivered pursuant to an award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements related thereto. With the approval of the Administrator, a Participant may satisfy the foregoing requirement by electing to have the Company withhold from delivery of Units or by delivering already owned unrestricted Units, in each case, having a value equal to the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld. Such Units shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

 

12


Fractional Unit amounts shall be settled in cash. Such an election may be made with respect to all or any portion of the Units to be delivered pursuant to an award. The Company may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary payment or proceeds, as permitted by law, to satisfy its withholding obligation with respect to any Option or other Award.

SECTION 13. General Provisions .

(a) The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and a Participant, including without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors

(b) Except as otherwise permitted herein or in the applicable Award Agreement, an Award shall not be transferable or assignable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. An Award exercisable after the death of a Participant may be exercised by the legatees, personal representatives or distributees of the Participant.

(c) With respect to Participants who reside or work outside the United States of America, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or an Affiliate.

(d) The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws.

(e) The adoption of the Plan shall not confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company to terminate the employment or service of any Person at any time. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Administrator’s determinations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).

SECTION 14. Effective Date .

(a) The Plan became effective upon adoption by the Board and the General Partner (the “ Effective Da te”).

SECTION 15. Term of Plan .

(a) No award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

 

13


SECTION 16. Section 409A .

(a) To the extent applicable, this Plan and Awards issued hereunder shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreements thereunder, no Award shall be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under this Plan in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a Participant. In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Administrator that, as a result of Section 409A of the Code, payments in respect of any Award under the Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Award agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such Award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company will make such payment on the first day that would not result in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A of the Code. The Administrator shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Section 16 in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Administrator nor any of the Company’s employees, directors or representatives shall have any liability to Participants with respect to this Section 16.

 

14


GRANT AGREEMENT

This G RANT A GREEMENT (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is effective as of January 1, 2011 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS , L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS GP, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, the “ General Partner ”), and                      , an individual (the “ Participant ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, dated as of March 28, 2008 (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Partnership Agreement ”).

Recitals

W HEREAS , the Oaktree Capital Group 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) was adopted for purposes of promoting the long-term financial interests and growth of the Oaktree Group by, among other things, providing select investment professionals, other employees, directors and consultants of the Oaktree Group with equity-based awards based upon Units; and

W HEREAS , the Administrator (as defined under the Plan) is authorized to administer the Plan and has approved the grant and issuance of the Granted Units (as defined below) to the Participant pursuant to the Plan, subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Documents (as defined below).

N OW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

Agreement

1. Grant of Units . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement and the other Grant Documents:

(a) the Partnership hereby grants and issues to the Participant, and the Participant hereby accepts and receives from the Partnership,          Units (the “ Granted Units ”);

(b) if the Participant is not already a Limited Partner, then the Participant is hereby admitted as a Limited Partner, and each of the General Partner, the Partnership and the Participant hereby consents to such admission;

(c) the Participant hereby acknowledges that he or she has received and has reviewed carefully a copy of ( i ) the Partnership Agreement, the current form of which is


attached as Exhibit A hereto, ( ii ) the Exchange Agreement, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto, ( iii ) the Tax Receivable Agreement, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit C hereto, ( iv ) the Plan, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, and ( v ) each other agreement, instrument or document required by any Oaktree Group Member to be executed and delivered by the Participant in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, including the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, and the Plan, the “ Grant Documents ”); and

(d) if the Participant is not already a party to the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, then the Participant hereby joins as a party to, and agrees to be bound by each and every provision of, the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement.

2. Vesting of Units . Each Granted Unit shall be unvested as of the Effective Date. Twenty percent (20%) of the Granted Units shall vest on January 1, 2012, and an additional twenty percent (20%) of the Granted Units shall vest on each of ( a ) January 1, 2013, ( b ) January 1, 2014, ( c ) January 1, 2015, and ( d ) January 1, 2016, in each case, unless forfeited pursuant to Paragraph 3 below or accelerated pursuant to Section 4.4(e) of the Partnership Agreement.

3. Forfeiture of Units . The Granted Units are subject to forfeiture pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Partnership Agreement. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, and except as otherwise determined by the General Partner, if the Participant ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group (other than as a result of his or her Incapacitation), for any reason or no reason at all (including termination of such services by any Oaktree Group Member without Cause), then all unvested Granted Units of the Participant shall be immediately and automatically forfeited on the effective date the Participant ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group.

4. Participant’s Obligation to Pay Taxes . The Participant shall be responsible for any and all taxes relating to the Granted Units, including amounts due upon the vesting of any Granted Units or relating to allocations of income with respect to the Granted Units. Without limiting Section 7.8 of the Partnership Agreement, the Participant hereby agrees that the Partnership has the right to require reimbursement from the Participant of any such taxes that are paid by the Partnership and to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant, including as necessary to satisfy any foreign, U.S. federal, state or local withholding tax requirements and from payments receivable by the Participant under the Grant Documents. As security for the full, prompt and complete payment and performance when due of all of the Participant’s obligations under this Paragraph 4 (including its obligation to reimburse the Partnership for any such taxes that are paid by the Partnership), the Participant hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Partnership a security interest in the Granted Units and on all proceeds directly or indirectly receivable by the Partnership in respect of the Granted Units (including any distributions by the Partnership to the Participant in respect of the Granted Units and any proceeds receivable by the Participant in connection with the sale of the Granted Units). The Participant shall take such actions as the Partnership may request

 

- 2 -


from time to time to perfect or enforce such security interest and to otherwise maintain such security interest as a first priority lien in favor of the Partnership.

5. Certain Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements . As an essential inducement to the Partnership to grant and issue the Granted Units to the Participant, the Participant hereby represents and warrants to the Oaktree Group as follows:

(a) Authority and Capacity . The Participant has the legal capacity to execute and deliver each Grant Document and to perform all of his or her obligations thereunder. The Participant has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and each Grant Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Participant, enforceable against the Participant in accordance with their respective terms.

(b) No Conflict; Satisfaction of Conditions to Membership Transactions . Neither the execution and delivery by the Participant of any Grant Document, nor the performance by the Participant of his or her obligations thereunder, violates, conflicts with or constitutes a default or breach under, or will violate, conflict with or constitute a default or breach under any applicable law or any contract, indenture, agreement, instrument or mortgage binding on the Participant or any of his or her properties. To the best knowledge of the Participant, neither the grant and issuance of the Granted Units to the Participant, nor the investment by the Participant in the Granted Units, nor the admission of the Participant as a Limited Partner:

 

  (i) would reasonably be expected to result in the violation by the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or Oaktree Related Person (as defined below) of any applicable law, including any applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws;

 

  (ii) would reasonably be expected to terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of any jurisdiction;

 

  (iii) would reasonably be expected to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); or

 

  (iv) would reasonably be expected to subject the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person to any material regulatory requirement to which it, he or she otherwise would not be subject, including any requirement that the Partnership register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or as a result of all or any portion of the Partnership’s assets becoming or being deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA.

(c) Suitability . The Participant meets all suitability standards or eligibility requirements imposed by the jurisdiction of his or her residence for his or her acquisition

 

- 3 -


of the Granted Units pursuant to the Grant Documents. The Participant has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Granted Units and protecting his or her own interests in connection with such investment.

(d) Access to Information . The Participant ( i ) has been provided with ample opportunity to discuss each Grant Document, the Granted Units and the Oaktree Business (as defined below) with the General Partner and to ask the General Partner such questions regarding each Grant Document, the Granted Units and the Oaktree Business, and to receive such answers to such questions and such other information, as the Participant deems necessary, appropriate or advisable, and ( ii ) has been provided with ample opportunity to consult with such legal, tax, financial and other advisors of the Participant regarding each Grant Document, the Granted Units and the Oaktree Business as the Participant deems necessary, appropriate or advisable. The Participant has a preexisting personal and business relationship with the principals of the Oaktree Group, and such personal and business relationship is of a nature and duration so as to enable the Participant to be aware of their character, business acumen and general business and financial circumstances.

(e) Independent Investment Decision . The Participant is relying on his or her own independent investigation and the information contained in the Grant Documents, and the Participant is not relying on any Person (other than his or her own legal, tax, financial and other advisors) or any representation or warranty made by any Oaktree Related Person, in each case, in deciding to own and hold the Granted Units. Without limiting the foregoing, no representation or warranty has been made to the Participant by any Oaktree Related Person as to the existing value or the future performance of the Oaktree Business.

(f) Investment Intent . The Participant will own and hold the Granted Units for his or her own account, as a principal, for investment purposes only, and not with a view to, or for, resale or distribution, in whole or in part. No other Person has a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Granted Units (other than, if the Participant is a married natural person acquiring the Granted Units as community property, the community property interest of the Participant’s spouse). The Participant is not acting as an agent, representative, intermediary or nominee, or in any similar capacity, for or on behalf of any other Person with respect to any Granted Units.

(g) Restricted Securities . The Participant understands that the grant and issuance hereunder of the Granted Units are intended to be exempt from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), state securities laws and other applicable foreign or domestic securities laws. The Participant further understands that the Granted Units have not been recommended or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other foreign or domestic governmental authority. No Transfer of the Granted Units will be made by the Participant except for Transfers that comply with all applicable laws, including the Securities Act, and the provisions of the Grant Documents, including the restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 4.6 of the Partnership Agreement. Although

 

- 4 -


the Grant Documents contemplate that the Participant will be able to monetize vested Granted Units pursuant to Article VI of the Partnership Agreement and the provisions of the Exchange Agreement, the Participant understands that there is no assurance that ( i ) the Participant will actually be able to monetize, Transfer or otherwise realize value from such Granted Units and ( ii ) any such monetization, Transfer or other realization will be at a price or upon terms and conditions that are satisfactory to the Participant. The Participant further understands that Oaktree Group is under no obligation to ensure ( i ) that any Issuer Equity will continue to be tradable on the GSTrUE OTC market or any other market or trading platform or ( ii ) that other avenues of liquidity will be made available to the Participant with respect to the Granted Units. The Participant is able and willing to bear, and has the financial ability to bear, the economic and other risks of his or her ownership in the Granted Units for an indefinite period of time. The Participant has no need for liquidity with respect to the Granted Units.

(h) Accredited Investor . The Participant is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Without limiting the foregoing, the Participant is a natural person, who ( i ) has a net worth individually or jointly with his or her spouse that exceeds $1,000,000 at the time of the grant and issuance of the Granted Units (excluding the value of the Participant’s primary residence and the related amount of indebtedness secured by the primary residence up to the fair market value of the residence, and deducting as a liability any indebtedness secured by the residence in excess of the fair market value of the residence) or ( ii ) had annual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent calendar years (e.g., if the current calendar year is 2011, then in each of 2010 and 2009) and reasonably expects to have income in excess of $200,000 in the current calendar year; or ( iii ) had annual income jointly with his or her spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of the two most recent calendar years (e.g., if the current calendar year is 2011, then in each of 2010 and 2009) and reasonably expects to have joint income in excess of $300,000 in the current calendar year.

(i) Tax Consequences . The Participant understands that his or her investment in the Granted Units may cause him or her adverse tax consequences, including the realization of taxable income without receiving cash distributions to pay the required tax thereon. For example, the Participant may be taxed upon the vesting of the Granted Units on the value of the vesting Granted Units. Moreover, although it is contemplated that the Partnership will make cash distributions in respect of the Granted Units from time to time, the Participant understands that there is no obligation for the Partnership to make any distribution (including tax distributions) to its Limited Partners (including the Participant). The Participant further understands that even if the Partnership were to make cash distributions from time to time, there is no assurance that such cash distributions will be made in sufficient amounts or at an opportune time so as to enable the Participant to pay in a timely manner any taxes that the Participant may be required to pay in respect of the Granted Units. The Participant has sufficient liquid resources to pay all taxes that the Participant may be required to pay in respect of the Granted Units, including all taxes arising from the vesting of the Granted Units or allocations of taxable income of the Partnership to the Participant with respect to the Granted Units. The Participant has reviewed his or her investment in the Granted Units with his or her tax

 

- 5 -


advisors and has not received or relied upon any tax advice from any Oaktree Related Person. No Oaktree Related Person has made any representation or warranty (and shall not otherwise be liable to the Participant) as to the tax treatment of vesting, allocations or distributions with respect to the Granted Units under applicable law.

(j) Understanding of Grant Documents . The Participant understands each provision of each Grant Document and the terms and conditions of the Granted Units. Without limiting the foregoing, the Participant understands that:

 

  (i) the Participant has irrevocably constituted and appointed each of the Partnership, the General Partner, their respective authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, and the members of the General Partner with full power of substitution, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of the Participant as set forth in Section 3.9 of the Partnership Agreement for the purposes set forth therein;

 

  (ii) the Partnership Agreement permits the Partnership to issue, at any time and from time to time, without the approval of the Participant or the need to notify the Participant, additional Units on such terms and conditions as the General Partner may determine, including Units that may be senior or superior to the Granted Units;

 

  (iii) the Participant does not have any preemptive rights, right of first refusal, right of first offer or other right of participation with respect to any such issuance, and such issuances are expected to have a dilutive effect on the Participant’s interest in the Partnership;

 

  (iv) amounts distributable to the Participant in respect of the Granted Units are subject to withholding pursuant to Sections 7.8 and 7.9 of the Partnership Agreement; and

 

  (v) the Participant, as a Service Partner, is subject to the restrictive covenants set forth in Article X of the Partnership Agreement, which includes covenants and prohibitions to which the Participant will continue to be bound after the Participant ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group.

The Participant has given careful consideration to all of the provisions of the Grant Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, the Participant ( x ) has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon him or her under the Grant Documents, including under Articles IV and X of the Partnership Agreement, ( y ) is in full accord as to the necessity of such provisions, and ( z ) understand that his or her agreement to be bound by each such provision is an essential inducement to the Partnership to grant and issue the Granted Units to the Participant.

If the Participant becomes aware that any representation or warranty made by him or her in any Grant Document would be incorrect in any material respect if such representation or warranty

 

- 6 -


were to be made as of any subsequent date, or that the Participant is unable fulfill or perform in any material respect any of his or her covenants or agreements in any Grant Document, the Participant shall promptly notify the General Partner of such inaccuracy or inability.

6. Incorporation of Partnership Agreement Provisions . The provisions of Article XII of the Partnership Agreement (other than Sections 12.3 of the Partnership Agreement) are hereby incorporated herein by reference and shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing:

(a) any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Partnership Agreement;

(b) this Agreement may be amended, modified, or waived with the written consent of the General Partner; provided that if any such amendment, modification, or waiver would adversely affect the Participant in any material respect, such amendment, modification, or waiver shall also require the written consent of the Participant; provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership Agreement may be amended, modified and waived pursuant to Section 12.5 of the Partnership Agreement, and the Plan may be amended, modified and waived pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan, and, in each case, no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be deemed to be an amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement;

(c) any notice that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to any party hereto shall be given pursuant to Section 12.6 of the Partnership Agreement;

(d) in accordance with Section 12.9 of the Partnership Agreement, this Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies, or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware by residents of the State of Delaware; provided that the enforceability of Paragraph 6(a) shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq. , and not the laws of the State of Delaware; and

(e) in accordance with Section 12.12 of the Partnership Agreement, this Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

7. Entire Agreement . The Grant Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such matter; provided that in the event of any conflict between the Exchange Agreement and the Partnership Agreement, the Partnership Agreement shall prevail.

8. Interpretation and Certain Definitions .

(a) All ambiguities shall be resolved without reference to which party may have drafted this Agreement. All article or section headings or other captions in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they shall not be deemed part of this

 

- 7 -


Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ( i ) a term has the meaning assigned to it; ( ii ) “or” is not exclusive; ( iii ) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; ( iv ) each definition herein includes the singular and the plural; ( v ) each reference herein to any gender includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter where appropriate; ( vi ) the word “including” when used herein means “including, but not limited to,” and the word “include” when used herein means “include, without limitation”; and ( vii ) references herein to specified paragraph numbers refer to the specified paragraph of this Agreement. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and derivative or similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “applicable law” and any other similar references to the law include all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, orders, rules, regulations, determinations, orders, judgments, and decrees of any Governmental Authority. The abbreviation “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. All monetary amounts expressed herein by the use of the words “U.S. dollar” or “U.S. dollars” or the symbol “$” are expressed in the lawful currency of the United States of America. The words “foreign” and “domestic” shall be interpreted by reference to the United States of America.

(b) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon the Participant any right or privilege that is in addition, or otherwise more favorable, to the rights and privileges generally enjoyed by the other Limited Partners under the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, except to the extent such additional or more favorable right or privilege is expressly and intentionally conferred hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Granted Units are not subject to any Unit Designation which alters the terms and conditions generally applicable to Units under the Partnership Agreement.

(c) “ Oaktree Business ” means the business and operations of the Oaktree Group, including the organization, investment objectives, expenses, operational structure, management structure and other material details of the Oaktree Group.

(d) “ Oaktree Related Person ” means ( i ) any Oaktree Group Member, ( ii ) the current and former principals, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents and representatives of any Oaktree Group Member, and ( iii ) the current and former direct and indirect shareholders, partners, members and equityholders of any Oaktree Group Member (other than the current and former direct and indirect shareholders, partners, members and equityholders of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, who are not otherwise included in either of the foregoing clause (i) or (ii)).

(e) This Agreement is intended to constitute a “Grant Agreement” for purposes of the Partnership Agreement and an “Award Agreement” for purposes of the Plan. The Granted Units are intended to constitute an “Award” for purposes of the Plan.

9. Further Assurances . The Participant agrees to take all actions that may be reasonably requested by the General Partner from time to time, including by executing and

 

- 8 -


delivering all agreements, instruments and documents that may be reasonably requested by the General Partner, to carry out the purposes of the Grant Documents.

 

- 9 -


I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PARTNERSHIP AND GENERAL PARTNER
O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS GP, LLC
On behalf of itself and as general partner on behalf of O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS , L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
PARTICIPANT

 

THE GRANTED UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH OR QUALIFIED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. SUCH UNITS ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. THE GRANTED UNITS CANNOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, IN EACH CASE, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND OTHER GRANT DOCUMENTS AND THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ALL APPLICABLE JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.


GRANT AGREEMENT

This G RANT A GREEMENT (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is effective as of January 1, 2011 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS , L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS GP, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, the “ General Partner ”), and                      , an individual (the “ Participant ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, dated as of March 28, 2008 (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Partnership Agreement ”).

Recitals

W HEREAS , the Oaktree Capital Group 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) was adopted for purposes of promoting the long-term financial interests and growth of the Oaktree Group by, among other things, providing select investment professionals, other employees, directors and consultants of the Oaktree Group with equity-based awards based upon Units; and

W HEREAS , the Administrator (as defined under the Plan) is authorized to administer the Plan and has approved the grant and issuance of the Granted Units (as defined below) to the Participant pursuant to the Plan, subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Documents (as defined below).

N OW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

Agreement

1. Grant of Units . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement and the other Grant Documents:

(a) the Partnership hereby grants and issues to the Participant, and the Participant hereby accepts and receives from the Partnership,          Units (the “ Granted Units ”);

(b) if the Participant is not already a Limited Partner, then the Participant is hereby admitted as a Limited Partner, and each of the General Partner, the Partnership and the Participant hereby consents to such admission;

(c) the Participant hereby acknowledges that he or she has received and has reviewed carefully a copy of ( i ) the Partnership Agreement, the current form of which is


attached as Exhibit A hereto, ( ii ) the Exchange Agreement, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto, ( iii ) the Tax Receivable Agreement, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit C hereto, ( iv ) the Plan, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, and ( v ) each other agreement, instrument or document required by any Oaktree Group Member to be executed and delivered by the Participant in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, including the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, and the Plan, the “ Grant Documents ”); and

(d) if the Participant is not already a party to the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, then the Participant hereby joins as a party to, and agrees to be bound by each and every provision of, the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement.

2. Vesting of Units . Each Granted Unit shall be unvested as of the Effective Date. Ten percent (10%) of the Granted Units shall vest on January 1, 2012, and an additional ten percent (10%) of the Granted Units shall vest on January 1 of each calendar year thereafter until the Granted Units are fully vested on January 1, 2021, in each case, unless forfeited pursuant to Paragraph 3 below or accelerated pursuant to Section 4.4(e) of the Partnership Agreement.

3. Forfeiture of Units . The Granted Units are subject to forfeiture pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Partnership Agreement. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, and except as otherwise determined by the General Partner, if the Participant ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group (other than as a result of his or her Incapacitation), for any reason or no reason at all (including termination of such services by any Oaktree Group Member without Cause), then all unvested Granted Units of the Participant shall be immediately and automatically forfeited on the effective date the Participant ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group.

4. Participant’s Obligation to Pay Taxes . The Participant shall be responsible for any and all taxes relating to the Granted Units, including amounts due upon the vesting of any Granted Units or relating to allocations of income with respect to the Granted Units. Without limiting Section 7.8 of the Partnership Agreement, the Participant hereby agrees that the Partnership has the right to require reimbursement from the Participant of any such taxes that are paid by the Partnership and to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant, including as necessary to satisfy any foreign, U.S. federal, state or local withholding tax requirements and from payments receivable by the Participant under the Grant Documents. As security for the full, prompt and complete payment and performance when due of all of the Participant’s obligations under this Paragraph 4 (including its obligation to reimburse the Partnership for any such taxes that are paid by the Partnership), the Participant hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Partnership a security interest in the Granted Units and on all proceeds directly or indirectly receivable by the Partnership in respect of the Granted Units (including any distributions by the Partnership to the Participant in respect of the Granted Units and any proceeds receivable by the Participant in connection with the sale of the Granted Units). The Participant shall take such actions as the Partnership may request


from time to time to perfect or enforce such security interest and to otherwise maintain such security interest as a first priority lien in favor of the Partnership.

5. Certain Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements . As an essential inducement to the Partnership to grant and issue the Granted Units to the Participant, the Participant hereby represents and warrants to the Oaktree Group as follows:

(a) Authority and Capacity . The Participant has the legal capacity to execute and deliver each Grant Document and to perform all of his or her obligations thereunder. The Participant has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and each Grant Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Participant, enforceable against the Participant in accordance with their respective terms.

(b) No Conflict; Satisfaction of Conditions to Membership Transactions . Neither the execution and delivery by the Participant of any Grant Document, nor the performance by the Participant of his or her obligations thereunder, violates, conflicts with or constitutes a default or breach under, or will violate, conflict with or constitute a default or breach under any applicable law or any contract, indenture, agreement, instrument or mortgage binding on the Participant or any of his or her properties. To the best knowledge of the Participant, neither the grant and issuance of the Granted Units to the Participant, nor the investment by the Participant in the Granted Units, nor the admission of the Participant as a Limited Partner:

 

  (i) would reasonably be expected to result in the violation by the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or Oaktree Related Person (as defined below) of any applicable law, including any applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws;

 

  (ii) would reasonably be expected to terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of any jurisdiction;

 

  (iii) would reasonably be expected to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); or

 

  (iv) would reasonably be expected to subject the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person to any material regulatory requirement to which it, he or she otherwise would not be subject, including any requirement that the Partnership register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or as a result of all or any portion of the Partnership’s assets becoming or being deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA.

(c) Suitability . The Participant meets all suitability standards or eligibility requirements imposed by the jurisdiction of his or her residence for his or her acquisition


of the Granted Units pursuant to the Grant Documents. The Participant has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Granted Units and protecting his or her own interests in connection with such investment.

(d) Access to Information . The Participant ( i ) has been provided with ample opportunity to discuss each Grant Document, the Granted Units and the Oaktree Business (as defined below) with the General Partner and to ask the General Partner such questions regarding each Grant Document, the Granted Units and the Oaktree Business, and to receive such answers to such questions and such other information, as the Participant deems necessary, appropriate or advisable, and ( ii ) has been provided with ample opportunity to consult with such legal, tax, financial and other advisors of the Participant regarding each Grant Document, the Granted Units and the Oaktree Business as the Participant deems necessary, appropriate or advisable. The Participant has a preexisting personal and business relationship with the principals of the Oaktree Group, and such personal and business relationship is of a nature and duration so as to enable the Participant to be aware of their character, business acumen and general business and financial circumstances.

(e) Independent Investment Decision . The Participant is relying on his or her own independent investigation and the information contained in the Grant Documents, and the Participant is not relying on any Person (other than his or her own legal, tax, financial and other advisors) or any representation or warranty made by any Oaktree Related Person, in each case, in deciding to own and hold the Granted Units. Without limiting the foregoing, no representation or warranty has been made to the Participant by any Oaktree Related Person as to the existing value or the future performance of the Oaktree Business.

(f) Investment Intent . The Participant will own and hold the Granted Units for his or her own account, as a principal, for investment purposes only, and not with a view to, or for, resale or distribution, in whole or in part. No other Person has a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Granted Units (other than, if the Participant is a married natural person acquiring the Granted Units as community property, the community property interest of the Participant’s spouse). The Participant is not acting as an agent, representative, intermediary or nominee, or in any similar capacity, for or on behalf of any other Person with respect to any Granted Units.

(g) Restricted Securities . The Participant understands that the grant and issuance hereunder of the Granted Units are intended to be exempt from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), state securities laws and other applicable foreign or domestic securities laws. The Participant further understands that the Granted Units have not been recommended or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other foreign or domestic governmental authority. No Transfer of the Granted Units will be made by the Participant except for Transfers that comply with all applicable laws, including the Securities Act, and the provisions of the Grant Documents, including the restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 4.6 of the Partnership Agreement. Although


the Grant Documents contemplate that the Participant will be able to monetize vested Granted Units pursuant to Article VI of the Partnership Agreement and the provisions of the Exchange Agreement, the Participant understands that there is no assurance that ( i ) the Participant will actually be able to monetize, Transfer or otherwise realize value from such Granted Units and ( ii ) any such monetization, Transfer or other realization will be at a price or upon terms and conditions that are satisfactory to the Participant. The Participant further understands that Oaktree Group is under no obligation to ensure ( i ) that any Issuer Equity will continue to be tradable on the GSTrUE OTC market or any other market or trading platform or ( ii ) that other avenues of liquidity will be made available to the Participant with respect to the Granted Units. The Participant is able and willing to bear, and has the financial ability to bear, the economic and other risks of his or her ownership in the Granted Units for an indefinite period of time. The Participant has no need for liquidity with respect to the Granted Units.

(h) Accredited Investor . The Participant is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Without limiting the foregoing, the Participant is a natural person, who ( i ) has a net worth individually or jointly with his or her spouse that exceeds $1,000,000 at the time of the grant and issuance of the Granted Units (excluding the value of the Participant’s primary residence and the related amount of indebtedness secured by the primary residence up to the fair market value of the residence, and deducting as a liability any indebtedness secured by the residence in excess of the fair market value of the residence) or ( ii ) had annual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent calendar years (e.g., if the current calendar year is 2011, then in each of 2010 and 2009) and reasonably expects to have income in excess of $200,000 in the current calendar year; or ( iii ) had annual income jointly with his or her spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of the two most recent calendar years (e.g., if the current calendar year is 2011, then in each of 2010 and 2009) and reasonably expects to have joint income in excess of $300,000 in the current calendar year.

(i) Tax Consequences . The Participant understands that his or her investment in the Granted Units may cause him or her adverse tax consequences, including the realization of taxable income without receiving cash distributions to pay the required tax thereon. For example, the Participant may be taxed upon the vesting of the Granted Units on the value of the vesting Granted Units. Moreover, although it is contemplated that the Partnership will make cash distributions in respect of the Granted Units from time to time, the Participant understands that there is no obligation for the Partnership to make any distribution (including tax distributions) to its Limited Partners (including the Participant). The Participant further understands that even if the Partnership were to make cash distributions from time to time, there is no assurance that such cash distributions will be made in sufficient amounts or at an opportune time so as to enable the Participant to pay in a timely manner any taxes that the Participant may be required to pay in respect of the Granted Units. The Participant has sufficient liquid resources to pay all taxes that the Participant may be required to pay in respect of the Granted Units, including all taxes arising from the vesting of the Granted Units or allocations of taxable income of the Partnership to the Participant with respect to the Granted Units. The Participant has reviewed his or her investment in the Granted Units with his or her tax


advisors and has not received or relied upon any tax advice from any Oaktree Related Person. No Oaktree Related Person has made any representation or warranty (and shall not otherwise be liable to the Participant) as to the tax treatment of vesting, allocations or distributions with respect to the Granted Units under applicable law.

(j) Understanding of Grant Documents . The Participant understands each provision of each Grant Document and the terms and conditions of the Granted Units. Without limiting the foregoing, the Participant understands that:

 

  (i) the Participant has irrevocably constituted and appointed each of the Partnership, the General Partner, their respective authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, and the members of the General Partner with full power of substitution, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of the Participant as set forth in Section 3.9 of the Partnership Agreement for the purposes set forth therein;

 

  (ii) the Partnership Agreement permits the Partnership to issue, at any time and from time to time, without the approval of the Participant or the need to notify the Participant, additional Units on such terms and conditions as the General Partner may determine, including Units that may be senior or superior to the Granted Units;

 

  (iii) the Participant does not have any preemptive rights, right of first refusal, right of first offer or other right of participation with respect to any such issuance, and such issuances are expected to have a dilutive effect on the Participant’s interest in the Partnership;

 

  (iv) amounts distributable to the Participant in respect of the Granted Units are subject to withholding pursuant to Sections 7.8 and 7.9 of the Partnership Agreement; and

 

  (v) the Participant, as a Service Partner, is subject to the restrictive covenants set forth in Article X of the Partnership Agreement, which includes covenants and prohibitions to which the Participant will continue to be bound after the Participant ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group.

The Participant has given careful consideration to all of the provisions of the Grant Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, the Participant ( x ) has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon him or her under the Grant Documents, including under Articles IV and X of the Partnership Agreement, ( y ) is in full accord as to the necessity of such provisions, and ( z ) understand that his or her agreement to be bound by each such provision is an essential inducement to the Partnership to grant and issue the Granted Units to the Participant.

If the Participant becomes aware that any representation or warranty made by him or her in any Grant Document would be incorrect in any material respect if such representation or warranty


were to be made as of any subsequent date, or that the Participant is unable fulfill or perform in any material respect any of his or her covenants or agreements in any Grant Document, the Participant shall promptly notify the General Partner of such inaccuracy or inability.

6. Incorporation of Partnership Agreement Provisions . The provisions of Article XII of the Partnership Agreement (other than Sections 12.3 of the Partnership Agreement) are hereby incorporated herein by reference and shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing:

(a) any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Partnership Agreement;

(b) this Agreement may be amended, modified, or waived with the written consent of the General Partner; provided that if any such amendment, modification, or waiver would adversely affect the Participant in any material respect, such amendment, modification, or waiver shall also require the written consent of the Participant; provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership Agreement may be amended, modified and waived pursuant to Section 12.5 of the Partnership Agreement, and the Plan may be amended, modified and waived pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan, and, in each case, no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be deemed to be an amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement;

(c) any notice that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to any party hereto shall be given pursuant to Section 12.6 of the Partnership Agreement;

(d) in accordance with Section 12.9 of the Partnership Agreement, this Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies, or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware by residents of the State of Delaware; provided that the enforceability of Paragraph 6(a) shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq. , and not the laws of the State of Delaware; and

(e) in accordance with Section 12.12 of the Partnership Agreement, this Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

7. Entire Agreement . The Grant Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such matter; provided that in the event of any conflict between the Exchange Agreement and the Partnership Agreement, the Partnership Agreement shall prevail.

8. Interpretation and Certain Definitions .

(a) All ambiguities shall be resolved without reference to which party may have drafted this Agreement. All article or section headings or other captions in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they shall not be deemed part of this


Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ( i ) a term has the meaning assigned to it; ( ii ) “or” is not exclusive; ( iii ) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; ( iv ) each definition herein includes the singular and the plural; ( v ) each reference herein to any gender includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter where appropriate; ( vi ) the word “including” when used herein means “including, but not limited to,” and the word “include” when used herein means “include, without limitation”; and ( vii ) references herein to specified paragraph numbers refer to the specified paragraph of this Agreement. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and derivative or similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “applicable law” and any other similar references to the law include all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, orders, rules, regulations, determinations, orders, judgments, and decrees of any Governmental Authority. The abbreviation “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. All monetary amounts expressed herein by the use of the words “U.S. dollar” or “U.S. dollars” or the symbol “$” are expressed in the lawful currency of the United States of America. The words “foreign” and “domestic” shall be interpreted by reference to the United States of America.

(b) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon the Participant any right or privilege that is in addition, or otherwise more favorable, to the rights and privileges generally enjoyed by the other Limited Partners under the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, except to the extent such additional or more favorable right or privilege is expressly and intentionally conferred hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Granted Units are not subject to any Unit Designation which alters the terms and conditions generally applicable to Units under the Partnership Agreement.

(c) “ Oaktree Business ” means the business and operations of the Oaktree Group, including the organization, investment objectives, expenses, operational structure, management structure and other material details of the Oaktree Group.

(d) “ Oaktree Related Person ” means ( i ) any Oaktree Group Member, ( ii ) the current and former principals, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents and representatives of any Oaktree Group Member, and ( iii ) the current and former direct and indirect shareholders, partners, members and equityholders of any Oaktree Group Member (other than the current and former direct and indirect shareholders, partners, members and equityholders of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, who are not otherwise included in either of the foregoing clause (i) or (ii)).

(e) This Agreement is intended to constitute a “Grant Agreement” for purposes of the Partnership Agreement and an “Award Agreement” for purposes of the Plan. The Granted Units are intended to constitute an “Award” for purposes of the Plan.

9. Further Assurances . The Participant agrees to take all actions that may be reasonably requested by the General Partner from time to time, including by executing and


delivering all agreements, instruments and documents that may be reasonably requested by the General Partner, to carry out the purposes of the Grant Documents.


I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PARTNERSHIP AND GENERAL PARTNER
O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS GP, LLC
On behalf of itself and as general partner on behalf of O AKTREE C APITAL G ROUP H OLDINGS , L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
PARTICIPANT

 

THE GRANTED UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH OR QUALIFIED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. SUCH UNITS ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. THE GRANTED UNITS CANNOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, IN EACH CASE, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND OTHER GRANT DOCUMENTS AND THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ALL APPLICABLE JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

Exhibit 10.13

 

 

 

PHANTOM EQUITY PLAN

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC AND ITS AFFILIATES

Effective as of January 1, 2008

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

1.

  Adoption and Purpose      1   

2.

  Definitions      1   

3.

  Awards and Award Agreements      1   

4.

  Vesting      2   

5.

  Forfeiture of Award      2   

6.

  Phantom Distribution Payments      2   

7.

  Phantom Reduction Payments      2   

8.

  Economic Intent of Awards      5   

9.

  Certain Acknowledgments and Disclaimers      6   

10.

  Return of Phantom Equity Payments      7   

11.

  Withholding      7   

12.

  Information Rights      7   

13.

  Transfer Restrictions      8   

14.

  Administration      8   

15.

  Actions Relating to OCGH      9   

16.

  Construction      9   

17.

  Notices      10   

18.

  Amendment and Termination      10   

19.

  Arbitration of Disputes      10   

20.

  Controlling Law      12   

 

-i-


PHANTOM EQUITY PLAN

OF

OAKTREE CAPITAL GROUP, LLC AND ITS AFFILIATES

1. Adoption and Purpose . Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Oaktree ”), hereby establishes and adopts this Phantom Equity Plan (this “ Plan ”) on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (each of Oaktree and such Affiliates, an “ Oaktree Group Member ” and, collectively, the “ Oaktree Group ”), effective as of January 1, 2008. The general purpose of this Plan is to promote the long-term financial interests and growth of the Oaktree Group by, among other things, providing select investment professionals, other employees, directors and consultants of the Oaktree Group with phantom equity awards that are calculated by reference to the limited partner units of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ OCGH ”).

2. Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in the provisions of this Plan shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of OCGH, dated as of January 1, 2008 (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Partnership Agreement ”); provided that any term defined in the Partnership Agreement that refers to Service Partners shall, when used in this Agreement, be construed to refer to Recipients (as defined below).

3. Awards and Award Agreements . Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, Oaktree may, at any time and from time to time, award (an “ Award ”) to any Person whom Oaktree determines to receive such Award (the “ Recipient ”) the right hereunder to receive the cash payments contemplated by Sections 6 and 7(f) (collectively, “ Phantom Equity Payments ”) pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Plan and the Award Agreement (as defined below) evidencing such Award. Each Award shall be evidenced by a written agreement (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, an “ Award Agreement ”) between the Grantor (as defined below) and Recipient of such Award. Each Award Agreement shall, at the minimum, specify:

(a) the effective date (the “ Effective Date ”) of the Award being granted thereunder;

(b) the specific Oaktree Group Member (the “ Grantor ”) that will be obligated to make the Phantom Equity Payments for such Award;

(c) the number of Units by which such Award will be calculated (the “ Notional Units ”) and, in the event such Units are of a specific class or series or are subject to a Unit Designation, such class, series or Unit Designation; and

(d) such other terms, conditions and other details applicable to such Award that Oaktree deems to be relevant in its sole discretion.


The terms, conditions and other details applicable to any Award need not be identical or similar to the terms, conditions and other details applicable to any other Award. No Award shall be deemed to have been granted until such time as such Award has been specifically authorized by Oaktree and an Award Agreement evidencing such Award has been executed and delivered by the Grantor and Recipient of such Award.

4. Vesting . Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing an Award, the Notional Units for such Award shall be unvested as of the Effective Date of such Award. Subject to Section 5 , such Notional Units shall vest in accordance with the vesting schedule for such Notional Units set forth in such Award Agreement (each vested Notional Unit, a “ Vested Notional Unit ”); provided that, except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing an Award, ( a ) Oaktree may accelerate the vesting of any Notional Unit for such Award, including by causing such Notional Unit to vest immediately and automatically, and ( ii ) upon the Incapacitation of the Recipient of such Award, all unvested Notional Units for such Award shall vest immediately and automatically.

5. Forfeiture of Award . Except as otherwise determined by Oaktree, if any Recipient ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group (other than as a result of his or her Incapacitation) for any reason or no reason at all (including termination of such services by any Oaktree Group Member without Cause), then all of the unvested Notional Units for each Award of such Recipient shall be immediately and automatically forfeited on the effective date such Recipient ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group, with the effect that the number of Notional Units for such Award shall thereafter cease to include such unvested Notional Units. For example, if a Recipient is granted an Award which consists of 5,000 Notional Units, and at the time such Recipient ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group (other than as a result of his or her Incapacitation) 3,000 of such 5,000 Notional Units are unvested, then the number of Notional Units for such Award shall, after giving effect to the forfeiture contemplated by this Section 5 , be reduced to 2,000.

6. Phantom Distribution Payments . The Grantor for each Award shall, substantially contemporaneously with any distribution under Article VII or Section 11.2(b) of the Partnership Agreement, as the case may be, to the Limited Partners, make a cash payment in respect of such Award to the Recipient of such Award (each such cash payment, a “ Phantom Distribution Payment ”) in an amount determined by Oaktree in good faith to be equal to the amount (if any) that would have been distributed by OCGH to the Recipient under Article VII or Section 11.2(b) of the Partnership Agreement, as the case may be, if ( a ) the Recipient were a Limited Partner, ( b ) the Notional Units for such Award were actual issued and outstanding Units held by such Limited Partner, ( c ) all other Recipients of all other Awards were admitted as Limited Partners as of the respective Effective Dates of their Awards, and ( d ) the Notional Units for all such other Awards were actual Units that were issued to such other Recipients as of their respective Effective Dates, all as determined by Oaktree in good faith and, in each case, subject to Sections 10 and 11 .

7. Sale Proceeds .

(a) For purposes of this Plan, “ Sale Unit ” means, with respect to any Award, ( i ) any Vested Notional Unit for such Award that has become a Sale Unit pursuant to the

 

-2-


terms and conditions of the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, provided that, in the event the Award Agreement evidencing such Award does not specify the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Vested Notional Units for such Award become Sale Units, then each such Vested Notional Unit shall be deemed to be a Sale Unit, and ( ii ) any other Notional Units for such Award that Oaktree determines, at any time and from time to time, to be Sale Units (regardless of whether such Notional Units are Vested Notional Units at the time of such determination).

(b) Each Recipient may request with respect to each Open Period (each Recipient who makes such a request, a “ Selling Recipient ”), by delivery of written notice (a “ Sale Notice ”) to Oaktree, that the Notional Units for his or her Award be permanently reduced by the specified number of Sale Units in such Sale Notice. Sale Notices shall be in the form prescribed from time to time by Oaktree. Except as otherwise permitted by Oaktree:

 

  (i) Sale Notices shall be irrevocable once delivered and must be unconditional;

 

  (ii) any Sale Notice that purports to be revocable or conditional may be ignored or treated as irrevocable and unconditional;

 

  (iii) any Sale Notice that purports to request for a permanent reduction to occur at a time that is not an Open Period shall be null and void; and

 

  (iv) any Sale Notice that is delivered with respect to any Open Period shall not be valid with respect to any other Open Period and, in the event all or any of the Sale Units whose permanent reduction is being requested by such Sale Notice is not reduced, the Selling Recipient shall be required to submit a new Sale Notice.

(c) In connection with each Open Period, Oaktree shall determine the number of Sale Units that will be permanently reduced pursuant to this Section 7 , taking into account such factors as Oaktree deems appropriate, including:

 

  (i) the extent to which the Oaktree Group may need to sell Issuer Equity to finance the Sale Proceeds (as defined below);

 

  (ii) the extent to which Limited Partners are able to redeem their Redeemable Units in connection with such Open Period under Section 6.1 of the Partnership Agreement; and

 

  (iii) the extent to which material non-public information is available to the Selling Recipients but not available to prospective purchasers of Issuer Equity.

(d) If the number of Sale Units that the Selling Recipients have requested to be permanently reduced in connection with an Open Period exceeds the number of Sale

 

-3-


Units that Oaktree has determined will be accepted for permanent reduction, then Oaktree may select the particular Sale Units in such manner as Oaktree determines to be appropriate. Without limiting the foregoing, Oaktree, in selecting the particular Sale Units, may:

 

  (i) limit the Sale Units of each Selling Recipient on a pro rata basis consistent with any reduction pursuant to Section 6.1(b) of the Partnership Agreement of the number of Redeemable Units that OCGH will redeem in connection with such Open Period;

 

  (ii) limit the Sale Units of each Selling Recipient by a fixed number, regardless of the number of Sale Units that such Selling Recipient has requested to be permanently reduced;

 

  (iii) give priority to Selling Recipients whose proferred Sale Units were rejected in whole or in part during prior Open Periods;

 

  (iv) give priority to Selling Recipients who may face financial hardship if denied the opportunity;

 

  (v) give priority to Selling Recipients who are then providing services to the Oaktree Group; and

 

  (vi) consider such other factors as Oaktree determines to be appropriate.

(e) In exchange for full payment of the Sale Proceeds, Oaktree may permanently reduce all or any portion of the Notional Units for an Award, by notice to the Recipient of such Award, at any time and from time to time:

 

  (i) commencing five years after such Recipient ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group, if Oaktree provides six months advance notice of its intent to do so;

 

  (ii) if Oaktree determines that such permanent reduction is necessary or advisable to avoid a material risk of a violation by Oaktree, the Grantor of such Award or any other Oaktree Related Person (as defined below) of any applicable law; or

 

  (iii) if Oaktree determines that such permanent reduction is necessary or advisable to avoid a material risk of Oaktree, the Grantor of such Award or any other Oaktree Related Person being subject to any material regulatory requirement that it, he or she otherwise would not be subject.

For purposes of this Plan, “ Oaktree Related Person ” means ( x ) any Oaktree Group Member, ( y ) the current and former principals, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents and representatives of any Oaktree Group Member, and ( z ) the current

 

-4-


and former direct and indirect shareholders, partners, members and equityholders of any Oaktree Group Member (other than the current and former direct and indirect shareholders, partners, members and equityholders of the Issuer who are not otherwise included in either of the foregoing clause (x) or (y)).

(f) The effective date of any permanent reduction of Notional Units for an Award pursuant to this Section 7 shall be the Redemption Date for the Open Period with respect to which such permanent reduction was requested (or, in the event of a permanent reduction pursuant to Section 7(e) , on such date as may be selected by Oaktree, which date may be changed, suspended or revoked at any time and from time by Oaktree and which date shall be treated as a Redemption Date for purposes of this Plan). On such Redemption Date, the Notional Units for such Award shall be permanently reduced (but not below zero) by the lesser of ( x ) the number of Sale Units specified in the Sale Notice of the Selling Recipient or ( y ) the number of such specified Sale Units that Oaktree has determined pursuant to Sections 7(c) and 7(d) ; provided that, in the event of a permanent reduction pursuant to Section 7(e) , the Notional Units for such Award shall be permanently reduced (but not below zero) by the number of Sale Units determined by Oaktree in its sole discretion. The Grantor of such Award shall make a cash payment to such Selling Recipient in respect of such permanent reduction (each such cash payment, the “ Sale Proceeds ”) in an amount determined by Oaktree in good faith to be equal to the amount (if any) that would have been paid to such Selling Recipient if ( i ) such Selling Recipient were a Limited Partner, ( ii ) the Sale Units were actual issued and outstanding Units held by such Limited Partner, ( iii ) OCGH had redeemed pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Partnership Agreement on such Redemption Date from such Limited Partner all such Sale Units that were so permanently reduced, ( iv ) all of the Equivalent OpCo Units that would have been received by such Limited Partner pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Partnership Agreement in connection with such redemption were exchanged on the Redemption Date pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, and ( v ) all Issuer Equity or other non-cash consideration receivable by such Limited Partner pursuant to such exchange were sold on such Redemption Date for the value thereof, all as determined by Oaktree in good faith and, in each case, subject to Sections 10 and 11 .

8. Economic Intent of Awards . It is the intent of this Plan that each Award shall approximate, on a pre-tax basis, subject to the terms, conditions and provisions of this Plan, the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, the economic interest the Recipient of such Award would have had in OCGH from time to time if ( a ) such Recipient were admitted as a Limited Partner as of the Effective Date of such Award, ( b ) the Notional Units for such Award were actual Units that were issued to such Recipient as of the Effective Date, ( c ) all other Recipients of all other Awards were admitted as Limited Partners as of the respective Effective Dates of their Awards, and ( d ) the Notional Units for all such other Awards were actual Units that were issued to such other Recipients as of their respective Effective Dates, all as determined by Oaktree in good faith; provided that nothing in this Plan is intended to confer upon any Recipient any economic benefit that may inure to any Limited Partner by reason of the Tax Receivable Agreement. For example, if a Recipient were granted an Award with an Effective Date of January 1, 2008 for 10,000 Notional Units of no particular class or series and that are not subject to any Unit Designation, then it would be the intent of this Plan that such Award shall approximate, subject to the terms, conditions and

 

-5-


provisions of this Plan, the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, the economic interest such Recipient would have had in OCGH from time to time had the Recipient been issued 10,000 Units and admitted as a Limited Partner as of January 1, 2008, all as determined by Oaktree in good faith, on a fully diluted basis that treats all other Awards as if the Notional Units thereof were actual issued and outstanding Units, and without regard to any economic benefit that may inure to any Limited Partner by reason of the Tax Receivable Agreement.

9. Certain Acknowledgments and Disclaimers . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary:

(a) the relationship between an Award and the economic interest in Units that such Award is intended to approximate is an approximation only, and it is understood that such Award may not necessarily be an accurate or complete approximation of such economic interest;

(b) the payments a Recipient is entitled to receive with respect to an Award shall be limited to the Phantom Equity Payments attributable to such Award, regardless of whether the amount of such Phantom Equity Payments would differ from the amount such Recipient would have received as distributions and payments under the Partnership Agreement had such Recipient been a Limited Partner holding the Units that such Award is intended to approximate;

(c) ( i ) a Recipient’s right to receive Phantom Equity Payments attributable to an Award is a contractual obligation of the Grantor for such Award in the nature of a simple unsecured debt, ( ii ) the obligation to make any Phantom Equity Payment attributable to an Award is solely the obligation of the Grantor for such Award and is not an obligation of any other Oaktree Related Person, and ( iii ) in the event any Phantom Equity Payment attributable to an Award is not made when due, no recourse shall be available against any Oaktree Related Person (other than the Grantor for such Award);

(d) no Grantor shall have any obligation to set aside, segregate, establish reserves, or otherwise fund prior to payment, any amounts for purposes of funding Phantom Equity Payments;

(e) an Award does not constitute a limited partner interest or other equity interest in OCGH, Oaktree, the Grantor of such Award or any other Oaktree Group Member or an interest in any particular asset of OCGH, Oaktree, the Grantor of such Award or any other Oaktree Group Member, and nothing in this Plan is intended to confer upon any Recipient the status or any of the rights of a Limited Partner, an equityholder in Oaktree, an equityholder in any Grantor, or an equityholder in any other Oaktree Group Member;

(f) neither the establishment or adoption of this Plan, nor the eligibility of any Person for an Award, nor the grant of any Award to any other Person, nor anything contained in this Plan, shall be deemed to ( i ) confer upon any Person any right to be granted an Award or ( ii ) require any Award to any Recipient to be similar to any Award

 

-6-


that is made to another Recipient, regardless of whether such Recipients share similar qualities, are in similar positions or have similar responsibilities, or are otherwise similar in any respect; and

(g) neither the establishment or adoption of this Plan, nor the eligibility of any Person for an Award, nor the grant of any Award to any other Person, nor anything contained in this Plan, shall be deemed to ( i ) confer upon any Person any right to be employed (or to be continued to be employed) by any Oaktree Group Member, or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in any way ( ii ) affect such Oaktree Group Member’s right to terminate any such employment with or without cause and with or without notice, or in any way change the status of any employee of such Oaktree Group Member as an at-will employee.

10. Return of Phantom Equity Payments . Because distributions made by OCGH to its Partners with respect to a Fiscal Year are treated under Section 7.5 of the Partnership Agreement as advances to such Partners pending final determination that the amounts advanced to each Partner were properly computed and permissible, all Phantom Equity Payments made with respect to a Fiscal Year shall be treated as advances to Recipients pending final determination that the amounts advanced to each Recipient were properly computed and permissible. Such determination shall be made by the following March 31 by Oaktree’s auditors (or such later date to the extent Oaktree’s auditors are unable to make such determination by such March 31). Any additional Phantom Equity Payments due to a Recipient as the result of such determination shall be paid to him or her without interest before any other Phantom Equity Payments are made. Following such determination by Oaktree’s auditors, any excess advances made to a Recipient shall be repaid by such Recipient without interest within 60 calendar days following such determination unless Oaktree determines otherwise. Except for payments made in violation of applicable law, this Plan or any Award Agreement, and except as provided in this Section 10 or in Section 11 , no Recipient shall be obligated to return any Phantom Equity Payment to the Grantor that made such Phantom Equity Payment or pay the amount of any Phantom Equity Payment for the account of such Grantor or to any creditor of such Grantor.

11. Withholding . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, each Oaktree Group Member is authorized to withhold from any amounts payable to any Recipient with respect to his or her Award (including from any and all Phantom Equity Payments payable to such Recipient), and to pay over to any Governmental Authority, any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law. In addition, and notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, each Oaktree Group Member is authorized to withhold from any amounts payable to any Recipient with respect to his or her Award (including from any and all Phantom Equity Payments payable to such Recipient), and to pay over to any Oaktree Group Member, any amounts owed by such Recipient to such Oaktree Group Member. Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 11 shall be treated as paid to such Recipient for all purposes relating to this Plan, and, if withheld from amounts allocated but not paid, shall be offset against the next amounts otherwise payable to such Recipient.

12. Information Rights . Substantially contemporaneously with the provision by OCGH to the Limited Partners of any report pursuant to Section 8.4 of the Partnership

 

-7-


Agreement, Oaktree shall cause a copy of such report to be provided to each Recipient. In addition, Oaktree shall cause to be prepared and provided to each Recipient, as soon as reasonably practicable after the close of each taxable year of Oaktree, such income tax information in respect of the Award granted to such Recipient for such taxable year as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such Recipient to comply with such Recipient’s income tax filing obligations to all applicable national, state and local tax authorities.

13. Transfer Restrictions . No Recipient shall assign, sell, or otherwise transfer, or pledge, mortgage, grant a security interest in or otherwise encumber (each, an “ Assignment ”), all or any part of its interest in any Award (including any right to receive any Phantom Equity Payments in respect thereof and any other rights of such Recipient under any Award Agreement), or enter into any agreement contemplating any Assignment thereof, without the prior written consent of Oaktree, which consent may be withheld in the sole discretion of Oaktree. No Assignment in respect of an Award shall be deemed to be effective until such time as such Assignment has been specifically authorized by Oaktree, as provided in the previous sentence, and a written instrument evidencing such Assignment has been executed and delivered by the Grantor for such Award and the Recipient for such Award. Any purported Assignment by a Recipient in respect of an Award in violation of this Section 13 shall be void ab initio .

14. Administration . Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, Oaktree shall have plenary authority to administer this Plan, including to:

(a) determine all Awards (including ( i ) the criteria that a Person must satisfy in order to be eligible for an Award, ( ii ) the Recipient of each Award, ( iii ) the terms and conditions of each Award, including all of the items described in Sections 3(a) through 3(d) with respect to such Award, and ( iv ) the provisions of each Award Agreement);

(b) prescribe, amend and rescind such policies and procedures relating to this Plan (including policies and procedures relating the permanent reduction of Sale Units under Section 7 );

(c) interpret this Plan and correct any defect or omission or reconcile any inconsistency or conflict with respect to this Plan; and

(d) make all other determinations deemed necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient for the administration of this Plan.

All determinations, interpretations, calculations, adjustments and other actions of Oaktree that are within its authority hereunder shall be made in good faith by Oaktree and shall be binding and conclusive on all Recipients absent manifest error. In connection with any such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action, Oaktree shall be entitled to resolve any ambiguity with respect to the manner in which such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action is to be made or taken, and shall be entitled to interpret the provisions of this Plan, in such a manner as it determines in good faith to be fair and equitable, and such resolution or interpretation shall be binding and conclusive on all Recipients absent manifest error. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or in any Award Agreement to the contrary or applicable provisions of law

 

-8-


or equity or otherwise, whenever any Oaktree Related Person is permitted or required to make a decision (including whether to take an action or not or waive a provision or not) in connection with the administration of this Plan, ( x ) unless some other standard is specified, such Oaktree Related Person may make such decision in its sole discretion, meaning such Oaktree Related Person shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it, he or she desires and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest or factor affecting any Recipient (other than a duty to act in good faith), or ( y ) under another express standard, such Oaktree Related Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard. No Oaktree Related Person shall be liable for taking any action in connection with the administration of this Plan in the absence of a material breach of an express provision of this Plan by such Oaktree Related Person.

15. Actions Relating to OCGH . For the avoidance of doubt, the existence of any Award shall not affect in any way the right or power of OCGH, or the General Partner, or the Limited Partners, to take any action with respect to OCGH, including to make or authorize:

(a) any recapitalization, reorganization or other changes in the capital structure of OCGH, or any merger or consolidation of OCGH;

(b) any creation, issuance or sale of any securities, including (i) Additional Units, whether of the same series or class as a series or class then existing, a new series or class or otherwise, (ii) bonds, debentures or debt securities, and (iii) any securities with preference ahead of any series or class of Units;

(c) any dissolution or liquidation of OCGH; or

(d) any amendment to the Partnership Agreement or the Exchange Agreement.

16. Construction . Every covenant, term, and provision of this Plan shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any party hereto. All article or section headings or other captions in this Plan are for convenience only, and they shall not be deemed part of this Plan and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ( a ) a term has the meaning assigned to it; ( b ) “or” is not exclusive; ( c ) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; ( d ) each definition herein includes the singular and the plural; ( e ) each reference herein to any gender includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter where appropriate; ( f ) the word “including” when used herein means “including, but not limited to,” and the word “include” when used herein means “include, without limitation”; and ( g ) references herein to specified article or section numbers refer to the specified article or section of this Plan. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and derivative or similar words refer to this Plan as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Plan. The words “applicable law” and any other similar references to the law include all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, orders, rules, regulations, determinations, orders, judgments, and decrees of any Governmental Authority. The abbreviation “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. All monetary amounts expressed herein by the use of the words “U.S. dollar” or “U.S. dollars” or

 

-9-


the symbol “$” are expressed in the lawful currency of the United States of America. The words “foreign” and “domestic” shall be interpreted by reference to the United States of America.

17. Notices . Any notice to any Recipient who is then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted to be given to such Recipient in connection with this Plan shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Recipient at the principal office of the primary Oaktree Group Member for which such Recipient is providing services or at such other place where such Recipient may be found. Any notice to such a Recipient which is delivered to such principal office when such Recipient is absent from the office shall, if reasonable efforts have been made to deliver it to him or her elsewhere, be deemed delivered to him or her on the next succeeding business day, if he or she does not actually receive such notice sooner. Any notice to any Recipient who is not then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to such Recipient in connection with this Plan shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Recipient at the address or facsimile number of such Recipient that had been most recently provided by such Recipient to Oaktree. Any notice required or permitted to be given to any Oaktree Group Member in connection with this Plan shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Oaktree Group Member at the principal office of Oaktree. A written notice may be delivered by facsimile transmission.

18. Amendment and Termination . Oaktree may amend this Plan (and any amendment of this Plan shall constitute a pro tanto amendment of each Award Agreement), at any time, without prior notice to or the consent of any Recipient; provided that no such amendment shall be effective unless such amendment is evidenced by a written instrument executed by or on behalf of Oaktree; provided further that no amendment of this Plan shall be effective with respect to an Award granted prior to such amendment if such amendment would materially and adversely deprive the Recipient of such Award of the economic benefit intended to be conferred upon such Recipient by the grant of such Award, unless such Recipient has consented to such amendment or unless Oaktree has replaced such Award with a substitute arrangement that is no less favorable to such Recipient in any material economic respect than such Award (determined on a pre-tax basis). In addition, Oaktree may terminate this Plan (and any termination of this Plan shall constitute a pro tanto termination of each Award Agreement), at any time, without prior notice to or the consent of any Recipient; provided that no termination of this Plan shall be effective unless such termination is evidenced by a written instrument executed by or on behalf of Oaktree; provided further that a termination of this Plan shall be implemented in a manner such that, with respect to Awards granted prior to such termination, each Recipient is not materially and adversely deprived of the economic benefit intended to be conferred upon such Recipient by the grant of such Award, unless such Recipient has consented to such termination or unless Oaktree has replaced such Award with a substitute arrangement that is no less favorable to such Recipient in any material economic respect than such Award.

19. Arbitration of Disputes .

(a) Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Plan, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to ( i ) an Award, ( ii ) any Recipient’s rights and obligations hereunder or under any Award Agreement, ( iii ) the validity or scope of any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement, ( iv ) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration

 

-10-


under this Section 19 , and ( v ) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq . Either Oaktree or the disputing Recipient may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 17 . The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The Recipient shall cooperate with JAMS and with Oaktree in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the Recipient and Oaktree shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The Recipient and Oaktree shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. Oaktree shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 19 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the Recipient and the Oaktree.

(b) Neither the Recipient nor Oaktree shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed ( i ) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, ( ii ) two interrogatories, ( iii ) ten document requests, and ( iv ) ten requests for admissions; provided further that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 19 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Plan or any Award Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

(c) The provisions of this Section 19 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 19 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

 

-11-


(d) The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 19 , including the existence and outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided further that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 19 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If either a Recipient or Oaktree, as the case may be, receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such Recipient or Oaktree, as the case may be, shall ( i ) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and ( ii ) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions, including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, ( i ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 19 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Plan, and ( ii ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 19 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Plan is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between Recipients, a Recipient and Oaktree, or a Recipient and another Oaktree Group Member, that do not arise out of or relate to this Plan.

20. Controlling Law . To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, this Plan and each Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies, or obligations provided for hereunder and thereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware; provided that, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the enforceability of Section 19 shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §1 et seq. , and not the laws of the State of Delaware.

[T HE REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK .]

 

-12-


AWARD AGREEMENT

(Made under the Phantom Equity Plan of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and its Affiliates)

This A WARD A GREEMENT (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is made as of March 31, 2011, by and between O AKTREE C APITAL M ANAGEMENT L IMITED , a private limited company organized under the laws of the United Kingdom (the “ Grantor ”), and             , a natural person (the “ Recipient ”), pursuant to, and subject to the terms, conditions and provisions of, that certain Phantom Equity Plan (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “ Plan ”), established and adopted as of January 1, 2008, by Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Oaktree ”), on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (each of Oaktree and such Affiliates, an “ Oaktree Group Member ” and, collectively, the “ Oaktree Group ”). Capitalized terms used by not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.

Recitals

W HEREAS , the Oaktree Group maintains the Plan for the purpose of promoting the long-term financial interests and growth of the Oaktree Group by, among other things, providing select investment professionals, other employees, directors and consultants of the Oaktree Group with phantom equity awards that are calculated by reference to the limited partner units of Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ OCGH ”);

W HEREAS , the Grantor is an Affiliate of Oaktree, and the Recipient is an employee of the Grantor;

W HEREAS , it is the opinion of Oaktree, after considering, among other factors, the services provided by the Recipient to the Grantor and the services expected to be provided by Recipient to the Grantor, that the grant of an award under the Plan to the Recipient would further the Plan’s purpose;

W HEREAS , Oaktree has authorized the grant of the Award (as defined below) hereunder to the Recipient pursuant and subject to the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan; and

W HEREAS , this Agreement is intended, for all purposes under the Plan, to constitute an Award Agreement evidencing the Award;

N OW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:


Agreement

1. Grant of Award . Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Recipient is hereby granted the right under the Plan (the “ Award ”) to receive Phantom Equity Payments pursuant and subject to the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement. In connection therewith:

 

  (a) the Effective Date for the Award shall be March 31, 2011;

 

  (b) the Grantor for the Award shall be O AKTREE C APITAL M ANAGEMENT L IMITED ; and

 

  (c) the number of Notional Units for the Award shall be              U NITS .

The parties hereto acknowledge that all or any portion of the Notional Units (including any Vested Notional Units) may be forfeited at any time upon the mutual agreement of the parties hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, upon such forfeiture the Recipient shall no longer be entitled to any Phantom Equity Payments, including any such payments attributable to any Vested Notional Units.

2. Vesting and Forfeiture of Notional Units .

(a) Each Notional Unit for the Award shall be unvested as of the Effective Date.              Notional Units shall vest on January 1, 2013, and an additional              of the Notional Units shall vest on January 1 of each calendar year thereafter until the Notional Units are fully vested on January 1, 20             , in each case, unless forfeited or accelerated pursuant to the Plan or the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the vesting of any Notional Unit for the Award, such Notional Unit shall thereupon become a Vested Notional Unit for purposes of the Plan.

(b) If the Recipient ceases to be an employee of any Oaktree Group Member (other than as a result of his or her Incapacitation) for any reason or no reason at all (including termination of such employment by any Oaktree Group Member without Cause), then all of the unvested Notional Units for each Award of such Recipient shall be immediately and automatically forfeited on the effective date such Recipient ceases to be an employee of any Oaktree Group Member, with the effect that the number of Notional Units for such Award shall thereafter cease to include such unvested Notional Units. For example, if a Recipient is granted an Award which consists of 5,000 Notional Units, and at the time such Recipient ceases to be an employee of any Oaktree Group Member (other than as a result of his or her Incapacitation) 3,000 of such 5,000 Notional Units are unvested, then the number of Notional Units for such Award shall, after giving effect to the forfeiture contemplated by this Paragraph 2(b) , be reduced to 2,000.

3. Sale Units . Subject to Section 7(a)(ii) of the Plan and the terms of this Agreement, each Notional Unit for the Award that has become a Vested Notional Unit shall become a Sale Unit for purposes of the Plan.

 

- 2 -


4. Recipient’s Obligation to Pay Taxes . The Recipient shall be responsible for any and all taxes relating to the Award, including amounts due or relating to Phantom Equity Payments. Without limiting Section 11 of the Plan, the Recipient hereby agrees that Oaktree has the right to require reimbursement from the Recipient of any such taxes that are paid by the Grantor or any other Oaktree Group Member and to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind (including Phantom Equity Payments) otherwise due to the Recipient, including as necessary to satisfy any foreign, U.S. federal, state or local withholding tax requirements and from payments receivable by the Recipient under the Plan, this Agreement or otherwise. As security for the full, prompt and complete payment and performance when due of all of the Recipient’s obligations under this Paragraph 4 (including its obligation to reimburse the Grantor and other Oaktree Group Members for any such taxes that are paid by them), the Recipient hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Grantor a security interest in the Award and on all proceeds directly or indirectly receivable by the Recipient in respect of the Award (including all Phantom Equity Payments receivable by the Recipient in respect of the Award). The Recipient shall take such actions as the Grantor may request from time to time to perfect or enforce such security interest and to otherwise maintain such security interest as a first priority lien in favor of the Grantor.

5. Certain Representations and Warranties . As an essential inducement to Oaktree and the Grantor to grant the Award to the Recipient, the Recipient hereby represents and warrants to the Oaktree Group as follows:

(a) Authority and Capacity . The Recipient has the legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all of his or her obligations hereunder and with respect to the Plan. The Recipient has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Recipient, enforceable against the Recipient in accordance with their respective terms.

(b) No Conflict; Satisfaction of Conditions to Membership Transactions . To the knowledge of the Recipient, neither the execution and delivery by the Recipient of this Agreement, nor the performance by the Recipient of his or her obligations hereunder or with respect to the Plan, violates, conflicts with or constitutes a default or breach under, or will violate, conflict with or constitute a default or breach under any applicable law or any contract, indenture, agreement, instrument or mortgage binding on the Recipient or any of his or her properties.

(c) Receipt of Documentation; Access to Information . The Recipient acknowledges that he or she has received a copy of, and has reviewed carefully, ( A ) the Plan, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit A hereto, ( B ) the Partnership Agreement, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto, and ( C ) the Exchange Agreement, the current form of which is attached as Exhibit C hereto. In accepting the Award, the Recipient ( i ) has been provided with ample opportunity to discuss this Agreement, the Plan, the Award, the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Oaktree Business (as defined below) with Oaktree and to ask Oaktree such questions regarding this Agreement, the Plan, the Award, the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Oaktree Business, and to receive such answers to such questions and such other information, as the Recipient deems necessary,

 

- 3 -


appropriate or advisable, and ( ii ) has been provided with ample opportunity to consult with such legal, tax, financial and other advisors of the Recipient regarding this Agreement, the Plan, the Award, the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Oaktree Business as the Recipient deems necessary, appropriate or advisable. The Recipient has a preexisting personal and business relationship with the principals of the Oaktree Group, and such personal and business relationship is of a nature and duration so as to enable the Recipient to be aware of their character, business acumen and general business and financial circumstances.

(d) Tax Consequences . The Recipient understands that his or her receipt of the Award may cause him or her adverse tax consequences. The Recipient has reviewed the Award with his or her tax advisors and has not received or relied upon any tax advice from any Oaktree Related Person. No Oaktree Related Person has made any representation or warranty (and shall not otherwise be liable to the Recipient) as to the tax treatment of the Award under applicable law.

(e) Restricted Period . The Recipient understands and agrees that the Notional Units granted hereunder shall be taken into account in the calculation of the “Restricted Period” as defined in Section 1.1 of the Partnership Agreement as it applies to the Recipient.

(f) Understanding of Grant Documents . The Recipient understands each provision of this Agreement, the Plan, the Partnership Agreement and the Exchange Agreement as well as the terms and conditions of the Award. Without limiting the foregoing, the Recipient understands that the Award is subject to the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, including that:

 

  (i) the Award represents a contractual obligation on the part of the Grantor, in the nature of simple debt, to make Phantom Equity Payments attributable to the Award pursuant to the Plan and this Agreement, and such obligation is solely the obligation of the Grantor and not an obligation of any other Oaktree Related Person;

 

  (ii) Phantom Equity Payments attributable to the Award may be subject to withholding pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan, including tax withholding required under applicable law;

 

  (iii) the Recipient may not transfer the Award or any interest therein (including any interest in this Agreement or right to receive any Phantom Equity Payment), except to the extent permitted by Section 13 of the Plan;

 

  (iv) Oaktree has plenary authority to administer the Award and the Plan as described in Section 14 of the Plan;

 

  (v)

the existence of the Plan and any Award shall not affect in any way the right of OCGH, the General Partner or the Limited Partners to

 

- 4 -


  take any action with respect to OCGH, including those actions described in Section 15 of the Plan; and

 

  (vi) Oaktree may amend or terminate the Plan, at any time, without prior notice to or the consent of the Recipient, pursuant to Section 18 of the Plan.

In addition, the Recipient understands that the amount and timing of the Phantom Equity Payments attributable to the Award are calculated by reference to the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, which provisions may be amended from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, without prior notice to or the consent of the Recipient, and which amendments may affect the amount and timing of such Phantom Equity Payments. The Recipient further understands that OCGH may create, issue or sell, from time to time, additional Units, in each case, pursuant to the terms of Partnership Agreement, without prior notice to or the consent of the Recipient and that such creation, issuances and sales will result in a dilution of the Units in OCGH that the Award is intended to approximate.

If the Recipient becomes aware that any representation or warranty made by him or her in this Agreement would be incorrect in any material respect if such representation or warranty were to be made as of any subsequent date, or that the Recipient is unable fulfill or perform in any material respect any of his or her covenants or agreements in this Agreement or under the Plan, the Recipient shall promptly notify Oaktree of such inaccuracy or inability.

6. Further Assurances . The Recipient agrees to execute all documents reasonably requested by the Grantor to carry out the purpose of this Agreement and to cooperate with the Grantor in connection with the expeditious filing of any and all documents and the fulfillment of the terms of this Agreement.

7. Arbitration . Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved pursuant to Section 19 of the Plan.

8. Severability . If any part of the Plan or this Agreement is held by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced in whole or in part by reason of any rule of law or public policy, such part shall be deemed to be severed from the remainder of the Plan or this Agreement, as applicable, for the purpose only of the particular legal proceedings in question, and all other covenants and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement shall in every other respect continue in full force and effect and no covenant or provision shall be deemed dependent upon any other covenant or provision.

9. Controlling Law . In accordance with Section 20 of the Plan, this Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies, or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware by residents of the State of Delaware; provided that the enforceability of Paragraph 8 above and Section 19 of the Plan shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq. , and not the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

- 5 -


10. Construction . Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any party hereto. All article or section headings or other captions in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ( a ) a term has the meaning assigned to it; ( b ) “or” is not exclusive; ( c ) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; ( d ) each definition herein includes the singular and the plural; ( e ) each reference herein to any gender includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter where appropriate; ( f ) the word “including” when used herein means “including, but not limited to,” and the word “include” when used herein means “include, without limitation”; and ( g ) references herein to specified article or section numbers refer to the specified article or section of this Agreement . The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and derivative or similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement . The words “applicable law” and any other similar references to the law include all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, orders, rules, regulations, determinations, orders, judgments, and decrees of any Governmental Authority. The abbreviation “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. All monetary amounts expressed herein by the use of the words “U.S. dollar” or “U.S. dollars” or the symbol “$” are expressed in the lawful currency of the United States of America. The words “foreign” and “domestic” shall be interpreted by reference to the United States of America.

11. Notices . Any notice that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to any party hereto shall be given pursuant to Section 17 of the Plan.

12. Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Award and the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, oral and written, between the parties hereto with respect to the Award and the subject matter hereof. In the event that any provision of this Agreement conflicts in any way with the Plan, such provision shall be prevail to the extent that Oaktree expressly and intentionally intended for such provision to prevail over the Plan. If, due to administrative error, this Agreement does not accurately reflect an award properly granted to the Recipient under the Plan, Oaktree, acting through the Grantor, reserves the right to cancel this Agreement or any other erroneous document and, if appropriate, to replace the cancelled document with a corrected document.

13. Amendment and Termination . For the avoidance of doubt, Oaktree may amend and terminate the Plan pursuant to Section 18 of the Plan. In addition, Oaktree may amend or terminate this Agreement, at any time, without prior notice to or the consent of the Recipient; provided that no such amendment or termination shall be effective unless such amendment or termination is evidenced by a written instrument executed by or on behalf of Oaktree; provided further that no such amendment or termination shall be effective if such amendment or amendment would materially and adversely deprive the Recipient of the economic benefit intended to be conferred upon the Recipient by the grant of the Award, unless the Recipient has consented to such amendment or termination or unless Oaktree has replaced the Award with a substitute arrangement that is no less favorable to the Recipient in any material economic respect than the Award. The Grantor shall cause to be provided to the Recipient a

 

- 6 -


copy of each amendment to the Plan or this Agreement, in each case, promptly after the adoption of such amendment.

14. Counterpart Execution; Successors and Assigns . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original and shall become effective when the separate counterparts have been exchanged between the parties hereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of successors, assigns and heirs of the parties hereto.

[T HE REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK .]

 

- 7 -


I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

GRANTOR

 

O AKTREE C APITAL M ANAGEMENT L IMITED

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

RECIPIENT
[NAME]
 


I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

GRANTOR

 

O AKTREE C APITAL M ANAGEMENT L IMITED

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

RECIPIENT
[NAME]
 

Exhibit 10.14

 

LOGO   

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED

CONFIDENTIAL

September 26, 2006

Howard Marks

c/o Oaktree Capital Management, LLC

333 South Grand Avenue

Los Angeles, California 90071

 

  Re: Employment with Oaktree Capital Management Limited

Dear Mr. Marks:

This is to confirm our understanding with you concerning your employment by Oaktree Capital Management Limited, a private limited company organised under the laws of the United Kingdom (the “Company”) and a subsidiary of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (“Oaktree” and together with the Company, the “Oaktree Group”).

 

  1. Employment. The Company will employ you to serve as a part-time employee of the Company and you hereby accept such employment with the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in this letter agreement (this “Agreement”).

 

  2. Commencement. Your employment under the terms of this Agreement will commence on October 6, 2006 (the “Commencement Date”).

 

  3. Specific Position; Duties and Responsibilities. You will serve as Chairman of the Company and in such capacity shall undertake such responsibilities as you shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation:

 

  (a) reviewing and commenting on organisational decisions and actions regarding staffing;

 

  (b) fostering relations with current and prospective clients and business partners;

 

  (c) assessing current products and developing new products to be managed by the Company;

 

  (d) participating in marketing meetings with potential investors; and

 

  (e) reviewing proposed investment opportunities for the various funds managed by the Company.

You shall have no normal working hours but shall work such hours as you reasonably determine as necessary to perform your role.


  4. Location. Your principal office and normal place of work will be located in London, England in such quarters as are designated and allotted by the Company.

 

  5.

Compensation and Other Matters. While you are employed by the Company, you will be paid a base salary at a rate of One Hundred Thousands Pounds Sterling (£100,000) per annum (prorated for the relevant period) in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices unless otherwise specified below, subject to such deduction of PAYE and National Insurance deductions or any other deductions required by applicable law, effective as of the Commencement Date and payable to you in twelve equal monthly instalments by the 25 th of every calendar month.

 

  6. Vacation . Your vacation entitlement of four calendar weeks will be subject to the Oaktree Group’s vacation policies.

 

  7. Reimbursement of Business Expenses. The Company will, upon submission of appropriate documentation as requested by the Company, United Kingdom Inland Revenue and the Oaktree Group’s policies, promptly reimburse you, or cause you to be reimbursed, for reasonable authorised business expenses incurred by you during the term of this Agreement in accordance with rules and policies established from time to time by the Company and in furtherance of its business.

 

  8. Termination.

 

  a) Your employment will terminate automatically upon your death (provided that accrued compensation will be paid to your beneficiary or legal representative); or

 

  b) Following the Commencement Date, your employment may be terminated by either party giving to the other not less than one month prior written notice. The Company reserves the right to make a payment in lieu of notice to you calculated by reference to your then-current base salary only and to terminate your employment immediately without notice or compensation in the event of a serious breach of your express or implied obligations hereunder.

 

  9. Officer Conduct. You will comply with the Company’s personnel and other policies, as in effect from time to time.

 

  10. Miscellaneous.

 

  a)

Notices. Any notices provided for in this Agreement shall be sent to the Company at Oaktree Capital Management Limited, 27 Knightsbridge, 4 th level, London SW1X 7LY, Attention: Chief Executive of the Company, with a copy to Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, 333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., Attention: General Counsel, or such other address as the Company may designate to you in writing and to you at such address as you may designate (or your business address of record in the absence of such designation). All notices delivered by hand shall be deemed given on the day received. All notices posted shall be deemed to have been given (i) two business days after they have been deposited as certified mail, return receipt requested, postage paid and properly addressed or (ii) one business day after such notice is sent by Federal Express or other one-day service providers, postage prepaid and properly addressed.

 

  b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the Company and you relating to your employment by the Company and supersedes in its entirety all other agreements (whether written, oral or otherwise) and all amendments thereto, including, but not limited to, any other offer letters of employment. No modification of this Agreement will be valid unless it is in writing and signed by both parties.

 

- 2 -


  c) Waiver. The waiver of any breach of this Agreement will not be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach.

 

  d) Governing Law. This Agreement (and any dispute, controversy, proceedings or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement or its formation) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

 

  e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

If you agree to and accept the foregoing please so indicate by signing this Agreement in the space provided below and returning a signed copy to the undersigned. Upon acceptance by you, this Agreement will become our agreement as to the terms and conditions of your employment.

 

OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED

By:

 

/ S / J OHN F RANK

Name:

 

Title:

 
By:  

/ S / D AVID K IRCHHEIMER

Name:  
Title:  

I agree and accept the terms set out above as of the date of this Agreement.

 

/ S / H OWARD M ARKS

Howard Marks

Exhibit 10.15

 

LOGO

 

         

 

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

      333 South Grand Avenue, 28th floor
      Los Angeles, CA 90071
     

 

p 213 830-6300

      www.oaktreecapital.com

April 26, 2011

Kevin Clayton

c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

1301 Avenue of the Americas

34th Floor

New York, NY 10019

 

Re: Compensation Arrangement

Dear Kevin:

This letter agreement (this “ Agreement ”) memorializes the compensation payable to you, beginning January 1, 2010, in connection with your employment by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Oaktree ”). This Agreement is based on your providing, and continuing to provide, ongoing services satisfactory to Oaktree on a full-time basis. In exchange, Oaktree will provide you with the compensation as set forth below, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

1. Base Salary . From and after January 1, 2011, for so long as you are a full-time employee of Oaktree in good standing, Oaktree will pay you a base salary of $245,000 per annum paid on February 28 th of each calendar year in which you are employed. Such base salary will be prorated in the event of a partial calendar year and you shall refund such amounts as are necessary to effect such proration in the event your employment ceases after February 28 th . If there is a change in your responsibilities, you and Oaktree shall review and discuss in good faith whether to modify your compensation arrangements.

2. PoolCo I Allocation . From and after January 1, 2011, for so long as you are a full-time employee of Oaktree in good standing, Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ PoolCo I ”) will make distributions of cash and allocations of net taxable income attributable to incentive income to you, with respect to each calendar year during which you are a full-time employee of Oaktree from and after the Effective Date, in an amount equal to the lesser of ( x ) $4,755,000 per annum less profit-sharing contributions to Oaktree’s 401(k) plan (estimated to be $32,500 in 2011) or ( y ) the aggregate net income of PoolCo I attributable to incentive income for such calendar year. Such distributions will be made pro rata on a quarterly basis. In the event you are employed for only a portion of a calendar year, such distributions and allocations will be prorated for the portion of the calendar year during which you are employed.

3. 2010 PoolCo I Allocation; Termination of PoolCo II and PoolCo III Interest . Oaktree will cause PoolCo I to reduce the net taxable income allocated to you with respect to the 2010 calendar year by an amount equal to your excess tax basis in PoolCo I as of January 1, 2010. In addition, Oaktree will treat your interest in Oaktree Fund GP II, L.P. and Oaktree Fund GP III, L.P. as terminated as of January 1, 2010.


4. Withholding; Tax Treatment . Oaktree, PoolCo I and their respective affiliates are authorized to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable or distributable to you ( a ) any and all amounts required to be deducted or withheld under any applicable law or otherwise, including all taxes required to be withheld by applicable law, and ( b ) any and all amounts owed by you to Oaktree, PoolCo I or any of their respective affiliates. Oaktree makes no representation (and shall not be liable to you) as to the tax treatment of distributions or payments made hereunder under applicable U.S. federal or state tax laws.

5. Calculations . All determinations, interpretations, calculations and adjustments made by any of Oaktree, PoolCo I or their respective affiliates in good faith with respect to your compensation, including, without limitation, all calculations of the net taxable income of PoolCo I, shall be conclusive and binding upon you absent manifest error. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, the character of the net taxable income allocated to you pursuant to Paragraph 2 or 3 will depend on the underlying character of PoolCo I’s net taxable incentive income, as determined in good faith by Oaktree.

6. At-Will Employment . You acknowledge and agree that your employment rights shall not be enlarged or guaranteed by reason of any of the provisions of this Agreement. You further acknowledge and agree that you are and will continue to be an “at will” employee of Oaktree, which means that your employment with Oaktree may be terminated at any time by Oaktree with or without cause or notice and for any lawful reason or no reason.

Sincerely,

 

O AKTREE C APITAL M ANAGEMENT , L.P.
By:  

/s/ J OHN B. F RANK

  Name:   John B. Frank
  Title:   Managing Principal
By:  

/s/ T ODD M OLZ

  Name:   Todd Molz
  Title:   Managing Director
    General Counsel
ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED:
K EVIN C LAYTON

/s/ K EVIN C LAYTON            

Exhibit 10.16

[Oaktree Letterhead]

[            ], 2011

[Name]

c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

  Re: Management Fee Sharing Arrangement

Dear [Name]:

This letter agreement (this “ Agreement ”) memorializes certain compensation payable to you in connection with your employment by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (along with its affiliates, “ Oaktree ”) relating to management fees received from funds or accounts managed by Oaktree. This Agreement is based on your providing, and continuing to provide, ongoing services satisfactory to Oaktree on a full-time basis. In exchange, Oaktree will provide you with the compensation as set forth below, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

1. Fee Sharing Percentage . For so long as you are a full-time employee of Oaktree in good standing, you will be entitled to receive payments (“ Fee Sharing Payments ”) equal to the percentage listed on Exhibit A (the “ Fee Sharing Percentage ”) of the Fee Income (as defined below) received by Oaktree from each investment fund and account managed or controlled by Oaktree listed on Exhibit A hereto (each, an “ Applicable Fund ”), in each case subject to the terms and limitations described herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing does not grant you a partnership interest in Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. or any management, control or other rights with respect to the Applicable Funds. You shall be entitled to your Fee Sharing Payments on the first payroll date following the calendar quarter in which Oaktree receives the associated management fee payments from the Applicable Fund. Each Fee Sharing Payment will only be made if you are actively employed by or providing services to Oaktree at the time at which such Fee Sharing Payment is to be paid to you. Your entitlement to Fee Sharing Payments shall cease immediately upon the termination of your employment with Oaktree, whether by voluntary resignation, involuntary termination (with or without cause), death, disability or otherwise for any reason. “ Fee Income ” means the management fees paid by the Applicable Fund to Oaktree in its capacity as investment advisor of such Applicable Fund. The management fee and the amount of any management fee offsets for any Applicable Fund will be determined in accordance with the partnership agreement, separate account agreement, advisory agreement, side letter or other relevant document(s) governing or binding upon the Applicable Fund.

2. Withholding; Repayments; Tax Treatment .

(a) Oaktree is authorized to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable or distributable to you any and all amounts required to be deducted or withheld under


any applicable law or otherwise, including all taxes required to be withheld by applicable law. Oaktree makes no representation (and shall not be liable to you) as to the tax treatment of payments made hereunder under applicable tax laws.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, you agree to repay to Oaktree any amount paid to you in excess of what you should have received under the terms of this Agreement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of ( i ) your receipt of a Fee Sharing Payment in respect of a complete calendar quarter during which your employment or service provider relationship with Oaktree is terminated (in which case you will receive a Fee Sharing Payment prorated to reflect the portion of the calendar quarter during which you performed services for Oaktree and it being understood that Oaktree generally receives Fee Income in advance), ( ii ) a mistake in calculation or ( iii ) other administrative error).

3. At-Will Employment . You acknowledge and agree that your employment rights shall not be enlarged or guaranteed by reason of any of the provisions of this Agreement. You further acknowledge and agree that you are and will continue to be an “at will” employee of Oaktree, which means that your employment with Oaktree may be terminated at any time by Oaktree with or without cause or notice and for any lawful reason or no reason.

4. Assignment; Designation of Beneficiaries : Except as set forth in this Section 4, the rights and benefits hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, and any purported transfer, sale, assignment, pledge or other encumbrance or disposition or attachment of any payments or benefits hereunder other than by operation of law, shall not be permitted or recognized. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. may assign this agreement to its affiliates; provided that no such assignment shall affect in any way the benefits to you or Oaktree contemplated by this Agreement. You agree to take any such actions and to execute any such documents as Oaktree may reasonably request in order to further implement and evidence any such assignment. You may, with the consent of Oaktree, designate in writing, on forms prescribed by and filed with Oaktree, one or more beneficiaries to receive any payments payable after your death and may at any time amend or revoke any such designation; provided that if you designate a person other than your spouse as a beneficiary, your spouse must sign a statement specifically approving such designation. Any payments to which you would be entitled by virtue of this Agreement while alive will be paid, following your death, to the designated beneficiary. If no beneficiary designation is in effect at the time of death, or in the absence of a spouse’s approval as herein above provided, payments to which you are entitled hereunder shall be made to your personal representative.

5. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies, or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of California; provided that the enforceability of Section 4 above shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and not the laws of the State of California.

6. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to Fee Sharing Payments. This Agreement


may be modified or amended only by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto that specifically references this Agreement.

7. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[ signature page follows ]


Sincerely,
O AKTREE C APITAL M ANAGEMENT , L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED:

 

[Name]

Exhibit 10.17

[Oaktree Letterhead]

[            ], 2011

[Name]

c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

  Re: Profit Sharing Arrangement

Dear [Name]:

This letter agreement (this “ Agreement ”) memorializes certain compensation payable to you in connection with your employment by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (along with its affiliates, “ Oaktree ”). This Agreement is based on your providing, and continuing to provide, ongoing services satisfactory to Oaktree on a full-time basis. In exchange, Oaktree will provide you with the compensation as set forth below, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

1. Certain Compensation Arrangements . You will be entitled to receive:

 

  (a) Incentive Payments . Certain payments (“ Incentive Payments ”) from Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P., Oaktree Fund GP II, L.P. and Oaktree Fund GP III, L.P. (collectively, the “ PoolCos ”) equal to [ ]% of the Net Incentive Income (as defined below) received by the PoolCos from the investment funds and accounts managed or controlled by Oaktree and its affiliates (such investment funds and accounts, collectively, the “ Funds ”);

 

  (b) Investment Payments . Certain payments (“ Investment Payments ”) from the PoolCos equal to [ ]% of the Net Investment Income (as defined below) received by the PoolCos from the Funds; and

 

  (c) Profit Payments . Certain payments (each such payment, a “ Profit Payment ”) equal to [ ]% of the Net Operating Profit (as defined below) of the Oaktree Operating Group (as defined below) with respect to each fiscal year of Oaktree.

 

  (d) Amounts Netted . In calculating your entitlement to Incentive Payments, Investment Payments, and Profit Payments, any negative amounts with respect to one or more shall be netted against positive amounts, if any. If such netting results in an aggregate negative amount, such negative amount shall be carried forward to future periods and netted against subsequent positive amounts. Amounts due hereunder shall be determined by Oaktree in good faith, consistent with past practice.


For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing does not grant you any management, control or other rights with respect to the applicable Funds. You and the interests granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of each PoolCo limited partnership agreement and any other document or arrangement which govern the terms of the PoolCos. You shall be entitled to your Incentive Payments reasonably promptly after Oaktree receives the associated incentive distributions from the applicable Fund. Oaktree shall periodically make reasonable estimates of your expected Investment Payments and Profit Payments and shall make quarterly payments to you based on such estimates. Within thirty days following delivery of the audited financial statements of Oaktree in respect of a given fiscal year, a determination shall be made as to whether the estimated payments were greater than or less than your actual Investment Payments and Profit Payments for such year. You shall receive a true-up payment on such date to make up for any shortfall. Each Incentive Payment, Investment Payment and Profit Payment will only be made if you are actively employed by or providing services to Oaktree at the time at which such payment is otherwise to be made. Your entitlement to Incentive Payments, Investment Payments and Profit Payments shall cease immediately upon the termination of your employment with Oaktree, whether by voluntary resignation, involuntary termination (with or without cause), death, disability or otherwise for any reason.

2. Withholding; Repayments; Tax Treatment .

(a) Oaktree is authorized to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable or distributable to you any and all amounts required to be deducted or withheld under any applicable law or otherwise, including all taxes required to be withheld by applicable law. Oaktree makes no representation (and shall not be liable to you) as to the tax treatment of payments made hereunder under applicable tax laws.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, you agree to repay to Oaktree any amount paid to you in excess of what you should have received under the terms of this Agreement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of ( i ) a mistake in calculation or ( ii ) other administrative error).

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if as a result of your separation from service, you would receive any payment that, absent the application of this paragraph, would be subject to interest and additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), as a result of the application of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then no such payment shall be payable prior to the date that is the earliest of (i) six (6) months after the date of your separation from service, (ii) your death, or (iii) such other date as will cause such payment not to be subject to such interest and additional tax. It is the intention of the parties that payments or benefits payable hereunder not be subject to the additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. To the extent such potential payments or benefits could become subject to Section 409A of the Code, you and Oaktree shall cooperate to amend your compensation, with the goal of giving you the economic benefits described herein in a manner that does not result in such tax being imposed. If a termination of your employment does not result in a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then for purposes of determining the timing of any payment provided for by this letter agreement, termination shall not be considered to occur until


you have incurred such a separation from service. The preceding sentence shall not affect the determination of your entitlement to any payment or benefit, but only the timing thereof.

3. At-Will Employment . You acknowledge and agree that your employment rights shall not be enlarged or guaranteed by reason of any of the provisions of this Agreement. You further acknowledge and agree that you are and will continue to be an “at will” employee of Oaktree, which means that your employment with Oaktree may be terminated at any time by Oaktree with or without cause or notice and for any lawful reason or no reason.

4. Assignment; Designation of Beneficiaries : Except as set forth in this Section 4, the rights and benefits hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, and any purported transfer, sale, assignment, pledge or other encumbrance or disposition or attachment of any payments or benefits hereunder other than by operation of law, shall not be permitted or recognized. Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. may assign this agreement to its affiliates; provided that no such assignment shall affect in any way the benefits to you or Oaktree contemplated by this Agreement. You agree to take any such actions and to execute any such documents as Oaktree may reasonably request in order to further implement and evidence any such assignment. You may, with the consent of Oaktree, designate in writing, on forms prescribed by and filed with Oaktree, one or more beneficiaries to receive any payments payable after your death and may at any time amend or revoke any such designation; provided that if you designate a person other than your spouse as a beneficiary, your spouse must sign a statement specifically approving such designation. Any payments to which you would be entitled by virtue of this Agreement while alive will be paid, following your death, to the designated beneficiary. If no beneficiary designation is in effect at the time of death, or in the absence of a spouse’s approval as herein above provided, payments to which you are entitled hereunder shall be made to your personal representative.

5. Definitions .

Net Investment Income ” means (i) all income (excluding incentive income) earned by the PoolCos from their respective direct and indirect investments in Funds (including through the general partner of any such Fund), as determined on a GAAP basis without consolidation of Funds, net of (ii) all participation in such income granted to any party by Oaktree (other than participation through “Common Series Interests” in the PoolCos and the payments in respect of the Net Investment Income granted hereunder).

Net Operating Profit ” means the net income of the Oaktree Operating Group, determined according to GAAP without consolidation of Funds, as adjusted by (i) adding back (A) the total compensation expense recognized with respect to the vesting of OCGH units granted on or before May 25, 2007 plus (B) 50% of the compensation expense recognized with respect to the vesting of OCGH units granted after May 25, 2007, (ii) excluding incentive income (net of incentive income compensation expense) and phantom equity expense, (iii) excluding Net Investment Income and (iv) excluding compensation expense relating to individuals entitled to payments in respect of Net Operating Profit.


Net Incentive Income ” means (i) all incentive income earned by the PoolCos that is derived from any Fund (other than non-evergreen Funds which held their final closings before January 1, 2003), net of (ii) all participation in such income granted to any party by Oaktree (other than participation through “Common Series Interests” in the PoolCos and the payments in respect of Net Incentive Income granted hereunder), including any such participation through “Points Series Interests” and “Net Carry Series Interests” in the PoolCos.

Oaktree Operating Group ” means, collectively, the entities that control the general partners and investment advisors of the Funds, in which Oaktree Capital Group, LLC has a minority economic interest and indirect control.

Net Incentive Income, Net Investment Income, Net Operating Profits and the amount of any management fee offsets for any applicable Fund will be determined in accordance with the partnership agreement, separate account agreement, advisory agreement, side letter or other relevant document(s) governing or binding upon the applicable Fund.

6. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies, or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of California.

7. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to Fee Sharing Payments. This Agreement may be modified or amended only by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto that specifically references this Agreement.

8. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


Sincerely,
O AKTREE C APITAL M ANAGEMENT , L.P.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED:

 

[Name]

Exhibit 10.18

Execution Copy

 

 

 

OAKTREE FUND GP I, L.P.

 

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

 

LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN OAKTREE FUND GP I, L.P., A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH OR QUALIFIED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY JURISDICTION. SUCH LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SUCH LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS CANNOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, IN EACH CASE, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ALL APPLICABLE JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page   
  ARTICLE I   
  DEFINITIONS   
1.1   Defined Terms      1   
1.2   Interpretation      9   
1.3   Associated Persons      10   
1.4   Former Partners      10   
  ARTICLE II   
  ORGANIZATION   
2.1   Formation; Continuation      10   
2.2   Name      11   
2.3   Delaware Registered Agent and Office      11   
2.4   Principal Place of Business      11   
2.5   Term      11   
2.6   Fiscal Year      11   
2.7   Title to Partnership Property      11   
  ARTICLE III   
  THE PARTNERSHIP   
3.1   Purpose and Scope of Business; Powers      12   
3.2   Powers of the General Partner      12   
3.3   Powers of Limited Partners      12   
3.4   Officers      13   
3.5   Media Company Provisions      13   
3.6   Meetings and Voting      14   
3.7   Admissions and Withdrawals      15   
3.8   Conditions to Membership Transactions      15   
3.9   Power of Attorney      16   
3.10   Additional Documents and Acts      17   
  ARTICLE IV   
  INTERESTS   
4.1   Interests      17   
4.2   Incentive Income      19   
4.3   Supplemental Schedule      19   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

       Page   
4.4   Transfer of Interests      19   
4.5   Effects of Transfer      20   
4.6   Limited Rights of Assignees      20   
4.7   Designation of Beneficiaries      20   
  ARTICLE V   
  CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS   
5.1   Capital Contributions      21   
5.2   Capital Accounts      21   
5.3   No Priorities of Partners      22   
  ARTICLE VI   
  ALLOCATIONS; DISTRIBUTIONS   
6.1   Allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses and Other Items      22   
6.2   Regulatory and Tax Allocations      23   
6.3   Distributions      23   
6.4   Restriction on Distributions      23   
6.5   Return of Advances and Distributions      24   
6.6   Allocations in Case of Adjustments in Percentage Interests      24   
6.7   Tax Distributions      25   
6.8   Return of Certain Capital Contributions      25   
6.9   Withholding      25   
6.10   Acknowledgment      26   
6.11   Partnership Classification for Tax Purposes      26   
6.12   Tax Matters      26   
6.13   No Representations as to Tax Treatment      26   
  ARTICLE VII   
  BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS TO PARTNERS   
7.1   Books and Records      27   
7.2   Access to and Confidentiality of Information and Records      27   
7.3   Bank Accounts      27   
  ARTICLE VIII   
  LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION   
8.1   Limitations on Liability      28   

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

       Page   
8.2   Indemnification by the Partnership      29   
  ARTICLE IX   
  CERTAIN COVENANTS   
9.1   Certain Acknowledgments      31   
9.2   Commitment      31   
9.3   Confidential Information, Intellectual Property and Proprietary Information      31   
9.4   Interference      33   
9.5   Disparagement      33   
  ARTICLE X   
  DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP   
10.1   Dissolution      33   
10.2   Liquidating Distributions      34   
10.3   Termination      34   
10.4   Liquidator      35   
10.5   Restoration of Deficit Capital Account Balances      35   
10.6   Limitations on Dissolution      35   
  ARTICLE XI   
  MISCELLANEOUS   
11.1   Arbitration of Disputes      35   
11.2   Married Persons      37   
11.3   Entire Agreement      37   
11.4   Binding Effect      37   
11.5   Amendments      37   
11.6   Notices      38   
11.7   Parties in Interest      38   
11.8   Contra Proferentum      38   
11.9   Governing Law      39   
11.10   Severability      39   
11.11   Waivers      39   
11.12   Counterparts      39   
11.13   Determination of Certain Matters      39   

 

-iii-


FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE FUND GP I, L.P.

This F IFTH A MENDED AND R ESTATED L IMITED P ARTNERSHIP A GREEMENT (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) of O AKTREE F UND GP I, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), is made and entered into as of July 28, 2011 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as general partner of the Partnership (in its capacity as such, the “ General Partner ”), and each Person listed as a limited partner of the Partnership on the Register (as defined below) (each such Person, in its, his or her capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, a “ Limited Partner ”), for the purpose of amending and restating that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership (the “ Prior LPA ”), dated as of December 14, 2010.

N OW , THEREFORE , the Prior LPA is hereby amended and restated, and the General Partner and the Limited Partners hereby agree, as follows:

Article I

Definitions

1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Acknowledging Partner : as defined in Section 9.1 .

Act : the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101 et seq. and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Affiliate : with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, the Person in question; provided that no Fund or portfolio company of any Oaktree Group Member shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Oaktree Group Member.

Agreement : as defined in the preamble hereto.

Annual Partnership Tax Liability : the product of ( a ) the General Partner’s reasonable good faith determination, with respect to a Partner, of such Partner’s share of the Partnership’s net taxable income pursuant to Article VI for a given Fiscal Year,


giving effect to such Partner’s share of losses and deductions, multiplied by ( b ) the sum of the highest marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rates applicable to any Partner (taking into account the effect of any allowable U.S. federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes). For this purpose, “net taxable income” of the Partnership shall be calculated taking into account separately stated items, and without regard to items of income exempt from tax.

Assignee : as defined in Section 4.4 .

Associated Fund : as defined in Section 4.1(c) .

Associated Person : as defined in Section 1.3 .

Available Cash : the gross cash proceeds of the Partnership less the portion thereof used to pay or establish reserves for Partnership expenses, working capital, debt payments, capital improvements, replacements, and contingencies, all as determined by the General Partner. Available Cash shall not be reduced by depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions, or similar allowances, but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves previously established pursuant to the first sentence of this definition.

Capital Account : as defined in Section 5.2 .

Capital Contribution : the total value of cash, if any, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.1 , and the Gross Asset Value of any property other than cash contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.1 , net of liabilities secured by such property that the Partnership is considered to assume or take under Code Section 752.

Certificate : the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Clawback : as defined in Section 6.5(b) .

Communications Act : the U.S. Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Code : the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Competitive Business : any business that is competitive with the business of any Oaktree Group Member (including raising, organizing, managing or advising any fund or separate account having an investment strategy in any way competitive with any of the funds or separate accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member).

Confidential Information : any information concerning the employees, organization, business or finances of any Oaktree Group Member or any third party (including any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer, vendor or other person) with which an Oaktree Group Member is engaged or conducts business, including business strategies, operating plans, acquisition strategies (including the

 

- 2 -


identities of, and any other information concerning, possible acquisition candidates), financial information, valuations, analyses, investment performance, market analysis, acquisition terms and conditions, personnel, compensation and ownership information, know-how, customer lists and relationships, the identity of any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer vendor or other third party, and supplier lists and relationships, as well as all other secret, confidential or proprietary information belonging to any Oaktree Group Member; provided that Confidential Information shall not include any information generally known to the public other than as a result of disclosure by any Limited Partner not permitted hereunder.

Control : the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Depreciation : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning book value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis, and if such adjusted tax basis is zero, the Depreciation shall be based on the method and assumptions used to depreciate, amortize or otherwise recover the cost of such type of asset in preparing the financial statements of the Partnership.

Disabling Conduct : with respect to any Person, ( a ) a breach by such Person of its, his or her fiduciary duties to the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, provided that such breach is the result of willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable law (including any U.S. federal or state securities law) that, in each case has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Partnership, or ( b ) fraud.

Dissolution Event : as defined in Section 10.1 .

Effective Date : as defined in the preamble hereto.

ERISA : the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

FCC : the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, or any governmental entity that succeeds to the powers and functions thereof.

FCC Rules : the rules, regulations or written policies of the FCC that ( a ) limit or restrict ownership in Media Companies on the basis of ownership in other Media Companies or under which the Partnership’s ownership of a Media Company may be

 

- 3 -


attributed to the Partners (or a Partner’s ownership of another Media Company may be subject to limitation or restriction as a result of the ownership by the Partnership of such Media Company or another Media Company), including the rules, regulations or written policies of the FCC that provide for the insulation from such attributable interests in Media Companies, or ( b ) limit or restrict ownership in Media Companies by non-U.S. persons (as defined by the FCC), as such rules, regulations or written policies may be modified from time to time.

Fiscal Year : as defined in Section 2.6 .

Formation Date : May 15, 2007.

Fund : any limited partnership, limited liability company, group trust, mutual fund, investment company or other entity, or any investment account, which is managed or Controlled by any Oaktree Group Member or by an entity Controlled by any Oaktree Group Member and which is specifically designated as such by the General Partner.

General Partner : as defined in the preamble hereto, and any Person who becomes a successor general partner of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Act, each in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership.

General Partner Related Person : any of ( a ) the General Partner, ( b ) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ( c ) OCGH, ( d ) Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ( e ) the current and former principals, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents and representatives of any of the entities described in the foregoing clauses (a)  through (e) , and ( f ) the current and former officers of the Partnership.

Governmental Authority : any national, federal, state, county, municipal, local or other government, governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative authority (including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the New York Stock Exchange), agency or commission, or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body, whether domestic or foreign, in each case, of competent jurisdiction.

Gross Asset Value : with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

  (a) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as determined by the contributing Partner and the Partnership.

 

  (b) If and to the extent that the General Partner determines that such an adjustment is necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient, the Gross Asset Values of all assets of the Partnership shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as determined by the General Partner, immediately prior to the following events:

 

- 4 -


  (i) a Capital Contribution (other than a de minimis Capital Contribution) to the Partnership by a new or existing Partner as consideration for one or more Interests;

 

  (ii) the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for the redemption of one or more Interests; and

 

  (iii) the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g).

 

  (c) The Gross Asset Value of any Partnership property distributed to any Partner shall be the gross fair market value of such property on the date of distribution.

 

  (d) The Gross Asset Values of Partnership property shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d)  to the extent that the General Partner determines that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (b)  above is necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d) .

If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (a) , (b)  or (d)  above, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Net Profit and Net Losses.

Incentive Income : any fee, carried interest or override participation received (or to be received) by the Partnership that is derived from a Fund.

Incentive Profit and Incentive Losses : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount, determined separately for each Fund equal to the Partnership’s profit or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period relating to the Incentive Income derived from such Fund, determined in the same manner that Net Profits and Net Losses are determined (but excluding subparagraph (f)  thereof).

Incentive Sharing Percentage : as defined in Section 4.2 .

Initial Closing Date : May 25, 2007.

Intellectual Property : ( a ) any and all investment or trading, records, agreements or data; ( b ) any and all financial and other analytic models, records, data, methodologies or software; ( c ) any and all investment advisory contracts, fee schedules and investment

 

- 5 -


performance data; ( d ) any and all investment agreements, limited partnership agreements, subscription agreements, private placement memorandums and other offering documents and materials; ( e ) any and all client, investor or vendor lists, records or contact data; ( f ) any and all other documents, records, materials, data, trade secrets and other incidents of business carried on by any Oaktree Group Member or learned, created, developed or carried on by any employee of any Oaktree Group Member (in whatever form, including print, computer file, diskette or otherwise); and ( g ) all trade names, service marks and logos under which any Oaktree Group Member does business, and any and all combinations and variations thereof and all related logos.

Interests : a limited partner interest in the Partnership, including the right of the holder thereof to any and all benefits to which a holder may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligation of such holder to comply with all the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Interests may be common limited partner interests or preferred limited partner interests, and may be issued in different classes or series.

Investment Company Act : the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

JAMS : as defined in Section 11.1(a) .

Limited Partners : as defined in the preamble hereto, and shall include their successors and permitted assigns and any Person hereafter admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms hereof, each in their capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, and shall exclude any Person who ceases to be a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms hereof. For purposes of the Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners. The General Partner shall be deemed to be a Limited Partner to the extent the General Partner holds any Interests.

Media Company : any Person that, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or operates a broadcast radio or television station, a cable television system, or a “daily newspaper” (as such term is defined in Section 73.3555 of the FCC’s rules and regulations, as amended from time to time), a “broadband radio service,” any other communications facility operated pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Communications Act, or any other business that is subject to the FCC Rules.

Media Company Professional : a Limited Partner that provides services to the Oaktree Group and handles matters relating to Oaktree Media Companies or the Media Company business of the Partnership or Oaktree.

Media (Foreign-Restricted) Company : any Person that, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or operates a communications facility that is operated pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and is subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Communications Act.

 

- 6 -


Membership Transaction : as defined in Section 3.8 .

Net Profit or Net Loss : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period, determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles, with the following adjustments:

 

  (a) any income for such Fiscal Year or other period of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses shall be included in computing such Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

  (b) any expenditures of the Partnership for such Fiscal Year or other period described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses, shall be subtracted in computing such Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

  (c) gain or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period resulting from any disposition of an asset of the Partnership shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the asset disposed of notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;

 

  (d) in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year or other period;

 

  (e) if the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)  or (c)  of the definition of “Gross Asset Value”, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Profits or Net Losses; provided that with respect to property first received by the Partnership in distribution from a Fund (and then, in turn, distributed by the Partnership to Partners), such adjustment shall be determined as if the asset’s starting adjusted tax basis, on the date of distribution by the Partnership, were equal to the fair market value of such asset, as determined pursuant to the limited partnership agreement (or other equivalent governing document) of such Fund, at the time such asset is distributed by such Fund to the Partnership, net of any liabilities secured by such distributed property that the Partnership or the Partners are considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752; and

 

  (f) Incentive Profits, Incentive Losses and any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 6.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses.

 

- 7 -


Non-U.S. Person : ( a ) a citizen of a country other than the United States, ( b ) an entity organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than those of the United States or any state, territory or possession of the United States, ( c ) a government other than the government of the United States or of any state, territory or possession of the United States, ( d ) a corporation of which, in the aggregate, more than 10% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by Persons described in any of clauses (a)  through (c)  above or in this clause (d) , ( e ) a general or limited partnership, or a limited liability company, of which 10% of the equity contributions or interests therein are directly or indirectly made or held by any Person described in any of clauses (a)  through (c)  above, taking into account, in calculating indirect contributions or interests in such partnership or company, that the percentage interests of a Person that is a stockholder, limited partner or member insulated in accordance with the FCC Rules relating to a Person that directly makes or holds an equity contribution or interest in such partnership or company may be multiplied by the percentage of such direct interest in such partnership or company, or ( f ) a representative of, or entity controlled by, any Person referred to in any of the foregoing clauses (a)  through (e) .

Oaktree Group : collectively, OCGH and its Affiliates.

Oaktree Group Member : each of OCGH and its Affiliates, including, for so long as it is an Affiliate of the Partnership, ( a ) the General Partner, ( b ) each OpCo, and ( c ) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Oaktree Media Company : a Media Company in which any Oaktree Group Member, or a fund or separate account managed by any Oaktree Group Member, has an attributable interest (as defined in the FCC Rules).

OCGH : Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

OpCo : any entity in which OCGH owns an equity interest and is designated by the general partner of OCGH as an OpCo. Until such time as the General Partner designates otherwise, the OpCos shall consist of ( a ) Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( b ) Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( c ) Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( d ) Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, ( e ) Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and ( f ) Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Partner : any Person hereafter admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner or a General Partner (as the case may be) in accordance with the terms hereof, and excluding any Person who ceases to be a Limited Partner or a General Partner (as the case may be) in accordance with the terms hereof. In the event any Partner shall have withdrawn in whole from the Partnership as provided in this Agreement, such Person shall no longer be a Partner as defined herein after such withdrawal.

Partnership : as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

- 8 -


Percentage Interest : with respect to any Partner, such Partner’s percentage ownership (measured by its, his or her percentage share of current year income other than income relating to Incentive Income) of the total Interests outstanding of the Partnership. The aggregate Percentage Interests of the Partners shall at all times total 100%.

Permitted Transfer : with respect to any Interests, a Transfer of such Interests that has been approved by the General Partner.

Person : an individual, a general partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a joint venture, a corporation, a business, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department, agency, authority, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

Prior LPA : as defined in the preamble hereto.

Protective Provisions : ( a ) the provisions applicable to a Partner under Sections 9.2 , 9.3 , 9.4 and 9.5 and ( b ) any provision contained in a Series Designation or the Supplemental Schedule that is designated as a “Protective Provision”.

Register : as defined in Section 7.1(a) .

Secretary of State : the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

Series Designation : as defined in Section 4.1(c) .

Side Letter : as defined in Section 11.3 .

Subscription Contribution : as defined in Section 5.1 .

Supplemental Schedule : the supplemental schedule on the conversion, vesting and forfeiture of Interests and related provisions, as adopted by the General Partner as of the Effective Date and amended, revised, supplemented and restated by the General Partner from time to time thereafter in accordance with its terms.

Tax Matters Partner : as defined in Section 6.12 .

Transfer : with respect to any Interests, any transaction by which a Limited Partner assigns such Interests to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange and any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

Treasury Regulations : the temporary and final regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

1.2 Interpretation . All ambiguities shall be resolved without reference to which party may have drafted this Agreement. All article or section headings or other captions in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they shall not be deemed part of this Agreement

 

- 9 -


and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ( a ) a term has the meaning assigned to it; ( b ) “or” is not exclusive; ( c ) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; ( d ) each definition herein includes the singular and the plural; ( e ) each reference herein to any gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter where appropriate; ( f ) the word “including” when used herein means “including, but not limited to,” and the word “include” when used herein means “include, without limitation”; and ( g ) references herein to specified article or section numbers refer to the specified article or section of this Agreement. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and derivative or similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “applicable law” and any other similar references to the law include all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, orders, rules, regulations, determinations, orders, judgments and decrees of any Governmental Authority. The abbreviation “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. All monetary amounts expressed herein by the use of the words “U.S. dollar” or “U.S. dollars” or the symbol “$” are expressed in the lawful currency of the United States of America. The words “foreign” and “domestic” shall be interpreted by reference to the United States of America.

1.3 Associated Persons . Each Limited Partner acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement were drafted with the assumption that each beneficial owner of Interests (other than the General Partner) would be a natural person who will be providing services to the Oaktree Group. Accordingly, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent any such natural person (each, an “ Associated Person ”) holds Interests through one or more entities, references herein to a Partner or former Partner shall be interpreted in good faith by the General Partner to include reference to such Associated Person to the extent necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to ensure that such entity is not treated more favorably as a Partner than such natural person would have been treated had the Interests held by such entity been held by such natural person directly and such natural person had been admitted as a Limited Partner in lieu of such entity.

1.4 Former Partners . The word “Partner” or “Limited Partner” shall be deemed to include reference to former Partners and former Limited Partners to the extent necessary or appropriate, in the good faith judgment of the General Partner to give effect to the economic intent of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, references in Article V and Article VI to “Partner” or “Limited Partner” shall be deemed to include reference to former Partners and former Limited Partners.

Article II

Organization

2.1 Formation; Continuation . The Partnership was formed as of the Formation Date under and pursuant to the provisions of the Act as a limited partnership, and in connection therewith, the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to the Act. The parties hereto hereby continue the Partnership as a limited partnership under and pursuant to the provisions of the Act and agree that the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as otherwise provided herein. Without limiting the foregoing, the

 

- 10 -


General Partner hereby continues as the general partner of the Partnership, and each Limited Partner hereby continues as a limited partner of the Partnership. The General Partner and the Limited Partners hereby amend and restate the Prior LPA and enter into this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between any term or condition contained in this Agreement and any non-mandatory provision of the Act, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall govern. A Person shall be deemed to be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner at the time ( a ) this Agreement or a joinder hereto is executed by or on behalf of such Person, and ( b ) such Person is listed by the General Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership on the Register.

2.2 Name . The name of the Partnership is “ Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P. ” The General Partner is authorized to make any variations in the Partnership’s name, and to conduct the business of the Partnership under such other names, in each case as determined by the General Partner; provided that ( a ) such name shall contain the words “Limited Partnership” or the abbreviation “L.P.” or the designation “LP” and ( b ) such name is otherwise permitted under the Act.

2.3 Delaware Registered Agent and Office . The Partnership shall maintain, pursuant to the Act, a registered office in Delaware and a registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in Delaware, such office and agent to be selected by the General Partner and to be set forth in the Certificate. Initially, ( a ) the address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808, United States of America, and ( b ) the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in Delaware shall be Corporation Service Company.

2.4 Principal Place of Business . The Partnership shall have its principal place of business at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, United States of America, or at such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate. In addition, the Partnership may maintain such other offices as the General Partner may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient at any other place or places inside or outside of the United States of America.

2.5 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the Initial Closing Date and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article X . Notwithstanding the expiration of such term, the legal existence of the Partnership shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate in accordance with Section 10.3 .

2.6 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year (the “ Fiscal Year ”) of the Partnership for accounting and income tax purposes shall be the calendar year; provided that ( a ) the first Fiscal Year shall be the portion of the calendar year beginning on the Initial Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2007, and ( b ) the Fiscal Year in which the Partnership is terminated in accordance with Article X shall be the portion of the calendar year ending on the date on which the Partnership is terminated.

2.7 Title to Partnership Property . Legal title to all of the Partnership’s property shall be held in such manner as the General Partner determines to be in the best interests

 

- 11 -


of the Partnership. Each Limited Partner acknowledges and agrees that the manner of holding title to Partnership property is solely for the convenience of the Partnership, and, accordingly, neither the Partners nor their legal representatives, beneficiaries, distributees, successors or assignees shall have any right, title or interest in or to any such Partnership property by reason of the manner in which title is held, but all such property shall be treated as Partnership property subject to the terms of this Agreement.

Article III

The Partnership

3.1 Purpose and Scope of Business; Powers . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the purposes of the Partnership shall be to ( a ) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, any business, purpose or activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, ( b ) acquire, hold and dispose of interests in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity (including equity interests in entities that serve as the general partner of the Funds) and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership with respect to its interests therein, and ( c ) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, all other lawful activities determined by the General Partner to be necessary, appropriate, advisable, convenient or incidental to, or otherwise in furtherance of, any of the foregoing. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Partnership shall have the power to do any and all acts necessary, appropriate, advisable, convenient or incidental to, or otherwise in furtherance of, the purposes and business of the Partnership described herein, and shall have, without limitation, any and all of the powers that may be exercised on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner pursuant to Section 3.2 .

3.2 Powers of the General Partner . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the power to manage, operate and establish the policies of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner, and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership to carry out, delegate or appoint to one or more other Persons (including any partner of the General Partner) any and all objects and purposes of the Partnership and to perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection therewith or incidental thereto. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in construing the provisions of this Agreement, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the General Partner. Such powers of the General Partner may be exercised without order of, or resort to, any Governmental Authority, except to the extent required by applicable law. In dealing with the General Partner and its duly appointed agents, no Person shall be required to inquire as to the General Partner’s or any such agent’s authority to bind the Partnership.

3.3 Powers of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner, as such, shall take part in or interfere in any manner with the management, conduct or control of the business or affairs of the Partnership, or have any right or authority to enter into any letter, contract, agreement, deed, instrument or document whatsoever on behalf of the Partnership, or otherwise act for or

 

- 12 -


bind the Partnership. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, no Limited Partner shall have the right or power to bring an action for partition against the Partnership or cause the termination and dissolution of the Partnership, except as set forth in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement does not grant any Limited Partner any rights as a partner of any Fund or any ability to direct any entity which controls such Fund.

3.4 Officers . The General Partner may, from time to time, designate one or more Persons to be officers of the Partnership, with such titles as the General Partner may assign to such Persons. Officers so designated shall have such authority and perform such duties of the General Partner hereunder as the General Partner may, from time to time, delegate to them. Any number of offices and other positions may be held by the same Person. No Person shall receive any salary or other compensation from the Partnership for his service as an officer of the Partnership. Any officer of the Partnership may resign as such at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at the time of receipt of notice of resignation by the General Partner. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation. Any officer of the Partnership may be removed as such, either with or without cause, by the General Partner. Each officer of the Partnership shall serve as such until his resignation, removal, death or disability.

3.5 Media Company Provisions .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Limited Partner (and no officer, director, partner, member or equivalent official of a Limited Partner) other than a Media Company Professional shall:

 

  (i) act as an employee of the Partnership if such Person’s functions, directly or indirectly, relate to an Oaktree Media Company or to the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member;

 

  (ii) serve, in any material capacity, as an independent contractor or agent of an Oaktree Media Company or of the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member;

 

  (iii) communicate on matters pertaining to the day-to-day operations of an Oaktree Media Company, or the day-to-day Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, with ( A ) an officer, director, partner, member, agent, representative or employee of such Oaktree Media Company or ( B ) the General Partner;

 

  (iv)

perform any services for an Oaktree Media Company or relating to the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, with the exception of making loans to, or acting as surety for, an Oaktree Media Company; provided that the amount of any such loan, plus any interest of such Limited Partner

 

- 13 -


  in an Oaktree Media Company, shall not exceed 33% of the total assets of such Oaktree Media Company, as defined by and in accordance with the FCC’s “equity/debt plus” rule; or

 

  (v) become actively involved in the management or operation of an Oaktree Media Company or of the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member.

(b) To ensure that the Partnership has the ability to make investments, directly or indirectly, in media and wireless communications services companies, or investments in Oaktree Group Members (which may manage or control Funds which in turn invest in media and wireless communications services companies), in each case consistent with the requirements of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules, each Limited Partner shall use reasonable efforts to provide the General Partner, promptly upon request, the following information:

 

  (i) information regarding the percentage of its, his or her equity securities owned, controlled or voted by Non-U.S. Persons, and the number and percentage of its, his or her partners or members that are Non-U.S. Persons;

 

  (ii) all other non-confidential information that the General Partner requires to make necessary filings with, or other submissions to, the FCC; and

 

  (iii) all other non-confidential information that the General Partner reasonably deems necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to enable the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member to make, manage and dispose of investments in compliance with this Agreement and applicable FCC Rules.

In addition, no Limited Partner shall take any action that such Limited Partner knows would cause a violation by the Partnership of the Communications Act or the FCC Rules.

(c) Each Limited Partner that becomes, or will or may become, a Non-U.S. Person as a result of a change in citizenship, change in control or reorganization of such Limited Partner shall provide notice of such event to the General Partner or Oaktree at least thirty calendar days prior to the effective time of such change in citizenship, change of control or reorganization. In the case of the withdrawal, resignation, departure, termination, change in citizenship, change in control or reorganization of any Limited Partner that is not a Non-U.S. Person and that has the effect of causing the total Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners that are Non-U.S. Persons to exceed 24.99%, then such Limited Partner shall take such commercially reasonable actions as the General Partner deems reasonably necessary to cause total Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners that are Non-U.S. Persons to not exceed 24.99%.

3.6 Meetings and Voting . For situations in which the approval of the Limited Partners is expressly required by applicable law or under this Agreement, the Limited Partners

 

- 14 -


shall act through meetings and written consents as described in this Section 3.6 . The actions by the Limited Partners permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the General Partner on at least five calendar days’ prior written notice to the Limited Partners, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. Partners may participate in a meeting of the Partnership through the use of conference telephones or similar communications equipment so long as all Partners participating in the meeting can hear one another. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.6 constitutes presence in person at such meeting and waiver of any requirement for notice of such meeting. Alternatively, the actions by the Limited Partners permitted hereunder may be taken by written consent (without a meeting and without a vote) so long as such written consent is signed by the Limited Partners as would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which the Partners entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Limited Partners at a meeting thereof.

3.7 Admissions and Withdrawals . No Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a partner of the Partnership, except for ( a ) the General Partner, who shall be deemed to have been admitted as the general partner of the Partnership as of the Formation Date, ( b ) the Persons who were admitted as Limited Partners as of the Initial Closing Date, and ( c ) additional Limited Partners admitted in accordance with Section 4.1 and substitute Limited Partners admitted in accordance with Section 4.4 . No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw from being a partner of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner; provided that each Person who is a Limited Partner shall immediately and automatically cease to be a Limited Partner at the time such Person ceases to be the record holder of any Interests.

3.8 Conditions to Membership Transactions . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Interests shall be issued to any Person, no Interests shall be Transferred to any Person, no Person shall be admitted as a Limited Partner (whether as a result of any such issuance or Transfer or otherwise and whether as an additional Limited Partner, a substitute Limited Partner or otherwise), and no Interests shall be redeemed by the Partnership from any Person (each, a “ Membership Transaction ”), unless such Membership Transaction satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

(a) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to result in the violation by the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person of any applicable law, including any applicable U.S. federal or state or foreign securities laws;

(b) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of any jurisdiction;

(c) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent no already so treated or taxed);

 

- 15 -


(d) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to subject the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person to any material regulatory requirement that it, he or she otherwise would not be subject, including any requirement that the Partnership register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or as a result of all or any portion of the Partnership’s assets becoming or being deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA; and

(e) such other conditions as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient or otherwise in the best interests of the Partnership.

3.9 Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint each of the Partnership, the General Partner, their respective authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, and the members of the General Partner, with full power of substitution, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of such Limited Partner, to execute, acknowledge, verify, swear to, deliver, record and file, in its, his or her or its, his or her assignee’s name, place and stead, all instruments, documents and certificates which may from time to time be required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the State of California, any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to effectuate, implement and continue the valid existence and business of the Partnership, including the power and authority to execute, verify, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, record and file:

(a) any and all instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to form, qualify or continue the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business;

(b) any and all instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to reflect and effect the dissolution and termination of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(c) any and all instruments, documents and certificates which the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to reflect and effect the admission, withdrawal, substitution or removal of any Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(d) any and all instruments, documents and certificates relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Interests issued pursuant to Section 4.1 ;

(e) any and all amendments to this Agreement duly adopted in accordance with Section 11.5 ;

(f) any and all certificates of assumed name and such other certificates and instruments that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or

 

- 16 -


convenient under the fictitious or assumed name statutes from time to time in effect in all jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business;

(g) any and all filings with any Governmental Authority that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and the business of the Partnership; and

(h) any and all other instruments that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with the proper conduct of the business of the Oaktree Group and which do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Limited Partners.

This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent disability or incapacity of the General Partner. This power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable and shall survive and not be affected by the death, disability, incompetence, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination or legal incapacity of any Limited Partner and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s successors, assigns and personal representatives (within the meaning of Section 17-101(15) of the Act). This power of attorney may be exercised by such attorney-in-fact and agent for all Limited Partners (or any of them) by a single signature of the General Partner acting as attorney-in-fact with or without listing all of the Limited Partners executing an instrument. Any Person dealing with the Partnership may conclusively presume and rely upon the fact that any instrument referred to above, executed by such attorney-in-fact and agent, is authorized, regular and binding, without further inquiry. Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner, within fifteen calendar days after receipt of any request therefor, such further designations, powers of attorney and other instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

3.10 Additional Documents and Acts . Each Limited Partner agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and the actions contemplated hereby.

Article IV

Interests

4.1 Interests .

(a) As of the Effective Date, all of the outstanding equity interests in the Partnership are owned of record, directly or indirectly, solely by the Persons identified in the books and records of the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership may issue any number of Interests, and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests, for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration (which may be cash, property, services or any other lawful consideration) or for no consideration and on such

 

- 17 -


terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partner.

(c) Interests authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.1(b) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers, duties, restrictions and conditions (which may be junior to, equivalent to or senior or superior to any existing classes or series of Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner and may be reflected in a designation certificate approved by the General Partner (each, a “ Series Designation ”) or otherwise in the books and records of the Partnership, including ( i ) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; ( ii ) the right to share in Partnership distributions, the dates distributions will be payable and whether distributions with respect to such class or series will be cumulative or non-cumulative; ( iii ) rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; ( iv ) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may redeem such Interests (including sinking fund provisions); ( v ) whether such Interests are issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; ( vi ) the terms and conditions upon which such Interests will be issued, including restrictions on assignment and transfer and whether such Interests will be evidenced by certificates; ( vii ) the method for determining the Percentage Interest, if any, applicable to such Interests; ( viii ) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Partnership to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership, and ( ix ) the extent to which such Interests participate in Incentive Income derived from a particular Fund or group of Funds (an “ Associated Fund ”).

(d) The General Partner is hereby authorized to take all actions that it determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with ( i ) each issuance of Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests pursuant to this Section 4.1 , including the admission of the holders thereof as Limited Partners in connection therewith and any related amendment of this Agreement, and ( ii ) all additional issuances of Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Interests being so issued. The General Partner is authorized to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to such Interests, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any Governmental Authority or any securities market on which Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Interests are listed for trading.

(e) No Interests shall be issued to any Person unless such issuance satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

 

  (i) all conditions to such issuance and the admission of the recipient of such Interests as an additional Limited Partner that are required to be satisfied under Section 3.8 have been satisfied (except to the extent any such condition is waived by the General Partner); and

 

- 18 -


  (ii) the General Partner has received such written instruments, in form and substance (including containing such representations and warranties as are) reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner, as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with such issuance and admission, including an instrument of joinder evidencing the consent of the recipient of such Interests to be bound by this Agreement.

The recipient of Interests pursuant to an issuance of such Interests in compliance with this Section 4.1 shall be admitted as an additional Limited Partner with respect to such Interests upon the consummation of such issuance. Any issuance of Interests or admission to the Partnership of any additional Limited Partner in violation of this Section 4.1 shall be null and void ab initio , shall not be recorded on the books of the Partnership, and shall not be recognized by the Partnership, in each case, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

4.2 Incentive Income . The Partnership shall maintain, in accordance with this Section 4.2 , books and records reflecting, for each Partner, a sharing percentage in the Incentive Income derived from each Fund (a “ Incentive Sharing Percentage ”). In connection with any change in the number or composition of Interests outstanding or the ownership thereof, including in connection with any Membership Transaction and such other events that would cause a change in the Percentage Interests of the Partners, the Incentive Sharing Percentage of each Partner shall be adjusted in such a manner as the General Partner determines to be consistent with the Partners’ respective economic interests in the Incentive Income, taking into account such change and the terms and conditions of such Interests. All determinations of Incentive Sharing Percentages shall be made on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and thus it may be possible for a Partner to have an Incentive Sharing Percentage with respect to some Funds but not others.

4.3 Supplemental Schedule . Except as may be otherwise expressly provided in a written agreement between a Limited Partner and the Partnership or in the Series Designation of any particular series of Interests, ( a ) all Interests issued on or prior to the Effective Date shall be subject to the Supplemental Schedule in effect as of the Effective Date, and ( b ) all Interests issued after the Effective Date shall be subject to the Supplemental Schedule in effect at the time of such issuance.

4.4 Transfer of Interests . No Limited Partner may Transfer all or any portion of its, his or her Interests in any manner whatsoever to another Person (an “ Assignee ”), unless such Transfer satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

(a) such Transfer is a Permitted Transfer;

(b) all conditions to such Transfer and the admission of the transferee as a substitute Limited Partner that are required to be satisfied under Section 3.8 have been satisfied (except to the extent any such condition is waived by the General Partner); and

 

- 19 -


(c) the General Partner has received such written instruments, in form and substance (including containing such representations and warranties as are) reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner, as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with such Transfer and admission, including an instrument of Transfer evidencing such Transfer and an instrument of joinder evidencing such transferee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement.

The transferee of any Interests pursuant to a Transfer in compliance with this Section 4.4 shall be admitted as a substitute Limited Partner with respect to such Interests upon the consummation of such Transfer. The Transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner upon the occurrence of both the transfer of all of its, his or her Interests to an Assignee and the admission to the Partnership of such Assignee as a substitute Limited Partner. Any Transfer or admission to the Partnership of any substitute Limited Partner in violation of this Section 4.4 shall be null and void ab initio , shall not be recorded on the books of the Partnership and shall not be recognized by the Partnership, in each case, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

4.5 Effects of Transfer . Any Partner who transfers any Interests in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement shall cease to be a Partner with respect to such Interests and shall no longer have any rights or privileges of a Partner with respect to such Interests. Any Person (including any Assignee) who acquires in any manner whatsoever any Interests, irrespective of whether such Person has executed a counterpart to this Agreement, shall be deemed by the acceptance of the benefits of the acquisition thereof to have agreed to be subject to and bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement that any predecessor in such Interests was subject to or by which such predecessor was bound, regardless of whether such Person is admitted as a substitute Limited Partner. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Person (other than the General Partner) who acquires in any manner whatsoever any Interests of the General Partner shall not be deemed to have received a general partner interest in the Partnership, and shall be deemed instead to have received a limited partner interest in the Partnership, and shall not be admitted as a general partner of the Partnership, and shall instead be deemed to be an Assignee who may be admitted as a substitute Limited Partner pursuant to Section 4.4 .

4.6 Limited Rights of Assignees . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, an Assignee who is not admitted as a substitute Limited Partner in accordance with Section 4.4 shall have no right to any information or accounting of the affairs of the Partnership, shall not be entitled to inspect the books or records of the Partnership and shall not have any of the rights of a general partner of the Partnership or a limited partner of the Partnership under the Act or this Agreement. Instead, the Interests transferred to such Assignee shall represent only a non-voting economic right to receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Limited Partner which transferred its, his or her Interests would be entitled. In the event any Assignee desires to make a further assignment of any Interests, such Assignee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent and in the same manner as the Limited Partner who initially held such Interests.

4.7 Designation of Beneficiaries . With the consent of the General Partner, a Limited Partner who is a natural person may designate in writing, on forms prescribed by and

 

- 20 -


filed with the Partnership, one or more beneficiaries to receive any payments to which such Limited Partner is entitled and payable after such Limited Partner’s death; provided that such beneficiary shall not be substituted for such Limited Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership. Any such Limited Partner may at any time amend or revoke any such designation made by such Limited Partner; provided that if such Limited Partner is married and designates a person other than his or her spouse as a beneficiary, then his or her spouse must sign a statement specifically approving such designation. Any distributions and payments to which such a Limited Partner would be entitled by virtue of this Agreement while alive will be distributed and paid, following the death of such Limited Partner, to his or her designated beneficiary under this Section 4.7 . If no beneficiary designation under this Section 4.7 is in effect at the time of death, or in the absence of a spouse’s approval as provided in this Section 4.7 , distributions and payments to which a Limited Partner is entitled hereunder shall be made to such Limited Partner’s personal representative (within the meaning of Section 17-101(15) of the Act).

Article V

Capital Contributions; Capital Accounts

5.1 Capital Contributions . Each Partner’s initial Capital Contribution (if any) is set forth on the books and records of the Partnership. No Partner shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership, except as otherwise agreed between such Partner and the General Partner. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may require Capital Contributions from any Limited Partner as a condition to such Limited Partner’s subscription for any class or series of Interests (such Capital Contribution, a “ Subscription Contribution ”).

5.2 Capital Accounts . There shall be established on the books and records of the Partnership a capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) for each Partner, which shall be maintained in accordance with Code Section 704(b) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and such other provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) that must be complied with in order for the Capital Accounts to be determined in accordance with the provisions of such Treasury Regulations. Specifically:

(a) each Partner’s Capital Account shall be increased by ( i ) the total Capital Contributions made by such Partner, and ( ii ) the Net Profits, Incentive Profits and any other items of income and gain allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article VI ; and

(b) each Partner’s Capital Account shall be decreased by ( i ) the total cash distributions to such Partner, ( ii ) the Gross Asset Value of property distributed in kind to such Partner, net of liabilities secured by such property that such Partner is deemed to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752, and ( iii ) the Net Losses, Incentive Losses and any other items of loss or deduction allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article VI .

 

- 21 -


In the event any Interests are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent that it relates to the Transferred Interests.

5.3 No Priorities of Partners . Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, ( a ) no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to the return of the amount of its, his or her Capital Contributions or as to income of the Partnership, ( b ) no Partner shall be entitled to demand or receive a return of or interest on its, his or her Capital Contributions or Capital Account, and ( c ) no Partner shall withdraw any portion of its, his or her Capital Contributions or receive any distributions from the Partnership as a return of capital on account of such Capital Contributions. Without limiting the foregoing, each Limited Partner acknowledges that such Limited Partner is not entitled to receive any distribution pursuant to Section 17-604 of the Act in connection with the withdrawal of such Limited Partner from the Partnership.

Article VI

Allocations; Distributions

6.1 Allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses and Other Items .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article VI :

 

  (i) All Incentive Profits and Incentive Losses, as well as any tax credits and other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that relate to Incentive Income, for each Fiscal Year or other period shall be allocated among the Partners in proportion to their respective Incentive Sharing Percentages with respect to such Incentive Income.

 

  (ii) All Net Profits and Net Losses, as well as any tax credits or other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that do not relate to Incentive Income, for each Fiscal Year or other period shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.1 to the contrary, the General Partner may cause special allocations of ( i ) Incentive Profits and Incentive Losses, as well as any tax credits and other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that relate to Incentive Income, and ( ii ) Net Profits and Net Losses, as well as any tax credits or other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that do not relate to Incentive Income to be made, in each case, in such amounts and in such manner as the General Partner determines from time to time to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to effectuate the economic benefit intended to be conferred upon any Limited Partner, or any set or subset of Limited Partners, under the Interests held by such Limited Partner or Limited Partners.

 

- 22 -


6.2 Regulatory and Tax Allocations . Notwithstanding Section 6.1 , items of income and gain shall be allocated to the Partners in a manner that complies with the “qualified income offset” requirement of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(3). To the extent permitted pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2, nonrecourse deductions (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2) of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests. If there is a net decrease in the Partnership’s partnership minimum gain or partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2), then the Partners shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain in a manner that complies with the “minimum gain chargeback” requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2. For purposes of determining the Partner’s shares of excess nonrecourse deductions (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)), the Partner’s respective interests in Partnership profits shall be deemed equal to their respective Percentage Interests. Allocations of tax items shall in all events be made in a manner that is consistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and Code Section 704(c). Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI to the contrary, the General Partner may make such allocations for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it deems reasonably necessary to give economic effect to the provisions of this Agreement, taking into account such facts and circumstances as it deems reasonably necessary for these purposes.

6.3 Distributions . Subject to applicable law and the limitations contained in Section 6.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the Partnership shall from time to time distribute Available Cash, in each case, at such times and in such amounts as determined by the General Partner. If the Partnership decides to distribute property, the property shall be divided into separate interests to the extent practicable in accordance with the Partners’ respective shares in the distribution thereof. If such property cannot practicably be so divided, then undivided interests therein shall be distributed to the Partners. During each Fiscal Year or other period, all distributions shall be made to the Partners pro rata in proportion to their Percentage Interests for such Fiscal Year or period (with any distribution of property being taken into account at the amount described in Section 5.2(b)(ii) ); provided that distributions relating to Incentive Income shall be made to those Partners who have an interest in such Incentive Income pro rata in proportion to such interests, as determined by the General Partner on a Fund-by-Fund basis.

6.4 Restriction on Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no distribution to any Partner shall be made ( a ) if such distribution would violate the Act or other applicable law or ( b ) if, after giving effect to the distribution, ( i ) the Partnership would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business, ( ii ) such Partner’s Capital Account would be negative by an amount greater than the amount such Partner would be required to restore pursuant to Section 6.5 , or ( iii ) the Partnership’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus, unless this Agreement provides otherwise, the amount that would be needed, if the Partnership were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights of other Partners, if any, upon dissolution that are superior to the rights of the Partner receiving the distribution. The General Partner may base a determination that a distribution is not prohibited pursuant to Section 6.4(b) on ( x ) financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable under the circumstances, ( y ) a fair valuation or ( z ) any other method that is reasonable under the circumstances; provided that the determination under Section 6.4(b)(ii)

 

- 23 -


whether a Partner’s Capital Account will be negative shall be based on the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets. Except as provided in Section 17-607(b) of the Act, the effect of a distribution is measured as of the date the distribution is authorized if the payment occurs within 120 calendar days after the date of authorization, or the date payment is made if it occurs more than 120 calendar days after the date of authorization.

6.5 Return of Advances and Distributions .

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, all distributions made during a Fiscal Year shall be treated as advances to the Partners until it is determined that the amounts advanced to each Partner were properly computed pursuant to this Section 6.5 and that such distributions were permissible under this Article VI . Such determination shall be made by the following March 31 by the Partnership’s auditors (or such later date to the extent the Partnership’s auditors are unable to make such determination by such March 31). Any additional distributions due to a Partner as the result of such determination shall be paid to it, him or her without interest before any other distributions are made. Following such determination by the Partnership’s auditors, any excess advances made to a Partner shall be repaid without interest within 60 calendar days following such determination unless the General Partner determines otherwise. Except for distributions made in violation of the Act or this Agreement, and except as provided in this Section 6.5 , no Partner shall be obligated to return any distribution to the Partnership or pay the amount of any distribution for the account of the Partnership or to any creditor of the Partnership. In the event an amount of a distribution is returned to the Partnership by a Partner or is paid by a Partner for the account of the Partnership or to a creditor of the Partnership, such amount shall be added to the Partner’s Capital Account.

(b) In the event any Oaktree Group Member is required to return to any Fund any Incentive Income (a “ Clawback ”), each Partner who received any distribution hereunder with respect thereto shall return to the Partnership promptly upon request by the General Partner, any distributions received by such Partner with respect thereto, and the Partnership shall be entitled to withhold future distributions to such Partner, equal to such Partner’s pro rata share of such Clawback, as determined by the General Partner in good faith; provided that such Partner’s liability for such Clawback shall not exceed the total amount of distributions that such Partner has received or is entitled to with respect to such Incentive Income. For the avoidance of doubt, each Partner’s obligations under this Section 6.5(b) shall survive the withdrawal of such Partner from the Partnership.

6.6 Allocations in Case of Adjustments in Percentage Interests . Except as provided for in this Section 6.6 and Section 6.1(b) , Net Profits, Net Losses and similar items allocable to Partners whose Percentage Interests have changed during a Fiscal Year shall be allocated among such Partners either ( a ) ratably on a daily basis or ( b ) under any reasonable basis that is permitted under Code Section 706 and the underlying Treasury Regulations. Depreciation, amortization and similar items, under either method of allocation, shall accrue ratably on a daily basis over the entire period during which the corresponding asset is owned by the Partnership for the entire Fiscal Year, and over the portion of a Fiscal Year after such asset is placed in service by the Partnership if such asset is placed in service during the Fiscal Year.

 

- 24 -


6.7 Tax Distributions . If any Partner’s Annual Partnership Tax Liability exceeds the aggregate amounts distributed to such Partner with respect to a Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 6.3 and this Section 6.7 , amounts shall be distributed by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 6.7 to the Partners in proportion to the amount of such excess with respect to each Partner until each Partner has received an aggregate amount under Section 6.3 and this Section 6.7 for such Fiscal Year equal to its, his or her Annual Partnership Tax Liability. To the extent any such excess is anticipated with respect to a Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall make distributions under this Section 6.7 quarterly based on the expected estimated tax liabilities of each Partner for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within ninety days after the end of a Fiscal Year based on each Partner’s Annual Partnership Tax Liability for such Fiscal Year. For purposes of Section 6.3 , the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, shall determine what portion (if any) of a distribution pursuant to this Section 6.7 to treat as a distribution of Incentive Income. Any amount distributed to a Partner pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be treated as an advance against amounts distributable to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3 .

6.8 Return of Certain Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise determined by the General Partner, if a Limited Partner makes a Subscription Contribution, then the General Partner shall, promptly after the General Partner believes it is able to make the determination contemplated by this sentence with reasonable certainty, but no later than the final liquidation of the Associated Fund to which such Subscription Contribution relates, determine the extent (if any) to which the aggregate net distributions received (or to be received) by the Partnership (other than distributions of Incentive Income) that are derived from such Associated Fund exceeds (or would exceed) the amount equal to ( x ) the aggregate capital directly or indirectly invested by the Partnership in such Associated Fund net of ( y ) the aggregate Subscription Contributions made by Limited Partners in respect of such Associated Fund (taking into account any distributions that the General Partner believes are reasonably certain to be returned or contributed to such Associated Fund pursuant to any clawback or other obligation). In the event of any such excess, the Partnership shall distribute to such Limited Partner an amount equal to the lesser of ( a ) such Subscription Contribution or ( b ) such Limited Partner’s pro rata share (as determined in good faith by the General Partner taking into account the aggregate Subscription Contributions made by Limited Partners in respect of such Associated Fund) of such excess. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate distributions receivable by any Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 6.8 shall not exceed such Limited Partner’s aggregate Subscription Contributions in respect of the Associated Fund from which such distributions are derived. Except as provided in this Section 6.8 or otherwise determined by the General Partner, no Limited Partner shall be entitled to any return of, or other distributions with respect to, its, his or her Subscription Contributions.

6.9 Withholding . The Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions to a Partner, or with respect to allocations to a Partner, and to pay over to any Governmental Authority, any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law. In addition, the Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions to a Partner, or with respect to a Partner, and to pay over to any Oaktree Group Member, any amounts owed by such Partner to such Oaktree Group Member. Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall be treated as distributed to such Partner pursuant to this Article VI for all purposes of this Agreement, and, if withheld from amounts

 

- 25 -


allocated but not distributed, shall be offset against the next amounts otherwise distributable to such Partner.

6.10 Acknowledgment . Each Limited Partner acknowledges that it, he or she is aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article VI and agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Article VI in reporting its, his or her shares of Net Profits, Net Losses, and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes and any applicable foreign tax purposes.

6.11 Partnership Classification for Tax Purposes . Each Partner recognizes, agrees and intends that, for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, the Partnership shall be classified as a partnership. The General Partner shall not permit the Partnership to elect, and the Partnership shall not elect, to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(a) or under any corresponding provision of state or local law.

6.12 Tax Matters . The General Partner and the Limited Partners shall take all necessary steps, including amending the Certificate and this Agreement, to cause the Partnership to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal and California state tax purposes. A former Partner shall be treated as a partner for U.S. federal and California state tax purposes with respect to only his receipt of distributions pursuant to Sections 6.3 and 10.2 and allocations corresponding thereto. The Partnership shall determine whether any non-Partner transferee of the right to receive any payments from the Partnership shall be treated as a partner for U.S. federal and California tax purposes. The General Partner shall from time to time cause the Partnership to make such tax elections as it determines to be in the best interests of the Partnership and the Limited Partners; provided that each Limited Partner acknowledges that an election pursuant to Code Section 754 has been made by the Partnership. The tax matters partner, as defined in Code Section 6231 (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”), shall represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting judicial and administrative proceedings, and shall expend the Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. The Tax Matters Partner shall oversee the Partnership tax affairs in the overall best interests of the Partnership. The General Partner is hereby designated as the initial Tax Matters Partner. If for any reason the Tax Matters Partner can no longer serve in that capacity or ceases to be a Partner, the General Partner may designate another Partner (with such Partner’s consent) to be Tax Matters Partner.

6.13 No Representations as to Tax Treatment . Neither the Partnership, nor the General Partner, nor any other Oaktree Group Member makes any representation (and shall not be liable to any Limited Partner) as to the tax treatment of allocations or distributions with respect to any Interests under applicable U.S. federal, state or local or foreign tax laws.

Article VII

Books and Records; Reports to Partners

 

- 26 -


7.1 Books and Records . The books and records of the Partnership shall be kept, and the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, in accordance with the accounting methods followed for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The books and records of the Partnership shall reflect all the Partnership transactions and shall be appropriate and adequate for the Partnership’s business. The Partnership shall maintain at its principal office all of the following:

(a) a current list of the full name and last known business or residence address of each Partner, and such Partner’s Percentage Interest and Incentive Sharing Percentages (such list, the “ Register ”), along with other information required by this Agreement to be maintained on the Register;

(b) a copy of the Certificate and any and all amendments thereto together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate or any amendments thereto have been executed; and

(c) such other books and records as the Partnership is required by applicable law to maintain or as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient.

The books and records of the Partnership shall be maintained in such form as the General Partner determines to be appropriate, including in physical or electronic form and one or more spreadsheets, ledgers, tables or schedules, all of which, when taken together, shall constitute the books and records of the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, the Register shall be part of the books and records of the Partnership.

7.2 Access to and Confidentiality of Information and Records .

(a) Subject to Section 7.2(b) , each Limited Partner shall have the right to obtain from the General Partner during regular business hours upon reasonable demand, at such Limited Partner’s expense and for any purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner, the information described in subparagraphs (1) through (6) of Section 17-305(a) of the Act.

(b) The General Partner shall have the right to keep confidential from each Limited Partner for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, any information which the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information, the disclosure of which the General Partner believes in good faith is not in the best interest of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business or which the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with a third party to keep confidential.

7.3 Bank Accounts . The Partnership shall maintain its funds in one or more separate bank accounts in the name of the Partnership, and shall not permit the funds of the Partnership to be commingled in any fashion with the funds of any other Person.

 

- 27 -


Article VIII

Limitations on Liability; Indemnification

8.1 Limitations on Liability .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for:

 

  (i) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(ii) and 8.1(a)(iii) , any act or omission, or any alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, by such General Partner Related Person in connection with the Oaktree Group, including with respect to activities by such General Partner Related Person taken on behalf of any Oaktree Group Member in furtherance of the business of the Oaktree Group (including the business of the Partnership), or otherwise relating to or arising out of this Agreement, in each case, unless such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final nonappealable judgment, or by an arbitrator of competent jurisdiction appointed pursuant to Section 11.1 , to constitute Disabling Conduct on the part of such General Partner Related Person;

 

  (ii) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(i) and 8.1(a)(iii) , any action or omission, or alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, by any Partner (other than, in the case such General Partner Related Person is itself also a Limited Partner, such General Partner Related Person’s own acts and omissions in its capacity as a Limited Partner), regardless of whether such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, constitutes Disabling Conduct; or

 

  (iii) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(i) and 8.1(a)(ii) , any act or omission, or alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, of any employee, broker or other agent or representative of any Oaktree Group Member (other than, in the case such General Partner Related Person is itself such an employee, broker, agent or representative, such General Partner Related Person’s own acts and omissions), regardless of whether such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, constitutes Disabling Conduct.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that, at law or in equity, any General Partner Related Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner, no General

 

- 28 -


Partner Related Person acting under this Agreement shall be liable to the Partnership or such Limited Partner for its, his or her good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement, and the activities of any General Partner Related Person expressly authorized by this Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement may be engaged in by such General Partner Related Person and shall not, in any case or in the aggregate, be deemed a breach of this Agreement or any duty that might be owed by any such Person to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they modify, restrict or eliminate the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of any General Partner Related Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Person.

(b) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall have any personal liability to the Partnership or any Limited Partner solely by reason of any change in U.S. federal, state or local or foreign income tax laws, or in interpretations thereof, as they apply to the Partnership or the Limited Partners, regardless of whether the change occurs through legislative, judicial or administrative action.

(c) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or an opinion of counsel reasonably selected by such General Partner Related Person with respect to legal matters.

(d) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ( i ) no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for acting in reliance on any signature or writing believed in good faith by such General Partner Related Person to be genuine, and ( ii ) each General Partner Related Person may rely on a certificate signed by an officer of any Person in order to ascertain any fact with respect to such Person or within such Person’s knowledge.

(e) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , each General Partner Related Person may consult with appraisers, engineers, contractors, accountants and other skilled Persons of its, his or her choosing, on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the business of the Partnership and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for ( i ) anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith reliance upon the advice of any of such skilled Person, or ( ii ) any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or judgment, of any skilled Person.

The provisions of this Section 8.1 are intended and shall be interpreted as only limiting the liability of a General Partner Related Person and not as in any way expanding such Person’s liability.

8.2 Indemnification by the Partnership .

 

- 29 -


(a) The Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each General Partner Related Person from and against any loss, cost or expense suffered or sustained by it, him or her by reason of any acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions arising out of or in connection with the Partnership, or this Agreement, including any judgment, award, settlement, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding, or claim, in each case, unless such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final nonappealable judgment, or by an arbitrator of competent jurisdiction appointed pursuant to Section 11.1 , to constitute Disabling Conduct on the part of such General Partner Related Person. The termination of any action, proceeding or claim by settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions were made in bad faith or constituted Disabling Conduct on the part of any General Partner Related Person.

(b) Expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by a General Partner Related Person in defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding, or claim that may be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder may, as determined by the General Partner, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition thereof upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such General Partner Related Person to repay the amount advanced to the extent that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such General Partner Related Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

(c) The right of any General Partner Related Person to the indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative of, and in addition to, any and all rights to which such General Partner Related Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall be extended to such General Partner Related Person’s successors, assigns and legal representatives. Any judgments against the Partnership and the General Partner in respect of which any General Partner Related Person is entitled to indemnification shall first be satisfied from the Partnership property before the General Partner shall be responsible therefor.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 8.2 shall not be construed so as to provide for the indemnification of any General Partner Related Person for any liability (including liability under U.S. federal securities laws which, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons that act in good faith), to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of this Section 8.2 to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Article IX

Certain Covenants

 

- 30 -


9.1 Certain Acknowledgments . Each Partner (the “ Acknowledging Partner ”) hereby acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) the business of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group is of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and specialized character;

(b) each Partner has contributed valuable consideration to the Partnership or its predecessor in exchange for such Partner’s interest in the Partnership;

(c) any damage to the business and goodwill of the Partnership would diminish the value of each Partner’s interest in the Partnership (including the value of the Acknowledging Partner’s Interests);

(d) the Partnership and the Oaktree Group possess and will continue to possess information that has been created, discovered or developed by, or otherwise become known to them (including information created, discovered or developed by, or made known to, Partners who have provided services to the Oaktree Group), which information has commercial value in the business in which the Oaktree Group is engaged and is treated by the Partnership and Oaktree Group as confidential information, as a trade secret, as intellectual property or as proprietary information;

(e) the Protective Provisions are ( i ) in anticipation of, ( ii ) reasonable in all respects, and ( iii ) necessary to protect the goodwill, business, confidential information, trade secrets, intellectual property or any other proprietary information of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group, as well as to protect the value of each Partner’s interest in the Partnership, in each case, from the irreparable damage that could be caused to each of them by a Partner upon or after such Partner’s disassociation from the Partnership;

(f) the Acknowledging Partner desires to further the long-term success of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group, including because such success is expected to enhance the value of its, his or her own interests in the Partnership;

(g) it is in the Acknowledging Partner’s own best interests, including to protect the value of its, his or her interest in the Partnership and to further the long-term success of the Partnership, for all of the Partners to agree to be bound by the Protective Provisions; and

(h) no Partner is required to become a party to this Agreement, acquire an interest in the Partnership or make an investment in the Partnership.

9.2 Commitment . Each Partner hereby agrees that for so long as such Partner provides services to an Oaktree Group Member, such Partner shall devote substantially all of such Partner’s business time, skill, energy and attention to its, his or her responsibilities with respect to the business of such Oaktree Group Member in a diligent manner.

9.3 Confidential Information, Intellectual Property and Proprietary Information .

 

- 31 -


(a) Each Partner hereby agrees that such Partner shall not, without the prior express written consent of the General Partner, ( i ) use for the benefit of such Partner, use to the detriment of any Oaktree Group Member, or disclose, at any time (including while providing services to the Oaktree Group), in each case, unless and to the extent required by law or as required in the performance of such Partner’s services to an Oaktree Group Member, any Confidential Information, or ( ii ) remove or retain, upon such Partner ceasing to provide services to the Oaktree Group for any reason, any document, paper, electronic file or other storage medium containing or relating to any Confidential Information, any Intellectual Property or any physical property of any Oaktree Group Member.

(b) Each Partner hereby agrees to deliver to the Oaktree Group on the date such Partner ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group for any reason, or promptly at any other time that any Oaktree Group Member may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) within such Partner’s possession or control that contain any Confidential Information or any Intellectual Property.

(c) Each Partner hereby agrees that any and all Intellectual Property is and shall be the exclusive property of the Oaktree Group for the Oaktree Group’s sole use. In addition, each Partner hereby acknowledges and agrees that the investment performance of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member is attributable to the efforts of the team of professionals of the Oaktree Group and not to the efforts of any single individual, and that, therefore, the performance records of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member are and shall be the exclusive property of the Oaktree Group. Each Partner hereby agrees that such Partner, whether during or after such Partner’s provision of services to any Oaktree Group Member, shall not use or disclose any Intellectual Property, including the performance records of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member without the prior written consent of the General Partner, except in the ordinary course of such Partner’s services to an Oaktree Group Member.

(d) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any trade secrets of the Oaktree Group shall be entitled to all of the protections and benefits under applicable law. Each Partner hereby acknowledges that ( i ) such Partner may have had, and may have in the future, access to information that constitutes trade secrets but that has not been, and shall not be, marked to indicate its status as such and ( ii ) this Agreement constitutes reasonable efforts under the circumstances by the Partnership to notify such Partner of the existence of such trade secrets and to maintain the confidentiality of such trade secrets within the provisions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act or other applicable law.

(e) Each Partner hereby acknowledges and agrees that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Article IX would be inadequate, and, therefore, each Partner agrees that the Partnership shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other available rights and remedies in case of any such breach or threatened breach; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed as

 

- 32 -


prohibiting the Partnership from pursuing any other rights and remedies available for any such breach or threatened breach.

9.4 Interference . Each Partner hereby agrees that for so long as such Partner provides services to an Oaktree Group Member, and for two years after such Partner ceases to be a Partner for any reason, such Partner shall not directly or indirectly ( a ) solicit any customer or client of the Oaktree Group for a Competitive Business, provided that the foregoing clause (a)  shall not be deemed to prohibit such Partner from participating in the normal marketing efforts of a Competitive Business, so long as such Partner does not solicit any client or customer known to such Partner as a result of his or her provision of services to an Oaktree Group Member to be a client or customer of the Oaktree Group, other than clients or customers of the Oaktree Group that, as of the date such Partner ceases to provide services to an Oaktree Group Member, are bona fide pre-existing clients or customers of such Competitive Business, ( b ) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Oaktree Group to leave the Oaktree Group or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Oaktree Group and any employee thereof, or ( c ) hire, engage, employ, retain or otherwise enter into any business affiliation with any person who was an employee of the Oaktree Group at any time during the twelve-month period prior to the date such Partner ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group.

9.5 Disparagement . Each Partner hereby agrees that it, he or she shall not make any statements, encourage others to make statements or release information that disparages, discredits or defames any Oaktree Group Member or engage in any activity that would have the effect of disparaging, discrediting or defaming any Oaktree Group Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit any Partner from making truthful statements when required by law.

Article X

Dissolution and Termination of the Partnership

10.1 Dissolution . The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated, and have its affairs wound up, only pursuant to the provisions of this Article X , and the Partners do hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any Partnership property. The Partnership shall dissolve upon the earliest of (each a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to Section 17-802 of the Act;

(b) the sale of all or substantially of the assets of the Partnership;

(c) at anytime there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to the Act; and

(d) any election by the General Partner to dissolve the Partnership.

 

- 33 -


The dissolution of the Partnership shall be effective on the day on which the Dissolution Event occurs, but the Partnership shall not terminate until it has been wound up, its assets have been distributed as provided in Section 10.2 and a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate has been filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with the Act. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Partnership, prior to the termination of the Partnership, the business of the Partnership and the affairs of the Partners, as such, shall continue to be governed by this Agreement.

10.2 Liquidating Distributions . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, the Partnership shall be wound up and its assets shall be liquidated. The General Partner or any other Person designated pursuant to Section 10.4 to serve as the liquidator of the Partnership shall cause to be made distributions out of Partnership property (including cash proceeds from the liquidation of Partnership property) in the following manner and order:

(a) first , to the satisfaction of all of the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities to creditors (including Partners who are creditors) in the order of priority provided by applicable law or otherwise, including by establishing reserves that the General Partner or such other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership deems necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient for any contingent, conditional or unmatured liabilities or obligations of the Partnership; provided that, if and when a contingency for which such a reserve has been established shall cease to exist, the monies, if any, then in such reserve shall be distributed as provided in Section 10.2(b) (except to the extent used to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and liabilities or to fund other reserves pursuant to this Section 10.2(a) ); and

(b) thereafter , upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as the General Partner or such other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership deems necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient for its protection, distribute the remaining Partnership property, and subject to Article VI , to the Partners, pro rata in proportion to their Percentage Interests (with any distribution of property being taken into account at the amount described in Section 5.2(b)(ii) ); provided that distributions related to Incentive Income shall be made to those Partners who have an interest in such Incentive Income pro rata in proportion to such interests, as determined by the General Partner on a Fund-by- Fund basis.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the General Partner determines that an immediate sale of all or any portion of Partnership property would cause undue loss to the Partners, the General Partner, in order to avoid such loss, and to the extent not then prohibited by the Act, may defer liquidation of and withhold from distribution for a reasonable time any Partnership property except as necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities to creditors.

10.3 Termination . Upon completion of the dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership shall execute, acknowledge and file such certificates, instruments and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to terminate the legal existence of the Partnership under the Act, including by executing, acknowledging and causing to be filed a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State.

 

- 34 -


10.4 Liquidator . The General Partner or a Person designated by the General Partner shall serve as the liquidator of the Partnership. The reasonable fees, costs and expenses of any liquidator for the Partnership shall be considered to be a Partnership expense and be paid from Partnership property prior to any final liquidating distribution to the Partners.

10.5 Restoration of Deficit Capital Account Balances. If any Partner has a deficit balance in its, his or her Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all Fiscal Years, including the year during which the liquidation occurs), then such Partner shall have no obligation to make any Capital Contribution with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever.

10.6 Limitations on Dissolution . Nothing in this Article X is intended to limit the survival of provisions of this Agreement that expressly survive the dissolution and termination of the Partnership. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated, and have its affairs wound up, only pursuant to the provisions of this Article X . Any dissolution of the Partnership other than as provided in this Article X shall be a dissolution in contravention of this Agreement.

Article XI

Miscellaneous

11.1 Arbitration of Disputes .

(a) Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to ( i ) the Partnership, ( ii ) any Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, ( iii ) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, ( iv ) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.1 , and ( v ) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq . Either the Partnership or the disputing Partner may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11.6 . The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The Partner shall cooperate with JAMS and with the Partnership in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the Partner and the Partnership shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel

 

- 35 -


of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The Partner and the Partnership shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. The Partnership shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.1 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the Partner and the Partnership.

(b) Neither the Partner nor the Partnership shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed ( i ) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, ( ii ) two interrogatories, ( iii ) ten document requests, and ( iv ) ten requests for admissions; provided further that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.1 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

(c) The provisions of this Section 11.1 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

(d) The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 , including the existence or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided further that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If either a Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall ( i ) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and ( ii ) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions,

 

- 36 -


including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, ( i ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and ( ii ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between Partners, a Partner and the Partnership, or a Partner and an Oaktree Group Member, that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

11.2 Married Persons . If a married couple owns an interest in the Partnership as quasi-community or community property under the laws of any state, regardless of which of the spouses is named as a Partner in the Register, and in the event of a division of such community property between the spouses pursuant to a decree of divorce or dissolution, property settlement agreement or otherwise, such division shall be deemed to be a Permitted Transfer. Upon any such division, any spouse or other Person who is not the named Partner in the Register shall be entitled only to payments provided in any such decree of divorce or dissolution, property settlement or otherwise, and nothing in this Section 11.2 or any other part of this Agreement shall be construed at any time as permitting any spouse or Person who is not the named Partner in the Register to have any of a Partner’s rights to act under this Agreement or to participate as a partner of the Partnership. A spouse or any other Person who is entitled to any such payments from the Partnership may not Transfer the right to receive any of such payments without the consent of the General Partner. The Partnership may purchase all or part of any such right to receive payments if authorized to do so by the General Partner.

11.3 Entire Agreement . Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement (including the Supplemental Schedule and the Series Designations) constitutes the entire agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such matter. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that the General Partner may, on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership, and without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other Person, ( a ) enter into any side letter or similar agreement with any Limited Partner that has the effect of establishing rights under, or altering or supplementing the terms of, this Agreement with respect to such Limited Partner (each a “ Side Letter ”) and ( b ) perform and cause the Partnership to perform its respective obligations (if any) under each Side Letter. Any terms contained in a Side Letter with a Limited Partner shall govern with respect to such Limited Partner notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, except as otherwise may be waived by the parties to such Side Letter.

11.4 Binding Effect . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement relating to transferability, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners, and their respective successors and assigns.

11.5 Amendments . This Agreement may be amended, modified or waived with the written consent of the General Partner; provided that no amendment, modification or waiver of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective with respect to the Interests of any Limited

 

- 37 -


Partner that were issued prior to such amendment, modification or waiver if such amendment, modification or waiver would materially and adversely deprive such Limited Partner of the economic benefit (determined on a pre-tax basis and by the General Partner in good faith) intended to be conferred upon such Limited Partner by the issuance of such Interests to such Limited Partner, unless such Limited Partner has consented to such amendment, modification or waiver; provided further that, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, no consent of any Limited Partner shall be required with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement ( a ) if the General Partner has replaced such Interests with a substitute arrangement that the General Partner believes in good faith to be no less favorable to such Limited Partner in any material economic respect (determined on a pre-tax basis and by the General Partner in good faith) than such Interests or ( b ) such amendment, modification or waiver is being made ( i ) to prevent or remedy any event or circumstance (including the imposition of any material regulatory requirement on the Partnership or other Oaktree Group Member) that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member or ( ii ) to satisfy any requirement under, or prevent or remedy any breach or potential breach by the Partnership, any other Oaktree Group Member or any General Partner Related Person of, any applicable law or otherwise in connection with any order, directive or opinion of any Governmental Authority. The General Partner shall provide each Limited Partner with a copy of each amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement.

11.6 Notices . Any notice to any Limited Partner who is then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to such Limited Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the principal office of the Partnership or at such other place where such Limited Partner may be found. Any notice to such a Limited Partner which is delivered to the principal office of the Partnership when such Limited Partner is absent from the office shall, if reasonable efforts have been made to deliver it to him or her elsewhere, be deemed delivered to him or her on the next succeeding business day, if he or she does not actually receive such notice sooner. Any notice to any Limited Partner who is not then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to such Limited Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the address or facsimile number of such Limited Partner shown on the Register. Any notice to the Partnership or the General Partner required or permitted hereunder to be given to the Partnership or the General Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Partnership or the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership. A written notice may be delivered by facsimile transmission.

11.7 Parties in Interest . Except as expressly provided in the Act, nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any Persons other than the Partners and their respective successors, nor shall anything in this Agreement relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any third Person to any party to this Agreement, nor shall any provision give any third Person any right of subrogation or action over or against any party to this Agreement.

11.8 Contra Proferentum . In the event any claim is made by any Partner relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular Partner or his counsel.

 

- 38 -


11.9 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware by residents of the State of Delaware; provided that the enforceability of Section 11.1 shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq. , and not the laws of the State of Delaware.

11.10 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision or portion of 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 shall not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein, if the economic and legal substance of the arrangements contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such a determination, the Partners shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transaction contemplated hereby shall be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if any of the provisions of Article IX shall be held to exceed the limitations on scope, duration or geographic area prescribed under applicable law, then such provision shall be deemed to have been amended automatically to reduce such scope, duration or geographic area, as the case may be, to the extent necessary (if possible), and only to such extent, to enable such provision to be valid and permissible under such applicable law

11.11 Waivers . No waiver by any Partner of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement hereof shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any Partner to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right accruing to it, him or her thereafter. Any default hereunder by a Partner shall not excuse any obligation of any other Partner.

11.12 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

11.13 Determination of Certain Matters .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement any General Partner Related Person is permitted or required to make a decision (including whether to take an action or not or waive a provision or not) ( i ) unless some other standard is specified, the General Partner may make such decision in its sole discretion, meaning such General Partner Related Person shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it, he or she desires, including its, his or her own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give

 

- 39 -


any consideration to any interest or factor affecting the Partnership or any other Person (other than a duty to act in good faith), or ( ii ) under another express standard, such General Partner Related Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.

(b) All determinations, interpretations, calculations, adjustments and other actions of the General Partner that are within its authority hereunder shall be made in good faith by the General Partner and shall be binding and conclusive on the Partnership and all Partners absent manifest error. In connection with any such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action, the General Partner shall be entitled to resolve any ambiguity with respect to the manner in which such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action is to be made or taken, and shall be entitled to interpret the provisions of this Agreement, in such a manner as it determines to be fair and equitable, and such resolution or interpretation shall be binding and conclusive on the Partnership and all Partners absent manifest error.

[ THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK .]

 

- 40 -


I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
O AKTREE C APITAL I, L.P.
  By:  

/s/    R ICHARD T ING      

    Name: Richard Ting
   

Title:  Managing Director

            and Associate General Counsel

  By:  

/s/    J AY G HIYA        

    Name: Jay Ghiya
    Title:   Senior Vice President
LIMITED PARTNERS:

T HE L IMITED P ARTNERS LISTED ON THE

R EGISTER ( AS REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME )

By:   O AKTREE C APITAL I, L.P., as attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners
  By:  

/s/    R ICHARD T ING      

    Name: Richard Ting
   

Title:  Managing Director

            and Associate General Counsel

  By:  

/s/    J AY G HIYA        

    Name: Jay Ghiya
    Title:   Senior Vice President

Exhibit 10.19

Execution Copy

 

 

 

OAKTREE FUND GP II, L.P.

 

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

 

LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN OAKTREE FUND GP II, L.P., A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH OR QUALIFIED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY JURISDICTION. SUCH LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SUCH LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS CANNOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, IN EACH CASE, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ALL APPLICABLE JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
  ARTICLE I   
  DEFINITIONS   
1.1   Defined Terms      1   
1.2   Interpretation      9   
1.3   Associated Persons      10   
1.4   Former Partners      10   
  ARTICLE II   
  ORGANIZATION   
2.1   Formation; Continuation      10   
2.2   Name      11   
2.3   Delaware Registered Agent and Office      11   
2.4   Principal Place of Business      11   
2.5   Term      11   
2.6   Fiscal Year      11   
2.7   Title to Partnership Property      11   
  ARTICLE III   
  THE PARTNERSHIP   
3.1   Purpose and Scope of Business; Powers      12   
3.2   Powers of the General Partner      12   
3.3   Powers of Limited Partners      12   
3.4   Officers      13   
3.5   Media Company Provisions      13   
3.6   Meetings and Voting      14   
3.7   Admissions and Withdrawals      15   
3.8   Conditions to Membership Transactions      15   
3.9   Power of Attorney      16   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  
3.10   Additional Documents and Acts      17   
  ARTICLE IV   
  INTERESTS   
4.1   Interests      17   
4.2   Incentive Income      19   
4.3   Supplemental Schedule      19   
4.4   Transfer of Interests      19   
4.5   Effects of Transfer      20   
4.6   Limited Rights of Assignees      20   
4.7   Designation of Beneficiaries      20   
  ARTICLE V   
  CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS   
5.1   Capital Contributions      21   
5.2   Capital Accounts      21   
5.3   No Priorities of Partners      22   
  ARTICLE VI   
  ALLOCATIONS; DISTRIBUTIONS   
6.1   Allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses and Other Items      22   
6.2   Regulatory and Tax Allocations      23   
6.3   Distributions      23   
6.4   Restriction on Distributions      23   
6.5   Return of Advances and Distributions      24   
6.6   Allocations in Case of Adjustments in Percentage Interests      24   
6.7   Tax Distributions      25   
6.8   Return of Certain Capital Contributions      25   
6.9   Withholding      25   

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

         Page  
6.10   Acknowledgment      26   
6.11   Partnership Classification for Tax Purposes      26   
6.12   Tax Matters      26   
6.13   No Representations as to Tax Treatment      26   
  ARTICLE VII   
  BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS TO PARTNERS   
7.1   Books and Records      27   
7.2   Access to and Confidentiality of Information and Records      27   
7.3   Bank Accounts      27   
  ARTICLE VIII   
  LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION   
8.1   Limitations on Liability      28   
8.2   Indemnification by the Partnership      29   
  ARTICLE IX   
  CERTAIN COVENANTS   
9.1   Certain Acknowledgments      31   
9.2   Commitment      31   
9.3   Confidential Information, Intellectual Property and Proprietary Information      31   
9.4   Interference      33   
9.5   Disparagement      33   
  ARTICLE X   
  DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP   
10.1   Dissolution      33   
10.2   Liquidating Distributions      34   
10.3   Termination      34   
10.4   Liquidator      35   
10.5   Restoration of Deficit Capital Account Balances      35   

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  
10.6   Limitations on Dissolution      35   
  ARTICLE XI   
  MISCELLANEOUS   
11.1   Arbitration of Disputes      35   
11.2   Married Persons      37   
11.3   Entire Agreement      37   
11.4   Binding Effect      37   
11.5   Amendments      37   
11.6   Notices      38   
11.7   Parties in Interest      38   
11.8   Contra Proferentum      38   
11.9   Governing Law      39   
11.10   Severability      39   
11.11   Waivers      39   
11.12   Counterparts      39   
11.13   Determination of Certain Matters      39   

 

-iv-


FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE FUND GP II, L.P.

This F IFTH A MENDED AND R ESTATED L IMITED P ARTNERSHIP A GREEMENT (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) of O AKTREE F UND GP II, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), is made and entered into as of July 28, 2011 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as general partner of the Partnership (in its capacity as such, the “ General Partner ”), and each Person listed as a limited partner of the Partnership on the Register (as defined below) (each such Person, in its, his or her capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, a “ Limited Partner ”), for the purpose of amending and restating that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership (the “ Prior LPA ”), dated as of December 14, 2010.

N OW , THEREFORE , the Prior LPA is hereby amended and restated, and the General Partner and the Limited Partners hereby agree, as follows:

Article I

Definitions

1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Acknowledging Partner : as defined in Section 9.1 .

Act : the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101 et seq. and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Affiliate : with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, the Person in question; provided that no Fund or portfolio company of any Oaktree Group Member shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Oaktree Group Member.

Agreement : as defined in the preamble hereto.

Annual Partnership Tax Liability : the product of ( a ) the General Partner’s reasonable good faith determination, with respect to a Partner, of such Partner’s share of the Partnership’s net taxable income pursuant to Article VI for a given Fiscal Year,


giving effect to such Partner’s share of losses and deductions, multiplied by ( b ) the sum of the highest marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rates applicable to any Partner (taking into account the effect of any allowable U.S. federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes). For this purpose, “net taxable income” of the Partnership shall be calculated taking into account separately stated items, and without regard to items of income exempt from tax.

Assignee : as defined in Section 4.4 .

Associated Fund : as defined in Section 4.1(c) .

Associated Person : as defined in Section 1.3 .

Available Cash : the gross cash proceeds of the Partnership less the portion thereof used to pay or establish reserves for Partnership expenses, working capital, debt payments, capital improvements, replacements, and contingencies, all as determined by the General Partner. Available Cash shall not be reduced by depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions, or similar allowances, but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves previously established pursuant to the first sentence of this definition.

Capital Account : as defined in Section 5.2 .

Capital Contribution : the total value of cash, if any, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.1 , and the Gross Asset Value of any property other than cash contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.1 , net of liabilities secured by such property that the Partnership is considered to assume or take under Code Section 752.

Certificate : the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Clawback : as defined in Section 6.5(b) .

Communications Act : the U.S. Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Code : the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Competitive Business : any business that is competitive with the business of any Oaktree Group Member (including raising, organizing, managing or advising any fund or separate account having an investment strategy in any way competitive with any of the funds or separate accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member).

Confidential Information : any information concerning the employees, organization, business or finances of any Oaktree Group Member or any third party (including any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer, vendor or other person) with which an Oaktree Group Member is engaged or conducts business, including business strategies, operating plans, acquisition strategies (including the

 

- 2 -


identities of, and any other information concerning, possible acquisition candidates), financial information, valuations, analyses, investment performance, market analysis, acquisition terms and conditions, personnel, compensation and ownership information, know-how, customer lists and relationships, the identity of any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer vendor or other third party, and supplier lists and relationships, as well as all other secret, confidential or proprietary information belonging to any Oaktree Group Member; provided that Confidential Information shall not include any information generally known to the public other than as a result of disclosure by any Limited Partner not permitted hereunder.

Control : the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Depreciation : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning book value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis, and if such adjusted tax basis is zero, the Depreciation shall be based on the method and assumptions used to depreciate, amortize or otherwise recover the cost of such type of asset in preparing the financial statements of the Partnership.

Disabling Conduct : with respect to any Person, ( a ) a breach by such Person of its, his or her fiduciary duties to the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, provided that such breach is the result of willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable law (including any U.S. federal or state securities law) that, in each case has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Partnership, or ( b ) fraud.

Dissolution Event : as defined in Section 10.1 .

Effective Date : as defined in the preamble hereto.

ERISA : the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

FCC : the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, or any governmental entity that succeeds to the powers and functions thereof.

FCC Rules : the rules, regulations or written policies of the FCC that ( a ) limit or restrict ownership in Media Companies on the basis of ownership in other Media Companies or under which the Partnership’s ownership of a Media Company may be

 

- 3 -


attributed to the Partners (or a Partner’s ownership of another Media Company may be subject to limitation or restriction as a result of the ownership by the Partnership of such Media Company or another Media Company), including the rules, regulations or written policies of the FCC that provide for the insulation from such attributable interests in Media Companies, or ( b ) limit or restrict ownership in Media Companies by non-U.S. persons (as defined by the FCC), as such rules, regulations or written policies may be modified from time to time.

Fiscal Year : as defined in Section 2.6 .

Formation Date : May 15, 2007.

Fund : any limited partnership, limited liability company, group trust, mutual fund, investment company or other entity, or any investment account, which is managed or Controlled by any Oaktree Group Member or by an entity Controlled by any Oaktree Group Member and which is specifically designated as such by the General Partner.

General Partner : as defined in the preamble hereto, and any Person who becomes a successor general partner of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Act, each in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership.

General Partner Related Person : any of ( a ) the General Partner, ( b ) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ( c ) OCGH, ( d ) Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ( e ) the current and former principals, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents and representatives of any of the entities described in the foregoing clauses (a)  through (e) , and ( f ) the current and former officers of the Partnership.

Governmental Authority : any national, federal, state, county, municipal, local or other government, governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative authority (including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the New York Stock Exchange), agency or commission, or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body, whether domestic or foreign, in each case, of competent jurisdiction.

Gross Asset Value : with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

  (a) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as determined by the contributing Partner and the Partnership.

 

  (b) If and to the extent that the General Partner determines that such an adjustment is necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient, the Gross Asset Values of all assets of the Partnership shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as determined by the General Partner, immediately prior to the following events:

 

- 4 -


  (i) a Capital Contribution (other than a de minimis Capital Contribution) to the Partnership by a new or existing Partner as consideration for one or more Interests;

 

  (ii) the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for the redemption of one or more Interests; and

 

  (iii) the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g).

 

  (c) The Gross Asset Value of any Partnership property distributed to any Partner shall be the gross fair market value of such property on the date of distribution.

 

  (d) The Gross Asset Values of Partnership property shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d)  to the extent that the General Partner determines that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (b)  above is necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d) .

If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (a) , (b)  or (d)  above, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Net Profit and Net Losses.

Incentive Income : any fee, carried interest or override participation received (or to be received) by the Partnership that is derived from a Fund.

Incentive Profit and Incentive Losses : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount, determined separately for each Fund equal to the Partnership’s profit or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period relating to the Incentive Income derived from such Fund, determined in the same manner that Net Profits and Net Losses are determined (but excluding subparagraph (f)  thereof).

Incentive Sharing Percentage : as defined in Section 4.2 .

Initial Closing Date : May 25, 2007.

Intellectual Property : ( a ) any and all investment or trading, records, agreements or data; ( b ) any and all financial and other analytic models, records, data, methodologies or software; ( c ) any and all investment advisory contracts, fee schedules and investment

 

- 5 -


performance data; ( d ) any and all investment agreements, limited partnership agreements, subscription agreements, private placement memorandums and other offering documents and materials; ( e ) any and all client, investor or vendor lists, records or contact data; ( f ) any and all other documents, records, materials, data, trade secrets and other incidents of business carried on by any Oaktree Group Member or learned, created, developed or carried on by any employee of any Oaktree Group Member (in whatever form, including print, computer file, diskette or otherwise); and ( g ) all trade names, service marks and logos under which any Oaktree Group Member does business, and any and all combinations and variations thereof and all related logos.

Interests : a limited partner interest in the Partnership, including the right of the holder thereof to any and all benefits to which a holder may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligation of such holder to comply with all the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Interests may be common limited partner interests or preferred limited partner interests, and may be issued in different classes or series.

Investment Company Act : the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

JAMS : as defined in Section 11.1(a) .

Limited Partners : as defined in the preamble hereto, and shall include their successors and permitted assigns and any Person hereafter admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms hereof, each in their capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, and shall exclude any Person who ceases to be a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms hereof. For purposes of the Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners. The General Partner shall be deemed to be a Limited Partner to the extent the General Partner holds any Interests.

Media Company : any Person that, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or operates a broadcast radio or television station, a cable television system, or a “daily newspaper” (as such term is defined in Section 73.3555 of the FCC’s rules and regulations, as amended from time to time), a “broadband radio service,” any other communications facility operated pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Communications Act, or any other business that is subject to the FCC Rules.

Media Company Professional : a Limited Partner that provides services to the Oaktree Group and handles matters relating to Oaktree Media Companies or the Media Company business of the Partnership or Oaktree.

Media (Foreign-Restricted) Company : any Person that, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or operates a communications facility that is operated pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and is subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Communications Act.

 

- 6 -


Membership Transaction : as defined in Section 3.8 .

Net Profit or Net Loss : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period, determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles, with the following adjustments:

 

  (a) any income for such Fiscal Year or other period of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses shall be included in computing such Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

  (b) any expenditures of the Partnership for such Fiscal Year or other period described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses, shall be subtracted in computing such Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

  (c) gain or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period resulting from any disposition of an asset of the Partnership shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the asset disposed of notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;

 

  (d) in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year or other period;

 

  (e) if the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)  or (c)  of the definition of “Gross Asset Value”, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Profits or Net Losses; provided that with respect to property first received by the Partnership in distribution from a Fund (and then, in turn, distributed by the Partnership to Partners), such adjustment shall be determined as if the asset’s starting adjusted tax basis, on the date of distribution by the Partnership, were equal to the fair market value of such asset, as determined pursuant to the limited partnership agreement (or other equivalent governing document) of such Fund, at the time such asset is distributed by such Fund to the Partnership, net of any liabilities secured by such distributed property that the Partnership or the Partners are considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752; and

 

  (f) Incentive Profits, Incentive Losses and any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 6.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses.

 

- 7 -


Non-U.S. Person : ( a ) a citizen of a country other than the United States, ( b ) an entity organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than those of the United States or any state, territory or possession of the United States, ( c ) a government other than the government of the United States or of any state, territory or possession of the United States, ( d ) a corporation of which, in the aggregate, more than 10% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by Persons described in any of clauses (a)  through (c)  above or in this clause (d) , ( e ) a general or limited partnership, or a limited liability company, of which 10% of the equity contributions or interests therein are directly or indirectly made or held by any Person described in any of clauses (a)  through (c)  above, taking into account, in calculating indirect contributions or interests in such partnership or company, that the percentage interests of a Person that is a stockholder, limited partner or member insulated in accordance with the FCC Rules relating to a Person that directly makes or holds an equity contribution or interest in such partnership or company may be multiplied by the percentage of such direct interest in such partnership or company, or ( f ) a representative of, or entity controlled by, any Person referred to in any of the foregoing clauses (a)  through (e) .

Oaktree Group : collectively, OCGH and its Affiliates.

Oaktree Group Member : each of OCGH and its Affiliates, including, for so long as it is an Affiliate of the Partnership, ( a ) the General Partner, ( b ) each OpCo, and ( c ) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Oaktree Media Company : a Media Company in which any Oaktree Group Member, or a fund or separate account managed by any Oaktree Group Member, has an attributable interest (as defined in the FCC Rules).

OCGH : Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

OpCo : any entity in which OCGH owns an equity interest and is designated by the general partner of OCGH as an OpCo. Until such time as the General Partner designates otherwise, the OpCos shall consist of ( a ) Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( b ) Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( c ) Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( d ) Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, ( e ) Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and ( f ) Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Partner : any Person hereafter admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner or a General Partner (as the case may be) in accordance with the terms hereof, and excluding any Person who ceases to be a Limited Partner or a General Partner (as the case may be) in accordance with the terms hereof. In the event any Partner shall have withdrawn in whole from the Partnership as provided in this Agreement, such Person shall no longer be a Partner as defined herein after such withdrawal.

Partnership : as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

- 8 -


Percentage Interest : with respect to any Partner, such Partner’s percentage ownership (measured by its, his or her percentage share of current year income other than income relating to Incentive Income) of the total Interests outstanding of the Partnership. The aggregate Percentage Interests of the Partners shall at all times total 100%.

Permitted Transfer : with respect to any Interests, a Transfer of such Interests that has been approved by the General Partner.

Person : an individual, a general partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a joint venture, a corporation, a business, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department, agency, authority, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

Prior LPA : as defined in the preamble hereto.

Protective Provisions : ( a ) the provisions applicable to a Partner under Sections 9.2 , 9.3 , 9.4 and 9.5 and ( b ) any provision contained in a Series Designation or the Supplemental Schedule that is designated as a “Protective Provision”.

Register : as defined in Section 7.1(a) .

Secretary of State : the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

Series Designation : as defined in Section 4.1(c) .

Side Letter : as defined in Section 11.3 .

Subscription Contribution : as defined in Section 5.1 .

Supplemental Schedule : the supplemental schedule on the conversion, vesting and forfeiture of Interests and related provisions, as adopted by the General Partner as of the Effective Date and amended, revised, supplemented and restated by the General Partner from time to time thereafter in accordance with its terms.

Tax Matters Partner : as defined in Section 6.12 .

Transfer : with respect to any Interests, any transaction by which a Limited Partner assigns such Interests to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange and any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

Treasury Regulations : the temporary and final regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

1.2 Interpretation . All ambiguities shall be resolved without reference to which party may have drafted this Agreement. All article or section headings or other captions in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they shall not be deemed part of this Agreement

 

- 9 -


and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ( a ) a term has the meaning assigned to it; ( b ) “or” is not exclusive; ( c ) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; ( d ) each definition herein includes the singular and the plural; ( e ) each reference herein to any gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter where appropriate; ( f ) the word “including” when used herein means “including, but not limited to,” and the word “include” when used herein means “include, without limitation”; and ( g ) references herein to specified article or section numbers refer to the specified article or section of this Agreement. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and derivative or similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “applicable law” and any other similar references to the law include all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, orders, rules, regulations, determinations, orders, judgments and decrees of any Governmental Authority. The abbreviation “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. All monetary amounts expressed herein by the use of the words “U.S. dollar” or “U.S. dollars” or the symbol “$” are expressed in the lawful currency of the United States of America. The words “foreign” and “domestic” shall be interpreted by reference to the United States of America.

1.3 Associated Persons . Each Limited Partner acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement were drafted with the assumption that each beneficial owner of Interests (other than the General Partner) would be a natural person who will be providing services to the Oaktree Group. Accordingly, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent any such natural person (each, an “ Associated Person ”) holds Interests through one or more entities, references herein to a Partner or former Partner shall be interpreted in good faith by the General Partner to include reference to such Associated Person to the extent necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to ensure that such entity is not treated more favorably as a Partner than such natural person would have been treated had the Interests held by such entity been held by such natural person directly and such natural person had been admitted as a Limited Partner in lieu of such entity.

1.4 Former Partners . The word “Partner” or “Limited Partner” shall be deemed to include reference to former Partners and former Limited Partners to the extent necessary or appropriate, in the good faith judgment of the General Partner to give effect to the economic intent of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, references in Article V and Article VI to “Partner” or “Limited Partner” shall be deemed to include reference to former Partners and former Limited Partners.

Article II

Organization

2.1 Formation; Continuation . The Partnership was formed as of the Formation Date under and pursuant to the provisions of the Act as a limited partnership, and in connection therewith, the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to the Act. The parties hereto hereby continue the Partnership as a limited partnership under and pursuant to the provisions of the Act and agree that the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as otherwise provided herein. Without limiting the foregoing, the

 

- 10 -


General Partner hereby continues as the general partner of the Partnership, and each Limited Partner hereby continues as a limited partner of the Partnership. The General Partner and the Limited Partners hereby amend and restate the Prior LPA and enter into this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between any term or condition contained in this Agreement and any non-mandatory provision of the Act, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall govern. A Person shall be deemed to be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner at the time ( a ) this Agreement or a joinder hereto is executed by or on behalf of such Person, and ( b ) such Person is listed by the General Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership on the Register.

2.2 Name . The name of the Partnership is “ Oaktree Fund GP II, L.P. ” The General Partner is authorized to make any variations in the Partnership’s name, and to conduct the business of the Partnership under such other names, in each case as determined by the General Partner; provided that ( a ) such name shall contain the words “Limited Partnership” or the abbreviation “L.P.” or the designation “LP” and ( b ) such name is otherwise permitted under the Act.

2.3 Delaware Registered Agent and Office . The Partnership shall maintain, pursuant to the Act, a registered office in Delaware and a registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in Delaware, such office and agent to be selected by the General Partner and to be set forth in the Certificate. Initially, ( a ) the address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808, United States of America, and ( b ) the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in Delaware shall be Corporation Service Company.

2.4 Principal Place of Business . The Partnership shall have its principal place of business at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, United States of America, or at such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate. In addition, the Partnership may maintain such other offices as the General Partner may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient at any other place or places inside or outside of the United States of America.

2.5 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the Initial Closing Date and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article X . Notwithstanding the expiration of such term, the legal existence of the Partnership shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate in accordance with Section 10.3 .

2.6 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year (the “ Fiscal Year ”) of the Partnership for accounting and income tax purposes shall be the calendar year; provided that ( a ) the first Fiscal Year shall be the portion of the calendar year beginning on the Initial Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2007, and ( b ) the Fiscal Year in which the Partnership is terminated in accordance with Article X shall be the portion of the calendar year ending on the date on which the Partnership is terminated.

2.7 Title to Partnership Property . Legal title to all of the Partnership’s property shall be held in such manner as the General Partner determines to be in the best interests

 

- 11 -


of the Partnership. Each Limited Partner acknowledges and agrees that the manner of holding title to Partnership property is solely for the convenience of the Partnership, and, accordingly, neither the Partners nor their legal representatives, beneficiaries, distributees, successors or assignees shall have any right, title or interest in or to any such Partnership property by reason of the manner in which title is held, but all such property shall be treated as Partnership property subject to the terms of this Agreement.

Article III

The Partnership

3.1 Purpose and Scope of Business; Powers . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the purposes of the Partnership shall be to ( a ) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, any business, purpose or activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, ( b ) acquire, hold and dispose of interests in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity (including equity interests in entities that serve as the general partner of the Funds) and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership with respect to its interests therein, and ( c ) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, all other lawful activities determined by the General Partner to be necessary, appropriate, advisable, convenient or incidental to, or otherwise in furtherance of, any of the foregoing. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Partnership shall have the power to do any and all acts necessary, appropriate, advisable, convenient or incidental to, or otherwise in furtherance of, the purposes and business of the Partnership described herein, and shall have, without limitation, any and all of the powers that may be exercised on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner pursuant to Section 3.2 .

3.2 Powers of the General Partner . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the power to manage, operate and establish the policies of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner, and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership to carry out, delegate or appoint to one or more other Persons (including any partner of the General Partner) any and all objects and purposes of the Partnership and to perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection therewith or incidental thereto. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in construing the provisions of this Agreement, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the General Partner. Such powers of the General Partner may be exercised without order of, or resort to, any Governmental Authority, except to the extent required by applicable law. In dealing with the General Partner and its duly appointed agents, no Person shall be required to inquire as to the General Partner’s or any such agent’s authority to bind the Partnership.

3.3 Powers of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner, as such, shall take part in or interfere in any manner with the management, conduct or control of the business or affairs of the Partnership, or have any right or authority to enter into any letter, contract, agreement, deed, instrument or document whatsoever on behalf of the Partnership, or otherwise act for or

 

- 12 -


bind the Partnership. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, no Limited Partner shall have the right or power to bring an action for partition against the Partnership or cause the termination and dissolution of the Partnership, except as set forth in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement does not grant any Limited Partner any rights as a partner of any Fund or any ability to direct any entity which controls such Fund.

3.4 Officers . The General Partner may, from time to time, designate one or more Persons to be officers of the Partnership, with such titles as the General Partner may assign to such Persons. Officers so designated shall have such authority and perform such duties of the General Partner hereunder as the General Partner may, from time to time, delegate to them. Any number of offices and other positions may be held by the same Person. No Person shall receive any salary or other compensation from the Partnership for his service as an officer of the Partnership. Any officer of the Partnership may resign as such at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at the time of receipt of notice of resignation by the General Partner. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation. Any officer of the Partnership may be removed as such, either with or without cause, by the General Partner. Each officer of the Partnership shall serve as such until his resignation, removal, death or disability.

3.5 Media Company Provisions .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Limited Partner (and no officer, director, partner, member or equivalent official of a Limited Partner) other than a Media Company Professional shall:

 

  (i) act as an employee of the Partnership if such Person’s functions, directly or indirectly, relate to an Oaktree Media Company or to the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member;

 

  (ii) serve, in any material capacity, as an independent contractor or agent of an Oaktree Media Company or of the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member;

 

  (iii) communicate on matters pertaining to the day-to-day operations of an Oaktree Media Company, or the day-to-day Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, with ( A ) an officer, director, partner, member, agent, representative or employee of such Oaktree Media Company or ( B ) the General Partner;

 

  (iv)

perform any services for an Oaktree Media Company or relating to the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, with the exception of making loans to, or acting as surety for, an Oaktree Media Company; provided that the amount of any such loan, plus any interest of such Limited Partner

 

- 13 -


  in an Oaktree Media Company, shall not exceed 33% of the total assets of such Oaktree Media Company, as defined by and in accordance with the FCC’s “equity/debt plus” rule; or

 

  (v) become actively involved in the management or operation of an Oaktree Media Company or of the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member.

(b) To ensure that the Partnership has the ability to make investments, directly or indirectly, in media and wireless communications services companies, or investments in Oaktree Group Members (which may manage or control Funds which in turn invest in media and wireless communications services companies), in each case consistent with the requirements of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules, each Limited Partner shall use reasonable efforts to provide the General Partner, promptly upon request, the following information:

 

  (i) information regarding the percentage of its, his or her equity securities owned, controlled or voted by Non-U.S. Persons, and the number and percentage of its, his or her partners or members that are Non-U.S. Persons;

 

  (ii) all other non-confidential information that the General Partner requires to make necessary filings with, or other submissions to, the FCC; and

 

  (iii) all other non-confidential information that the General Partner reasonably deems necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to enable the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member to make, manage and dispose of investments in compliance with this Agreement and applicable FCC Rules.

In addition, no Limited Partner shall take any action that such Limited Partner knows would cause a violation by the Partnership of the Communications Act or the FCC Rules.

(c) Each Limited Partner that becomes, or will or may become, a Non-U.S. Person as a result of a change in citizenship, change in control or reorganization of such Limited Partner shall provide notice of such event to the General Partner or Oaktree at least thirty calendar days prior to the effective time of such change in citizenship, change of control or reorganization. In the case of the withdrawal, resignation, departure, termination, change in citizenship, change in control or reorganization of any Limited Partner that is not a Non-U.S. Person and that has the effect of causing the total Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners that are Non-U.S. Persons to exceed 24.99%, then such Limited Partner shall take such commercially reasonable actions as the General Partner deems reasonably necessary to cause total Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners that are Non-U.S. Persons to not exceed 24.99%.

3.6 Meetings and Voting . For situations in which the approval of the Limited Partners is expressly required by applicable law or under this Agreement, the Limited Partners

 

- 14 -


shall act through meetings and written consents as described in this Section 3.6 . The actions by the Limited Partners permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the General Partner on at least five calendar days’ prior written notice to the Limited Partners, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. Partners may participate in a meeting of the Partnership through the use of conference telephones or similar communications equipment so long as all Partners participating in the meeting can hear one another. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.6 constitutes presence in person at such meeting and waiver of any requirement for notice of such meeting. Alternatively, the actions by the Limited Partners permitted hereunder may be taken by written consent (without a meeting and without a vote) so long as such written consent is signed by the Limited Partners as would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which the Partners entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Limited Partners at a meeting thereof.

3.7 Admissions and Withdrawals . No Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a partner of the Partnership, except for ( a ) the General Partner, who shall be deemed to have been admitted as the general partner of the Partnership as of the Formation Date, ( b ) the Persons who were admitted as Limited Partners as of the Initial Closing Date, and ( c ) additional Limited Partners admitted in accordance with Section 4.1 and substitute Limited Partners admitted in accordance with Section 4.4 . No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw from being a partner of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner; provided that each Person who is a Limited Partner shall immediately and automatically cease to be a Limited Partner at the time such Person ceases to be the record holder of any Interests.

3.8 Conditions to Membership Transactions . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Interests shall be issued to any Person, no Interests shall be Transferred to any Person, no Person shall be admitted as a Limited Partner (whether as a result of any such issuance or Transfer or otherwise and whether as an additional Limited Partner, a substitute Limited Partner or otherwise), and no Interests shall be redeemed by the Partnership from any Person (each, a “ Membership Transaction ”), unless such Membership Transaction satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

(a) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to result in the violation by the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person of any applicable law, including any applicable U.S. federal or state or foreign securities laws;

(b) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of any jurisdiction;

(c) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent no already so treated or taxed);

 

- 15 -


(d) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to subject the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person to any material regulatory requirement that it, he or she otherwise would not be subject, including any requirement that the Partnership register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or as a result of all or any portion of the Partnership’s assets becoming or being deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA; and

(e) such other conditions as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient or otherwise in the best interests of the Partnership.

3.9 Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint each of the Partnership, the General Partner, their respective authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, and the members of the General Partner, with full power of substitution, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of such Limited Partner, to execute, acknowledge, verify, swear to, deliver, record and file, in its, his or her or its, his or her assignee’s name, place and stead, all instruments, documents and certificates which may from time to time be required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the State of California, any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to effectuate, implement and continue the valid existence and business of the Partnership, including the power and authority to execute, verify, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, record and file:

(a) any and all instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to form, qualify or continue the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business;

(b) any and all instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to reflect and effect the dissolution and termination of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(c) any and all instruments, documents and certificates which the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to reflect and effect the admission, withdrawal, substitution or removal of any Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(d) any and all instruments, documents and certificates relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Interests issued pursuant to Section 4.1 ;

(e) any and all amendments to this Agreement duly adopted in accordance with Section 11.5 ;

(f) any and all certificates of assumed name and such other certificates and instruments that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or

 

- 16 -


convenient under the fictitious or assumed name statutes from time to time in effect in all jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business;

(g) any and all filings with any Governmental Authority that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and the business of the Partnership; and

(h) any and all other instruments that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with the proper conduct of the business of the Oaktree Group and which do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Limited Partners.

This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent disability or incapacity of the General Partner. This power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable and shall survive and not be affected by the death, disability, incompetence, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination or legal incapacity of any Limited Partner and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s successors, assigns and personal representatives (within the meaning of Section 17-101(15) of the Act). This power of attorney may be exercised by such attorney-in-fact and agent for all Limited Partners (or any of them) by a single signature of the General Partner acting as attorney-in-fact with or without listing all of the Limited Partners executing an instrument. Any Person dealing with the Partnership may conclusively presume and rely upon the fact that any instrument referred to above, executed by such attorney-in-fact and agent, is authorized, regular and binding, without further inquiry. Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner, within fifteen calendar days after receipt of any request therefor, such further designations, powers of attorney and other instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

3.10 Additional Documents and Acts . Each Limited Partner agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and the actions contemplated hereby.

Article IV

Interests

4.1 Interests .

(a) As of the Effective Date, all of the outstanding equity interests in the Partnership are owned of record, directly or indirectly, solely by the Persons identified in the books and records of the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership may issue any number of Interests, and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests, for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration (which may be cash, property, services or any other lawful consideration) or for no consideration and on such

 

- 17 -


terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partner.

(c) Interests authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.1(b) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers, duties, restrictions and conditions (which may be junior to, equivalent to or senior or superior to any existing classes or series of Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner and may be reflected in a designation certificate approved by the General Partner (each, a “ Series Designation ”) or otherwise in the books and records of the Partnership, including ( i ) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; ( ii ) the right to share in Partnership distributions, the dates distributions will be payable and whether distributions with respect to such class or series will be cumulative or non-cumulative; ( iii ) rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; ( iv ) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may redeem such Interests (including sinking fund provisions); ( v ) whether such Interests are issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; ( vi ) the terms and conditions upon which such Interests will be issued, including restrictions on assignment and transfer and whether such Interests will be evidenced by certificates; ( vii ) the method for determining the Percentage Interest, if any, applicable to such Interests; ( viii ) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Partnership to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership, and ( ix ) the extent to which such Interests participate in Incentive Income derived from a particular Fund or group of Funds (an “ Associated Fund ”).

(d) The General Partner is hereby authorized to take all actions that it determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with ( i ) each issuance of Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests pursuant to this Section 4.1 , including the admission of the holders thereof as Limited Partners in connection therewith and any related amendment of this Agreement, and ( ii ) all additional issuances of Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Interests being so issued. The General Partner is authorized to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to such Interests, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any Governmental Authority or any securities market on which Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Interests are listed for trading.

(e) No Interests shall be issued to any Person unless such issuance satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

 

  (i) all conditions to such issuance and the admission of the recipient of such Interests as an additional Limited Partner that are required to be satisfied under Section 3.8 have been satisfied (except to the extent any such condition is waived by the General Partner); and

 

- 18 -


  (ii) the General Partner has received such written instruments, in form and substance (including containing such representations and warranties as are) reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner, as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with such issuance and admission, including an instrument of joinder evidencing the consent of the recipient of such Interests to be bound by this Agreement.

The recipient of Interests pursuant to an issuance of such Interests in compliance with this Section 4.1 shall be admitted as an additional Limited Partner with respect to such Interests upon the consummation of such issuance. Any issuance of Interests or admission to the Partnership of any additional Limited Partner in violation of this Section 4.1 shall be null and void ab initio , shall not be recorded on the books of the Partnership, and shall not be recognized by the Partnership, in each case, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

4.2 Incentive Income . The Partnership shall maintain, in accordance with this Section 4.2 , books and records reflecting, for each Partner, a sharing percentage in the Incentive Income derived from each Fund (a “ Incentive Sharing Percentage ”). In connection with any change in the number or composition of Interests outstanding or the ownership thereof, including in connection with any Membership Transaction and such other events that would cause a change in the Percentage Interests of the Partners, the Incentive Sharing Percentage of each Partner shall be adjusted in such a manner as the General Partner determines to be consistent with the Partners’ respective economic interests in the Incentive Income, taking into account such change and the terms and conditions of such Interests. All determinations of Incentive Sharing Percentages shall be made on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and thus it may be possible for a Partner to have an Incentive Sharing Percentage with respect to some Funds but not others.

4.3 Supplemental Schedule . Except as may be otherwise expressly provided in a written agreement between a Limited Partner and the Partnership or in the Series Designation of any particular series of Interests, ( a ) all Interests issued on or prior to the Effective Date shall be subject to the Supplemental Schedule in effect as of the Effective Date, and ( b ) all Interests issued after the Effective Date shall be subject to the Supplemental Schedule in effect at the time of such issuance.

4.4 Transfer of Interests . No Limited Partner may Transfer all or any portion of its, his or her Interests in any manner whatsoever to another Person (an “ Assignee ”), unless such Transfer satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

(a) such Transfer is a Permitted Transfer;

(b) all conditions to such Transfer and the admission of the transferee as a substitute Limited Partner that are required to be satisfied under Section 3.8 have been satisfied (except to the extent any such condition is waived by the General Partner); and

 

- 19 -


(c) the General Partner has received such written instruments, in form and substance (including containing such representations and warranties as are) reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner, as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with such Transfer and admission, including an instrument of Transfer evidencing such Transfer and an instrument of joinder evidencing such transferee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement.

The transferee of any Interests pursuant to a Transfer in compliance with this Section 4.4 shall be admitted as a substitute Limited Partner with respect to such Interests upon the consummation of such Transfer. The Transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner upon the occurrence of both the transfer of all of its, his or her Interests to an Assignee and the admission to the Partnership of such Assignee as a substitute Limited Partner. Any Transfer or admission to the Partnership of any substitute Limited Partner in violation of this Section 4.4 shall be null and void ab initio , shall not be recorded on the books of the Partnership and shall not be recognized by the Partnership, in each case, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

4.5 Effects of Transfer . Any Partner who transfers any Interests in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement shall cease to be a Partner with respect to such Interests and shall no longer have any rights or privileges of a Partner with respect to such Interests. Any Person (including any Assignee) who acquires in any manner whatsoever any Interests, irrespective of whether such Person has executed a counterpart to this Agreement, shall be deemed by the acceptance of the benefits of the acquisition thereof to have agreed to be subject to and bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement that any predecessor in such Interests was subject to or by which such predecessor was bound, regardless of whether such Person is admitted as a substitute Limited Partner. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Person (other than the General Partner) who acquires in any manner whatsoever any Interests of the General Partner shall not be deemed to have received a general partner interest in the Partnership, and shall be deemed instead to have received a limited partner interest in the Partnership, and shall not be admitted as a general partner of the Partnership, and shall instead be deemed to be an Assignee who may be admitted as a substitute Limited Partner pursuant to Section 4.4 .

4.6 Limited Rights of Assignees . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, an Assignee who is not admitted as a substitute Limited Partner in accordance with Section 4.4 shall have no right to any information or accounting of the affairs of the Partnership, shall not be entitled to inspect the books or records of the Partnership and shall not have any of the rights of a general partner of the Partnership or a limited partner of the Partnership under the Act or this Agreement. Instead, the Interests transferred to such Assignee shall represent only a non-voting economic right to receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Limited Partner which transferred its, his or her Interests would be entitled. In the event any Assignee desires to make a further assignment of any Interests, such Assignee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent and in the same manner as the Limited Partner who initially held such Interests.

4.7 Designation of Beneficiaries . With the consent of the General Partner, a Limited Partner who is a natural person may designate in writing, on forms prescribed by and

 

- 20 -


filed with the Partnership, one or more beneficiaries to receive any payments to which such Limited Partner is entitled and payable after such Limited Partner’s death; provided that such beneficiary shall not be substituted for such Limited Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership. Any such Limited Partner may at any time amend or revoke any such designation made by such Limited Partner; provided that if such Limited Partner is married and designates a person other than his or her spouse as a beneficiary, then his or her spouse must sign a statement specifically approving such designation. Any distributions and payments to which such a Limited Partner would be entitled by virtue of this Agreement while alive will be distributed and paid, following the death of such Limited Partner, to his or her designated beneficiary under this Section 4.7 . If no beneficiary designation under this Section 4.7 is in effect at the time of death, or in the absence of a spouse’s approval as provided in this Section 4.7 , distributions and payments to which a Limited Partner is entitled hereunder shall be made to such Limited Partner’s personal representative (within the meaning of Section 17-101(15) of the Act).

Article V

Capital Contributions; Capital Accounts

5.1 Capital Contributions . Each Partner’s initial Capital Contribution (if any) is set forth on the books and records of the Partnership. No Partner shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership, except as otherwise agreed between such Partner and the General Partner. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may require Capital Contributions from any Limited Partner as a condition to such Limited Partner’s subscription for any class or series of Interests (such Capital Contribution, a “ Subscription Contribution ”).

5.2 Capital Accounts . There shall be established on the books and records of the Partnership a capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) for each Partner, which shall be maintained in accordance with Code Section 704(b) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and such other provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) that must be complied with in order for the Capital Accounts to be determined in accordance with the provisions of such Treasury Regulations. Specifically:

(a) each Partner’s Capital Account shall be increased by ( i ) the total Capital Contributions made by such Partner, and ( ii ) the Net Profits, Incentive Profits and any other items of income and gain allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article VI ; and

(b) each Partner’s Capital Account shall be decreased by ( i ) the total cash distributions to such Partner, ( ii ) the Gross Asset Value of property distributed in kind to such Partner, net of liabilities secured by such property that such Partner is deemed to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752, and ( iii ) the Net Losses, Incentive Losses and any other items of loss or deduction allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article VI .

 

- 21 -


In the event any Interests are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent that it relates to the Transferred Interests.

5.3 No Priorities of Partners . Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, ( a ) no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to the return of the amount of its, his or her Capital Contributions or as to income of the Partnership, ( b ) no Partner shall be entitled to demand or receive a return of or interest on its, his or her Capital Contributions or Capital Account, and ( c ) no Partner shall withdraw any portion of its, his or her Capital Contributions or receive any distributions from the Partnership as a return of capital on account of such Capital Contributions. Without limiting the foregoing, each Limited Partner acknowledges that such Limited Partner is not entitled to receive any distribution pursuant to Section 17-604 of the Act in connection with the withdrawal of such Limited Partner from the Partnership.

Article VI

Allocations; Distributions

6.1 Allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses and Other Items .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article VI :

 

  (i) All Incentive Profits and Incentive Losses, as well as any tax credits and other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that relate to Incentive Income, for each Fiscal Year or other period shall be allocated among the Partners in proportion to their respective Incentive Sharing Percentages with respect to such Incentive Income.

 

  (ii) All Net Profits and Net Losses, as well as any tax credits or other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that do not relate to Incentive Income, for each Fiscal Year or other period shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.1 to the contrary, the General Partner may cause special allocations of ( i ) Incentive Profits and Incentive Losses, as well as any tax credits and other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that relate to Incentive Income, and ( ii ) Net Profits and Net Losses, as well as any tax credits or other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that do not relate to Incentive Income to be made, in each case, in such amounts and in such manner as the General Partner determines from time to time to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to effectuate the economic benefit intended to be conferred upon any Limited Partner, or any set or subset of Limited Partners, under the Interests held by such Limited Partner or Limited Partners.

 

- 22 -


6.2 Regulatory and Tax Allocations . Notwithstanding Section 6.1 , items of income and gain shall be allocated to the Partners in a manner that complies with the “qualified income offset” requirement of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(3). To the extent permitted pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2, nonrecourse deductions (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2) of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests. If there is a net decrease in the Partnership’s partnership minimum gain or partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2), then the Partners shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain in a manner that complies with the “minimum gain chargeback” requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2. For purposes of determining the Partner’s shares of excess nonrecourse deductions (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)), the Partner’s respective interests in Partnership profits shall be deemed equal to their respective Percentage Interests. Allocations of tax items shall in all events be made in a manner that is consistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and Code Section 704(c). Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI to the contrary, the General Partner may make such allocations for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it deems reasonably necessary to give economic effect to the provisions of this Agreement, taking into account such facts and circumstances as it deems reasonably necessary for these purposes.

6.3 Distributions . Subject to applicable law and the limitations contained in Section 6.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the Partnership shall from time to time distribute Available Cash, in each case, at such times and in such amounts as determined by the General Partner. If the Partnership decides to distribute property, the property shall be divided into separate interests to the extent practicable in accordance with the Partners’ respective shares in the distribution thereof. If such property cannot practicably be so divided, then undivided interests therein shall be distributed to the Partners. During each Fiscal Year or other period, all distributions shall be made to the Partners pro rata in proportion to their Percentage Interests for such Fiscal Year or period (with any distribution of property being taken into account at the amount described in Section 5.2(b)(ii) ); provided that distributions relating to Incentive Income shall be made to those Partners who have an interest in such Incentive Income pro rata in proportion to such interests, as determined by the General Partner on a Fund-by-Fund basis.

6.4 Restriction on Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no distribution to any Partner shall be made ( a ) if such distribution would violate the Act or other applicable law or ( b ) if, after giving effect to the distribution, ( i ) the Partnership would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business, ( ii ) such Partner’s Capital Account would be negative by an amount greater than the amount such Partner would be required to restore pursuant to Section 6.5 , or ( iii ) the Partnership’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus, unless this Agreement provides otherwise, the amount that would be needed, if the Partnership were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights of other Partners, if any, upon dissolution that are superior to the rights of the Partner receiving the distribution. The General Partner may base a determination that a distribution is not prohibited pursuant to Section 6.4(b) on ( x ) financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable under the circumstances, ( y ) a fair valuation or ( z ) any other method that is reasonable under the circumstances; provided that the determination under Section 6.4(b)(ii)

 

- 23 -


whether a Partner’s Capital Account will be negative shall be based on the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets. Except as provided in Section 17-607(b) of the Act, the effect of a distribution is measured as of the date the distribution is authorized if the payment occurs within 120 calendar days after the date of authorization, or the date payment is made if it occurs more than 120 calendar days after the date of authorization.

6.5 Return of Advances and Distributions .

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, all distributions made during a Fiscal Year shall be treated as advances to the Partners until it is determined that the amounts advanced to each Partner were properly computed pursuant to this Section 6.5 and that such distributions were permissible under this Article VI . Such determination shall be made by the following March 31 by the Partnership’s auditors (or such later date to the extent the Partnership’s auditors are unable to make such determination by such March 31). Any additional distributions due to a Partner as the result of such determination shall be paid to it, him or her without interest before any other distributions are made. Following such determination by the Partnership’s auditors, any excess advances made to a Partner shall be repaid without interest within 60 calendar days following such determination unless the General Partner determines otherwise. Except for distributions made in violation of the Act or this Agreement, and except as provided in this Section 6.5 , no Partner shall be obligated to return any distribution to the Partnership or pay the amount of any distribution for the account of the Partnership or to any creditor of the Partnership. In the event an amount of a distribution is returned to the Partnership by a Partner or is paid by a Partner for the account of the Partnership or to a creditor of the Partnership, such amount shall be added to the Partner’s Capital Account.

(b) In the event any Oaktree Group Member is required to return to any Fund any Incentive Income (a “ Clawback ”), each Partner who received any distribution hereunder with respect thereto shall return to the Partnership promptly upon request by the General Partner, any distributions received by such Partner with respect thereto, and the Partnership shall be entitled to withhold future distributions to such Partner, equal to such Partner’s pro rata share of such Clawback, as determined by the General Partner in good faith; provided that such Partner’s liability for such Clawback shall not exceed the total amount of distributions that such Partner has received or is entitled to with respect to such Incentive Income. For the avoidance of doubt, each Partner’s obligations under this Section 6.5(b) shall survive the withdrawal of such Partner from the Partnership.

6.6 Allocations in Case of Adjustments in Percentage Interests . Except as provided for in this Section 6.6 and Section 6.1(b) , Net Profits, Net Losses and similar items allocable to Partners whose Percentage Interests have changed during a Fiscal Year shall be allocated among such Partners either ( a ) ratably on a daily basis or ( b ) under any reasonable basis that is permitted under Code Section 706 and the underlying Treasury Regulations. Depreciation, amortization and similar items, under either method of allocation, shall accrue ratably on a daily basis over the entire period during which the corresponding asset is owned by the Partnership for the entire Fiscal Year, and over the portion of a Fiscal Year after such asset is placed in service by the Partnership if such asset is placed in service during the Fiscal Year.

 

- 24 -


6.7 Tax Distributions . If any Partner’s Annual Partnership Tax Liability exceeds the aggregate amounts distributed to such Partner with respect to a Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 6.3 and this Section 6.7 , amounts shall be distributed by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 6.7 to the Partners in proportion to the amount of such excess with respect to each Partner until each Partner has received an aggregate amount under Section 6.3 and this Section 6.7 for such Fiscal Year equal to its, his or her Annual Partnership Tax Liability. To the extent any such excess is anticipated with respect to a Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall make distributions under this Section 6.7 quarterly based on the expected estimated tax liabilities of each Partner for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within ninety days after the end of a Fiscal Year based on each Partner’s Annual Partnership Tax Liability for such Fiscal Year. For purposes of Section 6.3 , the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, shall determine what portion (if any) of a distribution pursuant to this Section 6.7 to treat as a distribution of Incentive Income. Any amount distributed to a Partner pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be treated as an advance against amounts distributable to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3 .

6.8 Return of Certain Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise determined by the General Partner, if a Limited Partner makes a Subscription Contribution, then the General Partner shall, promptly after the General Partner believes it is able to make the determination contemplated by this sentence with reasonable certainty, but no later than the final liquidation of the Associated Fund to which such Subscription Contribution relates, determine the extent (if any) to which the aggregate net distributions received (or to be received) by the Partnership (other than distributions of Incentive Income) that are derived from such Associated Fund exceeds (or would exceed) the amount equal to ( x ) the aggregate capital directly or indirectly invested by the Partnership in such Associated Fund net of ( y ) the aggregate Subscription Contributions made by Limited Partners in respect of such Associated Fund (taking into account any distributions that the General Partner believes are reasonably certain to be returned or contributed to such Associated Fund pursuant to any clawback or other obligation). In the event of any such excess, the Partnership shall distribute to such Limited Partner an amount equal to the lesser of ( a ) such Subscription Contribution or ( b ) such Limited Partner’s pro rata share (as determined in good faith by the General Partner taking into account the aggregate Subscription Contributions made by Limited Partners in respect of such Associated Fund) of such excess. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate distributions receivable by any Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 6.8 shall not exceed such Limited Partner’s aggregate Subscription Contributions in respect of the Associated Fund from which such distributions are derived. Except as provided in this Section 6.8 or otherwise determined by the General Partner, no Limited Partner shall be entitled to any return of, or other distributions with respect to, its, his or her Subscription Contributions.

6.9 Withholding . The Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions to a Partner, or with respect to allocations to a Partner, and to pay over to any Governmental Authority, any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law. In addition, the Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions to a Partner, or with respect to a Partner, and to pay over to any Oaktree Group Member, any amounts owed by such Partner to such Oaktree Group Member. Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall be treated as distributed to such Partner pursuant to this Article VI for all purposes of this Agreement, and, if withheld from amounts

 

- 25 -


allocated but not distributed, shall be offset against the next amounts otherwise distributable to such Partner.

6.10 Acknowledgment . Each Limited Partner acknowledges that it, he or she is aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article VI and agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Article VI in reporting its, his or her shares of Net Profits, Net Losses, and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes and any applicable foreign tax purposes.

6.11 Partnership Classification for Tax Purposes . Each Partner recognizes, agrees and intends that, for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, the Partnership shall be classified as a partnership. The General Partner shall not permit the Partnership to elect, and the Partnership shall not elect, to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(a) or under any corresponding provision of state or local law.

6.12 Tax Matters . The General Partner and the Limited Partners shall take all necessary steps, including amending the Certificate and this Agreement, to cause the Partnership to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal and California state tax purposes. A former Partner shall be treated as a partner for U.S. federal and California state tax purposes with respect to only his receipt of distributions pursuant to Sections 6.3 and 10.2 and allocations corresponding thereto. The Partnership shall determine whether any non-Partner transferee of the right to receive any payments from the Partnership shall be treated as a partner for U.S. federal and California tax purposes. The General Partner shall from time to time cause the Partnership to make such tax elections as it determines to be in the best interests of the Partnership and the Limited Partners; provided that each Limited Partner acknowledges that an election pursuant to Code Section 754 has been made by the Partnership. The tax matters partner, as defined in Code Section 6231 (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”), shall represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting judicial and administrative proceedings, and shall expend the Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. The Tax Matters Partner shall oversee the Partnership tax affairs in the overall best interests of the Partnership. The General Partner is hereby designated as the initial Tax Matters Partner. If for any reason the Tax Matters Partner can no longer serve in that capacity or ceases to be a Partner, the General Partner may designate another Partner (with such Partner’s consent) to be Tax Matters Partner.

6.13 No Representations as to Tax Treatment . Neither the Partnership, nor the General Partner, nor any other Oaktree Group Member makes any representation (and shall not be liable to any Limited Partner) as to the tax treatment of allocations or distributions with respect to any Interests under applicable U.S. federal, state or local or foreign tax laws.

Article VII

Books and Records; Reports to Partners

 

- 26 -


7.1 Books and Records . The books and records of the Partnership shall be kept, and the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, in accordance with the accounting methods followed for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The books and records of the Partnership shall reflect all the Partnership transactions and shall be appropriate and adequate for the Partnership’s business. The Partnership shall maintain at its principal office all of the following:

(a) a current list of the full name and last known business or residence address of each Partner, and such Partner’s Percentage Interest and Incentive Sharing Percentages (such list, the “ Register ”), along with other information required by this Agreement to be maintained on the Register;

(b) a copy of the Certificate and any and all amendments thereto together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate or any amendments thereto have been executed; and

(c) such other books and records as the Partnership is required by applicable law to maintain or as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient.

The books and records of the Partnership shall be maintained in such form as the General Partner determines to be appropriate, including in physical or electronic form and one or more spreadsheets, ledgers, tables or schedules, all of which, when taken together, shall constitute the books and records of the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, the Register shall be part of the books and records of the Partnership.

7.2 Access to and Confidentiality of Information and Records .

(a) Subject to Section 7.2(b) , each Limited Partner shall have the right to obtain from the General Partner during regular business hours upon reasonable demand, at such Limited Partner’s expense and for any purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner, the information described in subparagraphs (1) through (6) of Section 17-305(a) of the Act.

(b) The General Partner shall have the right to keep confidential from each Limited Partner for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, any information which the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information, the disclosure of which the General Partner believes in good faith is not in the best interest of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business or which the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with a third party to keep confidential.

7.3 Bank Accounts . The Partnership shall maintain its funds in one or more separate bank accounts in the name of the Partnership, and shall not permit the funds of the Partnership to be commingled in any fashion with the funds of any other Person.

 

- 27 -


Article VIII

Limitations on Liability; Indemnification

8.1 Limitations on Liability .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for:

 

  (i) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(ii) and 8.1(a)(iii) , any act or omission, or any alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, by such General Partner Related Person in connection with the Oaktree Group, including with respect to activities by such General Partner Related Person taken on behalf of any Oaktree Group Member in furtherance of the business of the Oaktree Group (including the business of the Partnership), or otherwise relating to or arising out of this Agreement, in each case, unless such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final nonappealable judgment, or by an arbitrator of competent jurisdiction appointed pursuant to Section 11.1 , to constitute Disabling Conduct on the part of such General Partner Related Person;

 

  (ii) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(i) and 8.1(a)(iii) , any action or omission, or alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, by any Partner (other than, in the case such General Partner Related Person is itself also a Limited Partner, such General Partner Related Person’s own acts and omissions in its capacity as a Limited Partner), regardless of whether such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, constitutes Disabling Conduct; or

 

  (iii) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(i) and 8.1(a)(ii) , any act or omission, or alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, of any employee, broker or other agent or representative of any Oaktree Group Member (other than, in the case such General Partner Related Person is itself such an employee, broker, agent or representative, such General Partner Related Person’s own acts and omissions), regardless of whether such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, constitutes Disabling Conduct.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that, at law or in equity, any General Partner Related Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner, no General

 

- 28 -


Partner Related Person acting under this Agreement shall be liable to the Partnership or such Limited Partner for its, his or her good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement, and the activities of any General Partner Related Person expressly authorized by this Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement may be engaged in by such General Partner Related Person and shall not, in any case or in the aggregate, be deemed a breach of this Agreement or any duty that might be owed by any such Person to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they modify, restrict or eliminate the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of any General Partner Related Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Person.

(b) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall have any personal liability to the Partnership or any Limited Partner solely by reason of any change in U.S. federal, state or local or foreign income tax laws, or in interpretations thereof, as they apply to the Partnership or the Limited Partners, regardless of whether the change occurs through legislative, judicial or administrative action.

(c) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or an opinion of counsel reasonably selected by such General Partner Related Person with respect to legal matters.

(d) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ( i ) no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for acting in reliance on any signature or writing believed in good faith by such General Partner Related Person to be genuine, and ( ii ) each General Partner Related Person may rely on a certificate signed by an officer of any Person in order to ascertain any fact with respect to such Person or within such Person’s knowledge.

(e) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , each General Partner Related Person may consult with appraisers, engineers, contractors, accountants and other skilled Persons of its, his or her choosing, on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the business of the Partnership and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for ( i ) anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith reliance upon the advice of any of such skilled Person, or ( ii ) any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or judgment, of any skilled Person.

The provisions of this Section 8.1 are intended and shall be interpreted as only limiting the liability of a General Partner Related Person and not as in any way expanding such Person’s liability.

8.2 Indemnification by the Partnership .

 

- 29 -


(a) The Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each General Partner Related Person from and against any loss, cost or expense suffered or sustained by it, him or her by reason of any acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions arising out of or in connection with the Partnership, or this Agreement, including any judgment, award, settlement, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding, or claim, in each case, unless such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final nonappealable judgment, or by an arbitrator of competent jurisdiction appointed pursuant to Section 11.1 , to constitute Disabling Conduct on the part of such General Partner Related Person. The termination of any action, proceeding or claim by settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions were made in bad faith or constituted Disabling Conduct on the part of any General Partner Related Person.

(b) Expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by a General Partner Related Person in defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding, or claim that may be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder may, as determined by the General Partner, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition thereof upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such General Partner Related Person to repay the amount advanced to the extent that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such General Partner Related Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

(c) The right of any General Partner Related Person to the indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative of, and in addition to, any and all rights to which such General Partner Related Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall be extended to such General Partner Related Person’s successors, assigns and legal representatives. Any judgments against the Partnership and the General Partner in respect of which any General Partner Related Person is entitled to indemnification shall first be satisfied from the Partnership property before the General Partner shall be responsible therefor.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 8.2 shall not be construed so as to provide for the indemnification of any General Partner Related Person for any liability (including liability under U.S. federal securities laws which, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons that act in good faith), to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of this Section 8.2 to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Article IX

Certain Covenants

 

- 30 -


9.1 Certain Acknowledgments . Each Partner (the “ Acknowledging Partner ”) hereby acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) the business of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group is of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and specialized character;

(b) each Partner has contributed valuable consideration to the Partnership or its predecessor in exchange for such Partner’s interest in the Partnership;

(c) any damage to the business and goodwill of the Partnership would diminish the value of each Partner’s interest in the Partnership (including the value of the Acknowledging Partner’s Interests);

(d) the Partnership and the Oaktree Group possess and will continue to possess information that has been created, discovered or developed by, or otherwise become known to them (including information created, discovered or developed by, or made known to, Partners who have provided services to the Oaktree Group), which information has commercial value in the business in which the Oaktree Group is engaged and is treated by the Partnership and Oaktree Group as confidential information, as a trade secret, as intellectual property or as proprietary information;

(e) the Protective Provisions are ( i ) in anticipation of, ( ii ) reasonable in all respects, and ( iii ) necessary to protect the goodwill, business, confidential information, trade secrets, intellectual property or any other proprietary information of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group, as well as to protect the value of each Partner’s interest in the Partnership, in each case, from the irreparable damage that could be caused to each of them by a Partner upon or after such Partner’s disassociation from the Partnership;

(f) the Acknowledging Partner desires to further the long-term success of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group, including because such success is expected to enhance the value of its, his or her own interests in the Partnership;

(g) it is in the Acknowledging Partner’s own best interests, including to protect the value of its, his or her interest in the Partnership and to further the long-term success of the Partnership, for all of the Partners to agree to be bound by the Protective Provisions; and

(h) no Partner is required to become a party to this Agreement, acquire an interest in the Partnership or make an investment in the Partnership.

9.2 Commitment . Each Partner hereby agrees that for so long as such Partner provides services to an Oaktree Group Member, such Partner shall devote substantially all of such Partner’s business time, skill, energy and attention to its, his or her responsibilities with respect to the business of such Oaktree Group Member in a diligent manner.

9.3 Confidential Information, Intellectual Property and Proprietary Information .

 

- 31 -


(a) Each Partner hereby agrees that such Partner shall not, without the prior express written consent of the General Partner, ( i ) use for the benefit of such Partner, use to the detriment of any Oaktree Group Member, or disclose, at any time (including while providing services to the Oaktree Group), in each case, unless and to the extent required by law or as required in the performance of such Partner’s services to an Oaktree Group Member, any Confidential Information, or ( ii ) remove or retain, upon such Partner ceasing to provide services to the Oaktree Group for any reason, any document, paper, electronic file or other storage medium containing or relating to any Confidential Information, any Intellectual Property or any physical property of any Oaktree Group Member.

(b) Each Partner hereby agrees to deliver to the Oaktree Group on the date such Partner ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group for any reason, or promptly at any other time that any Oaktree Group Member may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) within such Partner’s possession or control that contain any Confidential Information or any Intellectual Property.

(c) Each Partner hereby agrees that any and all Intellectual Property is and shall be the exclusive property of the Oaktree Group for the Oaktree Group’s sole use. In addition, each Partner hereby acknowledges and agrees that the investment performance of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member is attributable to the efforts of the team of professionals of the Oaktree Group and not to the efforts of any single individual, and that, therefore, the performance records of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member are and shall be the exclusive property of the Oaktree Group. Each Partner hereby agrees that such Partner, whether during or after such Partner’s provision of services to any Oaktree Group Member, shall not use or disclose any Intellectual Property, including the performance records of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member without the prior written consent of the General Partner, except in the ordinary course of such Partner’s services to an Oaktree Group Member.

(d) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any trade secrets of the Oaktree Group shall be entitled to all of the protections and benefits under applicable law. Each Partner hereby acknowledges that ( i ) such Partner may have had, and may have in the future, access to information that constitutes trade secrets but that has not been, and shall not be, marked to indicate its status as such and ( ii ) this Agreement constitutes reasonable efforts under the circumstances by the Partnership to notify such Partner of the existence of such trade secrets and to maintain the confidentiality of such trade secrets within the provisions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act or other applicable law.

(e) Each Partner hereby acknowledges and agrees that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Article IX would be inadequate, and, therefore, each Partner agrees that the Partnership shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other available rights and remedies in case of any such breach or threatened breach; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed as

 

- 32 -


prohibiting the Partnership from pursuing any other rights and remedies available for any such breach or threatened breach.

9.4 Interference . Each Partner hereby agrees that for so long as such Partner provides services to an Oaktree Group Member, and for two years after such Partner ceases to be a Partner for any reason, such Partner shall not directly or indirectly ( a ) solicit any customer or client of the Oaktree Group for a Competitive Business, provided that the foregoing clause (a)  shall not be deemed to prohibit such Partner from participating in the normal marketing efforts of a Competitive Business, so long as such Partner does not solicit any client or customer known to such Partner as a result of his or her provision of services to an Oaktree Group Member to be a client or customer of the Oaktree Group, other than clients or customers of the Oaktree Group that, as of the date such Partner ceases to provide services to an Oaktree Group Member, are bona fide pre-existing clients or customers of such Competitive Business, ( b ) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Oaktree Group to leave the Oaktree Group or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Oaktree Group and any employee thereof, or ( c ) hire, engage, employ, retain or otherwise enter into any business affiliation with any person who was an employee of the Oaktree Group at any time during the twelve-month period prior to the date such Partner ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group.

9.5 Disparagement . Each Partner hereby agrees that it, he or she shall not make any statements, encourage others to make statements or release information that disparages, discredits or defames any Oaktree Group Member or engage in any activity that would have the effect of disparaging, discrediting or defaming any Oaktree Group Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit any Partner from making truthful statements when required by law.

Article X

Dissolution and Termination of the Partnership

10.1 Dissolution . The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated, and have its affairs wound up, only pursuant to the provisions of this Article X , and the Partners do hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any Partnership property. The Partnership shall dissolve upon the earliest of (each a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to Section 17-802 of the Act;

(b) the sale of all or substantially of the assets of the Partnership;

(c) at anytime there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to the Act; and

(d) any election by the General Partner to dissolve the Partnership.

 

- 33 -


The dissolution of the Partnership shall be effective on the day on which the Dissolution Event occurs, but the Partnership shall not terminate until it has been wound up, its assets have been distributed as provided in Section 10.2 and a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate has been filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with the Act. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Partnership, prior to the termination of the Partnership, the business of the Partnership and the affairs of the Partners, as such, shall continue to be governed by this Agreement.

10.2 Liquidating Distributions . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, the Partnership shall be wound up and its assets shall be liquidated. The General Partner or any other Person designated pursuant to Section 10.4 to serve as the liquidator of the Partnership shall cause to be made distributions out of Partnership property (including cash proceeds from the liquidation of Partnership property) in the following manner and order:

(a) first , to the satisfaction of all of the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities to creditors (including Partners who are creditors) in the order of priority provided by applicable law or otherwise, including by establishing reserves that the General Partner or such other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership deems necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient for any contingent, conditional or unmatured liabilities or obligations of the Partnership; provided that, if and when a contingency for which such a reserve has been established shall cease to exist, the monies, if any, then in such reserve shall be distributed as provided in Section 10.2(b) (except to the extent used to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and liabilities or to fund other reserves pursuant to this Section 10.2(a) ); and

(b) thereafter , upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as the General Partner or such other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership deems necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient for its protection, distribute the remaining Partnership property, and subject to Article VI , to the Partners, pro rata in proportion to their Percentage Interests (with any distribution of property being taken into account at the amount described in Section 5.2(b)(ii) ); provided that distributions related to Incentive Income shall be made to those Partners who have an interest in such Incentive Income pro rata in proportion to such interests, as determined by the General Partner on a Fund-by- Fund basis.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the General Partner determines that an immediate sale of all or any portion of Partnership property would cause undue loss to the Partners, the General Partner, in order to avoid such loss, and to the extent not then prohibited by the Act, may defer liquidation of and withhold from distribution for a reasonable time any Partnership property except as necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities to creditors.

10.3 Termination . Upon completion of the dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership shall execute, acknowledge and file such certificates, instruments and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to terminate the legal existence of the Partnership under the Act, including by executing, acknowledging and causing to be filed a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State.

 

- 34 -


10.4 Liquidator . The General Partner or a Person designated by the General Partner shall serve as the liquidator of the Partnership. The reasonable fees, costs and expenses of any liquidator for the Partnership shall be considered to be a Partnership expense and be paid from Partnership property prior to any final liquidating distribution to the Partners.

10.5 Restoration of Deficit Capital Account Balances. If any Partner has a deficit balance in its, his or her Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all Fiscal Years, including the year during which the liquidation occurs), then such Partner shall have no obligation to make any Capital Contribution with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever.

10.6 Limitations on Dissolution . Nothing in this Article X is intended to limit the survival of provisions of this Agreement that expressly survive the dissolution and termination of the Partnership. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated, and have its affairs wound up, only pursuant to the provisions of this Article X . Any dissolution of the Partnership other than as provided in this Article X shall be a dissolution in contravention of this Agreement.

Article XI

Miscellaneous

11.1 Arbitration of Disputes .

(a) Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to ( i ) the Partnership, ( ii ) any Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, ( iii ) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, ( iv ) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.1 , and ( v ) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq . Either the Partnership or the disputing Partner may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11.6 . The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The Partner shall cooperate with JAMS and with the Partnership in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the Partner and the Partnership shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel

 

- 35 -


of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The Partner and the Partnership shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. The Partnership shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.1 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the Partner and the Partnership.

(b) Neither the Partner nor the Partnership shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed ( i ) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, ( ii ) two interrogatories, ( iii ) ten document requests, and ( iv ) ten requests for admissions; provided further that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.1 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

(c) The provisions of this Section 11.1 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

(d) The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 , including the existence or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided further that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If either a Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall ( i ) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and ( ii ) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions,

 

- 36 -


including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, ( i ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and ( ii ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between Partners, a Partner and the Partnership, or a Partner and an Oaktree Group Member, that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

11.2 Married Persons . If a married couple owns an interest in the Partnership as quasi-community or community property under the laws of any state, regardless of which of the spouses is named as a Partner in the Register, and in the event of a division of such community property between the spouses pursuant to a decree of divorce or dissolution, property settlement agreement or otherwise, such division shall be deemed to be a Permitted Transfer. Upon any such division, any spouse or other Person who is not the named Partner in the Register shall be entitled only to payments provided in any such decree of divorce or dissolution, property settlement or otherwise, and nothing in this Section 11.2 or any other part of this Agreement shall be construed at any time as permitting any spouse or Person who is not the named Partner in the Register to have any of a Partner’s rights to act under this Agreement or to participate as a partner of the Partnership. A spouse or any other Person who is entitled to any such payments from the Partnership may not Transfer the right to receive any of such payments without the consent of the General Partner. The Partnership may purchase all or part of any such right to receive payments if authorized to do so by the General Partner.

11.3 Entire Agreement . Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement (including the Supplemental Schedule and the Series Designations) constitutes the entire agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such matter. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that the General Partner may, on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership, and without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other Person, ( a ) enter into any side letter or similar agreement with any Limited Partner that has the effect of establishing rights under, or altering or supplementing the terms of, this Agreement with respect to such Limited Partner (each a “ Side Letter ”) and ( b ) perform and cause the Partnership to perform its respective obligations (if any) under each Side Letter. Any terms contained in a Side Letter with a Limited Partner shall govern with respect to such Limited Partner notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, except as otherwise may be waived by the parties to such Side Letter.

11.4 Binding Effect . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement relating to transferability, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners, and their respective successors and assigns.

11.5 Amendments . This Agreement may be amended, modified or waived with the written consent of the General Partner; provided that no amendment, modification or waiver of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective with respect to the Interests of any Limited

 

- 37 -


Partner that were issued prior to such amendment, modification or waiver if such amendment, modification or waiver would materially and adversely deprive such Limited Partner of the economic benefit (determined on a pre-tax basis and by the General Partner in good faith) intended to be conferred upon such Limited Partner by the issuance of such Interests to such Limited Partner, unless such Limited Partner has consented to such amendment, modification or waiver; provided further that, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, no consent of any Limited Partner shall be required with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement (a) if the General Partner has replaced such Interests with a substitute arrangement that the General Partner believes in good faith to be no less favorable to such Limited Partner in any material economic respect (determined on a pre-tax basis and by the General Partner in good faith) than such Interests or (b) such amendment, modification or waiver is being made (i) to prevent or remedy any event or circumstance (including the imposition of any material regulatory requirement on the Partnership or other Oaktree Group Member) that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member or (ii) to satisfy any requirement under, or prevent or remedy any breach or potential breach by the Partnership, any other Oaktree Group Member or any General Partner Related Person of, any applicable law or otherwise in connection with any order, directive or opinion of any Governmental Authority. The General Partner shall provide each Limited Partner with a copy of each amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement.

11.6 Notices . Any notice to any Limited Partner who is then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to such Limited Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the principal office of the Partnership or at such other place where such Limited Partner may be found. Any notice to such a Limited Partner which is delivered to the principal office of the Partnership when such Limited Partner is absent from the office shall, if reasonable efforts have been made to deliver it to him or her elsewhere, be deemed delivered to him or her on the next succeeding business day, if he or she does not actually receive such notice sooner. Any notice to any Limited Partner who is not then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to such Limited Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the address or facsimile number of such Limited Partner shown on the Register. Any notice to the Partnership or the General Partner required or permitted hereunder to be given to the Partnership or the General Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Partnership or the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership. A written notice may be delivered by facsimile transmission.

11.7 Parties in Interest . Except as expressly provided in the Act, nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any Persons other than the Partners and their respective successors, nor shall anything in this Agreement relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any third Person to any party to this Agreement, nor shall any provision give any third Person any right of subrogation or action over or against any party to this Agreement.

11.8 Contra Proferentum . In the event any claim is made by any Partner relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular Partner or his counsel.

 

- 38 -


11.9 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware by residents of the State of Delaware; provided that the enforceability of Section 11.1 shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq. , and not the laws of the State of Delaware.

11.10 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision or portion of 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 shall not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein, if the economic and legal substance of the arrangements contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such a determination, the Partners shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transaction contemplated hereby shall be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if any of the provisions of Article IX shall be held to exceed the limitations on scope, duration or geographic area prescribed under applicable law, then such provision shall be deemed to have been amended automatically to reduce such scope, duration or geographic area, as the case may be, to the extent necessary (if possible), and only to such extent, to enable such provision to be valid and permissible under such applicable law

11.11 Waivers . No waiver by any Partner of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement hereof shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any Partner to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right accruing to it, him or her thereafter. Any default hereunder by a Partner shall not excuse any obligation of any other Partner.

11.12 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

11.13 Determination of Certain Matters .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement any General Partner Related Person is permitted or required to make a decision (including whether to take an action or not or waive a provision or not) ( i ) unless some other standard is specified, the General Partner may make such decision in its sole discretion, meaning such General Partner Related Person shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it, he or she desires, including its, his or her own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give

 

- 39 -


any consideration to any interest or factor affecting the Partnership or any other Person (other than a duty to act in good faith), or ( ii ) under another express standard, such General Partner Related Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.

(b) All determinations, interpretations, calculations, adjustments and other actions of the General Partner that are within its authority hereunder shall be made in good faith by the General Partner and shall be binding and conclusive on the Partnership and all Partners absent manifest error. In connection with any such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action, the General Partner shall be entitled to resolve any ambiguity with respect to the manner in which such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action is to be made or taken, and shall be entitled to interpret the provisions of this Agreement, in such a manner as it determines to be fair and equitable, and such resolution or interpretation shall be binding and conclusive on the Partnership and all Partners absent manifest error.

[ THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK .]

 

- 40 -


I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
O AKTREE C APITAL II, L.P.
  By:  

/s/    R ICHARD T ING      

    Name: Richard Ting
   

Title:  Managing Director

            and Associate General Counsel

  By:  

/s/    J AY G HIYA        

    Name: Jay Ghiya
    Title:  Senior Vice President
LIMITED PARTNERS:

T HE L IMITED P ARTNERS LISTED ON THE

R EGISTER ( AS REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME )

By:   O AKTREE C APITAL II, L.P., as attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners
  By:  

/s/    R ICHARD T ING      

    Name: Richard Ting
   

Title:  Managing Director

            and Associate General Counsel

  By:  

/s/    J AY G HIYA        

    Name: Jay Ghiya
    Title:  Senior Vice President

Exhibit 10.20

Execution Copy

 

 

 

OAKTREE FUND GP III, L.P.

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

 

LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN OAKTREE FUND GP III, L.P., A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH OR QUALIFIED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY JURISDICTION. SUCH LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SUCH LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS CANNOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, IN EACH CASE, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ALL APPLICABLE JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
   ARTICLE I   
   DEFINITIONS   

1.1

   Defined Terms      1   

1.2

   Interpretation      9   

1.3

   Associated Persons      10   

1.4

   Former Partners      10   
   ARTICLE II   
   ORGANIZATION   

2.1

   Formation; Continuation      10   

2.2

   Name      11   

2.3

   Delaware Registered Agent and Office      11   

2.4

   Principal Place of Business      11   

2.5

   Term      11   

2.6

   Fiscal Year      11   

2.7

   Title to Partnership Property      11   
   ARTICLE III   
   THE PARTNERSHIP   

3.1

   Purpose and Scope of Business; Powers      12   

3.2

   Powers of the General Partner      12   

3.3

   Powers of Limited Partners      12   

3.4

   Officers      13   

3.5

   Media Company Provisions      13   

3.6

   Meetings and Voting      14   

3.7

   Admissions and Withdrawals      15   

3.8

   Conditions to Membership Transactions      15   

3.9

   Power of Attorney      16   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

3.10

  Additional Documents and Acts      17   
  ARTICLE IV   
  INTERESTS   

4.1

  Interests      17   

4.2

  Incentive Income      19   

4.3

  Supplemental Schedule      19   

4.4

  Transfer of Interests      19   

4.5

  Effects of Transfer      20   

4.6

  Limited Rights of Assignees      20   

4.7

  Designation of Beneficiaries      20   
  ARTICLE V   
  CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS   

5.1

  Capital Contributions      21   

5.2

  Capital Accounts      21   

5.3

  No Priorities of Partners      22   
  ARTICLE VI   
  ALLOCATIONS; DISTRIBUTIONS   

6.1

  Allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses and Other Items      22   

6.2

  Regulatory and Tax Allocations      23   

6.3

  Distributions      23   

6.4

  Restriction on Distributions      23   

6.5

  Return of Advances and Distributions      24   

6.6

  Allocations in Case of Adjustments in Percentage Interests      24   

6.7

  Tax Distributions      25   

6.8

  Return of Certain Capital Contributions      25   

6.9

  Withholding      25   

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

          Page  

6.10

   Acknowledgment      26   

6.11

   Partnership Classification for Tax Purposes      26   

6.12

   Tax Matters      26   

6.13

   No Representations as to Tax Treatment      26   
   ARTICLE VII   
   BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS TO PARTNERS   

7.1

   Books and Records      27   

7.2

   Access to and Confidentiality of Information and Records      27   

7.3

   Bank Accounts      27   
   ARTICLE VIII   
   LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION   

8.1

   Limitations on Liability      28   

8.2

   Indemnification by the Partnership      29   
   ARTICLE IX   
   CERTAIN COVENANTS   

9.1

   Certain Acknowledgments      31   

9.2

   Commitment      31   

9.3

   Confidential Information, Intellectual Property and Proprietary Information      31   

9.4

   Interference      33   

9.5

   Disparagement      33   
   ARTICLE X   
   DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP   

10.1

   Dissolution      33   

10.2

   Liquidating Distributions      34   

10.3

   Termination      34   

10.4

   Liquidator      35   

10.5

   Restoration of Deficit Capital Account Balances      35   

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

         Page  

10.6

  Limitations on Dissolution      35   
  ARTICLE XI   
  MISCELLANEOUS   

11.1

  Arbitration of Disputes      35   

11.2

  Married Persons      37   

11.3

  Entire Agreement      37   

11.4

  Binding Effect      37   

11.5

  Amendments      37   

11.6

  Notices      38   

11.7

  Parties in Interest      38   

11.8

  Contra Proferentum      38   

11.9

  Governing Law      39   

11.10

  Severability      39   

11.11

  Waivers      39   

11.12

  Counterparts      39   

11.13

  Determination of Certain Matters      39   

 

-iv-


THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

OAKTREE FUND GP III, L.P.

This T HIRD A MENDED AND R ESTATED L IMITED P ARTNERSHIP A GREEMENT (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) of O AKTREE F UND GP III, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), is made and entered into as of July 28, 2011 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as general partner of the Partnership (in its capacity as such, the “ General Partner ”), and each Person listed as a limited partner of the Partnership on the Register (as defined below) (each such Person, in its, his or her capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, a “ Limited Partner ”), for the purpose of amending and restating that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership (the “ Prior LPA ”), dated as of December 14, 2010.

N OW , THEREFORE , the Prior LPA is hereby amended and restated, and the General Partner and the Limited Partners hereby agree, as follows:

Article I

Definitions

1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Acknowledging Partner : as defined in Section 9.1 .

Act : the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section 17-101 et seq. and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Affiliate : with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, the Person in question; provided that no Fund or portfolio company of any Oaktree Group Member shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Oaktree Group Member.

Agreement : as defined in the preamble hereto.

Annual Partnership Tax Liability : the product of ( a ) the General Partner’s reasonable good faith determination, with respect to a Partner, of such Partner’s share of the Partnership’s net taxable income pursuant to Article VI for a given Fiscal Year,


giving effect to such Partner’s share of losses and deductions, multiplied by ( b ) the sum of the highest marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rates applicable to any Partner (taking into account the effect of any allowable U.S. federal income tax deduction for state and local taxes). For this purpose, “net taxable income” of the Partnership shall be calculated taking into account separately stated items, and without regard to items of income exempt from tax.

Assignee : as defined in Section 4.4 .

Associated Fund : as defined in Section 4.1(c) .

Associated Person : as defined in Section 1.3 .

Available Cash : the gross cash proceeds of the Partnership less the portion thereof used to pay or establish reserves for Partnership expenses, working capital, debt payments, capital improvements, replacements, and contingencies, all as determined by the General Partner. Available Cash shall not be reduced by depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions, or similar allowances, but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves previously established pursuant to the first sentence of this definition.

Capital Account : as defined in Section 5.2 .

Capital Contribution : the total value of cash, if any, contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.1 , and the Gross Asset Value of any property other than cash contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.1 , net of liabilities secured by such property that the Partnership is considered to assume or take under Code Section 752.

Certificate : the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Clawback : as defined in Section 6.5(b) .

Communications Act : the U.S. Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Code : the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

Competitive Business : any business that is competitive with the business of any Oaktree Group Member (including raising, organizing, managing or advising any fund or separate account having an investment strategy in any way competitive with any of the funds or separate accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member).

Confidential Information : any information concerning the employees, organization, business or finances of any Oaktree Group Member or any third party (including any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer, vendor or other person) with which an Oaktree Group Member is engaged or conducts business, including business strategies, operating plans, acquisition strategies (including the

 

- 2 -


identities of, and any other information concerning, possible acquisition candidates), financial information, valuations, analyses, investment performance, market analysis, acquisition terms and conditions, personnel, compensation and ownership information, know-how, customer lists and relationships, the identity of any client, investor, partner, portfolio company, customer vendor or other third party, and supplier lists and relationships, as well as all other secret, confidential or proprietary information belonging to any Oaktree Group Member; provided that Confidential Information shall not include any information generally known to the public other than as a result of disclosure by any Limited Partner not permitted hereunder.

Control : the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Depreciation : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning book value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis, and if such adjusted tax basis is zero, the Depreciation shall be based on the method and assumptions used to depreciate, amortize or otherwise recover the cost of such type of asset in preparing the financial statements of the Partnership.

Disabling Conduct : with respect to any Person, ( a ) a breach by such Person of its, his or her fiduciary duties to the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, provided that such breach is the result of willful malfeasance, gross negligence, the commission of a felony or a material violation of applicable law (including any U.S. federal or state securities law) that, in each case has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Partnership, or ( b ) fraud.

Dissolution Event : as defined in Section 10.1 .

Effective Date : as defined in the preamble hereto.

ERISA : the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

FCC : the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, or any governmental entity that succeeds to the powers and functions thereof.

FCC Rules : the rules, regulations or written policies of the FCC that ( a ) limit or restrict ownership in Media Companies on the basis of ownership in other Media Companies or under which the Partnership’s ownership of a Media Company may be

 

- 3 -


attributed to the Partners (or a Partner’s ownership of another Media Company may be subject to limitation or restriction as a result of the ownership by the Partnership of such Media Company or another Media Company), including the rules, regulations or written policies of the FCC that provide for the insulation from such attributable interests in Media Companies, or ( b ) limit or restrict ownership in Media Companies by non-U.S. persons (as defined by the FCC), as such rules, regulations or written policies may be modified from time to time.

Fiscal Year : as defined in Section 2.6 .

Formation Date : December 2, 2008.

Fund : any limited partnership, limited liability company, group trust, mutual fund, investment company or other entity, or any investment account, which is managed or Controlled by any Oaktree Group Member or by an entity Controlled by any Oaktree Group Member and which is specifically designated as such by the General Partner.

General Partner : as defined in the preamble hereto, and any Person who becomes a successor general partner of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Act, each in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership.

General Partner Related Person : any of ( a ) the General Partner, ( b ) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ( c ) OCGH, ( d ) Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ( e ) the current and former principals, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents and representatives of any of the entities described in the foregoing clauses (a)  through (e) , and ( f ) the current and former officers of the Partnership.

Governmental Authority : any national, federal, state, county, municipal, local or other government, governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative authority (including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the New York Stock Exchange), agency or commission, or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body, whether domestic or foreign, in each case, of competent jurisdiction.

Gross Asset Value : with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

  (a) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as determined by the contributing Partner and the Partnership.

 

  (b) If and to the extent that the General Partner determines that such an adjustment is necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient, the Gross Asset Values of all assets of the Partnership shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as determined by the General Partner, immediately prior to the following events:

 

- 4 -


  (i) a Capital Contribution (other than a de minimis Capital Contribution) to the Partnership by a new or existing Partner as consideration for one or more Interests;

 

  (ii) the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for the redemption of one or more Interests; and

 

  (iii) the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g).

 

  (c) The Gross Asset Value of any Partnership property distributed to any Partner shall be the gross fair market value of such property on the date of distribution.

 

  (d) The Gross Asset Values of Partnership property shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d)  to the extent that the General Partner determines that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (b)  above is necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d) .

If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (a) , (b)  or (d)  above, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Net Profit and Net Losses.

Incentive Income : any fee, carried interest or override participation received (or to be received) by the Partnership that is derived from a Fund.

Incentive Profit and Incentive Losses : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount, determined separately for each Fund equal to the Partnership’s profit or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period relating to the Incentive Income derived from such Fund, determined in the same manner that Net Profits and Net Losses are determined (but excluding subparagraph (f)  thereof).

Incentive Sharing Percentage : as defined in Section 4.2 .

Intellectual Property : ( a ) any and all investment or trading, records, agreements or data; ( b ) any and all financial and other analytic models, records, data, methodologies or software; ( c ) any and all investment advisory contracts, fee schedules and investment performance data; ( d ) any and all investment agreements, limited partnership agreements, subscription agreements, private placement memorandums and other offering documents

 

- 5 -


and materials; ( e ) any and all client, investor or vendor lists, records or contact data; ( f ) any and all other documents, records, materials, data, trade secrets and other incidents of business carried on by any Oaktree Group Member or learned, created, developed or carried on by any employee of any Oaktree Group Member (in whatever form, including print, computer file, diskette or otherwise); and ( g ) all trade names, service marks and logos under which any Oaktree Group Member does business, and any and all combinations and variations thereof and all related logos.

Interests : a limited partner interest in the Partnership, including the right of the holder thereof to any and all benefits to which a holder may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligation of such holder to comply with all the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Interests may be common limited partner interests or preferred limited partner interests, and may be issued in different classes or series.

Investment Company Act : the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the provisions of any succeeding law.

JAMS : as defined in Section 11.1(a) .

Limited Partners : as defined in the preamble hereto, and shall include their successors and permitted assigns and any Person hereafter admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms hereof, each in their capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, and shall exclude any Person who ceases to be a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms hereof. For purposes of the Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners. The General Partner shall be deemed to be a Limited Partner to the extent the General Partner holds any Interests.

Media Company : any Person that, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or operates a broadcast radio or television station, a cable television system, or a “daily newspaper” (as such term is defined in Section 73.3555 of the FCC’s rules and regulations, as amended from time to time), a “broadband radio service,” any other communications facility operated pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Communications Act, or any other business that is subject to the FCC Rules.

Media Company Professional : a Limited Partner that provides services to the Oaktree Group and handles matters relating to Oaktree Media Companies or the Media Company business of the Partnership or Oaktree.

Media (Foreign-Restricted) Company : any Person that, directly or indirectly, owns, controls or operates a communications facility that is operated pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and is subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Communications Act.

Membership Transaction : as defined in Section 3.8 .

 

- 6 -


Net Profit or Net Loss : for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period, determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles, with the following adjustments:

 

  (a) any income for such Fiscal Year or other period of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses shall be included in computing such Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

  (b) any expenditures of the Partnership for such Fiscal Year or other period described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses, shall be subtracted in computing such Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

  (c) gain or loss for such Fiscal Year or other period resulting from any disposition of an asset of the Partnership shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the asset disposed of notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;

 

  (d) in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year or other period;

 

  (e) if the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)  or (c)  of the definition of “Gross Asset Value”, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Profits or Net Losses; provided that with respect to property first received by the Partnership in distribution from a Fund (and then, in turn, distributed by the Partnership to Partners), such adjustment shall be determined as if the asset’s starting adjusted tax basis, on the date of distribution by the Partnership, were equal to the fair market value of such asset, as determined pursuant to the limited partnership agreement (or other equivalent governing document) of such Fund, at the time such asset is distributed by such Fund to the Partnership, net of any liabilities secured by such distributed property that the Partnership or the Partners are considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752; and

 

  (f) Incentive Profits, Incentive Losses and any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 6.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses.

 

- 7 -


Non-U.S. Person : ( a ) a citizen of a country other than the United States, ( b ) an entity organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than those of the United States or any state, territory or possession of the United States, ( c ) a government other than the government of the United States or of any state, territory or possession of the United States, ( d ) a corporation of which, in the aggregate, more than 10% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by Persons described in any of clauses (a)  through (c)  above or in this clause (d) , ( e ) a general or limited partnership, or a limited liability company, of which 10% of the equity contributions or interests therein are directly or indirectly made or held by any Person described in any of clauses (a)  through (c)  above, taking into account, in calculating indirect contributions or interests in such partnership or company, that the percentage interests of a Person that is a stockholder, limited partner or member insulated in accordance with the FCC Rules relating to a Person that directly makes or holds an equity contribution or interest in such partnership or company may be multiplied by the percentage of such direct interest in such partnership or company, or ( f ) a representative of, or entity controlled by, any Person referred to in any of the foregoing clauses (a)  through (e) .

Oaktree Group : collectively, OCGH and its Affiliates.

Oaktree Group Member : each of OCGH and its Affiliates, including, for so long as it is an Affiliate of the Partnership, ( a ) the General Partner, ( b ) each OpCo, and ( c ) Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Oaktree Media Company : a Media Company in which any Oaktree Group Member, or a fund or separate account managed by any Oaktree Group Member, has an attributable interest (as defined in the FCC Rules).

OCGH : Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

OpCo : any entity in which OCGH owns an equity interest and is designated by the general partner of OCGH as an OpCo. Until such time as the General Partner designates otherwise, the OpCos shall consist of ( a ) Oaktree Capital I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( b ) Oaktree Capital II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( c ) Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ( d ) Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, ( e ) Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and ( f ) Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Partner : any Person hereafter admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner or a General Partner (as the case may be) in accordance with the terms hereof, and excluding any Person who ceases to be a Limited Partner or a General Partner (as the case may be) in accordance with the terms hereof. In the event any Partner shall have withdrawn in whole from the Partnership as provided in this Agreement, such Person shall no longer be a Partner as defined herein after such withdrawal.

Partnership : as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

- 8 -


Percentage Interest : with respect to any Partner, such Partner’s percentage ownership (measured by its, his or her percentage share of current year income other than income relating to Incentive Income) of the total Interests outstanding of the Partnership. The aggregate Percentage Interests of the Partners shall at all times total 100%.

Permitted Transfer : with respect to any Interests, a Transfer of such Interests that has been approved by the General Partner.

Person : an individual, a general partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a joint venture, a corporation, a business, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department, agency, authority, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

Prior LPA . as defined in the preamble hereto.

Protective Provisions : ( a ) the provisions applicable to a Partner under Sections 9.2 , 9.3 , 9.4 and 9.5 and ( b ) any provision contained in a Series Designation or the Supplemental Schedule that is designated as a “Protective Provision”.

Register : as defined in Section 7.1(a) .

Secretary of State : the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

Series Designation : as defined in Section 4.1(c) .

Side Letter : as defined in Section 11.3 .

Subscription Contribution . as defined in Section 5.1 .

Supplemental Schedule : the supplemental schedule on the conversion, vesting and forfeiture of Interests and related provisions, as adopted by the General Partner as of the Effective Date and amended, revised, supplemented and restated by the General Partner from time to time thereafter in accordance with its terms.

Tax Matters Partner : as defined in Section 6.12 .

Transfer : with respect to any Interests, any transaction by which a Limited Partner assigns such Interests to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange and any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

Treasury Regulations : the temporary and final regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

1.2 Interpretation . All ambiguities shall be resolved without reference to which party may have drafted this Agreement. All article or section headings or other captions in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they shall not be deemed part of this Agreement

 

- 9 -


and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ( a ) a term has the meaning assigned to it; ( b ) “or” is not exclusive; ( c ) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; ( d ) each definition herein includes the singular and the plural; ( e ) each reference herein to any gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter where appropriate; ( f ) the word “including” when used herein means “including, but not limited to,” and the word “include” when used herein means “include, without limitation”; and ( g ) references herein to specified article or section numbers refer to the specified article or section of this Agreement. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and derivative or similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The words “applicable law” and any other similar references to the law include all applicable statutes, laws (including common law), treaties, orders, rules, regulations, determinations, orders, judgments and decrees of any Governmental Authority. The abbreviation “U.S.” refers to the United States of America. All monetary amounts expressed herein by the use of the words “U.S. dollar” or “U.S. dollars” or the symbol “$” are expressed in the lawful currency of the United States of America. The words “foreign” and “domestic” shall be interpreted by reference to the United States of America.

1.3 Associated Persons . Each Limited Partner acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement were drafted with the assumption that each beneficial owner of Interests (other than the General Partner) would be a natural person who will be providing services to the Oaktree Group. Accordingly, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent any such natural person (each, an “ Associated Person ”) holds Interests through one or more entities, references herein to a Partner or former Partner shall be interpreted in good faith by the General Partner to include reference to such Associated Person to the extent necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to ensure that such entity is not treated more favorably as a Partner than such natural person would have been treated had the Interests held by such entity been held by such natural person directly and such natural person had been admitted as a Limited Partner in lieu of such entity.

1.4 Former Partners . The word “Partner” or “Limited Partner” shall be deemed to include reference to former Partners and former Limited Partners to the extent necessary or appropriate, in the good faith judgment of the General Partner to give effect to the economic intent of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, references in Article V and Article VI to “Partner” or “Limited Partner” shall be deemed to include reference to former Partners and former Limited Partners.

Article II

Organization

2.1 Formation; Continuation . The Partnership was formed as of the Formation Date under and pursuant to the provisions of the Act as a limited partnership, and in connection therewith, the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to the Act. The parties hereto hereby continue the Partnership as a limited partnership under and pursuant to the provisions of the Act and agree that the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as otherwise provided herein. Without limiting the foregoing, the

 

- 10 -


General Partner hereby continues as the general partner of the Partnership, and each Limited Partner hereby continues as a limited partner of the Partnership. The General Partner and the Limited Partners hereby amend and restate the Prior LPA and enter into this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between any term or condition contained in this Agreement and any non-mandatory provision of the Act, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall govern. A Person shall be deemed to be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner at the time ( a ) this Agreement or a joinder hereto is executed by or on behalf of such Person, and ( b ) such Person is listed by the General Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership on the Register.

2.2 Name . The name of the Partnership is “ Oaktree Fund GP III, L.P. ” The General Partner is authorized to make any variations in the Partnership’s name, and to conduct the business of the Partnership under such other names, in each case as determined by the General Partner; provided that ( a ) such name shall contain the words “Limited Partnership” or the abbreviation “L.P.” or the designation “LP” and ( b ) such name is otherwise permitted under the Act.

2.3 Delaware Registered Agent and Office . The Partnership shall maintain, pursuant to the Act, a registered office in Delaware and a registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in Delaware, such office and agent to be selected by the General Partner and to be set forth in the Certificate. Initially, ( a ) the address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808, United States of America, and ( b ) the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in Delaware shall be Corporation Service Company.

2.4 Principal Place of Business . The Partnership shall have its principal place of business at 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, United States of America, or at such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate. In addition, the Partnership may maintain such other offices as the General Partner may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient at any other place or places inside or outside of the United States of America.

2.5 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the Formation Date and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article X . Notwithstanding the expiration of such term, the legal existence of the Partnership shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate in accordance with Section 10.3 .

2.6 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year (the “ Fiscal Year ”) of the Partnership for accounting and income tax purposes shall be the calendar year; provided that ( a ) the first Fiscal Year shall be the portion of the calendar year beginning on the Formation Date and ending on December 31, 2008, and ( b ) the Fiscal Year in which the Partnership is terminated in accordance with Article X shall be the portion of the calendar year ending on the date on which the Partnership is terminated.

2.7 Title to Partnership Property . Legal title to all of the Partnership’s property shall be held in such manner as the General Partner determines to be in the best interests

 

- 11 -


of the Partnership. Each Limited Partner acknowledges and agrees that the manner of holding title to Partnership property is solely for the convenience of the Partnership, and, accordingly, neither the Partners nor their legal representatives, beneficiaries, distributees, successors or assignees shall have any right, title or interest in or to any such Partnership property by reason of the manner in which title is held, but all such property shall be treated as Partnership property subject to the terms of this Agreement.

Article III

The Partnership

3.1 Purpose and Scope of Business; Powers . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the purposes of the Partnership shall be to ( a ) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, any business, purpose or activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, ( b ) acquire, hold and dispose of interests in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity (including equity interests in entities that serve as the general partner of the Funds) and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership with respect to its interests therein, and ( c ) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, all other lawful activities determined by the General Partner to be necessary, appropriate, advisable, convenient or incidental to, or otherwise in furtherance of, any of the foregoing. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Partnership shall have the power to do any and all acts necessary, appropriate, advisable, convenient or incidental to, or otherwise in furtherance of, the purposes and business of the Partnership described herein, and shall have, without limitation, any and all of the powers that may be exercised on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner pursuant to Section 3.2 .

3.2 Powers of the General Partner . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the power to manage, operate and establish the policies of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner, and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership to carry out, delegate or appoint to one or more other Persons (including any partner of the General Partner) any and all objects and purposes of the Partnership and to perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection therewith or incidental thereto. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in construing the provisions of this Agreement, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the General Partner. Such powers of the General Partner may be exercised without order of, or resort to, any Governmental Authority, except to the extent required by applicable law. In dealing with the General Partner and its duly appointed agents, no Person shall be required to inquire as to the General Partner’s or any such agent’s authority to bind the Partnership.

3.3 Powers of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner, as such, shall take part in or interfere in any manner with the management, conduct or control of the business or affairs of the Partnership, or have any right or authority to enter into any letter, contract, agreement, deed, instrument or document whatsoever on behalf of the Partnership, or otherwise act for or

 

- 12 -


bind the Partnership. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, no Limited Partner shall have the right or power to bring an action for partition against the Partnership or cause the termination and dissolution of the Partnership, except as set forth in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement does not grant any Limited Partner any rights as a partner of any Fund or any ability to direct any entity which controls such Fund.

3.4 Officers . The General Partner may, from time to time, designate one or more Persons to be officers of the Partnership, with such titles as the General Partner may assign to such Persons. Officers so designated shall have such authority and perform such duties of the General Partner hereunder as the General Partner may, from time to time, delegate to them. Any number of offices and other positions may be held by the same Person. No Person shall receive any salary or other compensation from the Partnership for his service as an officer of the Partnership. Any officer of the Partnership may resign as such at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at the time of receipt of notice of resignation by the General Partner. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation. Any officer of the Partnership may be removed as such, either with or without cause, by the General Partner. Each officer of the Partnership shall serve as such until his resignation, removal, death or disability.

3.5 Media Company Provisions .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Limited Partner (and no officer, director, partner, member or equivalent official of a Limited Partner) other than a Media Company Professional shall:

 

  (i) act as an employee of the Partnership if such Person’s functions, directly or indirectly, relate to an Oaktree Media Company or to the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member;

 

  (ii) serve, in any material capacity, as an independent contractor or agent of an Oaktree Media Company or of the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member;

 

  (iii) communicate on matters pertaining to the day-to-day operations of an Oaktree Media Company, or the day-to-day Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, with ( A ) an officer, director, partner, member, agent, representative or employee of such Oaktree Media Company or ( B ) the General Partner;

 

  (iv)

perform any services for an Oaktree Media Company or relating to the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member, with the exception of making loans to, or acting as surety for, an Oaktree Media Company; provided that the amount of any such loan, plus any interest of such Limited Partner

 

- 13 -


  in an Oaktree Media Company, shall not exceed 33% of the total assets of such Oaktree Media Company, as defined by and in accordance with the FCC’s “equity/debt plus” rule; or

 

  (v) become actively involved in the management or operation of an Oaktree Media Company or of the Media Company business of the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member.

(b) To ensure that the Partnership has the ability to make investments, directly or indirectly, in media and wireless communications services companies, or investments in Oaktree Group Members (which may manage or control Funds which in turn invest in media and wireless communications services companies), in each case consistent with the requirements of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules, each Limited Partner shall use reasonable efforts to provide the General Partner, promptly upon request, the following information:

 

  (i) information regarding the percentage of its, his or her equity securities owned, controlled or voted by Non-U.S. Persons, and the number and percentage of its, his or her partners or members that are Non-U.S. Persons;

 

  (ii) all other non-confidential information that the General Partner requires to make necessary filings with, or other submissions to, the FCC; and

 

  (iii) all other non-confidential information that the General Partner reasonably deems necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to enable the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member to make, manage and dispose of investments in compliance with this Agreement and applicable FCC Rules.

In addition, no Limited Partner shall take any action that such Limited Partner knows would cause a violation by the Partnership of the Communications Act or the FCC Rules.

(c) Each Limited Partner that becomes, or will or may become, a Non-U.S. Person as a result of a change in citizenship, change in control or reorganization of such Limited Partner shall provide notice of such event to the General Partner or Oaktree at least thirty calendar days prior to the effective time of such change in citizenship, change of control or reorganization. In the case of the withdrawal, resignation, departure, termination, change in citizenship, change in control or reorganization of any Limited Partner that is not a Non-U.S. Person and that has the effect of causing the total Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners that are Non-U.S. Persons to exceed 24.99%, then such Limited Partner shall take such commercially reasonable actions as the General Partner deems reasonably necessary to cause total Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners that are Non-U.S. Persons to not exceed 24.99%.

3.6 Meetings and Voting . For situations in which the approval of the Limited Partners is expressly required by applicable law or under this Agreement, the Limited Partners

 

- 14 -


shall act through meetings and written consents as described in this Section 3.6 . The actions by the Limited Partners permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the General Partner on at least five calendar days’ prior written notice to the Limited Partners, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. Partners may participate in a meeting of the Partnership through the use of conference telephones or similar communications equipment so long as all Partners participating in the meeting can hear one another. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.6 constitutes presence in person at such meeting and waiver of any requirement for notice of such meeting. Alternatively, the actions by the Limited Partners permitted hereunder may be taken by written consent (without a meeting and without a vote) so long as such written consent is signed by the Limited Partners as would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which the Partners entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Limited Partners at a meeting thereof.

3.7 Admissions and Withdrawals . No Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a partner of the Partnership, except for ( a ) the General Partner, who shall be deemed to have been admitted as the general partner of the Partnership as of the Formation Date, ( b ) the Persons who were admitted as Limited Partners as of the Formation Date, and ( c ) additional Limited Partners admitted in accordance with Section 4.1 and substitute Limited Partners admitted in accordance with Section 4.4 . No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw from being a partner of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner; provided that each Person who is a Limited Partner shall immediately and automatically cease to be a Limited Partner at the time such Person ceases to be the record holder of any Interests.

3.8 Conditions to Membership Transactions . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Interests shall be issued to any Person, no Interests shall be Transferred to any Person, no Person shall be admitted as a Limited Partner (whether as a result of any such issuance or Transfer or otherwise and whether as an additional Limited Partner, a substitute Limited Partner or otherwise), and no Interests shall be redeemed by the Partnership from any Person (each, a “ Membership Transaction ”), unless such Membership Transaction satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

(a) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to result in the violation by the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person of any applicable law, including any applicable U.S. federal or state or foreign securities laws;

(b) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of any jurisdiction;

(c) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent no already so treated or taxed);

 

- 15 -


(d) such Membership Transaction would not reasonably be expected to subject the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Oaktree Group Member or General Partner Related Person to any material regulatory requirement that it, he or she otherwise would not be subject, including any requirement that the Partnership register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or as a result of all or any portion of the Partnership’s assets becoming or being deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA; and

(e) such other conditions as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient or otherwise in the best interests of the Partnership.

3.9 Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint each of the Partnership, the General Partner, their respective authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, and the members of the General Partner, with full power of substitution, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of such Limited Partner, to execute, acknowledge, verify, swear to, deliver, record and file, in its, his or her or its, his or her assignee’s name, place and stead, all instruments, documents and certificates which may from time to time be required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the State of California, any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to effectuate, implement and continue the valid existence and business of the Partnership, including the power and authority to execute, verify, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, record and file:

(a) any and all instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to form, qualify or continue the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business;

(b) any and all instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to reflect and effect the dissolution and termination of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(c) any and all instruments, documents and certificates which the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to reflect and effect the admission, withdrawal, substitution or removal of any Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(d) any and all instruments, documents and certificates relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Interests issued pursuant to Section 4.1 ;

(e) any and all amendments to this Agreement duly adopted in accordance with Section 11.5 ;

(f) any and all certificates of assumed name and such other certificates and instruments that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or

 

- 16 -


convenient under the fictitious or assumed name statutes from time to time in effect in all jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business;

(g) any and all filings with any Governmental Authority that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and the business of the Partnership; and

(h) any and all other instruments that the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with the proper conduct of the business of the Oaktree Group and which do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Limited Partners.

This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent disability or incapacity of the General Partner. This power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable and shall survive and not be affected by the death, disability, incompetence, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination or legal incapacity of any Limited Partner and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s successors, assigns and personal representatives (within the meaning of Section 17-101(15) of the Act). This power of attorney may be exercised by such attorney-in-fact and agent for all Limited Partners (or any of them) by a single signature of the General Partner acting as attorney-in-fact with or without listing all of the Limited Partners executing an instrument. Any Person dealing with the Partnership may conclusively presume and rely upon the fact that any instrument referred to above, executed by such attorney-in-fact and agent, is authorized, regular and binding, without further inquiry. Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver to the General Partner, within fifteen calendar days after receipt of any request therefor, such further designations, powers of attorney and other instruments, documents and certificates that the General Partner may deem necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

3.10 Additional Documents and Acts . Each Limited Partner agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and the actions contemplated hereby.

Article IV

Interests

4.1 Interests .

(a) As of the Effective Date, all of the outstanding equity interests in the Partnership are owned of record, directly or indirectly, solely by the Persons identified in the books and records of the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership may issue any number of Interests, and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests, for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration (which may be cash, property, services or any other lawful consideration) or for no consideration and on such

 

- 17 -


terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partner.

(c) Interests authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.1(b) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers, duties, restrictions and conditions (which may be junior to, equivalent to or senior or superior to any existing classes or series of Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner and may be reflected in a designation certificate approved by the General Partner (each, a “ Series Designation ”) or otherwise in the books and records of the Partnership, including ( i ) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; ( ii ) the right to share in Partnership distributions, the dates distributions will be payable and whether distributions with respect to such class or series will be cumulative or non-cumulative; ( iii ) rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; ( iv ) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may redeem such Interests (including sinking fund provisions); ( v ) whether such Interests are issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; ( vi ) the terms and conditions upon which such Interests will be issued, including restrictions on assignment and transfer and whether such Interests will be evidenced by certificates; ( vii ) the method for determining the Percentage Interest, if any, applicable to such Interests; ( viii ) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Partnership to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership, and ( ix ) the extent to which such Interests participate in Incentive Income derived from a particular Fund or group of Funds (an “ Associated Fund ”).

(d) The General Partner is hereby authorized to take all actions that it determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with ( i ) each issuance of Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests pursuant to this Section 4.1 , including the admission of the holders thereof as Limited Partners in connection therewith and any related amendment of this Agreement, and ( ii ) all additional issuances of Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Interests being so issued. The General Partner is authorized to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to such Interests, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any Governmental Authority or any securities market on which Interests or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Interests are listed for trading.

(e) No Interests shall be issued to any Person unless such issuance satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

 

  (i) all conditions to such issuance and the admission of the recipient of such Interests as an additional Limited Partner that are required to be satisfied under Section 3.8 have been satisfied (except to the extent any such condition is waived by the General Partner); and

 

- 18 -


  (ii) the General Partner has received such written instruments, in form and substance (including containing such representations and warranties as are) reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner, as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with such issuance and admission, including an instrument of joinder evidencing the consent of the recipient of such Interests to be bound by this Agreement.

The recipient of Interests pursuant to an issuance of such Interests in compliance with this Section 4.1 shall be admitted as an additional Limited Partner with respect to such Interests upon the consummation of such issuance. Any issuance of Interests or admission to the Partnership of any additional Limited Partner in violation of this Section 4.1 shall be null and void ab initio , shall not be recorded on the books of the Partnership, and shall not be recognized by the Partnership, in each case, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

4.2 Incentive Income . The Partnership shall maintain, in accordance with this Section 4.2 , books and records reflecting, for each Partner, a sharing percentage in the Incentive Income derived from each Fund (a “ Incentive Sharing Percentage ”). In connection with any change in the number or composition of Interests outstanding or the ownership thereof, including in connection with any Membership Transaction and such other events that would cause a change in the Percentage Interests of the Partners, the Incentive Sharing Percentage of each Partner shall be adjusted in such a manner as the General Partner determines to be consistent with the Partners’ respective economic interests in the Incentive Income, taking into account such change and the terms and conditions of such Interests. All determinations of Incentive Sharing Percentages shall be made on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and thus it may be possible for a Partner to have an Incentive Sharing Percentage with respect to some Funds but not others.

4.3 Supplemental Schedule . Except as may be otherwise expressly provided in a written agreement between a Limited Partner and the Partnership or in the Series Designation of any particular series of Interests, ( a ) all Interests issued on or prior to the Effective Date shall be subject to the Supplemental Schedule in effect as of the Effective Date, and ( b ) all Interests issued after the Effective Date shall be subject to the Supplemental Schedule in effect at the time of such issuance.

4.4 Transfer of Interests . No Limited Partner may Transfer all or any portion of its, his or her Interests in any manner whatsoever to another Person (an “ Assignee ”), unless such Transfer satisfies each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived by the General Partner):

(a) such Transfer is a Permitted Transfer;

(b) all conditions to such Transfer and the admission of the transferee as a substitute Limited Partner that are required to be satisfied under Section 3.8 have been satisfied (except to the extent any such condition is waived by the General Partner); and

 

- 19 -


(c) the General Partner has received such written instruments, in form and substance (including containing such representations and warranties as are) reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner, as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient in connection with such Transfer and admission, including an instrument of Transfer evidencing such Transfer and an instrument of joinder evidencing such transferee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement.

The transferee of any Interests pursuant to a Transfer in compliance with this Section 4.4 shall be admitted as a substitute Limited Partner with respect to such Interests upon the consummation of such Transfer. The Transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner upon the occurrence of both the transfer of all of its, his or her Interests to an Assignee and the admission to the Partnership of such Assignee as a substitute Limited Partner. Any Transfer or admission to the Partnership of any substitute Limited Partner in violation of this Section 4.4 shall be null and void ab initio , shall not be recorded on the books of the Partnership and shall not be recognized by the Partnership, in each case, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

4.5 Effects of Transfer . Any Partner who transfers any Interests in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement shall cease to be a Partner with respect to such Interests and shall no longer have any rights or privileges of a Partner with respect to such Interests. Any Person (including any Assignee) who acquires in any manner whatsoever any Interests, irrespective of whether such Person has executed a counterpart to this Agreement, shall be deemed by the acceptance of the benefits of the acquisition thereof to have agreed to be subject to and bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement that any predecessor in such Interests was subject to or by which such predecessor was bound, regardless of whether such Person is admitted as a substitute Limited Partner. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Person (other than the General Partner) who acquires in any manner whatsoever any Interests of the General Partner shall not be deemed to have received a general partner interest in the Partnership, and shall be deemed instead to have received a limited partner interest in the Partnership, and shall not be admitted as a general partner of the Partnership, and shall instead be deemed to be an Assignee who may be admitted as a substitute Limited Partner pursuant to Section 4.4 .

4.6 Limited Rights of Assignees . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, an Assignee who is not admitted as a substitute Limited Partner in accordance with Section 4.4 shall have no right to any information or accounting of the affairs of the Partnership, shall not be entitled to inspect the books or records of the Partnership and shall not have any of the rights of a general partner of the Partnership or a limited partner of the Partnership under the Act or this Agreement. Instead, the Interests transferred to such Assignee shall represent only a non-voting economic right to receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Limited Partner which transferred its, his or her Interests would be entitled. In the event any Assignee desires to make a further assignment of any Interests, such Assignee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent and in the same manner as the Limited Partner who initially held such Interests.

4.7 Designation of Beneficiaries . With the consent of the General Partner, a Limited Partner who is a natural person may designate in writing, on forms prescribed by and

 

- 20 -


filed with the Partnership, one or more beneficiaries to receive any payments to which such Limited Partner is entitled and payable after such Limited Partner’s death; provided that such beneficiary shall not be substituted for such Limited Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership. Any such Limited Partner may at any time amend or revoke any such designation made by such Limited Partner; provided that if such Limited Partner is married and designates a person other than his or her spouse as a beneficiary, then his or her spouse must sign a statement specifically approving such designation. Any distributions and payments to which such a Limited Partner would be entitled by virtue of this Agreement while alive will be distributed and paid, following the death of such Limited Partner, to his or her designated beneficiary under this Section 4.7 . If no beneficiary designation under this Section 4.7 is in effect at the time of death, or in the absence of a spouse’s approval as provided in this Section 4.7 , distributions and payments to which a Limited Partner is entitled hereunder shall be made to such Limited Partner’s personal representative (within the meaning of Section 17-101(15) of the Act).

Article V

Capital Contributions; Capital Accounts

5.1 Capital Contributions . Each Partner’s initial Capital Contribution (if any) is set forth on the books and records of the Partnership. No Partner shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership, except as otherwise agreed between such Partner and the General Partner. For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner may require Capital Contributions from any Limited Partner as a condition to such Limited Partner’s subscription for any class or series of Interests (such Capital Contribution, a “ Subscription Contribution ”).

5.2 Capital Accounts . There shall be established on the books and records of the Partnership a capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) for each Partner, which shall be maintained in accordance with Code Section 704(b) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and such other provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) that must be complied with in order for the Capital Accounts to be determined in accordance with the provisions of such Treasury Regulations. Specifically:

(a) each Partner’s Capital Account shall be increased by ( i ) the total Capital Contributions made by such Partner, and ( ii ) the Net Profits, Incentive Profits and any other items of income and gain allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article VI ; and

(b) each Partner’s Capital Account shall be decreased by ( i ) the total cash distributions to such Partner, ( ii ) the Gross Asset Value of property distributed in kind to such Partner, net of liabilities secured by such property that such Partner is deemed to assume or take subject to under Code Section 752, and ( iii ) the Net Losses, Incentive Losses and any other items of loss or deduction allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article VI .

 

- 21 -


In the event any Interests are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent that it relates to the Transferred Interests.

5.3 No Priorities of Partners . Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, ( a ) no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to the return of the amount of its, his or her Capital Contributions or as to income of the Partnership, ( b ) no Partner shall be entitled to demand or receive a return of or interest on its, his or her Capital Contributions or Capital Account, and ( c ) no Partner shall withdraw any portion of its, his or her Capital Contributions or receive any distributions from the Partnership as a return of capital on account of such Capital Contributions. Without limiting the foregoing, each Limited Partner acknowledges that such Limited Partner is not entitled to receive any distribution pursuant to Section 17-604 of the Act in connection with the withdrawal of such Limited Partner from the Partnership.

Article VI

Allocations; Distributions

6.1 Allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses and Other Items .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article VI:

 

  (i) All Incentive Profits and Incentive Losses, as well as any tax credits and other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that relate to Incentive Income, for each Fiscal Year or other period shall be allocated among the Partners in proportion to their respective Incentive Sharing Percentages with respect to such Incentive Income.

 

  (ii) All Net Profits and Net Losses, as well as any tax credits or other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that do not relate to Incentive Income, for each Fiscal Year or other period shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.1 to the contrary, the General Partner may cause special allocations of (i) Incentive Profits and Incentive Losses, as well as any tax credits and other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that relate to Incentive Income, and (ii) Net Profits and Net Losses, as well as any tax credits or other items of income, gain, loss or deduction that do not relate to Incentive Income to be made, in each case, in such amounts and in such manner as the General Partner determines from time to time to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient to effectuate the economic benefit intended to be conferred upon any Limited Partner, or any set or subset of Limited Partners, under the Interests held by such Limited Partner or Limited Partners.

 

- 22 -


6.2 Regulatory and Tax Allocations . Notwithstanding Section 6.1 , items of income and gain shall be allocated to the Partners in a manner that complies with the “qualified income offset” requirement of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(3). To the extent permitted pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2, nonrecourse deductions (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2) of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests. If there is a net decrease in the Partnership’s partnership minimum gain or partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2), then the Partners shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain in a manner that complies with the “minimum gain chargeback” requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2. For purposes of determining the Partner’s shares of excess nonrecourse deductions (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)), the Partner’s respective interests in Partnership profits shall be deemed equal to their respective Percentage Interests. Allocations of tax items shall in all events be made in a manner that is consistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and Code Section 704(c). Notwithstanding anything in this Article VI to the contrary, the General Partner may make such allocations for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it deems reasonably necessary to give economic effect to the provisions of this Agreement, taking into account such facts and circumstances as it deems reasonably necessary for these purposes.

6.3 Distributions . Subject to applicable law and the limitations contained in Section 6.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the Partnership shall from time to time distribute Available Cash, in each case, at such times and in such amounts as determined by the General Partner. If the Partnership decides to distribute property, the property shall be divided into separate interests to the extent practicable in accordance with the Partners’ respective shares in the distribution thereof. If such property cannot practicably be so divided, then undivided interests therein shall be distributed to the Partners. During each Fiscal Year or other period, all distributions shall be made to the Partners pro rata in proportion to their Percentage Interests for such Fiscal Year or period (with any distribution of property being taken into account at the amount described in Section 5.2(b)(ii) ); provided that distributions relating to Incentive Income shall be made to those Partners who have an interest in such Incentive Income pro rata in proportion to such interests, as determined by the General Partner on a Fund-by-Fund basis.

6.4 Restriction on Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no distribution to any Partner shall be made ( a ) if such distribution would violate the Act or other applicable law or ( b ) if, after giving effect to the distribution, ( i ) the Partnership would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business, ( ii ) such Partner’s Capital Account would be negative by an amount greater than the amount such Partner would be required to restore pursuant to Section 6.5 , or ( iii ) the Partnership’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus, unless this Agreement provides otherwise, the amount that would be needed, if the Partnership were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights of other Partners, if any, upon dissolution that are superior to the rights of the Partner receiving the distribution. The General Partner may base a determination that a distribution is not prohibited pursuant to Section 6.4(b) on ( x ) financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable under the circumstances, ( y ) a fair valuation or ( z ) any other method that is reasonable under the circumstances; provided that the determination under Section 6.4(b)(ii)

 

- 23 -


whether a Partner’s Capital Account will be negative shall be based on the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets. Except as provided in Section 17-607(b) of the Act, the effect of a distribution is measured as of the date the distribution is authorized if the payment occurs within 120 calendar days after the date of authorization, or the date payment is made if it occurs more than 120 calendar days after the date of authorization.

6.5 Return of Advances and Distributions .

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, all distributions made during a Fiscal Year shall be treated as advances to the Partners until it is determined that the amounts advanced to each Partner were properly computed pursuant to this Section 6.5 and that such distributions were permissible under this Article VI . Such determination shall be made by the following March 31 by the Partnership’s auditors (or such later date to the extent the Partnership’s auditors are unable to make such determination by such March 31). Any additional distributions due to a Partner as the result of such determination shall be paid to it, him or her without interest before any other distributions are made. Following such determination by the Partnership’s auditors, any excess advances made to a Partner shall be repaid without interest within 60 calendar days following such determination unless the General Partner determines otherwise. Except for distributions made in violation of the Act or this Agreement, and except as provided in this Section 6.5 , no Partner shall be obligated to return any distribution to the Partnership or pay the amount of any distribution for the account of the Partnership or to any creditor of the Partnership. In the event an amount of a distribution is returned to the Partnership by a Partner or is paid by a Partner for the account of the Partnership or to a creditor of the Partnership, such amount shall be added to the Partner’s Capital Account.

(b) In the event any Oaktree Group Member is required to return to any Fund any Incentive Income (a “ Clawback ”), each Partner who received any distribution hereunder with respect thereto shall return to the Partnership promptly upon request by the General Partner, any distributions received by such Partner with respect thereto, and the Partnership shall be entitled to withhold future distributions to such Partner, equal to such Partner’s pro rata share of such Clawback, as determined by the General Partner in good faith; provided that such Partner’s liability for such Clawback shall not exceed the total amount of distributions that such Partner has received or is entitled to with respect to such Incentive Income. For the avoidance of doubt, each Partner’s obligations under this Section 6.5(b) shall survive the withdrawal of such Partner from the Partnership.

6.6 Allocations in Case of Adjustments in Percentage Interests . Except as provided for in this Section 6.6 and Section 6.1(b) , Net Profits, Net Losses and similar items allocable to Partners whose Percentage Interests have changed during a Fiscal Year shall be allocated among such Partners either ( a ) ratably on a daily basis or ( b ) under any reasonable basis that is permitted under Code Section 706 and the underlying Treasury Regulations. Depreciation, amortization and similar items, under either method of allocation, shall accrue ratably on a daily basis over the entire period during which the corresponding asset is owned by the Partnership for the entire Fiscal Year, and over the portion of a Fiscal Year after such asset is placed in service by the Partnership if such asset is placed in service during the Fiscal Year.

 

- 24 -


6.7 Tax Distributions . If any Partner’s Annual Partnership Tax Liability exceeds the aggregate amounts distributed to such Partner with respect to a Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 6.3 and this Section 6.7 , amounts shall be distributed by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 6.7 to the Partners in proportion to the amount of such excess with respect to each Partner until each Partner has received an aggregate amount under Section 6.3 and this Section 6.7 for such Fiscal Year equal to its, his or her Annual Partnership Tax Liability. To the extent any such excess is anticipated with respect to a Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall make distributions under this Section 6.7 quarterly based on the expected estimated tax liabilities of each Partner for the relevant quarter as reasonably determined by the General Partner, and within ninety days after the end of a Fiscal Year based on each Partner’s Annual Partnership Tax Liability for such Fiscal Year. For purposes of Section 6.3 , the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion, shall determine what portion (if any) of a distribution pursuant to this Section 6.7 to treat as a distribution of Incentive Income. Any amount distributed to a Partner pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be treated as an advance against amounts distributable to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3 .

6.8 Return of Certain Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise determined by the General Partner, if a Limited Partner makes a Subscription Contribution, then the General Partner shall, promptly after the General Partner believes it is able to make the determination contemplated by this sentence with reasonable certainty, but no later than the final liquidation of the Associated Fund to which such Subscription Contribution relates, determine the extent (if any) to which the aggregate net distributions received (or to be received) by the Partnership (other than distributions of Incentive Income) that are derived from such Associated Fund exceeds (or would exceed) the amount equal to ( x ) the aggregate capital directly or indirectly invested by the Partnership in such Associated Fund net of ( y ) the aggregate Subscription Contributions made by Limited Partners in respect of such Associated Fund (taking into account any distributions that the General Partner believes are reasonably certain to be returned or contributed to such Associated Fund pursuant to any clawback or other obligation). In the event of any such excess, the Partnership shall distribute to such Limited Partner an amount equal to the lesser of ( a ) such Subscription Contribution or ( b ) such Limited Partner’s pro rata share (as determined in good faith by the General Partner taking into account the aggregate Subscription Contributions made by Limited Partners in respect of such Associated Fund) of such excess. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate distributions receivable by any Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 6.8 shall not exceed such Limited Partner’s aggregate Subscription Contributions in respect of the Associated Fund from which such distributions are derived. Except as provided in this Section 6.8 or otherwise determined by the General Partner, no Limited Partner shall be entitled to any return of, or other distributions with respect to, its, his or her Subscription Contributions.

6.9 Withholding . The Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions to a Partner, or with respect to allocations to a Partner, and to pay over to any Governmental Authority, any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law. In addition, the Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions to a Partner, or with respect to a Partner, and to pay over to any Oaktree Group Member, any amounts owed by such Partner to such Oaktree Group Member. Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall be treated as distributed to such Partner pursuant to this Article VI for all purposes of this Agreement, and, if withheld from amounts

 

- 25 -


allocated but not distributed, shall be offset against the next amounts otherwise distributable to such Partner.

6.10 Acknowledgment . Each Limited Partner acknowledges that it, he or she is aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article VI and agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Article VI in reporting its, his or her shares of Net Profits, Net Losses, and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes and any applicable foreign tax purposes.

6.11 Partnership Classification for Tax Purposes . Each Partner recognizes, agrees and intends that, for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, the Partnership shall be classified as a partnership. The General Partner shall not permit the Partnership to elect, and the Partnership shall not elect, to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(a) or under any corresponding provision of state or local law.

6.12 Tax Matters . The General Partner and the Limited Partners shall take all necessary steps, including amending the Certificate and this Agreement, to cause the Partnership to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal and California state tax purposes. A former Partner shall be treated as a partner for U.S. federal and California state tax purposes with respect to only his receipt of distributions pursuant to Sections 6.3 and 10.2 and allocations corresponding thereto. The Partnership shall determine whether any non-Partner transferee of the right to receive any payments from the Partnership shall be treated as a partner for U.S. federal and California tax purposes. The General Partner shall from time to time cause the Partnership to make such tax elections as it determines to be in the best interests of the Partnership and the Limited Partners; provided that each Limited Partner acknowledges that an election pursuant to Code Section 754 has been made by the Partnership. The tax matters partner, as defined in Code Section 6231 (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”), shall represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting judicial and administrative proceedings, and shall expend the Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. The Tax Matters Partner shall oversee the Partnership tax affairs in the overall best interests of the Partnership. The General Partner is hereby designated as the initial Tax Matters Partner. If for any reason the Tax Matters Partner can no longer serve in that capacity or ceases to be a Partner, the General Partner may designate another Partner (with such Partner’s consent) to be Tax Matters Partner.

6.13 No Representations as to Tax Treatment . Neither the Partnership, nor the General Partner, nor any other Oaktree Group Member makes any representation (and shall not be liable to any Limited Partner) as to the tax treatment of allocations or distributions with respect to any Interests under applicable U.S. federal, state or local or foreign tax laws.

Article VII

Books and Records; Reports to Partners

 

- 26 -


7.1 Books and Records . The books and records of the Partnership shall be kept, and the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, in accordance with the accounting methods followed for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The books and records of the Partnership shall reflect all the Partnership transactions and shall be appropriate and adequate for the Partnership’s business. The Partnership shall maintain at its principal office all of the following:

(a) a current list of the full name and last known business or residence address of each Partner, and such Partner’s Percentage Interest and Incentive Sharing Percentages (such list, the “ Register ”), along with other information required by this Agreement to be maintained on the Register;

(b) a copy of the Certificate and any and all amendments thereto together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate or any amendments thereto have been executed; and

(c) such other books and records as the Partnership is required by applicable law to maintain or as the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient.

The books and records of the Partnership shall be maintained in such form as the General Partner determines to be appropriate, including in physical or electronic form and one or more spreadsheets, ledgers, tables or schedules, all of which, when taken together, shall constitute the books and records of the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, the Register shall be part of the books and records of the Partnership.

7.2 Access to and Confidentiality of Information and Records .

(a) Subject to Section 7.2(b) , each Limited Partner shall have the right to obtain from the General Partner during regular business hours upon reasonable demand, at such Limited Partner’s expense and for any purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner, the information described in subparagraphs (1) through (6) of Section 17-305(a) of the Act.

(b) The General Partner shall have the right to keep confidential from each Limited Partner for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, any information which the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information, the disclosure of which the General Partner believes in good faith is not in the best interest of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business or which the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with a third party to keep confidential.

7.3 Bank Accounts . The Partnership shall maintain its funds in one or more separate bank accounts in the name of the Partnership, and shall not permit the funds of the Partnership to be commingled in any fashion with the funds of any other Person.

 

- 27 -


Article VIII

Limitations on Liability; Indemnification

8.1 Limitations on Liability .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for:

 

  (i) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(ii) and 8.1(a)(iii) , any act or omission, or any alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, by such General Partner Related Person in connection with the Oaktree Group, including with respect to activities by such General Partner Related Person taken on behalf of any Oaktree Group Member in furtherance of the business of the Oaktree Group (including the business of the Partnership), or otherwise relating to or arising out of this Agreement, in each case, unless such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final nonappealable judgment, or by an arbitrator of competent jurisdiction appointed pursuant to Section 11.1 , to constitute Disabling Conduct on the part of such General Partner Related Person;

 

  (ii) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(i) and 8.1(a)(iii) , any action or omission, or alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, by any Partner (other than, in the case such General Partner Related Person is itself also a Limited Partner, such General Partner Related Person’s own acts and omissions in its capacity as a Limited Partner), regardless of whether such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, constitutes Disabling Conduct; or

 

  (iii) without limiting Sections 8.1(a)(i) and 8.1(a)(ii) , any act or omission, or alleged act or omission, including any actual or alleged mistake of fact or judgment, of any employee, broker or other agent or representative of any Oaktree Group Member (other than, in the case such General Partner Related Person is itself such an employee, broker, agent or representative, such General Partner Related Person’s own acts and omissions), regardless of whether such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, constitutes Disabling Conduct.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that, at law or in equity, any General Partner Related Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner, no General

 

- 28 -


Partner Related Person acting under this Agreement shall be liable to the Partnership or such Limited Partner for its, his or her good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement, and the activities of any General Partner Related Person expressly authorized by this Article VIII or any other provision of this Agreement may be engaged in by such General Partner Related Person and shall not, in any case or in the aggregate, be deemed a breach of this Agreement or any duty that might be owed by any such Person to the Partnership or to any Limited Partner. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they modify, restrict or eliminate the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of any General Partner Related Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Person.

(b) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall have any personal liability to the Partnership or any Limited Partner solely by reason of any change in U.S. federal, state or local or foreign income tax laws, or in interpretations thereof, as they apply to the Partnership or the Limited Partners, regardless of whether the change occurs through legislative, judicial or administrative action.

(c) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or an opinion of counsel reasonably selected by such General Partner Related Person with respect to legal matters.

(d) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ( i ) no General Partner Related Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for acting in reliance on any signature or writing believed in good faith by such General Partner Related Person to be genuine, and ( ii ) each General Partner Related Person may rely on a certificate signed by an officer of any Person in order to ascertain any fact with respect to such Person or within such Person’s knowledge.

(e) Without limiting Section 8.1(a) , each General Partner Related Person may consult with appraisers, engineers, contractors, accountants and other skilled Persons of its, his or her choosing, on behalf of the Partnership or in furtherance of the business of the Partnership and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Partnership or any Limited Partner for ( i ) anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith reliance upon the advice of any of such skilled Person, or ( ii ) any act or omission, including any mistake of fact or judgment, of any skilled Person.

The provisions of this Section 8.1 are intended and shall be interpreted as only limiting the liability of a General Partner Related Person and not as in any way expanding such Person’s liability.

8.2 Indemnification by the Partnership .

 

- 29 -


(a) The Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each General Partner Related Person from and against any loss, cost or expense suffered or sustained by it, him or her by reason of any acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions arising out of or in connection with the Partnership, or this Agreement, including any judgment, award, settlement, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding, or claim, in each case, unless such act or omission, or alleged act or omission, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final nonappealable judgment, or by an arbitrator of competent jurisdiction appointed pursuant to Section 11.1 , to constitute Disabling Conduct on the part of such General Partner Related Person. The termination of any action, proceeding or claim by settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions were made in bad faith or constituted Disabling Conduct on the part of any General Partner Related Person.

(b) Expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by a General Partner Related Person in defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding, or claim that may be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder may, as determined by the General Partner, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition thereof upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such General Partner Related Person to repay the amount advanced to the extent that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such General Partner Related Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

(c) The right of any General Partner Related Person to the indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative of, and in addition to, any and all rights to which such General Partner Related Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall be extended to such General Partner Related Person’s successors, assigns and legal representatives. Any judgments against the Partnership and the General Partner in respect of which any General Partner Related Person is entitled to indemnification shall first be satisfied from the Partnership property before the General Partner shall be responsible therefor.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 8.2 shall not be construed so as to provide for the indemnification of any General Partner Related Person for any liability (including liability under U.S. federal securities laws which, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons that act in good faith), to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of this Section 8.2 to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Article IX

Certain Covenants

 

- 30 -


9.1 Certain Acknowledgments . Each Partner (the “ Acknowledging Partner ”) hereby acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) the business of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group is of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and specialized character;

(b) each Partner has contributed valuable consideration to the Partnership or its predecessor in exchange for such Partner’s interest in the Partnership;

(c) any damage to the business and goodwill of the Partnership would diminish the value of each Partner’s interest in the Partnership (including the value of the Acknowledging Partner’s Interests);

(d) the Partnership and the Oaktree Group possess and will continue to possess information that has been created, discovered or developed by, or otherwise become known to them (including information created, discovered or developed by, or made known to, Partners who have provided services to the Oaktree Group), which information has commercial value in the business in which the Oaktree Group is engaged and is treated by the Partnership and Oaktree Group as confidential information, as a trade secret, as intellectual property or as proprietary information;

(e) the Protective Provisions are ( i ) in anticipation of, ( ii ) reasonable in all respects, and ( iii ) necessary to protect the goodwill, business, confidential information, trade secrets, intellectual property or any other proprietary information of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group, as well as to protect the value of each Partner’s interest in the Partnership, in each case, from the irreparable damage that could be caused to each of them by a Partner upon or after such Partner’s disassociation from the Partnership;

(f) the Acknowledging Partner desires to further the long-term success of the Partnership and the Oaktree Group, including because such success is expected to enhance the value of its, his or her own interests in the Partnership;

(g) it is in the Acknowledging Partner’s own best interests, including to protect the value of its, his or her interest in the Partnership and to further the long-term success of the Partnership, for all of the Partners to agree to be bound by the Protective Provisions; and

(h) no Partner is required to become a party to this Agreement, acquire an interest in the Partnership or make an investment in the Partnership.

9.2 Commitment . Each Partner hereby agrees that for so long as such Partner provides services to an Oaktree Group Member, such Partner shall devote substantially all of such Partner’s business time, skill, energy and attention to its, his or her responsibilities with respect to the business of such Oaktree Group Member in a diligent manner.

9.3 Confidential Information, Intellectual Property and Proprietary Information .

 

- 31 -


(a) Each Partner hereby agrees that such Partner shall not, without the prior express written consent of the General Partner, ( i ) use for the benefit of such Partner, use to the detriment of any Oaktree Group Member, or disclose, at any time (including while providing services to the Oaktree Group), in each case, unless and to the extent required by law or as required in the performance of such Partner’s services to an Oaktree Group Member, any Confidential Information, or ( ii ) remove or retain, upon such Partner ceasing to provide services to the Oaktree Group for any reason, any document, paper, electronic file or other storage medium containing or relating to any Confidential Information, any Intellectual Property or any physical property of any Oaktree Group Member.

(b) Each Partner hereby agrees to deliver to the Oaktree Group on the date such Partner ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group for any reason, or promptly at any other time that any Oaktree Group Member may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) within such Partner’s possession or control that contain any Confidential Information or any Intellectual Property.

(c) Each Partner hereby agrees that any and all Intellectual Property is and shall be the exclusive property of the Oaktree Group for the Oaktree Group’s sole use. In addition, each Partner hereby acknowledges and agrees that the investment performance of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member is attributable to the efforts of the team of professionals of the Oaktree Group and not to the efforts of any single individual, and that, therefore, the performance records of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member are and shall be the exclusive property of the Oaktree Group. Each Partner hereby agrees that such Partner, whether during or after such Partner’s provision of services to any Oaktree Group Member, shall not use or disclose any Intellectual Property, including the performance records of the funds and accounts managed by any Oaktree Group Member without the prior written consent of the General Partner, except in the ordinary course of such Partner’s services to an Oaktree Group Member.

(d) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any trade secrets of the Oaktree Group shall be entitled to all of the protections and benefits under applicable law. Each Partner hereby acknowledges that ( i ) such Partner may have had, and may have in the future, access to information that constitutes trade secrets but that has not been, and shall not be, marked to indicate its status as such and ( ii ) this Agreement constitutes reasonable efforts under the circumstances by the Partnership to notify such Partner of the existence of such trade secrets and to maintain the confidentiality of such trade secrets within the provisions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act or other applicable law.

(e) Each Partner hereby acknowledges and agrees that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Article IX would be inadequate, and, therefore, each Partner agrees that the Partnership shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other available rights and remedies in case of any such breach or threatened breach; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed as

 

- 32 -


prohibiting the Partnership from pursuing any other rights and remedies available for any such breach or threatened breach.

9.4 Interference . Each Partner hereby agrees that for so long as such Partner provides services to an Oaktree Group Member, and for two years after such Partner ceases to be a Partner for any reason, such Partner shall not directly or indirectly ( a ) solicit any customer or client of the Oaktree Group for a Competitive Business, provided that the foregoing clause (a)  shall not be deemed to prohibit such Partner from participating in the normal marketing efforts of a Competitive Business, so long as such Partner does not solicit any client or customer known to such Partner as a result of his or her provision of services to an Oaktree Group Member to be a client or customer of the Oaktree Group, other than clients or customers of the Oaktree Group that, as of the date such Partner ceases to provide services to an Oaktree Group Member, are bona fide pre-existing clients or customers of such Competitive Business, ( b ) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Oaktree Group to leave the Oaktree Group or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Oaktree Group and any employee thereof, or ( c ) hire, engage, employ, retain or otherwise enter into any business affiliation with any person who was an employee of the Oaktree Group at any time during the twelve-month period prior to the date such Partner ceases to provide services to the Oaktree Group.

9.5 Disparagement . Each Partner hereby agrees that it, he or she shall not make any statements, encourage others to make statements or release information that disparages, discredits or defames any Oaktree Group Member or engage in any activity that would have the effect of disparaging, discrediting or defaming any Oaktree Group Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit any Partner from making truthful statements when required by law.

Article X

Dissolution and Termination of the Partnership

10.1 Dissolution . The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated, and have its affairs wound up, only pursuant to the provisions of this Article X , and the Partners do hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any Partnership property. The Partnership shall dissolve upon the earliest of (each a “ Dissolution Event ”):

(a) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to Section 17-802 of the Act;

(b) the sale of all or substantially of the assets of the Partnership;

(c) at anytime there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to the Act; and

(d) any election by the General Partner to dissolve the Partnership.

 

- 33 -


The dissolution of the Partnership shall be effective on the day on which the Dissolution Event occurs, but the Partnership shall not terminate until it has been wound up, its assets have been distributed as provided in Section 10.2 and a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate has been filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with the Act. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Partnership, prior to the termination of the Partnership, the business of the Partnership and the affairs of the Partners, as such, shall continue to be governed by this Agreement.

10.2 Liquidating Distributions . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, the Partnership shall be wound up and its assets shall be liquidated. The General Partner or any other Person designated pursuant to Section 10.4 to serve as the liquidator of the Partnership shall cause to be made distributions out of Partnership property (including cash proceeds from the liquidation of Partnership property) in the following manner and order:

(a) first , to the satisfaction of all of the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities to creditors (including Partners who are creditors) in the order of priority provided by applicable law or otherwise, including by establishing reserves that the General Partner or such other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership deems necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient for any contingent, conditional or unmatured liabilities or obligations of the Partnership; provided that, if and when a contingency for which such a reserve has been established shall cease to exist, the monies, if any, then in such reserve shall be distributed as provided in Section 10.2(b) (except to the extent used to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and liabilities or to fund other reserves pursuant to this Section 10.2(a) ); and

(b) thereafter , upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as the General Partner or such other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership deems necessary, appropriate, advisable or convenient for its protection, distribute the remaining Partnership property, and subject to Article VI , to the Partners, pro rata in proportion to their Percentage Interests (with any distribution of property being taken into account at the amount described in Section 5.2(b)(ii) ); provided that distributions related to Incentive Income shall be made to those Partners who have an interest in such Incentive Income pro rata in proportion to such interests, as determined by the General Partner on a Fund-by- Fund basis.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the General Partner determines that an immediate sale of all or any portion of Partnership property would cause undue loss to the Partners, the General Partner, in order to avoid such loss, and to the extent not then prohibited by the Act, may defer liquidation of and withhold from distribution for a reasonable time any Partnership property except as necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities to creditors.

10.3 Termination . Upon completion of the dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner or any other Person who is winding up the affairs of the Partnership shall execute, acknowledge and file such certificates, instruments and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to terminate the legal existence of the Partnership under the Act, including by executing, acknowledging and causing to be filed a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State.

 

- 34 -


10.4 Liquidator . The General Partner or a Person designated by the General Partner shall serve as the liquidator of the Partnership. The reasonable fees, costs and expenses of any liquidator for the Partnership shall be considered to be a Partnership expense and be paid from Partnership property prior to any final liquidating distribution to the Partners.

10.5 Restoration of Deficit Capital Account Balances. If any Partner has a deficit balance in its, his or her Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all Fiscal Years, including the year during which the liquidation occurs), then such Partner shall have no obligation to make any Capital Contribution with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever.

10.6 Limitations on Dissolution . Nothing in this Article X is intended to limit the survival of provisions of this Agreement that expressly survive the dissolution and termination of the Partnership. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated, and have its affairs wound up, only pursuant to the provisions of this Article X . Any dissolution of the Partnership other than as provided in this Article X shall be a dissolution in contravention of this Agreement.

Article XI

Miscellaneous

11.1 Arbitration of Disputes .

(a) Any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to ( i ) the Partnership, ( ii ) any Partner’s rights and obligations hereunder, ( iii ) the validity or scope of any provision of this Agreement, ( iv ) whether a particular dispute, claim or controversy is subject to arbitration under this Section 11.1 , and ( v ) the power and authority of any arbitrator selected hereunder, that are not resolved by mutual agreement shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration before Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq . Either the Partnership or the disputing Partner may commence the arbitration process by filing a written demand for arbitration with JAMS and delivering a copy of such demand to the other in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11.6 . The arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration. The Partner shall cooperate with JAMS and with the Partnership in selecting an arbitrator from JAMS’ panel of neutrals and in scheduling the arbitration proceedings. The arbitrator selected shall be neutral and a former Delaware chancery court judge or, if such judge is not available, a former U.S. federal judge with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware; provided that if no such person is both willing and able to undertake such a role, the Partner and the Partnership shall cooperate with each other and JAMS in good faith to select such other person as may be available from a JAMS’ panel

 

- 35 -


of neutrals with experience in adjudicating matters under the law of the State of Delaware. The Partner and the Partnership shall participate in the arbitration in good faith. The Partnership shall pay those costs, if any, of arbitration that it must pay to cause this Section 11.1 to be enforceable, and all other costs of arbitration shall be shared equally between the Partner and the Partnership.

(b) Neither the Partner nor the Partnership shall be entitled to undertake discovery in the arbitration; provided that, if discovery is required by applicable law, discovery shall not exceed ( i ) one witness deposition plus the depositions of any expert designated by the other party or parties, ( ii ) two interrogatories, ( iii ) ten document requests, and ( iv ) ten requests for admissions; provided further that additional discovery may be permitted to the extent such additional discovery is required by applicable law for this Section 11.1 to be enforceable. The arbitrator shall have no power to modify any of the provisions of this Agreement, to make an award or impose a remedy that, in each case, is not available to the Delaware chancery court or to make an award or impose a remedy that was not requested by a party to the dispute, and the jurisdiction of the arbitrator is limited accordingly. To the extent permitted by law, the arbitrator shall have the power to order injunctive relief, and shall expeditiously act on any petition for such relief.

(c) The provisions of this Section 11.1 may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, and, to the extent permitted by law, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is ordered. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any party to an arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 shall be entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement pending a final determination on the merits by the arbitrator, and each party hereby consents that such a restraining order or injunction may be granted without the necessity of posting any bond.

(d) The details of any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 , including the existence or outcome of such arbitration and any information obtained in connection with any such arbitration, shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed or discussed with any person not a party to the arbitration; provided that such party may make such disclosures as are required by applicable law or legal process; provided further that such party may make such disclosures to its, his or her attorneys, accountants or other agents and representatives who reasonably need to know the disclosed information in connection with any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 and who are obligated to keep such information confidential to the same extent as such party. If either a Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, receives a subpoena or other request for information from a third party that seeks disclosure of any information that is required to be kept confidential pursuant to the prior sentence, or otherwise believes that it, he or she may be required to disclose any such information, such Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall ( i ) promptly notify the other party to the arbitration and ( ii ) reasonably cooperate with such other party in taking any legal or otherwise appropriate actions,

 

- 36 -


including the seeking of a protective order, to prevent the disclosure, or otherwise protect the confidentiality, of such information.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, ( i ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 shall not include any disputes, claims or controversies that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement, and ( ii ) any arbitration pursuant to this Section 11.1 of disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement is intended to be separate and distinct proceeding from any arbitration or other adjudication of disputes, claims or controversies between Partners, a Partner and the Partnership, or a Partner and an Oaktree Group Member, that do not arise out of or relate to this Agreement.

11.2 Married Persons . If a married couple owns an interest in the Partnership as quasi-community or community property under the laws of any state, regardless of which of the spouses is named as a Partner in the Register, and in the event of a division of such community property between the spouses pursuant to a decree of divorce or dissolution, property settlement agreement or otherwise, such division shall be deemed to be a Permitted Transfer. Upon any such division, any spouse or other Person who is not the named Partner in the Register shall be entitled only to payments provided in any such decree of divorce or dissolution, property settlement or otherwise, and nothing in this Section 11.2 or any other part of this Agreement shall be construed at any time as permitting any spouse or Person who is not the named Partner in the Register to have any of a Partner’s rights to act under this Agreement or to participate as a partner of the Partnership. A spouse or any other Person who is entitled to any such payments from the Partnership may not Transfer the right to receive any of such payments without the consent of the General Partner. The Partnership may purchase all or part of any such right to receive payments if authorized to do so by the General Partner.

11.3 Entire Agreement . Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement (including the Supplemental Schedule and the Series Designations) constitutes the entire agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such matter. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that the General Partner may, on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership, and without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other Person, ( a ) enter into any side letter or similar agreement with any Limited Partner that has the effect of establishing rights under, or altering or supplementing the terms of, this Agreement with respect to such Limited Partner (each a “ Side Letter ”) and ( b ) perform and cause the Partnership to perform its respective obligations (if any) under each Side Letter. Any terms contained in a Side Letter with a Limited Partner shall govern with respect to such Limited Partner notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, except as otherwise may be waived by the parties to such Side Letter.

11.4 Binding Effect . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement relating to transferability, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners, and their respective successors and assigns.

11.5 Amendments . This Agreement may be amended, modified or waived with the written consent of the General Partner; provided that no amendment, modification or waiver of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective with respect to the Interests of any Limited

 

- 37 -


Partner that were issued prior to such amendment, modification or waiver if such amendment, modification or waiver would materially and adversely deprive such Limited Partner of the economic benefit (determined on a pre-tax basis and by the General Partner in good faith) intended to be conferred upon such Limited Partner by the issuance of such Interests to such Limited Partner, unless such Limited Partner has consented to such amendment, modification or waiver; provided further that, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, no consent of any Limited Partner shall be required with respect to any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement (a) if the General Partner has replaced such Interests with a substitute arrangement that the General Partner believes in good faith to be no less favorable to such Limited Partner in any material economic respect (determined on a pre-tax basis and by the General Partner in good faith) than such Interests or (b) such amendment, modification or waiver is being made (i) to prevent or remedy any event or circumstance (including the imposition of any material regulatory requirement on the Partnership or other Oaktree Group Member) that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Partnership or any other Oaktree Group Member or (ii) to satisfy any requirement under, or prevent or remedy any breach or potential breach by the Partnership, any other Oaktree Group Member or any General Partner Related Person of, any applicable law or otherwise in connection with any order, directive or opinion of any Governmental Authority. The General Partner shall provide each Limited Partner with a copy of each amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement.

11.6 Notices . Any notice to any Limited Partner who is then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to such Limited Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the principal office of the Partnership or at such other place where such Limited Partner may be found. Any notice to such a Limited Partner which is delivered to the principal office of the Partnership when such Limited Partner is absent from the office shall, if reasonable efforts have been made to deliver it to him or her elsewhere, be deemed delivered to him or her on the next succeeding business day, if he or she does not actually receive such notice sooner. Any notice to any Limited Partner who is not then providing services to the Oaktree Group that is required or permitted hereunder to be given to such Limited Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the address or facsimile number of such Limited Partner shown on the Register. Any notice to the Partnership or the General Partner required or permitted hereunder to be given to the Partnership or the General Partner shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Partnership or the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership. A written notice may be delivered by facsimile transmission.

11.7 Parties in Interest . Except as expressly provided in the Act, nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any Persons other than the Partners and their respective successors, nor shall anything in this Agreement relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any third Person to any party to this Agreement, nor shall any provision give any third Person any right of subrogation or action over or against any party to this Agreement.

11.8 Contra Proferentum . In the event any claim is made by any Partner relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular Partner or his counsel.

 

- 38 -


11.9 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced, along with any rights, remedies or obligations provided for hereunder, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware by residents of the State of Delaware; provided that the enforceability of Section 11.1 shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq. , and not the laws of the State of Delaware.

11.10 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision or portion of 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 shall not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein, if the economic and legal substance of the arrangements contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such a determination, the Partners shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transaction contemplated hereby shall be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if any of the provisions of Article IX shall be held to exceed the limitations on scope, duration or geographic area prescribed under applicable law, then such provision shall be deemed to have been amended automatically to reduce such scope, duration or geographic area, as the case may be, to the extent necessary (if possible), and only to such extent, to enable such provision to be valid and permissible under such applicable law

11.11 Waivers . No waiver by any Partner of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement hereof shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any Partner to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right accruing to it, him or her thereafter. Any default hereunder by a Partner shall not excuse any obligation of any other Partner.

11.12 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

11.13 Determination of Certain Matters .

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement any General Partner Related Person is permitted or required to make a decision (including whether to take an action or not or waive a provision or not) ( i ) unless some other standard is specified, the General Partner may make such decision in its sole discretion, meaning such General Partner Related Person shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it, he or she desires, including its, his or her own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give

 

- 39 -


any consideration to any interest or factor affecting the Partnership or any other Person (other than a duty to act in good faith), or ( ii ) under another express standard, such General Partner Related Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.

(b) All determinations, interpretations, calculations, adjustments and other actions of the General Partner that are within its authority hereunder shall be made in good faith by the General Partner and shall be binding and conclusive on the Partnership and all Partners absent manifest error. In connection with any such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action, the General Partner shall be entitled to resolve any ambiguity with respect to the manner in which such determination, interpretation, calculation, adjustment or other action is to be made or taken, and shall be entitled to interpret the provisions of this Agreement, in such a manner as it determines to be fair and equitable, and such resolution or interpretation shall be binding and conclusive on the Partnership and all Partners absent manifest error.

[ THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK .]

 

- 40 -


I N WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER:
  O AKTREE AIF I NVESTMENTS , L.P.
  By:   O AKTREE AIF H OLDINGS , I NC ., as general partner
    By:   

/s/    R ICHARD T ING      

       Name: Richard Ting
      

Title:  Managing Director

            and Associate General Counsel

    By:   

/s/    J AY G HIYA        

       Name: Jay Ghiya
       Title:   Senior Vice President
  LIMITED PARTNERS:
  T HE L IMITED P ARTNERS LISTED ON THE R EGISTER ( AS REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME )
 

By:

  O AKTREE AIF I NVESTMENTS , L.P., as attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners
 

By:

  O AKTREE AIF H OLDINGS , I NC ., as general partner
   

By:

  

/s/    R ICHARD T ING      

       Name: Richard Ting
      

Title:  Managing Director

            and Associate General Counsel

   

By:

  

/s/    J AY G HIYA        

       Name: Jay Ghiya
       Title:  Senior Vice President

Exhibit 10.21

 

 

 

OCM PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND III GP, L.P.

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of December 27, 2007

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Section

       Page  
 

ARTICLE I

 

  
 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

  

1.1

  Definitions      1   

1.2

  Name and Office      5   

1.3

  Purposes      5   

1.4

  Term      5   

1.5

  Fiscal Year      5   

1.6

  Powers      5   

1.7

  Specific Authorization      7   

1.8

  Admission of Partners      7   

1.9

  Conversion of Limited Liability Company Interests      7   
 

 

ARTICLE II

  
 

 

THE GENERAL PARTNER

 

  

2.1

  Management of the Partnership, etc.      8   

2.2

  Reliance by Third Parties      8   

2.3

  General Partner Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions      8   

2.4

  Bankruptcy of General Partner      8   
2.5   No Removal of General Partner      8   
 

 

ARTICLE III

 

  
 

THE LIMITED PARTNERS

 

  

3.1

  No Participation in Management, etc.      9   

3.2

  Limitation of Liability      9   

3.3

  No Priority      9   

3.4

  No Removal of Partners      9   

3.5

  Bankruptcy or Withdrawal of a Partner      9   
 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

  
 

LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

  

4.1

  Liability      9   

4.2

  Exculpation      10   

 

i


4.3

  Indemnification      11   
 

 

ARTICLE V

 

  
 

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL PERCENTAGES;

CARRY PERCENTAGES AND ADJUSTMENTS THERETO

 

  

5.1

  Capital Contributions and Capital Percentages      12   

5.2

  Carry Percentages and Adjustments Thereto      12   
 

 

ARTICLE VI

  
 

 

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; DISTRIBUTIONS; ALLOCATIONS; WITHHOLDING

 

  

6.1

  Capital Accounts      13   

6.2

  Adjustments to Capital Accounts      13   

6.3

  Distributions      13   

6.4

  Tax Distributions      13   

6.5

  General Distribution Provisions      14   

6.6

  Distributions in Kind      14   

6.7

  No Withdrawal of Capital      14   

6.8

  Allocations to Capital Accounts      14   

6.9

  Tax Allocations and Other Tax Matters      14   

6.10

  Withholding      15   

6.11

  Final Distribution      16   

6.12

  Return of Distributions      16   
 

 

ARTICLE VII

  
 

 

BOOKS AND RECORDS; TAX INFORMATION; REPORTS TO PARTNERS

 

  

7.1

  Books and Records      16   

7.2

  Tax Information      16   

7.3

  Reports to Partners      17   
 

 

ARTICLE VIII

  
 

 

ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFERS; DESIGNATION OF INACTIVE PARTNERS

 

  

8.1

  Admission of Additional Partners      17   

8.2

  Transfers      17   

8.3

  Designation as Inactive Partner      17   

 

ii


 

 

ARTICLE IX

  
 

 

DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP OF THE PARTNERSHIP

 

  

9.1

  Dissolution      18   

9.2

  Winding Up      18   

9.3

  Final Distribution      18   

9.4

  Time for Liquidation, etc.      19   

9.5

  Termination      19   
 

 

ARTICLE X

 

  
 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

  

10.1

  Amendments      19   

10.2

  Notices      19   

10.3

  Counterparts      20   

10.4

  Table of Contents and Headings      20   

10.5

  Successors and Assigns      20   

10.6

  Severability      20   

10.7

  Further Actions      20   

10.8

  Determinations of the General Partner      20   

10.9

  Non-Waiver      20   

10.10

  Applicable Law      20   

10.11

  Confidentiality      21   

10.12

  Survival of Certain Provisions      21   

10.13

  Waiver of Partition      21   

10.14

  Entire Agreement      21   
 

 

ARTICLE XI

  
 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY; REPRESENTATIONS

 

  

11.1

  Power of Attorney      21   

11.2

  Representations      23   

 

iii


OCM PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND III GP, L.P.

This LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT of OCM PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND III GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), is made and entered into as of December 27, 2007, by and among Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P., as the general partner of the Partnership, and the persons listed in the Register (as the Register is amended from time to time) as limited partners of the Partnership. Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings specified in Section 1.1.

R E C I T A L S :

WHEREAS, the Partnership was originally formed as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware;

WHEREAS, the Company (as defined herein) was converted to a limited partnership pursuant to the Act (as defined herein) by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) and a Certificate of Conversion to Limited Partnership with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 27, 2007; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership and to permit the admission of the Partners to the Partnership.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings specified in the Fund Agreement. As used herein the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

Act ” shall mean the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. § 17-101 et seq., as amended, and any successor to such statute.

Active Partners ” shall mean all Partners other than any Inactive Partners.

Additional Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

Adjustment Date ” shall mean the last day of each Fiscal Year or any other date that the General Partner determines to be appropriate for an interim closing of the Partnership’s books.

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.


Agreement ” shall mean this Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Available Assets ” shall mean, as of any date, the excess of (a) the cash and cash equivalent items held by the Partnership over (b) the sum of the amount of such items as the General Partner determines to be necessary for the payment of the Partnership’s expenses, liabilities and other obligations (whether fixed or contingent), and for the establishment of appropriate reserves for such expenses, liabilities and obligations as they may arise, including the maintenance of adequate working capital for the continued conduct of the Partnership’s investment activities and operations.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than ( a ) Saturday and Sunday and ( b ) any other day on which banks located in New York City are required or authorized by law to remain closed.

Capital Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

Capital Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount set forth opposite the name of such Partner on the Register, as amended from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.

Capital Contribution ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount of capital contributed by such Partner to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

Capital Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to each Partner, a fraction, expressed as a percentage, (a) the numerator of which is the aggregate Capital Contributions of such Partner used to fund the Partnership’s investment through the Fund in a Permitted Investment and (b) the denominator of which is the aggregate Capital Contributions of all of the Partners used to fund such investment.

Carried Interest ” shall mean distributions received or to be received by the Partnership from the Fund as general partner of the Fund pursuant to sections 6.4(c)(iii) and 6.4(c)(iv) of the Fund Agreement.

Carry Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a). Any and all Carry Agreements entered into on or after the date hereof shall be deemed incorporated in and made part of this Agreement.

Carry Percentage ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).

Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Claims ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Code ” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

2


Company ” shall mean OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III GP, LLC, prior to its conversion into the Partnership.

Company Agreement ” shall mean the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Covered Person ” shall mean any Partner, any officers, directors, shareholders, controlling Persons, partners, members, employees, representatives or agents of the General Partner; or any Person who was, at the time of the act or omission in question, such a Person.

Damages ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Disabling Conduct ” shall mean, with respect to any Person: (a) fraud; (b) willful malfeasance; (c) a material violation of this Agreement that, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after a written notice describing such violation has been given to such Person; (d) conviction of a felony; (e) a willful violation of law having a material adverse affect on the Fund; (f) gross negligence; or (g) reckless disregard of duties in the conduct of such Person’s office.

Effective Time ” shall mean the effective time of the conversion of the Company to a limited partnership, as set forth in the Certificate of Conversion to Limited Partnership of the Company or provided in the Act.

Fiscal Year ” shall mean the fiscal year of the Fund, as determined pursuant to Section 1.5.

Fund ” shall mean OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, together with any Designated Partner, Separate Account or Alternative Investment Fund, as the context may require, and their respective successors and assigns.

Fund Agreement ” shall mean the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Fund, dated as of September 3, 2004, as amended from time to time, and the governing instrument of any Designated Partner, Separate Account or Alternative Investment Fund, as the context may require.

General Partner ” shall mean Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P. in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, or any successor general partner of the Partnership.

Inactive Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

Limited Partners ” shall mean the Persons listed in the Register, which is hereby incorporated in and made part of this Agreement (as such schedule may be supplemented or amended from time to time), as limited partners of the Partnership, and shall include their successors and permitted assigns to the extent admitted to the Partnership as limited partners in accordance with the terms hereof, in their capacities as limited partners of the Partnership, but shall exclude any Person that ceases to be a Limited Partner in

 

3


accordance with the terms hereof. For purposes of the Act, the Inactive Partners shall constitute a separate group of limited partners from all other Limited Partners and shall be restricted in their rights as limited partners as set forth in this agreement.

Oaktree ” shall mean Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

Partners ” shall mean the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Partnership Expenses ” shall mean the reasonable costs and expenses that in the judgment of the General Partner are incurred by or arise out of the organization and operation of the Partnership, including, without limitation, legal and accounting expenses.

Period ” shall mean, for the first Period, the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the next Adjustment Date; and for each subsequent Period shall mean the period commencing on the day after an Adjustment Date and ending on the next Adjustment Date.

Person ” shall mean any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated association, government or governmental agency or authority.

Prime Rate ” shall mean the rate of interest published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal , Eastern Edition (or any successor publication thereto) designated therein as the prime rate or, if not so published, the rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by any money center bank as its prime rate in effect at its principal office as identified by the General Partner.

Principal Group ” shall mean Oaktree’s principal investments group responsible for investing capital in Securities with the objective of obtaining control or significant influence over companies which are believed to be undervalued.

Proceeding ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Register ” shall mean the Register of Partners, Capital Commitments and Percentages maintained by the General Partner, which is incorporated herein and made a part of this Agreement (as such Register may be supplemented or amended from time to time).

Securities ” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, limited liability company interests, warrants, options, bonds, notes, debentures and other equity and debt securities of whatever kind of any Person, whether readily marketable or not.

Transfer ” shall mean any sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition, or the act of so doing, as the context requires.

 

4


Treasury Regulations ” shall mean the regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department issued pursuant to the Code.

Value ” shall mean, with respect to any distribution of Securities received by the Partnership from the Fund, the value of such Securities as determined by the Fund, and otherwise shall have the meaning set forth in the Fund Agreement.

Vesting Date ” shall mean with respect to any Partner, the Initial Closing Date, or, if later, the date that such Partner is admitted to the Partnership.

1.2 Name and Office .

(a) Name . The name of the Partnership is OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III GP, L.P. Unless otherwise agreed by the General Partner in writing, a Limited Partner shall not have any right, title or interest in or right to the use of the name “OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III GP, L.P.,” “OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III, L.P.,” “OCM,” “Oaktree” or any variation thereof, including any name to which the name of the Partnership or the Fund may be changed. No value shall be placed upon the name of the Partnership or the goodwill attached thereto for the purpose of determining the value of any Limited Partner’s Capital Account or interest in (or right to distributions from) the Partnership.

(b) Office . The registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is located at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership at such address is Corporation Service Company. At any time, the Partnership may designate another registered agent and/or registered office.

1.3 Purposes . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the purposes of the Partnership are (a) to serve as the general partner of the Fund and the general partner (or other corresponding entity), directly or indirectly, of any Designated Partner, Separate Account or Alternative Investment Fund or any other investment vehicle formed to make an investment in the Fund, as the General Partner deems appropriate, (b) to acquire, hold and dispose of Securities and (c) to engage in such other activities as the General Partner deems necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to the foregoing.

1.4 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on November 7, 2003 and shall continue until the last day of the term of the Fund, provided that, notwithstanding the expiration of the term of the Partnership, the Partnership shall continue in existence as a separate legal entity until cancellation of the Certificate in accordance with Section 9.5.

1.5 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall end on the 31st day of December in each year (the “ Fiscal Year ”). The Partnership shall have the same Fiscal Year for income tax and for financial and partnership accounting purposes.

1.6 Powers . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Partnership, acting through the General Partner, shall be and hereby is authorized and empowered to do or cause to be done any and all acts determined by the General Partner to be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental in furtherance of the purposes of the Partnership and the Fund, without

 

5


any further act, approval or vote of any Person, including any Limited Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Partnership (and the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership) is hereby authorized and empowered:

(a) to enter into the Fund Agreement and to enter into, and to cause the Fund to enter into, subscription agreements and other agreements and documents in connection with the admission of limited partners to the Fund;

(b) to direct the formulation of investment policies and strategies for the Partnership and the Fund, and to direct the investment activities of the Partnership and the Fund;

(c) to acquire, hold, manage, vote, Transfer and own Securities and any other assets held by the Partnership, including exercising all rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Securities or assets and making all elections, filings, decisions and other actions that may be necessary or appropriate for the acquisition, holding or Transfer of such Securities or assets;

(d) to establish, maintain or close one or more offices within or without the State of Delaware and in connection therewith to rent or acquire office space and to engage personnel;

(e) to open, maintain and close bank, brokerage and escrow accounts (and temporarily invest the Partnership’s funds therein) and to draw checks or other orders for the payment of moneys;

(f) to set aside funds for reasonable reserves, anticipated contingencies and working capital and to incur and pay Partnership Expenses and any taxes for which the Partnership may be liable;

(g) to lend money to, borrow money from, act as surety, guarantor or endorser for, provide collateral for and transact other business with third Persons, including Partners and Affiliates of the Partnership, and invest and reinvest its funds;

(h) to bring, defend, settle and dispose of Proceedings and otherwise to bring and defend actions and proceedings at law or in equity or before any governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or commission;

(i) to retain and compensate (or fix the compensation of) consultants, custodians, attorneys, accountants, placement agents, underwriters, financial advisors and other agents and to authorize each such agent to act for and on behalf of the Partnership and/or the Fund;

(j) to indemnify any Person in accordance with the Act and to obtain any and all types of insurance;

(k) to prepare and file all tax returns of the Partnership and the Fund; to make such elections under the Code and other relevant tax laws as to the treatment of items of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, and as to all other relevant matters, as the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate; to determine which items of cash outlay are to be

 

6


capitalized or treated as current expenses; and to select the method of accounting and bookkeeping procedures to be used by the Partnership and the Fund;

(l) to take all action that may be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental for the continuation of the Partnership’s and the Fund’s valid existences as limited partnerships under the Act and in each other jurisdiction in which such action is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners or the limited partners of the Fund or to enable the Partnership and the Fund, consistent with such limited liability, to conduct the investment and other activities in which they are engaged; and

(m) to carry on any other activities necessary to, in connection with, or incidental to any of the foregoing or the Partnership’s and the Fund’s investment and other activities.

1.7 Specific Authorization . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Partnership (acting in its own name or on behalf of the Fund, as the case may be) and the General Partner on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership (or on behalf of the Partnership on behalf of the Fund), as appropriate, may execute, deliver and perform one or more Carry Agreements, the Fund Agreement, any management agreement with Oaktree, any subscription agreement relating to the Fund and any agreements to induce any Person to become a limited partner of the Fund, all without any further act, vote or approval of any Limited Partner or other Person. The General Partner is hereby authorized to enter into and perform on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership, as appropriate, the agreements described in the immediately preceding sentence, but such authorization shall not be deemed a restriction on the power of the General Partner to enter into other agreements on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership subject to any other restrictions expressly set forth in this Agreement.

1.8 Admission of Partners . As of the Effective Time, (i) the General Partner shall be admitted as the general partner of the Partnership and (ii) each Non-Managing Member of the Company (as defined in the Company Agreement) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner, in each case without regard to whether such Person executes a counterpart hereof. Each Person admitted as a Limited Partner pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall be listed by the General Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership in the Register and the date of admission of such Person to the Partnership shall be such Person’s date of admission to the Company. Any Carry Agreement executed by a limited partner with the Company shall continue in effect with respect to the Partnership and such Limited Partner. Each Non-Managing Member who was an Inactive Member (as defined in the Company Agreement) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed an Inactive Partner hereunder, unless Oaktree determines otherwise. After the date hereof, Persons shall be admitted as partners of the Partnership as provided in Article VIII.

1.9 Conversion of Limited Liability Company Interests . As of the Effective Time, (i) the limited liability company interest of the Managing Member (as defined in the Company Agreement) shall be converted to a general partner interest in the Partnership and (ii) the limited liability company interest of each Non-Managing Member shall be converted to a limited partner interest in the Partnership, in each case such that the resulting Capital Percentages and Carry Percentages of the Partners with respect to any Permitted Investments are unchanged from the

 

7


Capital Percentages and Carry Percentages of such Partners (as Members of the Company) immediately prior to the Effective Time. Each Person’s Capital Commitment to the Partnership (including any unpaid portion thereof) shall be identical to its Capital Commitment to the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time.

ARTICLE II

THE GENERAL PARTNER

2.1 Management of the Partnership, etc.

(a) Genera . Subject to Section 2.1(b), the management, control and operation of and the determination of policy with respect to the Partnership and its investment and other activities shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner, who shall, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, carry out any and all of the purposes of the Partnership and perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may deem necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental thereto.

(b) Actions and Determinations of the Partnership . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever this Agreement provides that a determination shall be made or an action shall be taken by the Partnership, such determination or act may be made or taken by the General Partner.

(c) General Partner as Agent . The General Partner, to the extent of its powers set forth in this Agreement, is an agent of the Partnership for the purpose of the Partnership’s business, and the actions of the General Partner taken in accordance with this Agreement shall bind the Partnership.

2.2 Reliance by Third Parties . In dealing with the General Partner and its duly appointed agents, no Person shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the General Partner or any such agent to bind the Partnership.

2.3 General Partner Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions . Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable for the return of the Capital Contributions of any Limited Partner, and such return shall be made solely from Available Assets of the Partnership, if any, and each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all claims that he, she or it may have against the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof in this regard.

2.4 Bankruptcy of General Partner . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the bankruptcy (as defined in the Act) of the General Partner shall not cause the General Partner to cease to be the General Partner and upon the occurrence of such an event, the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

2.5 No Removal of General Partner . The General Partner may not be removed as the General Partner of the Partnership, except due to an event described in Section 2.4.

 

8


ARTICLE III

THE LIMITED PARTNERS

3.1 No Participation in Management, etc . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, a Limited Partner shall not take part in the management or control of the Partnership, vote with respect to any action taken or to be taken by the Partners, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. The exercise by a Limited Partner of any right conferred herein shall not be construed to constitute participation by such Limited Partner in the control of the business of the Partnership so as to make such Limited Partner liable as a general partner for the debts and obligations of the Partnership for purposes of the Act.

3.2 Limitation of Liability . Except as may otherwise be required by the Act or as expressly provided for herein, the liability of each Limited Partner, solely in its capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, is limited to such Limited Partner’s Capital Commitment.

3.3 No Priority . A Limited Partner shall not have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of the amount of such Limited Partner’s Capital Contribution or as to any allocation of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership.

3.4 No Removal of Partners . In the case of a Limited Partner who is a natural person, such Limited Partner may not be removed as a Limited Partner or be reclassified as an Inactive Partner, except as set forth in this Agreement or in such Limited Partner’s Carry Agreement.

3.5 Bankruptcy or Withdrawal of a Partner . The bankruptcy or withdrawal of a Limited Partner shall not in and of itself dissolve the Partnership. A Limited Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership prior to the dissolution of the Partnership except with the consent of the General Partner.

ARTICLE IV

LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

4.1 Liability .

(a) Limited Partners . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, and no Limited Partner shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership solely by reason of it being a Limited Partner. Except as otherwise expressly required by law or as expressly provided in this Agreement, a Limited Partner, as such, shall have no liability in excess of (a) such Limited Partner’s obligation to make payments expressly provided for in this Agreement, including the amount of such Limited Partner’s Capital Commitment and such Limited Partner’s share of the amount that the Partnership is obligated to contribute to the Fund pursuant to sections 9.2 and 11.3 (clawback provisions) of the Fund Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions herein, (b) such Limited Partner’s share of any

 

9


undistributed profits and assets of the Partnership, and (c) the amount of any distributions wrongfully distributed to such Limited Partner as described in the Act.

(b) General Partner . Subject to Section 4.2, the General Partner shall be subject to all of the liabilities of a general partner in a partnership without limited partners.

4.2 Exculpation .

(a) Generally . No Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any other Partner for any act or omission taken or suffered by such Covered Person in good faith and in the reasonable belief that such act or omission is in or is not contrary to the best interests of the Partnership and is within the scope of authority granted to such Covered Person by this Agreement, provided that such act or omission does not constitute Disabling Conduct of the Covered Person. No Partner shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any action taken by any other Partner.

(b) Reliance Generally . A Covered Person shall incur no liability in acting upon any signature or writing reasonably believed by such Covered Person to be genuine, and may rely in good faith on a certificate signed by an executive officer of any Person in order to ascertain any fact with respect to such Person or within such Person’s knowledge and may rely in good faith on an opinion of counsel selected with reasonable care by such Covered Person with respect to legal matters. Each Covered Person may act directly or through such Covered Person’s agents or attorneys. Each Covered Person may consult with counsel, appraisers, engineers, accountants and other skilled Persons of such Covered Person’s choosing and shall not be liable for anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith and within the scope of this Agreement in reasonable reliance upon the advice of any of such Persons. No Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer or employee of such Covered Person or such Covered Person’s Affiliate. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.2, no Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any mistake of fact or judgment by such Covered Person in conducting the affairs of the Partnership or otherwise acting in respect of and within the scope of this Agreement.

(c) Reliance on this Agreement . To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, any Covered Person acting under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for such Covered Person’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they address the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of a Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person.

(d) Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Covered Person shall be liable for the return of the Capital Contributions or Capital Account of any Partner, and such return shall be made solely from the Available Assets of the Partnership, if any, and each Partner hereby waives any and all claims that he, she or it may have against each Covered Person in this regard.

 

10


4.3 Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification Generally . Subject to Section 4.3(c), the Partnership shall and hereby does, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and release (and each Partner does hereby release) each Covered Person from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, costs, expenses, damages, losses, suits, proceedings and actions, whether judicial, administrative, investigative or otherwise, of whatever nature, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated (“ Claims ”), that may accrue to or be incurred by any Covered Person, or in which any Covered Person may become involved, as a party or otherwise, or with which any Covered Person may be threatened, relating to or arising out of the investment or other activities of the Partnership, or activities undertaken in connection with the Partnership, or otherwise relating to or arising out of this Agreement, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties, and counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation for or defense or disposition of any investigation, action, suit, arbitration or other proceeding (a “ Proceeding ”), whether civil or criminal (all of such Claims and amounts covered by this Section 4.3, and all expenses referred to in Section 4.3(b), are referred to collectively as “ Damages ”), except to the extent that it shall have been determined ultimately by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Damages arose primarily from the Disabling Conduct of such Covered Person. The termination of any Proceeding by settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that any Damages relating to such settlement or otherwise relating to such Proceedings arose primarily from the Disabling Conduct of, any Covered Person.

(b) Expenses, etc . The reasonable expenses incurred by a Covered Person (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in defense or settlement of any Claim that may be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder may be advanced by the Partnership to such Covered Person prior to the final disposition thereof with the consent of the General Partner upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined ultimately by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

(c) Notices of Claims, etc . Promptly after receipt by a Covered Person of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding that might give rise to a claim for indemnification by such Covered Person hereunder, such Covered Person shall give written notice to the Partnership of the commencement of such Proceeding, provided that the failure of any Covered Person to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Partnership of its obligations under this Section 4.3 except to the extent that the Partnership is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such Proceeding is brought against a Covered Person (other than a derivative suit in right of the Partnership), the Partnership will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof to the extent that the Partnership may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Covered Person. After notice from the Partnership to such Covered Person of the Partnership’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Partnership will not be liable for expenses subsequently incurred by such Covered Person in connection with the defense thereof. The right of any Covered Person to the indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative with, and in addition to, any and all rights to which such Covered Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall extend to such Covered Person’s successors, assigns and legal representatives.

 

11


ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL PERCENTAGES;

CARRY PERCENTAGES AND ADJUSTMENTS THERETO

5.1 Capital Contributions and Capital Percentages . Except as otherwise provided herein, each Partner shall make Capital Contributions in the aggregate up to the amount of such Partner’s Capital Commitment, which is set forth opposite such Partner’s name in the Register, as and when called for by the General Partner (so that the Partnership may fund its obligation to contribute capital to the Fund), and shall have a Capital Percentage. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Partner shall make Capital Contributions in excess of such Partner’s Capital Commitment. For the convenience of the Partnership, the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may request each Partner to make a payment to the Partnership in an amount up to the amount of such Partner’s Capital Commitment upon his or her admission as a Limited Partner.

5.2 Carry Percentages and Adjustments Thereto .

(a) General . Each Partner shall be assigned a sharing percentage representing such Partner’s share of the Carried Interest to be received from the Fund (such Partner’s “ Carry Percentage ”). The initial Carry Percentages shall be as set forth in the Register. The Carry Percentage of each Limited Partner shall also be set forth in an agreement between the Partnership and such Limited Partner substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, with such modifications as may be agreed to by the General Partner and the Limited Partner party thereto (with respect to each Partner, such Partner’s “ Carry Agreement ”). Each Partner’s Carry Percentage shall be subject to adjustment as provided in such Partner’s Carry Agreement. In addition, the General Partner may from time to time, without the consent of any Limited Partner, adjust any Active Partner’s Carry Percentage by allocating additional Carry Percentage to such Active Partner and correspondingly reducing the Carry Percentage of the General Partner. If deemed advisable by the General Partner, the General Partner shall have the discretion to make any such adjustment effective only with respect to Carried Interest attributable to increases in value in the Fund’s investments occurring after the date of such adjustment, and to amend or interpret the provisions of this Agreement (including Article VI) to give effect thereto.

(b) Adjustments to Carry Percentages in Connection with the Admission of Additional Partners . In connection with the admission of an Additional Partner as provided in Section 8.1 and without the consent of any Limited Partner, the General Partner may allocate to such Additional Partner such Carry Percentage as the General Partner may determine and correspondingly reduce the Carry Percentages of the Active Partners as the General Partner may determine, to the extent necessary for the sum of the Carry Percentages to equal 100%. If deemed advisable by the General Partner, the General Partner shall have the discretion to make any such adjustment effective only with respect to Carried Interest attributable to increases in value in the Fund’s investments occurring after the date of such adjustment, and to amend or interpret the provisions of this Agreement (including Article VI) to give effect thereto.

(c) Additional Adjustments with Respect to Active Partners . Following a designation of a Partner as an Inactive Partner and any adjustments to such Inactive Partner’s

 

12


Carry Percentage pursuant to such Partner’s Carry Agreement, the General Partner shall, without the consent of any Limited Partner, reallocate any reduction in the Carry Percentage of such Inactive Partner to such Partners (including itself) as the General Partner may determine.

ARTICLE VI

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; DISTRIBUTIONS; ALLOCATIONS; WITHHOLDING

6.1 Capital Accounts . There shall be established on the books and records of the Partnership a capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) for each Partner.

6.2 Adjustments to Capital Accounts . As of the last day of each Period, the balance in each Partner’s Capital Account shall be adjusted by (a) increasing such balance by (i) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s income and gain for such Period (allocated in accordance with Section 6.8) and (ii) the Capital Contribution, if any, made by such Partner during such Period, (b) decreasing such balance by (i) the amount of cash or the Value of Securities or other property distributed to such Partner pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s loss and deduction for such Period (allocated in accordance with Section 6.8). Each Partner’s Capital Account shall be further adjusted with respect to any special allocations or adjustments pursuant to this Agreement.

6.3 Distributions.

(a) Timing and Form of Distributions . The General Partner shall, after establishing reserves for material anticipated obligations or commitments of the Partnership, make distributions pursuant to Section 6.3(b) of amounts received by the Partnership from the Fund at such time or times as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion.

(b) Making of Distributions . Subject to Section 4.3 and to the other provisions of this Article VI, distributions to the Partners shall be made as follows:

(i) Capital Percentage Distributions . Distributions received pursuant to section 6.4(b) of the Fund Agreement shall be distributed to the Partners in proportion to their Capital Percentages.

(ii) Carry Percentage Distributions . Distributions of Carried Interest shall be distributed to the Partners in proportion to their Carry Percentages as they may be adjusted pursuant to this Agreement and the Carry Agreements.

(iii) Other Distributions . Distributions not described in paragraph (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.3(b) shall be distributed to the Active Partners in such proportions as shall be determined by the General Partner.

6.4 Tax Distributions . Notwithstanding Section 6.3, the General Partner may, to the extent of available cash, make distributions to the Partners in amounts sufficient to enable the Partners to discharge their U.S. federal, state and local income tax liabilities arising from the allocations made pursuant to this Agreement. The amount distributable pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be determined by the General Partner based on such assumptions as the General Partner

 

13


determines to be appropriate. The amount distributed to any Partner pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall reduce the amount otherwise distributable to such Partner pursuant to the relevant clause of Section 6.3, and shall be deemed to have been distributed to the extent of such reduction pursuant to such clause of Section 6.3.

6.5 General Distribution Provisions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, distributions shall be made only to the extent of Available Assets and in compliance with the Act and other applicable law. Any distribution by the Partnership pursuant to Article VI or IX to the Person shown on the Partnership’s records as a Partner or to such Partner’s legal representatives, or to the transferee of such Person’s right to receive such distributions as provided herein, shall acquit the Partnership of all liability to any other Person that may be interested in such distribution by reason of any Transfer of such Person’s interest in the Partnership for any reason (including a Transfer of such interest by reason of the death, incompetence, bankruptcy or liquidation of such Person).

6.6 Distributions in Kind . In the event that a distribution of Marketable Securities or other Securities is made, such Securities shall be deemed to have been sold at their Value and the proceeds of such sale shall be deemed to have been distributed in cash to the Partners for all purposes of this Agreement. Distributions of Marketable Securities and any other Securities or other property shall be made in proportion to the aggregate amounts that would be distributed to each Partner pursuant to Section 6.3, as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner may cause certificates evidencing any Securities to be distributed to be imprinted with legends as to such restrictions on Transfer as the General Partner may determine are necessary or appropriate, including legends as to applicable U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. securities laws or other legal or contractual restrictions, and may require any Partner to which Securities are to be distributed, as a condition to such distribution, to agree in writing ( a ) that such Partner will not Transfer such Securities except in compliance with such restrictions and ( b ) to such other matters as the General Partner may determine are necessary or appropriate.

6.7 No Withdrawal of Capital . Except as otherwise provided herein, no Partner shall have the right to withdraw capital from the Partnership or to receive any distribution of or return on such Partner’s Capital Contributions.

6.8 Allocations to Capital Accounts . Except as otherwise provided herein, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership (determined in accordance with U.S. tax principles as applied to the maintenance of capital accounts) shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Partners with respect to each Period, as of the end of such Period, in a manner that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the provisions of Articles VI and IX and the other relevant provisions of this Agreement. No Partner shall be required to make up a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account.

6.9 Tax Allocations and Other Tax Matters . Except as otherwise provided herein, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction recognized by the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes in the same manner that each such item is allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts or as otherwise provided herein, provided that the General Partner may adjust such allocations as may be necessary or desirable to maintain substantial economic effect, or to ensure that such allocations are in accordance with

 

14


the interests of the “partners in the partnership,” in each case, within the meaning of the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Tax credits and tax credit recapture shall be allocated in accordance with the interests of the Partners in the Partnership as provided in Treasury Regulation section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii). All matters concerning allocations for U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. income tax purposes, including accounting procedures, not expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement shall be determined in good faith by the General Partner. The General Partner is hereby designated as the tax matters partner of the Partnership, in accordance with the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to section 6231 of the Code and any similar provisions under any other state or local or non-U.S. tax laws. Each Limited Partner hereby consents to such designation and agrees that, upon the request of the General Partner, he, she or it will execute, certify, acknowledge, deliver, swear to, file and record at the appropriate public offices such documents as may be necessary or appropriate to evidence such consent. The Partnership shall not elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes under Treasury Regulation section 301.7701-3(a) or under any corresponding provision of state or local law. The Partnership shall not participate in the establishment of an “established securities market” (within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(b) of the Treasury Regulations) or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof” (within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations) or, in either case, the inclusion of interests in the Partnership thereon.

6.10 Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any Carry Agreement, each Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold and to pay over, or otherwise pay, any withholding or other taxes payable by the Partnership or any of its Affiliates (pursuant to the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. tax law) with respect to such Partner or as a result of such Partner’s status as a partner hereunder. If and to the extent that the Partnership shall be required to withhold or pay any such withholding or other taxes, such Partner shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement and the Carry Agreement to have received a payment from the Partnership as of the time that such withholding or other tax is required to be paid, which payment shall be deemed to be a distribution with respect to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership to the extent that such Partner (or any successor to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership) would have received a distribution but for such withholding. To the extent that such payment exceeds the cash distribution that such Partner would have received but for such withholding, the General Partner shall notify such Partner as to the amount of such excess and such Partner shall make a prompt payment to the Fund of such amount, which payment shall not constitute a Capital Contribution and, consequently, shall not increase such Partner’s Capital Account. The Partnership may hold back from any such distribution in kind property having a value equal to the amount of such taxes until the Partnership has received payment of such amount. In addition, if and to the extent that the Partnership or the Fund receives a distribution or payment from or in respect of which tax was withheld, as a result of (or attributable to) such Partner’s status as a Partner under this Agreement, as determined by the General Partner, such Partner shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to have received a distribution from the Partnership as of the time that such withholding was paid. Unless the General Partner determines otherwise, the withholdings by the Partnership referred to in this Section 6.10 shall be made at the maximum applicable statutory rate under the applicable tax law.

 

15


6.11 Final Distribution . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the final distribution following the dissolution of the Partnership shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.3.

6.12 Return of Distributions . If the Partnership is obligated under section 11.3 (general partner clawback) of the Fund Agreement to contribute to the Fund all or a portion of the distributions received by the Partnership from the Fund, the Partners shall be required to fund, and hereby agree to fund, such obligation in proportion to and up to an amount not to exceed, in the case of each Partner, the aggregate distributions received by such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3(b)(ii) (not including distributions made (or that could have been made) pursuant to Section 6.4 that are deemed (or would have been deemed) to be distributions under Section 6.3(b)(ii)). Subject to the preceding sentence of this Section 6.12, if the Partnership is obligated under section 9.2 (limited partner clawback) of the Fund Agreement to contribute to the Fund all or a portion of the distributions received by the Partnership from the Fund, the Partners shall be required to fund such obligation in proportion to and up to an amount not to exceed, in the case of each Partner, the aggregate distributions received by such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3. Each such Partner shall make contributions to the Partnership in satisfaction of such obligation. A Partner’s obligation to make contributions to the Partnership under this Section 6.12 shall survive the dissolution, liquidation, winding up and termination of the Partnership, and for purposes of this Section 6.12, the Partnership may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies that it may have against each Partner under this Section 6.12, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest from the date that such contribution was required to be paid under this Section 6.12 calculated at a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus 2% per annum (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by law).

ARTICLE VII

BOOKS AND RECORDS; TAX INFORMATION; REPORTS TO PARTNERS

7.1 Books and Records . The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of the transactions of the Partnership in proper books and records of account which shall set forth all information required by the Act. Such books and records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Upon advance written notice to the General Partner, such books and records shall be available for inspection and copying by the Limited Partners or their duly authorized representatives during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, provided that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Limited Partners shall not have access to the portions of such books and records that the General Partner determines would permit the identification of the Capital Contributions, Capital Account Balances, Carry Percentages and Capital Percentages of the other Partners, and provided , further , that, except to the extent that applicable law otherwise requires, an Inactive Partner shall have no right to inspect or copy the books and records of the Partnership.

7.2 Tax Information . As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the General Partner shall send to each Person that was a Partner at any time during such Fiscal Year U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, “Partner’s Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, Etc.,” or any successor schedule or form, for such Partner.

 

16


7.3 Reports to Partners . The General Partner shall provide to each Active Partner on a timely basis the Partnership’s unaudited financial statements for each Fiscal Year. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or required by applicable law, the General Partner shall send to each Limited Partner only such other financial and other reports as the General Partner shall deem appropriate.

ARTICLE VIII

ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFERS; DESIGNATION OF INACTIVE PARTNERS

8.1 Admission of Additional Partners . The General Partner may admit such Persons to the Partnership as the General Partner shall determine from time to time (each, an “ Additional Partner ”). In connection with the admission of any such Additional Partner, the General Partner shall amend the Register to reflect the admission of such Additional Partner and the amount of such Additional Partner’s Capital Commitment and Carry Percentage without the consent of any Limited Partner. Each such Person shall be admitted as an Additional Partner at the time that such Person ( a ) executes a counterpart of this Agreement and a Carry Agreement and ( b ) is listed by the General Partner as a partner of the Partnership in the Register.

8.2 Transfers .

(a) General . Except as provided in such Limited Partner’s Carry Agreement, no Limited Partner may Transfer in any manner whatsoever all or any part of such Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership without the express prior written consent of the General Partner.

(b) Certain Transfers . Without the consent of the General Partner, upon the death of a Limited Partner who is a natural person, such Limited Partner’s interest will be transferred to the estate of such Limited Partner or otherwise in accordance with applicable law, provided that such transferee shall not be substituted for the deceased Limited Partner as a partner of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

(c) Conditions to Transfer . No Transfer of an interest in the Partnership shall be permitted if (i) such Transfer would result in a violation of applicable law, including any securities laws, (ii) as a result of such Transfer, the Partnership or the Fund would be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (iii) such Transfer would result in the Partnership at any time during its taxable year having more than 100 partners, within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(h)(1)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations (taking into account section 1.7704-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations). No attempted or purported Transfer in violation of this Section 8.2 shall be effective.

8.3 Designation as Inactive Partner . From and after the date of a Limited Partner’s death (in the case of a Limited Partner who is a natural person), Disability (as defined in such Limited Partner’s Carry Agreement), bankruptcy or ceasing to be employed by or otherwise perform services for Oaktree for any reason as determined by the General Partner, such Limited Partner shall automatically be deemed an “Inactive Partner” without any further action, unless

 

17


Oaktree determines otherwise. An Inactive Partner shall be a limited partner of the Partnership, but shall, except to the extent that applicable law otherwise requires, have only those rights expressly set forth in this Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Inactive Partners shall not be entitled to participate in any vote, consent or approval of the Partners or Limited Partners permitted or required to be given for any purpose (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any consent to or approval of any merger or consolidation to which the Partnership is a party or any conversion of the Partnership to another form of entity or to a foreign limited partnership).

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP OF THE PARTNERSHIP

9.1 Dissolution . There shall be a dissolution of the Partnership and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

(a) the day after the second anniversary of the last day of the Term of the Fund;

(b) the decision of the General Partner to dissolve the Partnership;

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to section 17-802 of the Act; or

(d) upon an event of withdrawal of the General Partner under the Act, unless the business of the Partnership is continued in accordance with the Act; or

(e) at any time when there are no Partners, unless the business of the Partnership is continued in accordance with the Act.

9.2 Winding Up . Upon the dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner (or any duly designated representative) shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to liquidate all of the Partnership’s assets and wind up the affairs of the Partnership in an orderly manner, provided that if in the judgment of the General Partner (or such representative) an asset of the Partnership should not be liquidated, the General Partner (or such representative) shall allocate, on the basis of the Value of any assets of the Partnership not sold or otherwise disposed of, any unrealized gain or loss based on such Value to the Partners’ Capital Accounts as though the assets in question had been sold on the date of such allocation and, after giving effect to any such adjustment, distribute said assets in accordance with Section 9.3, subject to the priorities set forth in Section 9.3, and provided , further , that the General Partner (or such other representative) will attempt to liquidate sufficient Partnership assets to satisfy in cash (or make reasonable provision in cash for) the debts and liabilities referred to in Section 9.3.

9.3 Final Distribution . After the application or distribution of the proceeds of the liquidation of the Partnership’s assets in one or more installments to the satisfaction of the liabilities to creditors of the Partnership, including to the satisfaction of the expenses of the winding-up, liquidation and dissolution of the Partnership (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof), the remaining proceeds, if any, plus any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.3.

 

18


9.4 Time for Liquidation, etc. A reasonable time period shall be allowed for the orderly winding up and liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Partnership to seek to minimize potential losses upon such liquidation. The provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect during the period of winding up and until the filing of a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

9.5 Termination . Upon completion of the foregoing, the General Partner (or any duly designated authorized Person) or such other Person as required by the Act, shall execute, acknowledge and cause to be filed a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Such certificate of cancellation will not be filed by the General Partner (or such authorized Person) prior to the filing of the certificate of cancellation of the certificate of limited partnership of the Fund, unless otherwise required by law.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 Amendments . This Agreement and any Schedule hereto may be modified or amended, and any provision hereof may be waived, by a writing signed by the General Partner, provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Carry Agreement, no such modification, amendment or waiver that would adversely and materially alter any Partner’s economic interest in the Partnership (including such Partner’s Capital Commitment, Capital Percentage, Carry Percentage, obligations pursuant to Section 6.12, or right to or timing of distributions) shall be effective without the consent of such affected Partner. In addition to the foregoing, the General Partner has full authority without the consent of the Limited Partners to interpret any ambiguous provisions of this Agreement and to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement.

10.2 Notices . Each notice relating to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered (a) in person, by registered or certified mail or by private courier or (b) by facsimile or other electronic means, confirmed by telephone. All notices to any Limited Partner shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the address of such Limited Partner as set forth in the records of the Partnership. All notices to the General Partner shall be delivered to the General Partner c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, Attention: General Counsel. Any Limited Partner may designate a new address for notices by giving written notice to that effect to the General Partner. The General Partner may designate a new address for notices by giving written notice to that effect to each of the Partners. A notice given in accordance with the foregoing clause (a) shall be deemed to have been effectively given five Business Days after such notice is mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and one Business Day after such notice is sent by Federal Express or other one-day service provider, to the proper address, or at the time delivered when delivered in person or by private courier. Any notice by facsimile or other electronic means shall be deemed to have been effectively given when sent and confirmed by telephone in accordance with the foregoing clause (b).

 

19


10.3 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute a single agreement.

10.4 Table of Contents and Headings . The table of contents and the headings of the articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof or affect the interpretation hereof.

10.5 Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Partners and the Covered Persons, and shall be binding upon the parties and, subject to Section 8.2, their respective successors, permitted assigns and, in the case of individual Covered Persons, heirs and legal representatives.

10.6 Severability . Every term and provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any term or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such term or provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and, in any event, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement.

10.7 Further Actions . Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver such other certificates, agreements and documents, and take such other actions, as may reasonably be requested by the General Partner in connection with the achievement of its purposes or to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case as are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including any documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the Fund as a limited partnership in all jurisdictions in which the Fund conducts or plans to conduct its investment and other activities and all such agreements, certificates, tax statements and other documents as may be required to be filed by or on behalf of the Fund.

10.8 Determinations of the General Partner . To the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any other agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (a) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or any other Person, or (b) in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.

10.9 Non-Waiver . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived unless such waiver is given in writing, and no such waiver shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or further obligation or liability of the party or parties in whose favor such waiver was given.

10.10 Applicable Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND

 

20


CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

10.11 Confidentiality . Each Limited Partner shall keep confidential and shall not disclose without the prior written consent of the General Partner any information with respect to this Agreement, the Partnership, the Fund or any Permitted Investment made by the Fund, any issuer of any Permitted Investment made by the Fund or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, provided that a Partner may disclose any such information (a) as has become generally available to the public other than as a result of the breach of this Section 10.11 by such Partner, (b) as may be required to be included in any report, statement or testimony required to be submitted to any municipal, state or national regulatory body having jurisdiction over such Partner, (c) as may be required in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, (d) to the extent necessary in order to comply with any law, order, regulation or ruling applicable to such Partner, (e) to such Partner’s professional advisors, (f) as may be required in connection with an audit by any taxing authority and (g) to the extent necessary for the fulfillment of such Partner’s obligations as an employee of Oaktree (including for purposes of marketing limited partnership interests in the Fund). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall have the right to keep confidential from the Limited Partners for such period of time as the General Partner determines to be reasonable (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets and (ii) any other information (A) the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interest of the Partnership, the Fund or its investments or could damage the Partnership, the Fund or its investments or (B) that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with a third Person to keep confidential. The provisions of this Section 10.11 were negotiated in good faith by the parties hereto, and the parties hereto agree that such provisions are reasonable and are not more restrictive than is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the parties hereto.

10.12 Survival of Certain Provisions . The obligations of each Partner pursuant to Article IV, Section 6.12 and this Article X shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement and the dissolution, winding up and termination of the Partnership.

10.13 Waiver of Partition . Except as may otherwise be provided by law in connection with the dissolution, winding up and liquidation of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that such Partner may have to maintain an action for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

10.14 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Carry Agreements together constitute the entire agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such subject matter.

ARTICLE XI

POWER OF ATTORNEY; REPRESENTATIONS

11.1 Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint the General Partner, with full power of substitution, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of such Partner, to execute, acknowledge, verify, swear to, deliver, record and file, in

 

21


such Partner’s name, place and stead, all instruments, documents and certificates that may from time to time be required by the laws of the United States, the State of Delaware, any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to effectuate, implement and continue the valid existence and business of the Partnership, including the power and authority to execute, verify, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, record and file:

(a) all certificates and other instruments, including, without limitation, any amendments to this Agreement or to the Certificate, that the General Partner deems appropriate to (i) form, qualify or continue the Partnership as a limited partnership in the State of Delaware and all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business and (ii) admit such Partner as a Partner in the Partnership;

(b) all instruments that the General Partner determines to be appropriate to reflect any amendment to this Agreement or the Certificate (i) to satisfy any requirements, conditions, guidelines or opinions contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, or any other U.S. federal or state agency, or in any U.S. federal or state statute, compliance with which the General Partner deems to be in the best interests of the Partnership, (ii) to change the name of the Partnership or (iii) to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision herein or therein contained that may be incomplete or inconsistent with any other provision herein or therein contained;

(c) all instruments that the General Partner determines to be appropriate in connection with the formation or operation of any Designated Partner, Separate Account or Alternative Investment Fund or the general partner, controlling shareholder or managing member of any Designated Partner, Separate Account or Alternative Investment Fund (if the General Partner determines that it is desirable for an entity other than the Partnership to be the general partner, controlling shareholder or managing member of such Designated Partner, Separate Account or Alternative Investment Fund);

(d) all instruments that the General Partner determines to be appropriate to reflect and effect the dissolution, winding up and liquidation of the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including the filing of a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate as provided in Article IX;

(e) all instruments relating to (i) duly authorized Transfers of interests in the Partnership or the admission of Additional Partners, (ii) duly authorized changes in the Capital Commitment or Carry Percentage of any Partner or (iii) duly adopted amendments to this Agreement, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

(f) certificates of assumed name and such other certificates and instruments as may be necessary under the fictitious or assumed name statutes from time to time in effect in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business; and

(g) any other instruments determined by the General Partner to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership.

 

22


Such attorney-in-fact and agent shall not, however, have the right, power or authority to amend or modify this Agreement when acting in such capacities, except to the extent authorized herein. This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent disability, incompetence or incapacity of a Limited Partner. This power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable, shall survive and not be affected by the dissolution, bankruptcy or legal disability of each of any Limited Partner and shall extend to their successors and assigns. This power of attorney may be exercised by any such attorney-in-fact and agent for all Limited Partners of the Partnership (or any of them) with or without listing all of the Limited Partners executing an instrument. Any Person dealing with the Partnership may conclusively presume and rely upon the fact that any instrument referred to above, executed by such attorney-in-fact and agent, is authorized and binding, without further inquiry. If required, each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver to the Partnership, within five Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such further designations, powers of attorney or other instruments as the General Partner shall determine to be necessary for the purposes hereof consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

11.2 Representations . Each Limited Partner represents, warrants and covenants to the General Partner and the Partnership as follows:

(a) Capacity . Such Partner has the full capacity, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to subscribe for and purchase an interest as a partner of the Partnership. Such Partner has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Partner, enforceable against such Partner in accordance with its terms.

(b) Compliance with Laws and Other Instruments . The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the performance of such Partner’s obligations hereunder will not conflict with, or result in any violation of or default under, any provision of any agreement or other instrument to which such Partner is a party or by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s assets are bound, or any judgment, decree, statute, order, rule or regulation applicable to such Partner or such Partner’s assets.

(c) Access to Information . Such Partner has carefully reviewed this Agreement, the Fund Agreement and the private placement memorandum of the Fund, as supplemented through the date hereof, relating to the offering of interests in the Fund. Such Partner has been provided an opportunity to ask questions of, and such Partner has received answers thereto satisfactory to such Partner from, the Partnership and its representatives regarding such documents and the terms and conditions of the offering of interests in the Partnership, and such Partner has obtained all additional information requested by such Partner of the Partnership and its representatives to verify the accuracy of all information furnished to such Partner regarding such documents and the offering of such interests.

(d) Evaluation of and Ability to Bear Risks . Such Partner has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs that such Partner is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of purchasing an interest in the Partnership, and such Partner has not relied in connection with this investment upon any representations, warranties or agreements other than

 

23


those set forth in this Agreement. Such Partner’s financial situation is such that such Partner can afford to bear the economic risk of holding an interest in the Partnership for an indefinite period of time, and such Partner can afford to suffer the complete loss of such Partner’s investment in such interest.

(e) Purchase for Investment . Such Partner is acquiring the interest in the Partnership to be purchased by such Partner pursuant to this Agreement for such Partner’s own account for investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of all or any part of such interest. Such Partner will not, directly or indirectly, transfer, sell, pledge or hypothecate all or any part of such interest (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of all or any part of such interest) except in accordance with the registration provisions of the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration provisions, with any applicable state or non-U.S. securities laws, and with the terms of this Agreement. Such Partner understands that such Partner must bear the economic risk of an investment in an interest in the Partnership for an indefinite period of time because, among other reasons, the offering and sale of such interests have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, such an interest cannot be sold other than through a privately negotiated transaction unless it is subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Such Partner also understands that sales or transfers of such interests are further restricted by the provisions of this Agreement, and may be restricted by other applicable securities laws.

(f) Accredited Investor . Except as otherwise indicated to the General Partner in writing, either (i) such Partner’s net worth, or such Partner’s joint net worth with such Partner’s spouse, at the time that such Partner is admitted to the Partnership, exceeds $1,000,000 or (ii) such Partner had individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with such Partner’s spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years, and such Partner has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.

(g) Knowledgeable Employee . Except as otherwise indicated to the General Partner in writing, such Partner is a “Knowledgeable Employee,” as such term is defined in Rule 3c-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such Partner has notified the Partnership in writing prior to such Partner’s admission to the Partnership as a partner that such Partner is not a Knowledgeable Employee. The term “Knowledgeable Employee” shall include (a)  any executive officer (which includes the president, any vice president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as administration or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions, for the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership), director, trustee, general partner, managing member, advisory board member, or person serving in a similar capacity, of the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership or (b)  any employee of the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership (other than an employee performing solely clerical, secretarial or administrative functions with regard to such entity or its investments) who, in connection with such employee’s regular functions or duties, participates in the investment activities of the Fund, other companies that would be investment companies but for the exclusion provided by section 3(c)(1) or section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act, or investment companies the investment activities of which are managed by Oaktree, provided that such employee has been performing such functions and

 

24


duties for or on behalf of the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership, or substantially similar functions or duties for or on behalf of another entity, for at least 12 months.

 

25


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

GENERAL PARTNER :
OAKTREE FUND GP I, L.P.
By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

By:   / S / R ICHARD T ING
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Authorized Signatory

Exhibit 10.22

 

 

 

OCM POWER OPPORTUNITIES FUND II GP, L.P.

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of December 27, 2007

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Section

       Page  

ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

     1   

1.1

  Definitions      1   

1.2

  Name and Office      5   

1.3

  Purposes      5   

1.4

  Term      5   

1.5

  Fiscal Year      5   

1.6

  Powers      6   

1.7

  Specific Authorization      7   

1.8

  Admission of Partners      7   

1.9

  Conversion of Limited Liability Company Interests      7   

ARTICLE II THE GENERAL PARTNER

     8   

2.1

  Management of the Partnership, etc.      8   

2.2

  Reliance by Third Parties      8   

2.3

  General Partner Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions      8   

2.4

  Bankruptcy of General Partner      8   

2.5

  No Removal of General Partner      8   

ARTICLE III THE LIMITED PARTNERS

     9   

3.1

  No Participation in Management, etc.      9   

3.2

  Limitation of Liability      9   

3.3

  No Priority      9   

3.4

  No Removal of Partners      9   

3.5

  Bankruptcy or Withdrawal of a Partner      9   

ARTICLE IV LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

     9   

4.1

  Liability      9   

4.2

  Exculpation      10   

4.3

  Indemnification      11   
ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL PERCENTAGES; CARRY PERCENTAGES AND ADJUSTMENTS THERETO      12   

5.1

  Capital Contributions and Capital Percentages      12   

5.2

  Carry Percentages and Adjustments Thereto      12   

ARTICLE VI CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; DISTRIBUTIONS; ALLOCATIONS; WITHHOLDING

     13   

6.1

  Capital Accounts      13   


6.2

  Adjustments to Capital Accounts      13   

6.3

  Distributions      13   

6.4

  Tax Distributions      13   

6.5

  General Distribution Provisions      14   

6.6

  Distributions in Kind      14   

6.7

  No Withdrawal of Capital      14   

6.8

  Allocations to Capital Accounts      14   

6.9

  Tax Allocations and Other Tax Matters      14   

6.10

  Withholding      15   

6.11

  Final Distribution      16   

6.12

  Return of Distributions      16   

ARTICLE VII BOOKS AND RECORDS; TAX INFORMATION; REPORTS TO PARTNERS

     16   

7.1

  Books and Records      16   

7.2

  Tax Information      16   

7.3

  Reports to Partners      17   

ARTICLE VIII ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFERS; DESIGNATION OF INACTIVE PARTNERS

     17   

8.1

  Admission of Additional Partners      17   

8.2

  Transfers      17   

8.3

  Designation as Inactive Partner      17   

ARTICLE IX DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP OF THE PARTNERSHIP

     18   

9.1

  Dissolution      18   

9.2

  Winding Up      18   

9.3

  Final Distribution      18   

9.4

  Time for Liquidation, etc.      19   

9.5

  Termination      19   

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     19   

10.1

  Amendments      19   

10.2

  Notices      19   

10.3

  Counterparts      20   

10.4

  Table of Contents and Headings      20   

10.5

  Successors and Assigns      20   

10.6

  Severability      20   

10.7

  Further Actions      20   

10.8

  Determinations of the General Partner      20   

10.9

  Non-Waiver      20   

10.10

  Applicable Law      21   

10.11

  Confidentiality      21   

10.12

  Survival of Certain Provisions      21   


10.13

  Waiver of Partition      21   

10.14

  Entire Agreement      21   

ARTICLE XI POWER OF ATTORNEY; REPRESENTATIONS

     22   

11.1

  Power of Attorney      22   

11.2

  Representations      23   


OCM POWER OPPORTUNITIES FUND II GP, L.P.

This LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT of OCM POWER OPPORTUNITIES FUND II GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), is made and entered into as of December 27, 2007, by and among Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P., as the general partner of the Partnership, and the persons listed in the Register (as the Register is amended from time to time) as limited partners of the Partnership. Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings specified in Section 1.1.

R E C I T A L S :

WHEREAS, the Partnership was originally formed as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware;

WHEREAS, the Company (as defined herein) was converted to a limited partnership pursuant to the Act (as defined herein) by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership (the “ Certificate ”) and a Certificate of Conversion to Limited Partnership with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 27, 2007; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership and to permit the admission of the Partners to the Partnership.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings specified in the Fund Agreement. As used herein the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

Act ” shall mean the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. § 17-101 et seq. , as amended, and any successor to such statute.

Active Partners ” shall mean all Partners other than any Inactive Partners.

Additional Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

Adjustment Date ” shall mean the last day of each Fiscal Year or any other date that the General Partner determines to be appropriate for an interim closing of the Partnership’s books.

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.


Agreement ” shall mean this Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Available Assets ” shall mean, as of any date, the excess of ( a ) the cash and cash equivalent items held by the Partnership over ( b ) the sum of the amount of such items as the General Partner determines to be necessary for the payment of the Partnership’s expenses, liabilities and other obligations (whether fixed or contingent), and for the establishment of appropriate reserves for such expenses, liabilities and obligations as they may arise, including the maintenance of adequate working capital for the continued conduct of the Partnership’s investment activities and operations.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than ( a ) Saturday and Sunday and ( b ) any other day on which banks located in New York City are required or authorized by law to remain closed.

Capital Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

Capital Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount set forth opposite the name of such Partner on the Register, as amended from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.

Capital Contribution ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount of capital contributed by such Partner to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

Capital Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to each Partner, a fraction, expressed as a percentage, ( a ) the numerator of which is the aggregate Capital Contributions of such Partner used to fund the Partnership’s investment through the Fund in a Permitted Investment and ( b ) the denominator of which is the aggregate Capital Contributions of all of the Partners used to fund such investment.

Carried Interest ” shall mean distributions received or to be received by the Partnership ( a ) from the Fund as general partner of the Fund pursuant to sections 6.4(c)(iii) and 6.4(c)(iv) of the Fund Agreement and (b) from the Cayman GP as the sole shareholder of the Cayman GP in accordance with the Cayman GP’s right to receive such distributions pursuant to the governing instrument of the Parallel Fund.

Carry Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a). Any and all Carry Agreements entered into on or after the date hereof shall be deemed incorporated in and made part of this Agreement.

Carry Percentage ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).

Cayman GP ” shall mean OCM Power Opportunities Fund II GP (Cayman) Ltd., the co-general partner of the Parallel Fund.

Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Claims ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

 

2


Code ” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Company ” shall mean OCM Power Opportunities Fund II GP, LLC, prior to its conversion into the Partnership.

Company Agreement ” shall mean the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Covered Person ” shall mean any Partner, any officers, directors, shareholders, controlling Persons, partners, members, employees, representatives or agents of the General Partner; or any Person who was, at the time of the act or omission in question, such a Person.

Damages ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Disabling Conduct ” shall mean, with respect to any Person: (a)  fraud; (b)  gross negligence in the operation of the Fund; (c)  a material violation of this Agreement that, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after a written notice describing such violation has been given to such Person; (d)  the commission of a felony; (e)  a material violation of law; provided that in the case of clauses (b) through (e) such conduct has resulted in a material adverse effect on the business or properties of the Fund.

Effective Time ” shall mean the effective time of the conversion of the Company to a limited partnership, as set forth in the Certificate of Conversion to Limited Partnership of the Company or provided in the Act.

Fiscal Year ” shall mean the fiscal year of the Partnership, as determined pursuant to Section 1.5.

Fund ” shall mean OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, together with the Parallel Fund, the Cayman GP and any Designated Partner, separate account or Alternative Investment Fund, as the context may require, and their respective successors and assigns.

Fund Agreement ” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Fund, dated as of May 19, 2006, as amended from time to time, and the governing instrument of the Parallel Fund or any Designated Partner, separate account or Alternative Investment Fund, as the context may require.

General Partner ” shall mean Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P. in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, or any successor general partner of the Partnership.

Inactive Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

Limited Partners ” shall mean the Persons listed in the Register, which is hereby incorporated in and made part of this Agreement (as such schedule may be supplemented or amended from time to time), as limited partners of the Partnership, and shall include

 

3


their successors and permitted assigns to the extent admitted to the Partnership as limited partners in accordance with the terms hereof, in their capacities as limited partners of the Partnership, but shall exclude any Person that ceases to be a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms hereof. For purposes of the Act, the Inactive Partners shall constitute a separate group of limited partners from all other Limited Partners and shall be restricted in their rights as limited partners as set forth in this agreement.

Oaktree ” shall mean Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

Parallel Fund ” shall mean OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II (Cayman), L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership or similar related investment fund, as the context may require, and its respective successors and assigns.

Partners ” shall mean the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Partnership Expenses ” shall mean the reasonable costs and expenses that in the judgment of the General Partner are incurred by or arise out of the organization and operation of the Partnership, including, without limitation, legal and accounting expenses.

Period ” shall mean, for the first Period, the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the next Adjustment Date; and for each subsequent Period shall mean the period commencing on the day after an Adjustment Date and ending on the next Adjustment Date.

Person ” shall mean any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated association, government or governmental agency or authority.

Prime Rate ” shall mean the rate of interest published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal , Eastern Edition (or any successor publication thereto) designated therein as the prime rate or, if not so published, the rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by any money center bank as its prime rate in effect at its principal office as identified by the General Partner.

Proceeding ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Register ” shall mean the Register of Partners, Capital Commitments and Capital Percentages maintained by the General Partner, which is incorporated herein and made a part of this Agreement (as such Register may be supplemented or amended from time to time).

Securities ” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, limited liability company interests, warrants, options, bonds, notes, debentures and other equity and debt securities of whatever kind of any Person, whether readily marketable or not.

 

4


Transfer ” shall mean any sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition, or the act of so doing, as the context requires.

Treasury Regulations ” shall mean the regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department issued pursuant to the Code.

Value ” shall mean, with respect to any distribution of Securities received by the Partnership from the Fund, the value of such Securities as determined by the Fund, and otherwise shall have the meaning set forth in the Fund Agreement.

Vesting Date ” shall mean with respect to any Partner, the Initial Closing Date, or, if later, the date that such Partner is admitted to the Partnership.

1.2 Name and Office .

(a) Name . The name of the Partnership is OCM Power Opportunities Fund II GP, L.P. Unless otherwise agreed by the General Partner in writing, a Limited Partner shall not have any right, title or interest in or right to the use of the name “OCM Power Opportunities Fund II GP, L.P.,” “OCM Power Opportunities Fund II, L.P.,” “OCM,” “Oaktree” or any variation thereof, including any name to which the name of the Partnership or the Fund may be changed. No value shall be placed upon the name of the Partnership or the goodwill attached thereto for the purpose of determining the value of any Limited Partner’s Capital Account or interest in (or right to distributions from) the Partnership.

(b) Office . The registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is located at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership at such address is Corporation Service Company. At any time, the Partnership may designate another registered agent and/or registered office.

1.3 Purposes . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the purposes of the Partnership are ( a ) to serve as the general partner of the Fund and the general partner (or other corresponding entity), directly or indirectly, of the Parallel Fund and any Designated Partner, separate account or Alternative Investment Fund or any other investment vehicle formed to make an investment in the Fund, as the General Partner deems appropriate, ( b ) to serve as the sole or controlling shareholder of the Cayman GP, ( c ) to acquire, hold and dispose of Securities and ( d ) to engage in such other activities as the General Partner deems necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to the foregoing.

1.4 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on August 24, 2004 and shall continue until the last day of the term of the Fund, provided that, notwithstanding the expiration of the term of the Partnership, the Partnership shall continue in existence as a separate legal entity until cancellation of the Certificate in accordance with Section 9.5.

1.5 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall end on the 31st day of December in each year (the “ Fiscal Year ”). The Partnership shall have the same Fiscal Year for income tax and for financial and partnership accounting purposes.

 

5


1.6 Powers . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Partnership, acting through the General Partner, shall be and hereby is authorized and empowered to do or cause to be done any and all acts determined by the General Partner to be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental in furtherance of the purposes of the Partnership, without any further act, approval or vote of any Person, including any Limited Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Partnership (and the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership) is hereby authorized and empowered:

(a) to enter into the Fund Agreement and to enter into, and to cause the Fund to enter into, subscription agreements and other agreements and documents in connection with the admission of limited partners to the Fund;

(b) to direct the formulation of investment policies and strategies for the Partnership and the Fund, and to direct the investment activities of the Partnership and the Fund;

(c) to acquire, hold, manage, vote, Transfer and own Securities and any other assets held by the Partnership, including exercising all rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Securities or assets and making all elections, filings, decisions and other actions that may be necessary or appropriate for the acquisition, holding or Transfer of such Securities or assets;

(d) to establish, maintain or close one or more offices within or without the State of Delaware and in connection therewith to rent or acquire office space and to engage personnel;

(e) to open, maintain and close bank, brokerage and escrow accounts (and temporarily invest the Partnership’s funds therein) and to draw checks or other orders for the payment of moneys;

(f) to set aside funds for reasonable reserves, anticipated contingencies and working capital and to incur and pay Partnership Expenses and any taxes for which the Partnership may be liable;

(g) to lend money to, borrow money from, act as surety, guarantor or endorser for, provide collateral for and transact other business with third Persons, including Partners and Affiliates of the Partnership, and invest and reinvest its funds;

(h) to bring, defend, settle and dispose of Proceedings and otherwise to bring and defend actions and proceedings at law or in equity or before any governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or commission;

(i) to retain and compensate (or fix the compensation of) consultants, custodians, attorneys, accountants, placement agents, underwriters, financial advisors and other agents and to authorize each such agent to act for and on behalf of the Partnership and/or the Fund;

(j) to indemnify any Person in accordance with the Act and to obtain any and all types of insurance;

(k) to prepare and file all tax returns of the Partnership and the Fund; to make such elections under the Code and other relevant tax laws as to the treatment of items of Partnership

 

6


income, gain, loss and deduction, and as to all other relevant matters, as the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate; to determine which items of cash outlay are to be capitalized or treated as current expenses; and to select the method of accounting and bookkeeping procedures to be used by the Partnership and the Fund;

(l) to take all action that may be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental for the continuation of the Partnership’s and the Fund’s valid existences as limited partnerships under the Act and in each other jurisdiction in which such action is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners or the limited partners of the Fund or to enable the Partnership and the Fund, consistent with such limited liability, to conduct the investment and other activities in which they are engaged; and

(m) to carry on any other activities necessary to, in connection with, or incidental to any of the foregoing or the Partnership’s and the Fund’s investment and other activities.

1.7 Specific Authorization . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Partnership (acting in its own name or on behalf of the Fund, as the case may be) and the General Partner on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership (or on behalf of the Partnership on behalf of the Fund), as appropriate, may execute, deliver and perform one or more Carry Agreements, Fund Agreements, any guarantee where a Fund is a beneficiary and the Partnership is an obligor, any management agreement with Oaktree and/or GFI Energy Ventures LLC, any subscription agreement relating to the Fund and any agreements to induce any Person to become a limited partner of the Fund, all amendments thereto and all agreements contemplated thereby and relating thereto, all without any further act, vote or approval of any Limited Partner or other Person. The General Partner is hereby authorized to enter into and perform on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership, as appropriate, the agreements described in the immediately preceding sentence, but such authorization shall not be deemed a restriction on the power of the General Partner to enter into other agreements on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership subject to any other restrictions expressly set forth in this Agreement.

1.8 Admission of Partners . As of the Effective Time, (i) the General Partner shall be admitted as the general partner of the Partnership and (ii) each Non-Managing Member of the Company (as defined in the Company Agreement) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner, in each case without regard to whether such Person executes a counterpart hereof. Each Person admitted as a Limited Partner pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall be listed by the General Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership in the Register and the date of admission of such Person to the Partnership shall be such Person’s date of admission to the Company. Any Carry Agreement executed by a Limited Partner with the Company shall continue in effect with respect to the Partnership and such Limited Partner. Each Non-Managing Member who was an Inactive Member (as defined in the Company Agreement) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed an Inactive Partner hereunder, unless Oaktree determines otherwise. After the date hereof, Persons shall be admitted as partners of the Partnership as provided in Article VIII.

1.9 Conversion of Limited Liability Company Interests . As of the Effective Time, (i) the limited liability company interest of the Managing Member (as defined in the Company Agreement) shall be converted to a general partner interest in the Partnership and (ii) the limited

 

7


liability company interest of each Non-Managing Member shall be converted to a limited partner interest in the Partnership, in each case such that the resulting Capital Percentages and Carry Percentages of the Partners with respect to any Permitted Investments are unchanged from the Capital Percentages and Carry Percentages of such Partners (as Members of the Company) immediately prior to the Effective Time. Each Person’s Capital Commitment to the Partnership (including any unpaid portion thereof) shall be identical to its Capital Commitment to the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time.

ARTICLE II

THE GENERAL PARTNER

2.1 Management of the Partnership, etc.

(a) General . Subject to Section 2.1(b), the management, control and operation of and the determination of policy with respect to the Partnership and its investment and other activities shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner, who shall, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, carry out any and all of the purposes of the Partnership and perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may deem necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental thereto.

(b) Actions and Determinations of the Partnership . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever this Agreement provides that a determination shall be made or an action shall be taken by the Partnership, such determination or act may be made or taken by the General Partner.

(c) General Partner as Agent . The General Partner, to the extent of its powers set forth in this Agreement, is an agent of the Partnership for the purpose of the Partnership’s business, and the actions of the General Partner taken in accordance with this Agreement shall bind the Partnership.

2.2 Reliance by Third Parties . In dealing with the General Partner and its duly appointed agents, no Person shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the General Partner or any such agent to bind the Partnership.

2.3 General Partner Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions . Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable for the return of the Capital Contributions of any Limited Partner, and such return shall be made solely from Available Assets of the Partnership, if any, and each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all claims that he, she or it may have against the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof in this regard.

2.4 Bankruptcy of General Partner . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the bankruptcy (as defined in the Act) of the General Partner shall not cause the General Partner to cease to be the General Partner and upon the occurrence of such an event, the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

2.5 No Removal of General Partner . The General Partner may not be removed as the General Partner of the Partnership.

 

8


ARTICLE III

THE LIMITED PARTNERS

3.1 No Participation in Management, etc . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, a Limited Partner shall not take part in the management or control of the Partnership, vote with respect to any action taken or to be taken by the Partners, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. The exercise by a Limited Partner of any right conferred herein shall not be construed to constitute participation by such Limited Partner in the control of the business of the Partnership so as to make such Limited Partner liable as a general partner for the debts and obligations of the Partnership for purposes of the Act.

3.2 Limitation of Liability . Except as may otherwise be required by the Act or as expressly provided for herein, the liability of each Limited Partner, solely in its capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, is limited to such Limited Partner’s Capital Commitment.

3.3 No Priority . A Limited Partner shall not have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of the amount of such Limited Partner’s Capital Contribution or as to any allocation of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership.

3.4 No Removal of Partners . In the case of a Limited Partner who is a natural person, such Limited Partner may not be removed as a Limited Partner or be reclassified as an Inactive Partner, except as set forth in this Agreement or in such Limited Partner’s Carry Agreement.

3.5 Bankruptcy or Withdrawal of a Partner . The bankruptcy or withdrawal of a Limited Partner shall not in and of itself dissolve the Partnership. A Limited Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership prior to the dissolution of the Partnership except with the consent of the General Partner.

ARTICLE IV

LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

4.1 Liability .

(a) Limited Partners . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, and no Limited Partner shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership solely by reason of it being a Limited Partner. Except as otherwise expressly required by law or as expressly provided in this Agreement, a Limited Partner, as such, shall have no liability in excess of ( a ) such Limited Partner’s obligation to make payments expressly provided for in this Agreement, including the amount of such Limited Partner’s Capital Commitment and such Limited Partner’s share of the amount that the Partnership is obligated to contribute to the Fund pursuant to sections 9.2 and 11.3 (clawback provisions) of the Fund Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions herein, ( b ) such Limited Partner’s share of any undistributed profits and

 

9


assets of the Partnership, and ( c ) the amount of any distributions wrongfully distributed to such Limited Partner as described in the Act.

(b) General Partner . Subject to Section 4.2, the General Partner shall be subject to all of the liabilities of a general partner in a partnership without limited partners.

4.2 Exculpation .

(a) Generally . No Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any other Partner for any act or omission taken or suffered by such Covered Person in good faith and in the reasonable belief that such act or omission is in or is not contrary to the best interests of the Partnership and is within the scope of authority granted to such Covered Person by this Agreement, provided that such act or omission does not constitute Disabling Conduct of the Covered Person. No Partner shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any action taken by any other Partner.

(b) Reliance Generally . A Covered Person shall incur no liability in acting upon any signature or writing reasonably believed by such Covered Person to be genuine, and may rely in good faith on a certificate signed by an executive officer of any Person in order to ascertain any fact with respect to such Person or within such Person’s knowledge and may rely in good faith on an opinion of counsel selected with reasonable care by such Covered Person with respect to legal matters. Each Covered Person may act directly or through such Covered Person’s agents or attorneys. Each Covered Person may consult with counsel, appraisers, engineers, accountants and other skilled Persons of such Covered Person’s choosing and shall not be liable for anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith and within the scope of this Agreement in reasonable reliance upon the advice of any of such Persons. No Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer or employee of such Covered Person or such Covered Person’s Affiliate. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.2, no Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any mistake of fact or judgment by such Covered Person in conducting the affairs of the Partnership or otherwise acting in respect of and within the scope of this Agreement.

(c) Reliance on this Agreement . To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, any Covered Person acting under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for breach of fiduciary duty for such Covered Person’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they address the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of a Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person.

(d) Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Covered Person shall be liable for the return of the Capital Contributions or Capital Account of any Partner, and such return shall be made solely from the Available Assets of the Partnership, if any, and each Partner hereby waives any and all claims that he, she or it may have against each Covered Person in this regard.

 

10


4.3 Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification Generally . Subject to Section 4.3(c), the Partnership shall and hereby does, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and release (and each Partner does hereby release) each Covered Person from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, costs, expenses, damages, losses, suits, proceedings and actions, whether judicial, administrative, investigative or otherwise, of whatever nature, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated (“ Claims ”), that may accrue to or be incurred by any Covered Person, or in which any Covered Person may become involved, as a party or otherwise, or with which any Covered Person may be threatened, relating to or arising out of the investment or other activities of the Partnership, or activities undertaken in connection with the Partnership, or otherwise relating to or arising out of this Agreement, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties, and counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation for or defense or disposition of any investigation, action, suit, arbitration or other proceeding (a “ Proceeding ”), whether civil or criminal (all of such Claims and amounts covered by this Section 4.3, and all expenses referred to in Section 4.3(b), are referred to collectively as “ Damages ”), except to the extent that it shall have been determined ultimately by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Damages arose primarily from the Disabling Conduct of such Covered Person. The termination of any Proceeding by settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that any Damages relating to such settlement or otherwise relating to such Proceedings arose primarily from the Disabling Conduct of, any Covered Person.

(b) Expenses, etc . The reasonable expenses incurred by a Covered Person (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in defense or settlement of any Claim that may be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder may be advanced by the Partnership to such Covered Person prior to the final disposition thereof with the consent of the General Partner upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined ultimately by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

(c) Notices of Claims, etc . Promptly after receipt by a Covered Person of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding that might give rise to a claim for indemnification by such Covered Person hereunder, such Covered Person shall give written notice to the Partnership of the commencement of such Proceeding, provided that the failure of any Covered Person to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Partnership of its obligations under this Section 4.3 except to the extent that the Partnership is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such Proceeding is brought against a Covered Person (other than a derivative suit in right of the Partnership), the Partnership will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof to the extent that the Partnership may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Covered Person. After notice from the Partnership to such Covered Person of the Partnership’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Partnership will not be liable for expenses subsequently incurred by such Covered Person in connection with the defense thereof. The right of any Covered Person to the indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative with, and in addition to, any and all rights to which such Covered Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall extend to such Covered Person’s successors, assigns and legal representatives.

 

11


ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL PERCENTAGES;

CARRY PERCENTAGES AND ADJUSTMENTS THERETO

5.1 Capital Contributions and Capital Percentages . Except as otherwise provided herein, each Partner shall make Capital Contributions in the aggregate up to the amount of such Partner’s Capital Commitment, which is set forth opposite such Partner’s name in the Register, as and when called for by the General Partner (so that the Partnership may fund its obligation to contribute capital to the Fund), and shall have a Capital Percentage. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Partner shall make Capital Contributions in excess of such Partner’s Capital Commitment. For the convenience of the Partnership, the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may request each Partner to make a payment to the Partnership in an amount up to the amount of such Partner’s Capital Commitment upon his or her admission as a Limited Partner.

5.2 Carry Percentages and Adjustments Thereto .

(a) General . Each Partner shall be assigned a sharing percentage representing such Partner’s share of the Carried Interest to be received from the Fund (such Partner’s “ Carry Percentage ”). The initial Carry Percentages shall be as set forth in the Register. The Carry Percentage of each Limited Partner shall also be set forth in an agreement between the Partnership and such Limited Partner substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, with such modifications as may be agreed to by the General Partner and the Limited Partner party thereto (with respect to each Partner, such Partner’s “ Carry Agreement ”). Each Partner’s Carry Percentage shall be subject to adjustment as provided in such Partner’s Carry Agreement. In addition, the General Partner may from time to time, without the consent of any Limited Partner, adjust any Active Partner’s Carry Percentage by allocating additional Carry Percentage to such Active Partner and correspondingly reducing the Carry Percentage of the General Partner. If deemed advisable by the General Partner, the General Partner shall have the discretion to make any such adjustment effective only with respect to Carried Interest attributable to increases in value in the Fund’s investments occurring after the date of such adjustment, and to amend or interpret the provisions of this Agreement (including Article VI) to give effect thereto.

(b) Adjustments to Carry Percentages in Connection with the Admission of Additional Partners . In connection with the admission of an Additional Partner as provided in Section 8.1 and without the consent of any Limited Partner, the General Partner may allocate to such Additional Partner such Carry Percentage as the General Partner may determine and correspondingly reduce the Carry Percentages of the Active Partners as the General Partner may determine, to the extent necessary for the sum of the Carry Percentages to equal 100%. If deemed advisable by the General Partner, the General Partner shall have the discretion to make any such adjustment effective only with respect to Carried Interest attributable to increases in value in the Fund’s investments occurring after the date of such adjustment, and to amend or interpret the provisions of this Agreement (including Article VI) to give effect thereto.

(c) Additional Adjustments with Respect to Active Partners . Following a designation of a Partner as an Inactive Partner and any adjustments to such Inactive Partner’s Carry

 

12


Percentage pursuant to such Partner’s Carry Agreement, the General Partner shall, without the consent of any Limited Partner, reallocate any reduction in the Carry Percentage of such Inactive Partner to such Partners (including itself) as the General Partner may determine.

ARTICLE VI

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; DISTRIBUTIONS; ALLOCATIONS; WITHHOLDING

6.1 Capital Accounts . There shall be established on the books and records of the Partnership a capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) for each Partner.

6.2 Adjustments to Capital Accounts . As of the last day of each Period, the balance in each Partner’s Capital Account shall be adjusted by ( a ) increasing such balance by ( i ) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s income and gain for such Period (allocated in accordance with Section 6.8) and ( ii ) the Capital Contribution, if any, made by such Partner during such Period, ( b ) decreasing such balance by ( i ) the amount of cash or the Value of Securities or other property distributed to such Partner pursuant to this Agreement and ( ii ) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s loss and deduction for such Period (allocated in accordance with Section 6.8). Each Partner’s Capital Account shall be further adjusted with respect to any special allocations or adjustments pursuant to this Agreement.

6.3 Distributions .

(a) Timing and Form of Distributions . The General Partner shall, after establishing reserves for material anticipated obligations or commitments of the Partnership, make distributions pursuant to Section 6.3(b) of amounts received by the Partnership from the Fund at such time or times as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion.

(b) Making of Distributions . Subject to Section 4.3 and to the other provisions of this Article VI, distributions to the Partners shall be made as follows:

(i) Capital Percentage Distributions . Distributions received pursuant to section 6.4(b) of the Fund Agreement shall be distributed to the Partners in proportion to their Capital Percentages.

(ii) Carry Percentage Distributions . Distributions of Carried Interest shall be distributed to the Partners in proportion to their Carry Percentages as they may be adjusted pursuant to this Agreement and the Carry Agreements.

(iii) Other Distributions . Distributions not described in paragraph (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.3(b) shall be distributed to the Active Partners in such proportions as shall be determined by the General Partner.

6.4 Tax Distributions . Notwithstanding Section 6.3, the General Partner may, to the extent of available cash, make distributions to the Partners in amounts sufficient to enable the Partners to discharge their U.S. federal, state and local income tax liabilities arising from the allocations made pursuant to this Agreement. The amount distributable pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be determined by the General Partner based on such assumptions as the General Partner

 

13


determines to be appropriate. The amount distributed to any Partner pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall reduce the amount otherwise distributable to such Partner pursuant to the relevant clause of Section 6.3, and shall be deemed to have been distributed to the extent of such reduction pursuant to such clause of Section 6.3.

6.5 General Distribution Provisions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, distributions shall be made only to the extent of Available Assets and in compliance with the Act and other applicable law. Any distribution by the Partnership pursuant to Article VI or IX to the Person shown on the Partnership’s records as a Partner or to such Partner’s legal representatives, or to the transferee of such Person’s right to receive such distributions as provided herein, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, acquit the Partnership of all liability to any other Person that may be interested in such distribution by reason of any Transfer of such Person’s interest in the Partnership for any reason (including a Transfer of such interest by reason of the death, incompetence, bankruptcy or liquidation of such Person).

6.6 Distributions in Kind . In the event that a distribution of Marketable Securities or other Securities is made, such Securities shall be deemed to have been sold at their Value and the proceeds of such sale shall be deemed to have been distributed in cash to the Partners for all purposes of this Agreement. Distributions of Marketable Securities and any other Securities or other property shall be made in proportion to the aggregate amounts that would be distributed to each Partner pursuant to Section 6.3, as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner may cause certificates evidencing any Securities to be distributed to be imprinted with legends as to such restrictions on Transfer as the General Partner may determine are necessary or appropriate, including legends as to applicable U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. securities laws or other legal or contractual restrictions, and may require any Partner to which Securities are to be distributed, as a condition to such distribution, to agree in writing ( a ) that such Partner will not Transfer such Securities except in compliance with such restrictions and ( b ) to such other matters as the General Partner may determine are necessary or appropriate.

6.7 No Withdrawal of Capital . Except as otherwise provided herein, no Partner shall have the right to withdraw capital from the Partnership or to receive any distribution of or return on such Partner’s Capital Contributions.

6.8 Allocations to Capital Accounts . Except as otherwise provided herein, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership (determined in accordance with U.S. tax principles as applied to the maintenance of capital accounts) shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Partners with respect to each Period, as of the end of such Period, in a manner that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the provisions of Articles VI and IX and the other relevant provisions of this Agreement. No Partner shall be required to make up a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account.

6.9 Tax Allocations and Other Tax Matters . Except as otherwise provided herein, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction recognized by the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes in the same manner that each such item is allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts or as otherwise provided herein, provided that the General Partner may adjust such allocations as may be necessary or desirable to maintain substantial economic effect, or to ensure that such allocations are in accordance with

 

14


the interests of the “partners in the partnership,” in each case, within the meaning of the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Tax credits and tax credit recapture shall be allocated in accordance with the interests of the Partners in the Partnership as provided in Treasury Regulation section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii). All matters concerning allocations for U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. income tax purposes, including accounting procedures, not expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement shall be determined in good faith by the General Partner. The General Partner is hereby designated as the tax matters partner of the Partnership, in accordance with the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to section 6231 of the Code and any similar provisions under any other state or local or non-U.S. tax laws. Each Limited Partner hereby consents to such designation and agrees that, upon the request of the General Partner, he, she or it will execute, certify, acknowledge, deliver, swear to, file and record at the appropriate public offices such documents as may be necessary or appropriate to evidence such consent. The Partnership shall not elect to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes under Treasury Regulation section 301.7701-3(a) or under any corresponding provision of state or local law. The Partnership shall not participate in the establishment of an “established securities market” (within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(b) of the Treasury Regulations) or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof” (within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations) or, in either case, the inclusion of interests in the Partnership thereon.

6.10 Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any Carry Agreement, each Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold and to pay over, or otherwise pay, any withholding or other taxes payable by the Partnership or any of its Affiliates (pursuant to the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. tax law) with respect to such Partner or as a result of such Partner’s status as a partner hereunder. If and to the extent that the Partnership shall be required to withhold or pay any such withholding or other taxes, such Partner shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement and the Carry Agreement to have received a payment from the Partnership as of the time that such withholding or other tax is required to be paid, which payment shall be deemed to be a distribution with respect to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership to the extent that such Partner (or any successor to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership) would have received a distribution but for such withholding. To the extent that such payment exceeds the cash distribution that such Partner would have received but for such withholding, the General Partner shall notify such Partner as to the amount of such excess and such Partner shall make a prompt payment to the Fund of such amount, which payment shall not constitute a Capital Contribution and, consequently, shall not increase such Partner’s Capital Account. The Partnership may hold back from any such distribution in kind property having a value equal to the amount of such taxes until the Partnership has received payment of such amount. In addition, if and to the extent that the Partnership or the Fund receives a distribution or payment from or in respect of which tax was withheld, as a result of (or attributable to) such Partner’s status as a Partner under this Agreement, as determined by the General Partner, such Partner shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to have received a distribution from the Partnership as of the time that such withholding was paid. Unless the General Partner determines otherwise, the withholdings by the Partnership referred to in this Section 6.10 shall be made at the maximum applicable statutory rate under the applicable tax law.

 

15


6.11 Final Distribution . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the final distribution following the dissolution of the Partnership shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.3.

6.12 Return of Distributions . If the Partnership and/or the Cayman GP is obligated under section 11.3 (general partner clawback) of the Fund Agreement to contribute to the Fund all or a portion of the distributions received by the Partnership from the Fund and/or from the Cayman GP, the Partners shall be required to fund, and hereby agree to fund, such obligation in proportion to and up to an amount not to exceed, in the case of each Partner, the aggregate distributions received by such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3(b)(ii) (not including distributions made (or that could have been made) pursuant to Section 6.4 that are deemed (or would have been deemed) to be distributions under Section 6.3(b)(ii)). Subject to the preceding sentence of this Section 6.12, if the Partnership and/or the Cayman GP is obligated under section 9.2 (limited partner clawback) of the Fund Agreement to contribute to the Fund all or a portion of the distributions received by the Partnership from the Fund and/or from the Cayman GP, the Partners shall be required to fund such obligation in proportion to and up to an amount not to exceed, in the case of each Partner, the aggregate distributions received by such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3. Each such Partner shall make contributions to the Partnership in satisfaction of such obligation. A Partner’s obligation to make contributions to the Partnership under this Section 6.12 shall survive the dissolution, liquidation, winding up and termination of the Partnership, and for purposes of this Section 6.12, the Partnership may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies that it may have against each Partner under this Section 6.12, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest from the date that such contribution was required to be paid under this Section 6.12 calculated at a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus 2% per annum (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by law.

ARTICLE VII

BOOKS AND RECORDS; TAX INFORMATION; REPORTS TO PARTNERS

7.1 Books and Records . The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of the transactions of the Partnership in proper books and records of account which shall set forth all information required by the Act. Such books and records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Upon advance written notice to the General Partner, such books and records shall be available for inspection and copying by the Limited Partners or their duly authorized representatives during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, provided that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Limited Partners shall not have access to the portions of such books and records that the General Partner determines would permit the identification of the Capital Contributions, Capital Account Balances, Carry Percentages and Capital Percentages of the other Partners, and provided, further, that, except to the extent that applicable law otherwise requires, an Inactive Partner shall have no right to inspect or copy the books and records of the Partnership.

7.2 Tax Information . As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the General Partner shall send to each Person that was a Partner at any time during such

 

16


Fiscal Year U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, “Partner’s Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, Etc.,” or any successor schedule or form, for such Partner.

7.3 Reports to Partners . The General Partner shall provide to each Active Partner on a timely basis the Partnership’s unaudited financial statements for each Fiscal Year. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or required by applicable law, the General Partner shall send to each Limited Partner only such other financial and other reports as the General Partner shall deem appropriate.

ARTICLE VIII

ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFERS; DESIGNATION OF

INACTIVE PARTNERS

8.1 Admission of Additional Partners . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, without the consent of any other Person, the General Partner may admit such Persons to the Partnership as the General Partner shall determine from time to time (each, an “ Additional Partner ”). In connection with the admission of any such Additional Partner, the General Partner shall amend the Register to reflect the admission of such Additional Partner and the amount of such Additional Partner’s Capital Commitment and Carry Percentage without the consent of any Limited Partner. Each such Person shall be admitted as an Additional Partner at the time that such Person ( a)  executes a counterpart of this Agreement and a Carry Agreement and ( b ) is listed by the General Partner as a partner of the Partnership in the Register.

8.2 Transfers .

(a) General . Except as provided in such Limited Partner’s Carry Agreement, no Limited Partner may Transfer in any manner whatsoever all or any part of such Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership without the express prior written consent of the General Partner.

(b) Certain Transfers . Without the consent of the General Partner, upon the death of a Limited Partner who is a natural person, such Limited Partner’s interest will be transferred to the estate of such Limited Partner or otherwise in accordance with applicable law, provided that such transferee shall not be substituted for the deceased Limited Partner as a limited partner of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

(c) Conditions to Transfer . No Transfer of an interest in the Partnership shall be permitted if ( i ) such Transfer would result in a violation of applicable law, including any securities laws, ( ii ) as a result of such Transfer, the Partnership or the Fund would be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or ( iii ) such Transfer would result in the Partnership at any time during its taxable year having more than 100 partners, within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(h)(1)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations (taking into account section 1.7704-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations). No attempted or purported Transfer in violation of this Section 8.2 shall be effective.

8.3 Designation as Inactive Partner . From and after the date of a Limited Partner’s death (in the case of a Limited Partner who is a natural person), Disability (as defined in such Partner’s Carry Agreement), bankruptcy or ceasing to be employed by or otherwise perform

 

17


services for Oaktree for any reason as determined by the General Partner, such Limited Partner shall automatically be deemed an “ Inactive Partner ” without any further action, unless Oaktree determines otherwise. An Inactive Partner shall be a limited partner of the Partnership, but shall, except to the extent that applicable law otherwise requires, have only those rights expressly set forth in this Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Inactive Partners shall not be entitled to participate in any vote, consent or approval of the Partners or Limited Partners permitted or required to be given for any purpose (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any consent to or approval of any merger or consolidation to which the Partnership is a party or any conversion of the Partnership to another form of entity or to a foreign limited partnership).

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP OF THE PARTNERSHIP

9.1 Dissolution . There shall be a dissolution of the Partnership and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

(a) the day after the second anniversary of the last day of the Term of the Fund;

(b) the decision of the General Partner to dissolve the Partnership;

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to section 17-802 of the Act;

(d) upon an event of withdrawal of the General Partner under the Act, unless the business of the Partnership is continued in accordance with the Act; or

(e) at any time when there are no Partners, unless the business of the Partnership is continued in accordance with the Act.

9.2 Winding Up . Upon the dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner (or any duly designated representative) shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to liquidate all of the Partnership’s assets and wind up the affairs of the Partnership in an orderly manner, provided that if in the judgment of the General Partner (or such representative) an asset of the Partnership should not be liquidated, the General Partner (or such representative) shall allocate, on the basis of the Value of any assets of the Partnership not sold or otherwise disposed of, any unrealized gain or loss based on such Value to the Partners’ Capital Accounts as though the assets in question had been sold on the date of such allocation and, after giving effect to any such adjustment, distribute said assets in accordance with Section 9.3, subject to the priorities set forth in Section 9.3, and provided , further , that the General Partner (or such other representative) will attempt to liquidate sufficient Partnership assets to satisfy in cash (or make reasonable provision in cash for) the debts and liabilities referred to in Section 9.3.

9.3 Final Distribution . After the application or distribution of the proceeds of the liquidation of the Partnership’s assets in one or more installments to the satisfaction of the liabilities to creditors of the Partnership, to the extent permitted by law, including to the satisfaction of the expenses of the winding-up, liquidation and dissolution of the Partnership (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof), the remaining

 

18


proceeds, if any, plus any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.3.

9.4 Time for Liquidation, etc . A reasonable time period shall be allowed for the orderly winding up and liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Partnership to seek to minimize potential losses upon such liquidation. The provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect during the period of winding up and until the filing of a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

9.5 Termination . Upon completion of the foregoing, the General Partner (or any duly designated authorized Person) or such other Person as required by the Act, shall execute, acknowledge and cause to be filed a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Such certificate of cancellation will not be filed by the General Partner (or such authorized Person) prior to the filing of the certificate of cancellation of the certificate of limited partnership of the Fund, unless otherwise required by law.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 Amendments . This Agreement and any Schedule hereto may be modified or amended, and any provision hereof may be waived, by a writing signed by the General Partner, provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Carry Agreement, no such modification, amendment or waiver that would adversely and materially alter any Partner’s economic interest in the Partnership (including such Partner’s Capital Commitment, Capital Percentage, Carry Percentage, obligations pursuant to Section 6.12, or right to or timing of distributions) shall be effective without the consent of such affected Partner. In addition to the foregoing, the General Partner has full authority without the consent of the Limited Partners to interpret any ambiguous provisions of this Agreement and to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement.

10.2 Notices . Each notice relating to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered ( a ) in person, by registered or certified mail or by private courier or ( b ) by facsimile or other electronic means, confirmed by telephone. All notices to any Limited Partner shall be delivered to such Limited Partner at the address of such Limited Partner as set forth in the records of the Partnership. All notices to the General Partner shall be delivered to the General Partner c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., 333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, Attention: General Counsel. Any Limited Partner may designate a new address for notices by giving written notice to that effect to the General Partner. The General Partner may designate a new address for notices by giving written notice to that effect to each of the Partners. A notice given in accordance with the foregoing clause (a) shall be deemed to have been effectively given five Business Days after such notice is mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and one Business Day after such notice is sent by Federal Express or other one-day service provider, to the proper address, or at the time delivered when delivered in person or by private courier. Any notice by facsimile or other electronic means shall

 

19


be deemed to have been effectively given when sent and confirmed by telephone in accordance with the foregoing clause (b).

10.3 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute a single agreement.

10.4 Table of Contents and Headings . The table of contents and the headings of the articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof or affect the interpretation hereof.

10.5 Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Partners and the Covered Persons, and shall be binding upon the parties and, subject to Section 8.2, their respective successors, permitted assigns and, in the case of individual Covered Persons, heirs and legal representatives.

10.6 Severability . Every term and provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any term or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such term or provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and, in any event, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement.

10.7 Further Actions . Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver such other certificates, agreements and documents, and take such other actions, as may reasonably be requested by the General Partner in connection with the achievement of its purposes or to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case as are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including any documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the Fund as a limited partnership in all jurisdictions in which the Fund conducts or plans to conduct its investment and other activities and all such agreements, certificates, tax statements and other documents as may be required to be filed by or on behalf of the Fund.

10.8 Determinations of the General Partner . To the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any other agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (a) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or any other Person, or (b) in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.

10.9 Non-Waiver . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived unless such waiver is given in writing, and no such waiver shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or further obligation or liability of the party or parties in whose favor such waiver was given.

 

20


10.10 Applicable Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

10.11 Confidentiality . Each Limited Partner shall keep confidential and shall not disclose without the prior written consent of the General Partner any information with respect to this Agreement, the Partnership, the Fund or any Permitted Investment made by the Fund, any issuer of any Permitted Investment made by the Fund or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, provided that a Partner may disclose any such information ( a ) as has become generally available to the public other than as a result of the breach of this Section 10.11 by such Partner, ( b ) as may be required to be included in any report, statement or testimony required to be submitted to any municipal, state or national regulatory body having jurisdiction over such Partner, ( c ) as may be required in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, ( d ) to the extent necessary in order to comply with any law, order, regulation or ruling applicable to such Partner, ( e ) to such Partner’s professional advisors, ( f ) as may be required in connection with an audit by any taxing authority and (g)  to the extent necessary for the fulfillment of such Partner’s obligations as an employee of Oaktree (including for purposes of marketing limited partnership interests in the Fund). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have the right to keep confidential from the Limited Partners for such period of time as the General Partner determines to be reasonable ( i ) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets and ( ii ) any other information ( A ) the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interest of the Partnership, the Fund or its investments or could damage the Partnership, the Fund or its investments or ( B ) that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with a third Person to keep confidential. The provisions of this Section 10.11 were negotiated in good faith by the parties hereto, and the parties hereto agree that such provisions are reasonable and are not more restrictive than is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the parties hereto.

10.12 Survival of Certain Provisions . The obligations of each Partner pursuant to Article IV, Section 6.12 and this Article X shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement and the dissolution, winding up and termination of the Partnership.

10.13 Waiver of Partition . Except as may otherwise be provided by law in connection with the dissolution, winding up and liquidation of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that such Partner may have to maintain an action for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

10.14 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Carry Agreements together constitute the entire agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such subject matter.

 

21


ARTICLE XI

POWER OF ATTORNEY; REPRESENTATIONS

11.1 Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint the General Partner, with full power of substitution, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent of such Partner, to execute, acknowledge, verify, swear to, deliver, record and file, in such Partner’s name, place and stead, all instruments, documents and certificates that may from time to time be required by the laws of the United States, the State of Delaware, any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to effectuate, implement and continue the valid existence and business of the Partnership, including the power and authority to execute, verify, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, record and file:

(a) all certificates and other instruments, including, without limitation, any amendments to this Agreement or to the Certificate, that the General Partner deems appropriate to ( i ) form, qualify or continue the Partnership as a limited partnership in the State of Delaware and all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business and ( ii ) admit such Partner as a Partner in the Partnership;

(b) all instruments that the General Partner determines to be appropriate to reflect any amendment to this Agreement or the Certificate ( i ) to satisfy any requirements, conditions, guidelines or opinions contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, or any other U.S. federal or state agency, or in any U.S. federal or state statute, compliance with which the General Partner deems to be in the best interests of the Partnership, ( ii ) to change the name of the Partnership or ( iii ) to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision herein or therein contained that may be incomplete or inconsistent with any other provision herein or therein contained;

(c) all instruments that the General Partner determines to be appropriate in connection with the formation or operation of the Parallel Fund or any Designated Partner, separate account or Alternative Investment Fund or the general partner, controlling shareholder or managing member of the Parallel Fund or any Designated Partner, separate account or Alternative Investment Fund (if the General Partner determines that it is desirable for an entity other than the Partnership to be the general partner, controlling shareholder or managing member of the Parallel Fund or such Designated Partner, separate account or Alternative Investment Fund);

(d) all instruments that the General Partner determines to be appropriate to reflect and effect the dissolution, winding up and liquidation of the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including the filing of a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate as provided in Article IX;

(e) all instruments relating to ( i ) duly authorized Transfers of interests in the Partnership or the admission of Additional Partners, ( ii ) changes in the Capital Commitment or Carry Percentage of any Partner or ( iii ) duly adopted amendments to this Agreement, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

22


(f) certificates of assumed name and such other certificates and instruments as may be necessary under the fictitious or assumed name statutes from time to time in effect in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business; and

(g) any other instruments determined by the General Partner to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership.

Such attorney-in-fact and agent shall not, however, have the right, power or authority to amend or modify this Agreement when acting in such capacities, except to the extent authorized herein. This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent disability, incompetence or incapacity of a Limited Partner. This power of attorney shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable, shall survive and not be affected by the dissolution, bankruptcy or legal disability of each of any Limited Partner and shall extend to their successors and assigns. This power of attorney may be exercised by any such attorney-in-fact and agent for all Limited Partners of the Partnership (or any of them) with or without listing all of the Limited Partners executing an instrument. Any Person dealing with the Partnership may conclusively presume and rely upon the fact that any instrument referred to above, executed by such attorney-in-fact and agent, is authorized and binding, without further inquiry. If required, each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver to the Partnership, within five Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such further designations, powers of attorney or other instruments as the General Partner shall determine to be necessary for the purposes hereof consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

11.2 Representations . Each Limited Partner represents, warrants and covenants to the General Partner and the Partnership as follows:

(a) Capacity . Such Partner has the full capacity, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to subscribe for and purchase an interest as a partner of the Partnership. Such Partner has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Partner, enforceable against such Partner in accordance with its terms.

(b) Compliance with Laws and Other Instruments . The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the performance of such Partner’s obligations hereunder will not conflict with, or result in any violation of or default under, any provision of any agreement or other instrument to which such Partner is a party or by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s assets are bound, or any judgment, decree, statute, order, rule or regulation applicable to such Partner or such Partner’s assets.

(c) Access to Information . Such Partner has carefully reviewed this Agreement, the Fund Agreement and the private placement memorandum of the Fund, as supplemented through the date hereof, relating to the offering of interests in the Fund. Such Partner has been provided an opportunity to ask questions of, and such Partner has received answers thereto satisfactory to such Partner from, the Partnership and its representatives regarding such documents and the terms and conditions of the offering of interests in the Partnership, and such Partner has obtained all additional information requested by such Partner of the Partnership and its representatives to

 

23


verify the accuracy of all information furnished to such Partner regarding such documents and the offering of such interests.

(d) Evaluation of and Ability to Bear Risks . Such Partner has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs that such Partner is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of purchasing an interest in the Partnership, and such Partner has not relied in connection with this investment upon any representations, warranties or agreements other than those set forth in this Agreement. Such Partner’s financial situation is such that such Partner can afford to bear the economic risk of holding an interest in the Partnership for an indefinite period of time, and such Partner can afford to suffer the complete loss of such Partner’s investment in such interest.

(e) Purchase for Investment . Such Partner is acquiring the interest in the Partnership to be purchased by such Partner pursuant to this Agreement for such Partner’s own account for investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of all or any part of such interest. Such Partner will not, directly or indirectly, transfer, sell, pledge or hypothecate all or any part of such interest (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of all or any part of such interest) except in accordance with the registration provisions of the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration provisions, with any applicable state or non-U.S. securities laws, and with the terms of this Agreement. Such Partner understands that such Partner must bear the economic risk of an investment in an interest in the Partnership for an indefinite period of time because, among other reasons, the offering and sale of such interests have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, such an interest cannot be sold other than through a privately negotiated transaction unless it is subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Such Partner also understands that sales or transfers of such interests are further restricted by the provisions of this Agreement, and may be restricted by other applicable securities laws.

(f) Accredited Investor . Except as otherwise indicated to the General Partner in writing, either ( i ) such Partner’s net worth, or such Partner’s joint net worth with such Partner’s spouse, at the time that such Partner is admitted to the Partnership, exceeds $1,000,000 or ( ii ) such Partner had individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with such Partner’s spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years, and such Partner has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.

(g) Knowledgeable Employee . Except as otherwise indicated to the General Partner in writing, such Partner is a “Knowledgeable Employee,” as such term is defined in Rule 3c-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless such Partner has notified the Partnership in writing prior to such Partner’s admission to the Partnership as a partner that such Partner is not a Knowledgeable Employee. The term “Knowledgeable Employee” shall include (a) any executive officer (which includes the president, any vice president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as administration or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions, for the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership), director, trustee, general partner, managing member, advisory board member, or person serving in a similar capacity, of the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership or (b) any employee of the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership (other

 

24


than an employee performing solely clerical, secretarial or administrative functions with regard to such entity or its investments) who, in connection with such employee’s regular functions or duties, participates in the investment activities of the Fund, other companies that would be investment companies but for the exclusion provided by section 3(c)(1) or section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act, or investment companies the investment activities of which are managed by Oaktree, provided that such employee has been performing such functions and duties for or on behalf of the Fund, Oaktree or the Partnership, or substantially similar functions or duties for or on behalf of another entity, for at least 12 months.

 

25


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

GENERAL PARTNER :

 

OAKTREE FUND GP I, L.P.

By:     / S / T ODD M OLZ            
  Name: Todd Molz
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

By:     / S / R ICHARD T ING            
  Name: Richard Ting
  Title: Authorized Signatory

Exhibit 10.23

 

 

 

OCM EUROPEAN PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND GP, L.P.

 

 

SECOND AMENDED & RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated November 18, 2008

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

   Page  
ARTICLE I  
GENERAL PROVISIONS  

1.1

 

Definitions

     1   

1.2

 

Name and Office

     5   

1.3

 

Purposes

     5   

1.4

 

Term

     6   

1.5

 

Fiscal Year

     6   

1.6

 

Powers

     6   

1.7

 

Specific Authorization

     7   

1.8

 

Amendment and Restatement of Agreement; Admission of Partners

     8   

1.9

 

Register

     8   

1.10

 

Cayman Register

     8   

ARTICLE II

  

THE GENERAL PARTNER

  

2.1

 

Management of the Partnership, etc

     9   

2.2

 

Reliance by Third Parties

     9   

2.3

 

General Partner Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions

     9   

2.4

 

Bankruptcy of General Partner

     9   

2.5

 

No Removal of General Partner

     9   

ARTICLE III

  

THE LIMITED PARTNERS

  

3.1

 

No Participation in Management, etc

     10   

3.2

 

Limitation of Liability

     10   

3.3

 

No Priority

     10   

3.4

 

Bankruptcy or Withdrawal of a Partner

     10   

ARTICLE IV

  

LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

  

4.1

 

Liability

     10   

4.2

 

Exculpation

     11   

4.3

 

Indemnification

     11   

4.4

 

Agreements for Covered Persons

     13   

 

i


ARTICLE V  
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL PERCENTAGES; CARRY PERCENTAGES AND ADJUSTMENTS
THERETO
 

5.1

 

Capital Contributions and Capital Percentages

     13   

5.2

 

Carry Percentages and Adjustments Thereto

     14   

ARTICLE VI

  

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; DISTRIBUTIONS; ALLOCATIONS; WITHHOLDING

  

6.1

 

Capital Accounts

     15   

6.2

 

Adjustments to Capital Accounts

     15   

6.3

 

Distributions

     15   

6.4

 

Tax Distributions

     15   

6.5

 

General Distribution Provisions

     16   

6.6

 

Distributions in Kind

     16   

6.7

 

No Withdrawal of Capital

     16   

6.8

 

Allocations to Capital Accounts

     16   

6.9

 

Tax Allocations and Other Tax Matters

     16   

6.10

 

Withholding

     17   

6.11

 

Final Distribution

     18   

6.12

 

Return of Distributions

     18   

ARTICLE VII

  

BOOKS AND RECORDS; TAX INFORMATION; REPORTS TO PARTNERS

  

7.1

 

Books and Records

     18   

7.2

 

Tax Information

     19   

7.3

 

Reports to Partners

     19   

ARTICLE VIII

  

ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFERS; DESIGNATION OF INACTIVE PARTNERS

  

8.1

 

Admission of Additional Partners

     19   

8.2

 

Transfers

     19   

8.3

 

Designation as Inactive Partner

     20   

ARTICLE IX

  

DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP OF THE PARTNERSHIP

  

9.1

  Dissolution      20   

9.2

  Winding Up      20   

 

ii


9.3

  Final Distribution      20   

9.4

 

Time for Liquidation, etc.

     21   

9.5

 

Termination

     21   

ARTICLE X

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

10.1

 

Amendments

     21   

10.2

 

Notices

     21   

10.3

 

Counterparts

     22   

10.4

 

Table of Contents and Headings

     22   

10.5

 

Successors and Assigns

     22   

10.6

 

Severability

     22   

10.7

 

Further Actions

     22   

10.8

 

Determinations of the General Partner

     22   

10.9

 

Non-Waiver

     22   

10.10

 

Applicable Law

     23   

10.11

 

Confidentiality

     23   

10.12

 

Survival of Certain Provisions

     24   

10.13

 

Waiver of Partition

     24   

10.14

 

Entire Agreement

     24   

10.15

 

Currency

     24   

 

 

iii


OCM EUROPEAN PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND GP, L.P.

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT of OCM EUROPEAN PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND GP, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), is made and entered into as a deed on November 18, 2008, by and among OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund GP Ltd., as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the persons listed in the Register as limited partners of the Partnership (as supplemented or amended from time to time) for the purpose of amending and restating the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, dated March 3, 2006 (“ Amended Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings specified in Section 1.1. References herein to the Partnership shall, wherever the context requires, mean the General Partner acting in its capacity as such (and in its personal capacity) on behalf of the Partnership.

R E C I T A L S :

WHEREAS, the Partnership is an exempted limited partnership registered under the Partnership Law pursuant to a Statement filed with the Registrar of Exempted Limited Partnerships in the Cayman Islands on February 17, 2006, and since March 3, 2006 has been governed by the Amended Agreement, which amended and restated the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership dated February 17, 2006; and

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Limited Partners admitted on the date hereof desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety and to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree to continue the Partnership and hereby amend and restate the Amended Agreement, which is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this Agreement, as follows:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings specified in the Fund Agreement. As used herein the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

Active Partners ” shall mean all Partners other than any Inactive Partners.

Additional Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

Adjustment Date ” shall mean the last day of each Fiscal Year or any other date that the General Partner determines to be appropriate for an interim closing of the Partnership’s books.


Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.

Agreement ” shall mean this Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Amended Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Available Assets ” shall mean, as of any date, the excess of ( a ) the cash and cash equivalent items held by the Partnership over ( b ) the sum of the amount of such items as the General Partner determines to be necessary for the payment of the Partnership’s expenses, liabilities and other obligations (whether fixed or contingent), and for the establishment of appropriate reserves for such expenses, liabilities and obligations as they may arise, including the maintenance of adequate working capital for the continued conduct of the Partnership’s investment activities and operations.

Business Day ” shall mean any day on which commercial banks are generally open for business in New York City and London.

Capital Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

Capital Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount set forth opposite the name of such Partner on the Register, as amended from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.

Capital Contribution ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount of capital contributed by such Partner to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement, unless such capital is not treated as a Capital Contribution by the express terms of this Agreement.

Capital Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to each Partner, a fraction, expressed as a percentage, ( a ) the numerator of which is the aggregate Capital Contributions of such Partner used to fund the Partnership’s investment through the Fund in a Permitted Investment and ( b ) the denominator of which is the aggregate Capital Contributions of all of the Partners used to fund such investment.

Carried Interest ” shall mean distributions received or to be received by the Partnership from the Fund as general partner of the Fund pursuant to sections 6.4(c)(iii) and 6.4(c)(iv) of the Fund Agreement.

Carry Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a). Any and all Carry Agreements entered into on or after the date hereof shall be deemed incorporated in and made part of this Agreement.

Carry Percentage ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).

Cayman Islands ” shall mean the Cayman Islands, British West Indies.

 

2


Cayman Register ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.10.

Claims ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Code ” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Covered Person ” shall mean any Partner, any officers, directors, shareholders, controlling Persons, partners, members, employees, representatives or agents of the General Partner; or any Person who was, at the time of the act or omission in question, such a Person.

Damages ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Designated Partner ” shall mean OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund (Cayman) Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, and any other entity formed by the Partnership or its Affiliates, and admitted as a limited partner in the Fund, through which investors participate in the Fund.

Disabling Conduct ” shall mean, with respect to any Person: (a)  fraud; (b)  willful malfeasance; (c)  a material violation of this Agreement that, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after a written notice describing such violation has been given to such Person; (d)  conviction of a felony; (e)  a willful violation of law having a material adverse affect on the Fund; (f)  Gross Negligence; or (g)  reckless disregard of duties in the conduct of such Person’s office.

Fiscal Year ” shall mean the fiscal year of the Partnership, as determined pursuant to Section 1.5.

Fund ” shall mean OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, together with any Designated Partner, Alternative Investment Fund or Separate Account, as the context may require, and their respective successors and assigns.

Fund Agreement ” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Fund, dated October 18, 2006, as amended from time to time, and the governing instrument of any Designated Partner, Alternative Investment Fund or Separate Account, each, as amended from time to time, as the context may require.

General Partner ” shall mean OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund GP Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, and its successors and assigns.

Gross Negligence ” shall, notwithstanding Section 10.10, have the meaning given to such term under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Inactive Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

 

3


Limited Partners ” shall mean the Persons admitted as limited partners of the Fund, which limited partners shall be listed on the Register, and shall include their successors and permitted assigns to the extent admitted to the Partnership as limited partners in accordance with the terms hereof, in their capacities as partners of the Partnership, but shall exclude any Person that becomes an Inactive Partner or otherwise ceases to be a Partner in accordance with the terms hereof.

Notice of Dissolution ” shall mean a notice of dissolution signed by the General Partner pursuant to the Partnership Law.

Oaktree ” shall mean Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

Partners ” shall mean the General Partner, the Limited Partners and any Inactive Partners. For purposes of Cayman Islands’ law, the Partners shall constitute a single class, series and group of Partners.

Partnership ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

Partnership Expenses ” shall mean the reasonable costs and expenses that in the judgment of the General Partner are incurred by or arise out of the organization and operation of the Partnership, including, without limitation, legal and accounting expenses.

Partnership Law ” shall mean the Exempted Limited Partnership Law of the Cayman Islands (as amended), and any successor to such statute.

Period ” shall mean, for the first Period, the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the next Adjustment Date; and for each subsequent Period shall mean the period commencing on the day after an Adjustment Date and ending on the next Adjustment Date.

Person ” shall mean any individual or entity, including a corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated association, government or governmental agency or authority.

Prime Rate ” shall mean the rate of interest published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal , Eastern Edition (or any successor publication thereto) designated therein as the prime rate or, if not so published, the rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by any money center bank as its prime rate in effect at its principal office as identified by the General Partner.

Proceedings ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Register ” shall mean the Register of Partners, Capital Commitments and Percentages maintained by the General Partner, (as such Register may be supplemented or amended from time to time).

 

4


Securities ” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, limited liability company interests, warrants, options, bonds, notes, debentures and other equity and debt securities of whatever kind of any Person, whether readily marketable or not.

Statement ” shall mean the statement of registration filed by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership with the Registrar of Exempted Limited Partnerships in the Cayman Islands.

Subscription Agreement ” shall mean a subscription agreement entered into by the Partnership and a Limited Partner in connection with such Limited Partner’s purchase of interests in the Partnership.

Transfer ” shall mean any sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition or grant of security interest, or the act of so doing, as the context requires.

Treasury Regulations ” shall mean the regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department issued pursuant to the Code.

Value ” shall mean, with respect to any distribution of Securities received by the Partnership from the Fund, the value of such Securities as determined by the Fund, and otherwise shall have the meaning set forth in the Fund Agreement.

1.2 Name and Office .

(a) Name . The name of the Partnership is OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund GP, L.P. Unless otherwise agreed by the General Partner in writing, a Limited Partner shall not have any right, title or interest in or right to the use of the name “OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund GP,” “OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.,” “OCM,” “Oaktree” or any variation thereof, including any name to which the name of the Partnership or the Fund may be changed. No value shall be placed upon the name of the Partnership or the goodwill attached thereto for the purpose of determining the value of any Limited Partner’s Capital Account or interest in (or right to distributions from) the Partnership.

(b) Office . The registered office of the Partnership in the Cayman Islands is located at c/o Walkers SPV Limited, Walker House, 87 Mary Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-9002, Cayman Islands and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership at such address is Walkers SPV Limited. At any time, the Partnership may designate another registered agent and/or registered office in the Cayman Islands.

1.3 Purposes . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the purposes of the Partnership are ( a ) to serve as the general partner of the Fund and the general partner (or other corresponding entity), directly or indirectly, of any Designated Partner, Alternative Investment Fund, Separate Account or any other investment vehicle formed to make an investment in the Fund, as the General Partner deems appropriate, ( b ) to acquire, hold and dispose of Securities and ( c ) to engage in such other activities as the General Partner deems necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to the foregoing, provided that the Partnership shall not undertake

 

5


business with the public in the Cayman Islands (other than so far as may be necessary to carry on the activities of the Partnership exterior to the Cayman Islands).

1.4 Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on February 17, 2006 and shall continue until the last day of the term of the Fund, provided that, notwithstanding the expiration of the term of the Partnership, the Partnership shall continue in existence until the filing of a Notice of Dissolution in accordance with Section 9.5.

1.5 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall end on the 31st day of December of each year (the “ Fiscal Year ”). The Partnership shall have the same Fiscal Year for income tax and for financial and partnership accounting purposes.

1.6 Powers . Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Partnership, acting through the General Partner, shall be and hereby is authorized and empowered to do or cause to be done any and all acts determined by the General Partner to be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental in furtherance of the purposes of the Partnership and the Fund, without any further act, approval or vote of any Person, including any Limited Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Partnership (and the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership) is (and are) hereby authorized and empowered:

(a) to enter into the Fund Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and the Carry Agreements and to enter into, and to cause the Fund to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under contracts and agreements of every kind, and amendments thereto, necessary or incidental to (i) the offer and sale of interests in the Fund (including subscription agreements and other agreements and documents in connection with the admission of limited partners to the Fund) and (ii) the acquisition, holding, managing and transfer of Permitted Investments by the Fund, or otherwise to the accomplishment of the Fund’s purposes, and to cause the Fund to take or omit to take such other actions in connection with such offer and sale, with such acquisition, holding, managing or transfer, or with the investment and other activities of the Fund, as may be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to further the purposes of the Partnership and the Fund;

(b) to direct the formulation of investment policies and strategies for the Partnership and the Fund, and to direct the investment activities of the Partnership and the Fund;

(c) to acquire, hold, manage, vote, Transfer and own Securities and any other assets held by the Partnership, including exercising all rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Securities or assets and making all elections, filings, decisions and other actions that may be necessary or appropriate for the acquisition, holding or Transfer of such Securities or assets;

(d) to establish, maintain or close one or more offices within or without the Cayman Islands and in connection therewith to rent or acquire office space and to engage personnel;

(e) to open, maintain and close bank, brokerage (including escrow and margin) accounts, to draw checks or other orders for the payment of moneys, to exchange U.S. dollars held by the Partnership into non-U.S. currencies and vice-versa, and to temporarily invest such funds of the Partnership as are not otherwise required for Partnership purposes;

 

6


(f) to set aside funds for reasonable reserves, anticipated contingencies and working capital and to incur and pay Partnership Expenses and any taxes for which the Partnership may be liable;

(g) to lend money to, borrow money from, act as surety, guarantor or endorser for, provide collateral for and transact other business with third Persons, including Partners and Affiliates of the Partnership, and invest and reinvest its funds, to grant a security interest, including, entering into any pledge, instrument or other agreement as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the foregoing;

(h) to bring, defend, settle and dispose of Proceedings and otherwise to bring and defend actions and proceedings at law or in equity or before any governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or commission;

(i) to retain and compensate (or fix the compensation of) consultants, custodians, attorneys, accountants, placement agents, underwriters, financial advisors and other agents and to authorize each such agent to act for and on behalf of the Partnership and/or the Fund;

(j) to indemnify any Person in accordance with the Partnership Law and to obtain any and all types of insurance;

(k) to prepare and file all tax returns of the Partnership and the Fund; to make such elections under the Code and other relevant tax laws as to the treatment of items of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, and as to all other relevant matters, as the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate; to determine which items of cash outlay are to be capitalized or treated as current expenses; and to select the method of accounting and bookkeeping procedures to be used by the Partnership and the Fund;

(l) to take all action that may be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental for the continuation of the Partnership’s valid existence as an exempted limited partnership under the Partnership Law and the Fund’s valid existence as an exempted limited partnership under the Partnership Law (including making such filings with the Registrar of Exempted Limited Partnerships in the Cayman Islands as are necessary to continue the registration of the Partnership and/or Fund, as the case may be, as exempted limited partnerships under the Partnership Law), and any successor to such statute, and in each other jurisdiction in which such action is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Partners or the limited partners of the Fund or to enable the Partnership and the Fund, consistent with such limited liability, to conduct the investment and other activities in which they are engaged; and

(m) to carry on any other activities necessary to, in connection with, or incidental to any of the foregoing or the Partnership’s and the Fund’s investment and other activities.

1.7 Specific Authorization . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Partnership (acting in its own name or on behalf of the Fund, as the case may be) and the General Partner on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership (or on behalf of the Partnership on behalf of the Fund), as appropriate, may execute, deliver and perform one or more Carry Agreements, one or more Subscription Agreements, any Fund Agreement, any guarantee where the Fund is a beneficiary and the Partnership is an obligor, any management agreement with

 

7


Oaktree, any subscription agreement relating to the Fund and any agreements to induce any Person to become a limited partner of the Fund, all amendments thereto and all agreements contemplated thereby and relating thereto, all without any further act, vote or approval of any Limited Partner or other Person. The General Partner is hereby authorized to enter into and perform on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership, as appropriate, the agreements described in the immediately preceding sentence, but such authorization shall not be deemed a restriction on the power of the General Partner to enter into other agreements on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership subject to any other restrictions expressly set forth in this Agreement.

1.8 Amendment and Restatement of Agreement; Admission of Partners . The parties hereto hereby agree to continue the Partnership and hereby amend and restate the Amended Agreement, which is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this Agreement. A Person shall be admitted as a Limited Partner at the time ( a ) this Agreement or a counterpart hereof, a Subscription Agreement or a Carry Agreement is executed by or on behalf of such Person and ( b ) such Person is listed by the General Partner as a Partner of the Partnership in the Register. The General Partner shall inscribe, or arrange the inscription of, the names of the Limited Partners in the Register and the Cayman Register, and shall update the Cayman Register as necessary to accurately reflect the information therein in accordance with the Partnership Law. After the date hereof, Persons shall be admitted as Partners of the Partnership as provided in Article VIII.

1.9 Register . The General Partner shall cause the Register to be maintained in the principal office of the Partnership. The Register shall be part of the books and records of the Partnership. The Register shall from time to time be updated by the General Partner as necessary to reflect accurately the information to be contained therein without any action on the part of the Limited Partners. Any reference in this Agreement to the Register shall be deemed a reference to the Register as in effect from time to time. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the General Partner may take any action authorized hereunder in respect of the Register without any need to obtain the consent of any other Partner. No update to the Register shall require an amendment to this Agreement.

1.10 Cayman Register . The General Partner shall cause to be maintained at the registered office of the Partnership a register of limited partnership interests of the Partnership which shall include, as required by the Partnership Law, the name and address of each Limited Partner and the amount of capital contributions made by each Limited Partner (the “ Cayman Register ”). The Cayman Register shall not be part of this Agreement. The General Partner shall from time to time update the Cayman Register as required by the Partnership Law to accurately reflect the information therein. Any reference in this Agreement to the Cayman Register shall be deemed a reference to the Cayman Register as in effect from time to time. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the General Partner may take any action authorized hereunder in respect of the Cayman Register without any need to obtain the consent of any other Partner. No action of any Limited Partner shall be required to amend or update the Cayman Register.

 

8


ARTICLE II

THE GENERAL PARTNER

2.1 Management of the Partnership, etc .

(a) General . Subject to Section 2.1(b), the management, control and operation of and the determination of policy with respect to the Partnership and its investment and other activities shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner, who shall, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, carry out any and all of the purposes of the Partnership and perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may deem necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental thereto.

(b) Actions and Determinations of the Partnership . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever this Agreement provides that a determination shall be made or an action shall be taken by the Partnership, such determination or act may be made or taken by the General Partner in its sole discretion.

(c) General Partner as Agent . The General Partner, to the extent of its powers set forth in this Agreement, is an agent of the Partnership for the purpose of the Partnership’s business, and the actions of the General Partner taken in accordance with this Agreement shall bind the Partnership.

2.2 Reliance by Third Parties . In dealing with the General Partner and its duly appointed agents, no Person shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the General Partner or any such agent to bind the Partnership.

2.3 General Partner Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions . Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable for the return of the Capital Contributions of any Limited Partner, and such return shall be made solely from Available Assets of the Partnership, if any, and each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all claims that he, she or it may have against the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof in this regard.

2.4 Bankruptcy of General Partner . In the event of the bankruptcy or dissolution and commencement of winding-up of the General Partner or the occurrence of any other event that causes the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership under the Partnership Law, the Partnership shall be dissolved and wound up as provided in Article IX, unless a replacement general partner of the Partnership is designated within 90 days by the unanimous written election of the Limited Partners.

2.5 No Removal of General Partner . The General Partner may not be removed as the General Partner of the Partnership.

 

9


ARTICLE III

THE LIMITED PARTNERS

3.1 No Participation in Management, etc . No Limited Partner shall take part in the management or control of the Partnership, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership, provided that a Person that is also a Limited Partner may execute documents and perform other activities on behalf of the Partnership if such Person has been designated, by way of power of attorney or otherwise, as a Person authorized to act for the General Partner or a director of the General Partner in the performance of such person’s duties for, and employment with, Oaktree or any of its Affiliates and provided further that in so doing it shall be clear that such Person is not acting in his or her capacity as a Limited Partner. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, and subject to the Partnership Law, no Limited Partner may vote with respect to any action taken or to be taken by the Partnership or the Partners.

3.2 Limitation of Liability . Except as may otherwise be required by the Partnership Law or as expressly provided for herein, the liability of each Limited Partner, solely in its capacity as a Partner of the Partnership, is limited to such Partner’s Capital Commitment.

3.3 No Priority . No Limited Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of the amount of such Partner’s Capital Contribution or as to any allocation of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership.

3.4 Bankruptcy or Withdrawal of a Partner . The bankruptcy or withdrawal of a Limited Partner shall not in and of itself dissolve the Partnership. A Limited Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership prior to the dissolution of the Partnership except with the written consent of the General Partner.

ARTICLE IV

LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

4.1 Liability . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by the Partnership Law, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, and no Covered Person shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Partnership solely by reason of it being a Partner. Except as otherwise expressly required by law or as expressly provided in this Agreement, a Partner, as such, shall have no liability in excess of ( a ) such Partner’s obligation to make payments expressly provided for in this Agreement, including the amount of such Partner’s Capital Commitment and such Partner’s share of the amount that the Partnership is obligated to contribute to the Fund pursuant to sections 9.2 and 11.3 (clawback provisions) of the Fund Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions herein, ( b ) such Partner’s share of any undistributed profits and assets of the Partnership, and ( c ) the amount of any distributions wrongfully distributed to such Partner as described in the Partnership Law.

 

10


4.2 Exculpation .

(a) Generally . No Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any other Partner for any act or omission taken or suffered by such Covered Person in good faith and in the reasonable belief that such act or omission is in or is not contrary to the best interests of the Partnership and is within the scope of authority granted to such Covered Person by this Agreement, provided that such act or omission does not constitute Disabling Conduct of the Covered Person. No Partner shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any action taken by any other Partner.

(b) Reliance Generally . A Covered Person shall incur no liability in acting upon any signature or writing reasonably believed by such Covered Person to be genuine, and may rely in good faith on a certificate signed by an executive officer of any Person in order to ascertain any fact with respect to such Person or within such Person’s knowledge and may rely in good faith on an opinion of counsel selected with reasonable care by such Covered Person with respect to legal matters. Each Covered Person may act directly or through such Covered Person’s agents or attorneys. Each Covered Person may consult with counsel, appraisers, engineers, accountants and other skilled Persons of such Covered Person’s choosing and shall not be liable for anything done, suffered or omitted in good faith and within the scope of this Agreement in reasonable reliance upon the advice of any of such Persons. No Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer or employee of such Covered Person or such Covered Person’s Affiliate. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.2, no Covered Person shall be liable to the Partnership or any Partner for any mistake of fact or judgment by such Covered Person in conducting the affairs of the Partnership or otherwise acting in respect of and within the scope of this Agreement.

(c) Reliance on this Agreement . To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, any Covered Person acting under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for anything done, suffered or omitted in such Covered Person’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they address the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of a Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person.

(d) Not Liable for Return of Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Covered Person shall be liable for the return of the Capital Contributions or Capital Account of any Partner, and such return shall be made solely from the Available Assets of the Partnership, if any, and each Partner hereby waives any and all claims that he, she or it may have against each Covered Person in this regard.

4.3 Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification Generally . Subject to Section 4.3(c), the Partnership shall and hereby does, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and release (and each Partner does hereby release) each Covered Person from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, costs, expenses, damages, losses, suits, proceedings and actions,

 

11


whether judicial, administrative, investigative or otherwise, of whatever nature, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated (“ Claims ”), that may accrue to or be incurred by any Covered Person, or in which any Covered Person may become involved, as a party or otherwise, or with which any Covered Person may be threatened, relating to or arising out of the investment or other activities of the Partnership, or activities undertaken in connection with the Partnership, or otherwise relating to or arising out of this Agreement, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties, and counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation for or defense or disposition of any investigation, action, suit, arbitration or other proceeding (a “ Proceeding ”), whether civil or criminal (all of such Claims and amounts covered by this Section 4.3, and all expenses referred to in Section 4.3(b), are referred to collectively as “ Damages ”), except to the extent that it shall have been determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Damages arose primarily from the Disabling Conduct of such Covered Person. The Partners intend that all Covered Persons be entitled to be indemnified hereunder, and have the right to enforce such indemnification as though they were parties hereto; but, the Partners understand that, in general, the laws of the Cayman Islands currently do not recognize the right of a Person to claim benefits from or enforce an agreement to which such Person is not a party. Accordingly, the General Partner intends to extend such indemnification to Covered Persons that are not parties hereto; and the Partners agree that the Partnership shall, and the Partnership hereby does, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless the General Partner for all payments that the General Partner is obligated to make to Covered Persons that are not parties to this Agreement to cover Damages incurred by such Covered Persons that such Covered Persons would have been entitled to receive from the Partnership under this Agreement if such Covered Persons were parties hereto or were permitted by applicable law to claim benefits from or enforce this Agreement (i.e., if such Covered Persons were third party beneficiaries hereof). The termination of any Proceeding by settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that any Damages relating to such settlement or otherwise relating to such Proceedings arose primarily from the Disabling Conduct of any Covered Person.

(b) Expenses, etc . The reasonable expenses incurred by a Covered Person (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in defense or settlement of any Claim that may be subject to a right of indemnification hereunder may be advanced by the Partnership to such Covered Person prior to the final disposition thereof with the consent of the General Partner upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined ultimately by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.

(c) Notices of Claims, etc . Promptly after receipt by a Covered Person of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding that might give rise to a claim for indemnification by such Covered Person hereunder, such Covered Person shall give written notice to the Partnership of the commencement of such Proceeding, provided that the failure of any Covered Person to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Partnership of its obligations under this Section 4.3 except to the extent that the Partnership is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such Proceeding is brought against a Covered Person (other than a derivative suit in right of the Partnership), the Partnership will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof to the extent that the Partnership may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Covered Person. After notice from the Partnership to such Covered Person of the

 

12


Partnership’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Partnership will not be liable for expenses subsequently incurred by such Covered Person in connection with the defense thereof.

(d) Survival of Protection . The provisions of this Section 4.3 shall continue to afford protection to each Covered Person regardless of whether such Covered Person remains in the position or capacity pursuant to which such Covered Person became entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.3 and regardless of any subsequent amendment to this Agreement, and no amendment to this Agreement shall reduce or restrict the extent to which these indemnification provisions apply to actions taken or omissions made prior to the date of such amendment.

(e) Reserves . If the General Partner determines in its sole discretion that it is appropriate or necessary to do so, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to establish reasonable reserves, escrow accounts or similar accounts to fund its obligations under this Section 4.3.

(f) Rights Cumulative . The right of any Covered Person to the indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative with, and in addition to, any and all rights to which such Covered Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall extend to such Covered Person’s successors, assigns and legal representatives.

(g) No Waiver . Nothing contained in this Article IV shall constitute a waiver by any Partner of any right that it may have against any party under federal or state securities laws.

4.4 Agreements for Covered Persons . In addition to the indemnification coverage provided to Covered Persons pursuant to Section 4.3, the General Partner is hereby instructed to cause the Partnership to indemnify and hold harmless each Covered Person, and authorized to cause the Partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any other Person, in each case pursuant to a separate indemnification agreement. It is the express intention of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Article IV for the indemnification of Covered Persons may be relied upon by such Covered Persons and may be enforced by such Covered Persons (or by the General Partner on behalf of any such Covered Person, provided that the General Partner shall not have any obligation to so act for or on behalf of any such Covered Person) against the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement or to a separate indemnification agreement, as if such Covered Persons were parties hereto.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL PERCENTAGES;

CARRY PERCENTAGES AND ADJUSTMENTS THERETO

5.1 Capital Contributions and Capital Percentages . Except as otherwise provided herein, each Partner shall make Capital Contributions in the aggregate up to the amount of such Partner’s Capital Commitment, which is set forth opposite such Partner’s name in the Register, as and when called for by the General Partner (so that the Partnership may fund its obligation to contribute capital to the Fund), and shall have a Capital Percentage. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Partner shall make Capital Contributions in excess of such Partner’s Capital Commitment. For the convenience of the Partnership, the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may request each Partner to make a payment to the

 

13


Partnership in an amount up to the amount of such Partner’s Capital Commitment upon his, her or its admission as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. The General Partner shall not have a Capital Commitment, shall not make Capital Contributions to the Partnership and shall not otherwise have an economic interest in the Partnership.

5.2 Carry Percentages and Adjustments Thereto .

(a) General . Each Partner shall be assigned a sharing percentage representing such Partner’s share of the Carried Interest to be received from the Fund (such Partner’s “ Carry Percentage ”). The initial Carry Percentages shall be as set forth in the Register. The Carry Percentage of each Limited Partner shall also be set forth in an agreement between the Partnership and such Partner which sets forth additional terms upon which such Partner has subscribed for its interest in the Partnership (with respect to each Partner, such Partner’s “ Carry Agreement ”). Each Partner’s Carry Percentage shall be subject to adjustment as provided in such Partner’s Carry Agreement. In addition, the General Partner may from time to time, without the consent of any Limited Partner, adjust any Active Partner’s Carry Percentage by allocating additional Carry Percentage to such Active Partner and correspondingly reducing the Carry Percentage of the General Partner. If deemed advisable by the General Partner, the General Partner shall have the discretion to make any such adjustment effective only with respect to Carried Interest attributable to increases in value in the Fund’s investments occurring after the date of such adjustment, and to amend or interpret the provisions of this Agreement (including Article VI) to give effect thereto. The General Partner’s Carry Percentage shall at all times be 0%, and the General Partner shall not otherwise be eligible to receive distributions of Carried Interest.

(b) Adjustments to Carry Percentages in Connection with the Admission of Additional Partners . In connection with the admission of an Additional Partner as provided in Section 8.1 and without the consent of any Limited Partner, the General Partner may allocate to such Additional Partner such Carry Percentage as the General Partner may determine in its sole discretion and correspondingly reduce the Carry Percentages of the Limited Partners as the General Partner may determine in its sole discretion, to the extent necessary for the sum of the Carry Percentages to equal 100%. If deemed advisable by the General Partner, the General Partner shall have the discretion to make any such adjustment effective only with respect to Carried Interest attributable to increases in value in the Fund’s investments occurring after the date of such adjustment, and to amend or interpret the provisions of this Agreement (including Article VI) to give effect thereto.

(c) Additional Adjustments with Respect to Active Partners . Following a designation of a Partner as an Inactive Partner pursuant to Section 8.2 and any adjustments to such Inactive Partner’s Carry Percentage pursuant to such Partner’s Carry Agreement, the General Partner shall, without the consent of any Limited Partner, reallocate any reduction in the Carry Percentage of such Inactive Partner to such Limited Partners as the General Partner may determine in its sole discretion.

 

14


ARTICLE VI

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; DISTRIBUTIONS; ALLOCATIONS; WITHHOLDING

6.1 Capital Accounts . There shall be established on the books and records of the Partnership a capital account (a “ Capital Account ”) for each Partner.

6.2 Adjustments to Capital Accounts . As of the last day of each Period, the balance in each Partner’s Capital Account shall be adjusted by ( a ) increasing such balance by ( i ) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s income and gain for such Period (allocated in accordance with Section 6.8) and ( ii ) the Capital Contribution, if any, made by such Partner during such Period, ( b ) decreasing such balance by ( i ) the amount of cash or the Value of Securities or other property distributed to such Partner pursuant to this Agreement and ( ii ) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s loss and deduction for such Period (allocated in accordance with Section 6.8). Each Partner’s Capital Account shall be further adjusted with respect to any special allocations or adjustments pursuant to this Agreement.

6.3 Distributions .

(a) Timing and Form of Distributions . The General Partner shall, after establishing reserves for material anticipated obligations or commitments of the Partnership, make distributions pursuant to Section 6.3(b) of amounts received by the Partnership from the Fund at such time or times as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion.

(b) Making of Distributions . Subject to Section 4.3 and to the other provisions of this Article VI, distributions to the Partners shall be made as follows:

(i) Capital Percentage Distributions . Distributions received pursuant to section 6.4(b) of the Fund Agreement shall be distributed to the Partners in proportion to their Capital Percentages.

(ii) Carry Percentage Distributions . Distributions of Carried Interest shall be distributed to the Partners in proportion to their Carry Percentages as they may be adjusted pursuant to this Agreement and the Carry Agreements.

(iii) Other Distributions . Distributions not described in paragraph (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.3(b) shall be distributed to the Active Partners in such proportions as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion; provided that no distributions shall be made to the General Partner.

6.4 Tax Distributions . Notwithstanding Section 6.3, the General Partner may, to the extent of available cash, make distributions to the Partners in amounts sufficient to enable the Partners to discharge their U.S. federal, state and local income or non-U.S. tax liabilities arising from the allocations made pursuant to this Agreement. The amount distributable pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be determined by the General Partner based on such assumptions as the General Partner determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate. The amount distributed to any Partner pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall reduce the amount otherwise distributable to such Partner

 

15


pursuant to the relevant clause of Section 6.3, and shall be deemed to have been distributed to the extent of such reduction pursuant to such clause of Section 6.3.

6.5 General Distribution Provisions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, distributions shall be made only to the extent of Available Assets and in compliance with the Partnership Law and other applicable law. Any distribution by the Partnership pursuant to Article VI or IX to the Person shown on the Partnership’s records as a Partner or to such Partner’s legal representatives, or to the transferee of such Person’s right to receive such distributions as provided herein, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, acquit the Partnership of all liability to any other Person that may be interested in such distribution by reason of any Transfer of such Person’s interest in the Partnership for any reason (including a Transfer of such interest by reason of the death, incompetence, bankruptcy or liquidation of such Person).

6.6 Distributions in Kind . In the event that a distribution of Marketable Securities or other Securities is made, such Securities shall be deemed to have been sold at their Value and the proceeds of such sale shall be deemed to have been distributed in cash to the Partners for all purposes of this Agreement. Distributions of Marketable Securities and any other Securities or other property shall be made in proportion to the aggregate amounts that would be distributed to each Partner pursuant to Section 6.3, as determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion. The General Partner may cause certificates evidencing any Securities to be distributed to be imprinted with legends as to such restrictions on Transfer as the General Partner may determine are necessary or appropriate, including legends as to applicable U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. securities laws or other legal or contractual restrictions, and may require any Partner to which Securities are to be distributed, as a condition to such distribution, to agree in writing ( a ) that such Partner will not Transfer such Securities except in compliance with such restrictions and ( b ) to such other matters as the General Partner may determine are necessary or appropriate.

6.7 No Withdrawal of Capital . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw capital from the Partnership at its option or to receive any distribution of or return on such Partner’s Capital Contributions.

6.8 Allocations to Capital Accounts . Except as otherwise provided herein, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Partnership (determined in accordance with U.S. tax principles as applied to the maintenance of capital accounts) shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Partners with respect to each Period, as of the end of such Period, in a manner that as closely as possible gives economic effect to the provisions of Articles VI and IX and the other relevant provisions of this Agreement. No Partner shall be required to make up a negative balance in such Partner’s Capital Account.

6.9 Tax Allocations and Other Tax Matters . Except as otherwise provided herein, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction recognized by the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners for U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. income tax purposes in the same manner that each such item is allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts or as otherwise provided herein, provided that the General Partner may adjust such allocations as may be necessary or desirable to maintain substantial economic effect, or to ensure that such allocations are in accordance with the interests of the “partners in the partnership,” in each case, within the

 

16


meaning of the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Tax credits and tax credit recapture shall be allocated in accordance with the interests of the Partners in the Partnership as provided in Treasury Regulation section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii). All matters concerning allocations for U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. income tax purposes, including accounting procedures, not expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement shall be determined in good faith by the General Partner. The General Partner is hereby designated as the tax matters partner of the Partnership, in accordance with the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to section 6231 of the Code and any similar provisions under any other state or local or non-U.S. tax laws. Each Limited Partner hereby consents to such designation and agrees that, upon the request of the General Partner, he, she or it will execute, certify, acknowledge, deliver, swear to, file and record at the appropriate public offices such documents as may be necessary or appropriate to evidence such consent. Either the General Partner shall have executed and filed a U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 8832 prior to the date hereof electing to classify the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to section 301.7701-3 of the Treasury Regulations as of a date no later than the date hereof, or the General Partner shall timely execute and file such Form 8832 on or after the date hereof electing to classify the Partnership as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes as of a date no later than the date hereof, and the General Partner is hereby authorized to execute and file such Form 8832 for all of the Partners. The General Partner shall not subsequently elect to change such classification. The General Partner is hereby authorized to execute and file for all of the Partners any comparable form or document required by any applicable United States tax law for the Partnership to be classified as a partnership under such tax law. The Partnership shall not participate in the establishment of an “established securities market” (within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(b) of the Treasury Regulations) or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof” (within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations) or, in either case, the inclusion of interests in the Partnership thereon.

6.10 Withholding . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any Carry Agreement, each Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold and to pay over, or otherwise pay, any withholding or other taxes payable by the Partnership or any of its Affiliates (pursuant to the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. tax law) with respect to such Partner or as a result of such Partner’s status as a partner hereunder. If and to the extent that the Partnership shall be required to withhold or pay any such withholding or other taxes, such Partner shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement and the Carry Agreement to have received a payment from the Partnership as of the time that such withholding or other tax is required to be paid, which payment shall be deemed to be a distribution with respect to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership to the extent that such Partner (or any successor to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership) would have received a distribution but for such withholding. To the extent that such payment exceeds the cash distribution that such Partner would have received but for such withholding, the General Partner shall notify such Partner as to the amount of such excess and such Partner shall make a prompt payment to the Partnership of such amount, which payment shall not constitute a Capital Contribution and, consequently, shall not increase such Partner’s Capital Account. The Partnership may hold back from any such distribution in kind property having a value equal to the amount of such taxes until the Partnership has received payment of such amount. In addition, if and to the extent that the Partnership or the Fund receives a distribution or payment from or in respect of which tax was withheld, as a result of (or attributable to) such Partner’s status as a Partner under this Agreement, as determined by the

 

17


General Partner in its sole discretion, such Partner shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to have received a distribution from the Partnership as of the time that such withholding was paid. Unless the General Partner determines otherwise, the withholdings by the Partnership referred to in this Section 6.10 shall be made at the maximum applicable statutory rate under the applicable tax law.

6.11 Final Distribution . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the final distribution following the dissolution of the Partnership shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.3.

6.12 Return of Distributions . If the Partnership is obligated under section 11.3 (general partner clawback) of the Fund Agreement to contribute to the Fund all or a portion of the distributions received by the Partnership from the Fund, the Partners shall be required to fund, and hereby agree to fund, such obligation in proportion to and up to an amount not to exceed, in the case of each Partner, the aggregate distributions received by such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3(b)(ii) (not including distributions made (or that could have been made) pursuant to Section 6.4 that are deemed (or would have been deemed) to be distributions under Section 6.3(b)(ii)). Subject to the preceding sentence of this Section 6.12, if the Partnership is obligated under section 9.2 (all-partner clawback) of the Fund Agreement to contribute to the Fund all or a portion of the distributions received by the Partnership from the Fund, the Partners shall be required to fund such obligation in proportion to and up to an amount not to exceed, in the case of each Partner, the aggregate distributions received by such Partner pursuant to Section 6.3. Each such Partner shall make contributions to the Partnership in satisfaction of such obligation. A Partner’s obligation to make contributions to the Partnership under this Section 6.12 shall survive the dissolution, liquidation, winding up and termination of the Partnership, and for purposes of this Section 6.12, the Partnership may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies that it may have against each Partner under this Section 6.12, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest from the date that such contribution was required to be paid under this Section 6.12 calculated at a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus 2% per annum (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by law). Any distributions returned pursuant to this Section 6.12 shall not be treated as Capital Contributions.

ARTICLE VII

BOOKS AND RECORDS; TAX INFORMATION; REPORTS TO PARTNERS

7.1 Books and Records . The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of the transactions of the Partnership in proper books and records of account which shall set forth all information required by the Partnership Law. Upon advance written notice to the General Partner, such books and records shall be available for inspection and copying by the Limited Partners or their duly authorized representatives during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, provided that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Limited Partners shall not have access to the portions of such books and records that the General Partner determines in its sole discretion would permit the identification of the Capital Contributions, Capital Account balances, Carry Percentages and Capital Percentages of the other Partners, and provided, further, that, except to the extent that applicable law otherwise requires, an Inactive Partner shall have no right to

 

18


inspect or copy the books and records of the Partnership. The Limited Partners hereby waive any and all right to account that they may have under the Partnership Law.

7.2 Tax Information . As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the General Partner shall send to each Person that was a Partner at any time during such Fiscal Year U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, “Partner’s Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, Etc.,” or any successor schedule or form, for such Partner.

7.3 Reports to Partners . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or required by applicable law, the General Partner shall send to each Limited Partner only such other financial and other reports as the General Partner shall deem appropriate.

ARTICLE VIII

ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERS; TRANSFERS; DESIGNATION OF INACTIVE PARTNERS

8.1 Admission of Additional Partners . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, without the consent of any other Person, the General Partner may admit such Persons to the Partnership as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion from time to time (each, an “ Additional Partner ”). In connection with the admission of any such Additional Partner, the General Partner shall amend the Register and the Cayman Register to reflect the admission of such Additional Partner and the amount of such Additional Partner’s Capital Commitment, Capital Contribution (in the case of the Cayman Register) and Carry Percentage without the consent of any Limited Partner. Each such Person shall be admitted as an Additional Partner at the time that such Person ( a)  executes a counterpart of this Agreement, a Subscription Agreement or a Carry Agreement and ( b ) is listed by the General Partner as a partner of the Partnership in the Register.

8.2 Transfers .

(a) General . Except as provided in such Partner’s Carry Agreement, no Limited Partner may Transfer in any manner whatsoever all or any part of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership without the express prior written consent of the General Partner.

(b) Certain Transfers . Without the consent of the General Partner, upon the death of a Limited Partner who is a natural person, such Partner’s interest will be transferred to the estate of such Partner or otherwise in accordance with applicable law, provided that such transferee shall not be substituted for the deceased Partner as a partner of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

(c) Conditions to Transfer . No Transfer of an interest in the Partnership shall be permitted if ( i ) such Transfer would result in a violation of applicable law, including any securities laws, ( ii ) as a result of such Transfer, the Partnership or the Fund would be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, or ( iii ) such Transfer would result in the Partnership at any time during its taxable year having more than 100 partners, within the meaning of section 1.7704-1(h)(1)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations (taking into account

 

19


section 1.7704-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations). No attempted or purported Transfer in violation of this Section 8.2 shall be effective.

8.3 Designation as Inactive Partner . From and after the date of a Limited Partner’s death (in the case of a Limited Partner who is a natural person), Disability (as defined in such Partner’s Carry Agreement), bankruptcy or ceasing to be employed by or otherwise perform services for Oaktree or its Affiliates for any reason as determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion, such Limited Partner shall automatically be deemed an “ Inactive Partner ” without any further action, unless the General Partner, in its sole discretion, determines otherwise.

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP OF THE PARTNERSHIP

9.1 Dissolution . Subject to the Partnership Law, there shall be a dissolution of the Partnership (meaning that the business of the Partnership shall be discontinued) and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

(a) the execution and filing of a notice of dissolution in respect of the Fund in accordance with section 11.4 of the Fund Agreement;

(b) subject to section 2.6(c) of the Fund Agreement, the decision of the General Partner to dissolve the Partnership;

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under the Partnership Law; or

(d) at any time when there are no Partners.

9.2 Winding Up . Upon the commencement of winding up of the Partnership, the General Partner (or any duly designated representative) shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to liquidate all of the Partnership’s assets and wind up the affairs of the Partnership in an orderly manner, provided that if in the judgment of the General Partner (or such representative) an asset of the Partnership should not be liquidated, the General Partner (or such representative) shall allocate, on the basis of the Value of any assets of the Partnership not sold or otherwise disposed of, any unrealized gain or loss based on such Value to the Partners’ Capital Accounts as though the assets in question had been sold on the date of such allocation and, after giving effect to any such adjustment, distribute said assets in accordance with Section 9.3, subject to the priorities set forth in Section 9.3, and provided , further , that the General Partner (or such other representative) will attempt to liquidate sufficient Partnership assets to satisfy in cash (or make reasonable provision in cash for) the debts and liabilities referred to in Section 9.3.

9.3 Final Distribution . After the application or distribution of the proceeds of the liquidation of the Partnership’s assets in one or more installments to the satisfaction of the liabilities to creditors of the Partnership, to the extent permitted by law, including to the satisfaction of the expenses of the winding-up, liquidation and dissolution of the Partnership (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof), the remaining

 

20


proceeds, if any, plus any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.3.

9.4 Time for Liquidation, etc . A reasonable time period shall be allowed for the orderly winding up and liquidation of the assets of the Partnership and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Partnership to seek to minimize potential losses upon such liquidation. The provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect during the period of winding up and until the filing of the Notice of Dissolution as provided in Section 9.5.

9.5 Termination . Upon the winding up of the affairs of the Partnership in accordance with the Partnership Law and this Agreement, the General Partner shall execute a Notice of Dissolution in respect of the Partnership and shall cause such Notice of Dissolution to be filed with the Registrar of Exempted Limited Partnerships of the Cayman Islands and this Agreement shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall not cause the Notice of Dissolution in respect of the Partnership to be filed prior to the filing of the notice of dissolution in respect of the Fund pursuant to the Fund Agreement, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 Amendments . This Agreement and any Schedule hereto may be modified or amended, and any provision hereof may be waived, by a written instrument signed by the General Partner, provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Carry Agreement, no such modification, amendment or waiver that would adversely and materially alter any Partner’s economic interest in the Partnership (including such Partner’s Capital Commitment, Capital Percentage, Carry Percentage, obligations pursuant to Section 6.12, or right to or timing of distributions) shall be effective without the consent of such affected Partner. In addition to the foregoing, the General Partner has full authority without the consent of the Limited Partners to interpret any ambiguous provisions of this Agreement and to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement.

10.2 Notices . Each notice relating to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered ( a ) in person, by registered or certified mail or by private courier or ( b ) by facsimile or other electronic means, including e-mail. All notices to any Limited Partner shall be delivered to such Partner at the address of such Partner as set forth in the records of the Partnership. All notices to the General Partner shall be delivered to the General Partner c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., 333 South Grand Avenue, 28 th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, Attention: General Counsel. Any Limited Partner may designate a new address for notices by giving written notice to that effect to the General Partner. The General Partner may designate a new address for notices by giving written notice to that effect to each of the Partners. A notice given in accordance with the foregoing clause (a) shall be deemed to have been effectively given five Business Days after such notice is mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and one Business Day after such notice is sent by Federal Express or other one-day service provider, to the proper address, or at the time delivered when delivered in person or by

 

21


private courier. Any notice by facsimile or other electronic means shall be deemed to have been effectively given when sent.

10.3 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute a single agreement.

10.4 Table of Contents and Headings . The table of contents and the headings of the articles, sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof or affect the interpretation hereof.

10.5 Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Partners and the Covered Persons, and shall be binding upon the parties and, subject to Section 8.2, their respective successors, permitted assigns and, in the case of individual Covered Persons, heirs and legal representatives.

10.6 Severability . Every term and provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any term or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such term or provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and, in any event, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement.

10.7 Further Actions . Each Limited Partner shall execute and deliver such other certificates, agreements and documents, and take such other actions, as may reasonably be requested by the General Partner in connection with the achievement of its purposes or to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case as are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including any documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the Partnership as a limited partnership in all jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct its investment and other activities and all such agreements, certificates, tax statements and other documents as may be required to be filed by or on behalf of the Partnership.

10.8 Determinations of the General Partner . To the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any other agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision ( a ) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or any other Person, or ( b ) in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard.

10.9 Non-Waiver . No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived unless such waiver is given in writing, and no such waiver shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other or further obligation or liability of the party or parties in whose favor such waiver was given.

 

22


10.10 Applicable Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS. The General Partner hereby submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands and to the courts of the jurisdiction in which the principal office of the General Partner is located (and, if the principal office is located in the United States, of the federal district court having jurisdiction over the location of the principal office) for the resolution of all matters pertaining to the enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement.

10.11 Confidentiality . Each Limited Partner shall keep confidential and shall not disclose without the prior written consent of the General Partner any information with respect to this Agreement, the Partnership, the Fund or any Permitted Investment made by the Fund, any issuer of any Permitted Investment made by the Fund or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, provided that a Partner may disclose any such information ( a ) as has become generally available to the public other than as a result of the breach of this Section 10.11 by such Partner, ( b ) as may be required to be included in any report, statement or testimony required to be submitted to any municipal, state or national regulatory body having jurisdiction over such Partner, ( c ) as may be required in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, ( d ) to the extent necessary in order to comply with any law, order, regulation or ruling applicable to such Partner, ( e ) to such Partner’s professional advisors, provided that such professional advisors are advised of, and have expressly agreed to be bound by, the confidentiality provisions contained herein or are bound by confidentiality obligations to the Limited Partner at least as stringent as the provisions set forth in this Section 10.11, ( f ) as may be required in connection with an audit by any taxing authority and (g)  to the extent necessary for the fulfillment of such Partner’s obligations as an employee of Oaktree or any of its Affiliates (including for purposes of marketing limited partnership interests in the Fund). To the fullest extent permitted by law, to the extent that a Limited Partner seeks to disclose information pursuant to clauses (b), (c) or (d) above, such Limited Partner shall ( i ) affirmatively seek to prevent or withhold the disclosure of such information on the basis of any and all applicable exemptions under applicable law or regulation, ( ii ) provide the General Partner with prompt notice prior to the time of any such disclosure so that the General Partner may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate relief to prevent or withhold any such disclosure and ( iii ) reasonably cooperate with the General Partner’s efforts to prevent any such disclosure, in a manner that would be consistent with the provisions of applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have the right to keep confidential from the Partners for such period of time as the General Partner determines to be reasonable ( A ) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets and ( B ) any other information ( 1 ) the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interest of the Partnership, the Fund or its investments or could damage the Partnership, the Fund or its investments or ( 2 ) that the Partnership is required by law or by agreement with a third Person to keep confidential. The provisions of this Section 10.11 were negotiated in good faith by the parties hereto, and the parties hereto agree that such provisions are reasonable and are not more restrictive than is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the parties hereto.

 

23


10.12 Survival of Certain Provisions . The obligations of each Partner pursuant to Article IV, Section 6.12 and this Article X shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement and the dissolution, winding up and termination of the Partnership.

10.13 Waiver of Partition . Except as may otherwise be provided by law in connection with the dissolution, winding up and liquidation of the Partnership, each Partner hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that such Partner may have to maintain an action for partition of any of the Partnership’s property.

10.14 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and the Carry Agreements together constitute the entire agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any prior agreement or understanding among them with respect to such subject matter, provided that the foregoing shall not supersede any employment agreements that may be, or have been, entered into by any Limited Partner and Oaktree or any of its Affiliates. The provisions of the Subscription Agreements shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

10.15 Currency . The term “dollar” and the symbol “$,” wherever used in this Agreement, shall mean the United States dollar.

 

24


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed and delivered this Agreement as a deed on the day and year first above written.

 

    GENERAL PARTNER :
In the presence of:    

OCM EUROPEAN PRINCIPAL

OPPORTUNITIES FUND GP LTD.

    By:  

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.,

Director

/ S / K RISTA W ARE                
Name:       By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
        Todd Molz
          Managing Director and General
          Counsel
/ S / K RISTA W ARE               By:   / S / E MILY A LEXANDER        
Name:         Emily Alexander
          Senior Vice President, Legal

 

In the presence of:     LIMITED PARTNERS:
    OAKTREE FUND GP I, L.P.
/ S / K RISTA W ARE             By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
Name:       Todd Molz
        Authorized Signatory
/ S / K RISTA W ARE             By:   / S / E MILY A LEXANDER        
Name:      

Emily Alexander

Authorized Signatory

 

  

Signature page to Amended

and Restated Limited

Partnership Agreement

OCM European Principal

Opportunities Fund GP, L.P.

 

25


    Those Other Persons Listed on the Register
   

By: OCM European Principal Opportunities

Fund GP Ltd.

     

as attorney-in-fact for the Limited

Partners pursuant to Section 7 of

the Subscription Agreements

    By:  

Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.,

a director

In the presence of:       By:   / S / T ODD M OLZ        
          Todd Molz
/ S / K RISTA W ARE                 Managing Director and General
Name:           Counsel
    ss   By:   / S / E MILY A LEXANDER        
/ S / K RISTA W ARE                 Emily Alexander
Name:           Senior Vice President, Legal

 

  

Signature page to Amended

and Restated Limited

Partnership Agreement

OCM European Principal

Opportunities Fund GP, L.P.

 

26

Exhibit 21.1

List of Subsidiaries

 

Name   

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

Oaktree AIF (Cayman) GP, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree AIF Holdings, Inc.    Delaware
Oaktree AIF Investments, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Asia Special Situations Fund GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Asia Special Situations Fund GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Asia Special Situations Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Capital (Beijing) Ltd.    China
Oaktree Capital (Hong Kong) Limited    Hong Kong
Oaktree Capital (Seoul) Limited    South Korea
Oaktree Capital (Shanghai) Ltd.    China
Oaktree Capital I, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Capital II, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Capital Management (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Capital Management Limited    United Kingdom
Oaktree Capital Management Pte. Ltd.    Singapore
Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Emerging Markets Absolute Return (Cayman) Fund, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Emerging Markets Absolute Return Feeder Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Emerging Markets Absolute Return Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Emerging Markets Equity Fund GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Emerging Markets Equity Fund GP L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Emerging Markets Equity Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Employee Investment Fund (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Employee Investment Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree European Credit Opportunities Fund (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree European Credit Opportunities Fund, L.P.    United Kingdom
Oaktree European Credit Opportunities USD Fund (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Europe GP Limited    United Kingdom
Oaktree European High Yield Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree European Principal Fund III (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree European Principal Fund III (Parallel), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree European Principal Fund III (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree European Principal Fund III (Feeder) GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree European Principal Fund III (U.S.), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree European Principal Fund III GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree European Principal Fund III GP, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree European Principal Fund III, L.P.    Cayman Islands


Name   

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

Oaktree European Principal Fund III (Parallel) Feeder, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Expanded High Yield Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree FF Investment Fund AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree FF Investment Fund GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree FF Investment Fund GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree FF Investment Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Finance, LLC    Delaware
Oaktree France S.A.S.    France
Oaktree Fund AIF Series (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Fund AIF Series, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Fund GP II, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Fund GP IIA, LLC    Delaware
Oaktree Fund GP III, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Fund GP AIF, LLC    Delaware
Oaktree Fund GP, LLC    Delaware
Oaktree GmbH    Germany
Oaktree High Income Convertible Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree High Income Convertible Fund II, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree High Yield Fund, L.P.    California
Oaktree High Yield Fund II, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree High Yield Plus (Cayman) Fund, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree High Yield Plus Feeder Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree High Yield Plus Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Holdings, Inc.    Delaware
Oaktree Holdings, LLC    Delaware
Oaktree Holdings, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree HSF, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Huntington Investment Fund AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Huntington Investment Fund GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Huntington Investment Fund GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Huntington Investment Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree International Holdings, LLC    Delaware
Oaktree Investment Holdings, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Japan Absolute Return Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Japan Absolute Return Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Japan GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Japan Opportunities Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Japan Opportunities Value Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Japan, Inc.    Japan
Oaktree Liquidating Loan Fund (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Liquidating Loan Fund, L.P.    Delaware


Name   

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

Oaktree Liquidating Loan Fund 2x (Cayman), Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Liquidating Loan Fund 2x, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Loan Fund (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Loan Fund 2x (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Loan Fund 2x, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Loan Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Loan Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Mezzanine Fund III (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Mezzanine Fund III, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Mezzanine Fund III GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Non-U.S. Convertible Fund, L.P.    California
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VII AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII (Parallel) AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII (Parallel) AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII (Parallel), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII (Parallel 2) AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIII (Parallel 2), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb (Parallel) AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb (Parallel) AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb (Parallel), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb (Parallel) 2, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Opportunities Fund VIIIb, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III (Cayman) GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund III (Parallel), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree PPIP Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree PPIP Private Fund (Cayman) GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree PPIP Private Fund (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree PPIP Private Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Principal Fund V AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands


Name   

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

Oaktree Principal Fund V AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Principal Fund V (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Principal Fund V (Parallel) AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Principal Fund V (Parallel) AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Principal Fund V (Parallel), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Principal Fund V GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Principal Fund V GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Principal Fund V, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Private Investment Fund 2009 GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Private Investment Fund 2009, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Private Investment Fund 2010 GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Private Investment Fund 2010, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund IV GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund IV GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V (Cayman) GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V (Cayman) L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Real Estate Opportunities Fund V, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Remington Investment Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Remington Investment Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Senior Loan Fund (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Senior Loan Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Senior Loan Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree TT Multi-Strategy Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree TT Multi-Strategy Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Value Opportunities (Cayman) Fund, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Value Opportunities Feeder Fund, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Oaktree/Arctic Slope PPIP Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
Oaktree/Arctic Slope PPIP Private Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Asia Principal Opportunities Fund GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Asia Principal Opportunities Fund GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Asia Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM China Holdings, L.P.    Delaware
OCM China Investor, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Convertible Trust    Massachusetts
OCM Disbursement Services, L.L.C.    Delaware


Name   

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund GP, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II (U.S.), L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM European Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM FIE, LLC    Delaware
OCM Group Trust    Massachusetts
OCM High Yield Plus Fund GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM High Yield Trust    Massachusetts
OCM Holdings I, LLC    Delaware
OCM Investments, LLC    Delaware
OCM Mezzanine Fund II (Cayman), Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Mezzanine Fund II GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Mezzanine Fund II, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Mezzanine Fund, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund II, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund III, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund IVb (Cayman), Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund IVb, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund V (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund V Feeder, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund V GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund V, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund VI (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VI AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund VI GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund VI, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund VII (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VII AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund VII GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VII GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VII, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb (Parallel) AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb (Parallel) AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb (Parallel), L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb AIF (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands


Name   

State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization

OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb GP Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund VIIb, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Opportunities Fund, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Power Opportunities Fund II GP (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Power Opportunities Fund II GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III Feeder L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IIIA, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV (Cayman) Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV AIF (Delaware) GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV AIF (Delaware), L.P.    Delaware
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV GP, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV GP, Ltd.    Cayman Islands
OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund A, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund B, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund II, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund III GP, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund III, L.P.    Delaware
OCM Real Estate Opportunities Fund IIIA, L.P.    Delaware
OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II (Cayman), L.P.    Cayman Islands
OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II Feeder, L.P.    Delaware
OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II, L.P.    Delaware
Pangaea Capital Management, L.P.    Cayman Islands
Pangaea Holdings Ltd.    Cayman Islands
RBO GP Holdings, L.P.    Delaware
RBO LP Holdings, L.P.    Delaware
Sabal Financial Group, L.P.    Delaware
Sabal Financial Group GP, LLC    Delaware

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC of our report dated June 16, 2011 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, which appear in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Los Angeles, California

July 29, 2011